Welcome Avie Rain Rasband

Avie Rain Rasband was born July 23, 2018.  We are so excited to have her in our family.  Everything is going well with the baby, but Sara and Nick have certainly had their challenges since her birth.  Sara is recovering from a C-section.  Effie somehow got an infection in her leg that made it swell up.  There was a circle where the infection started, but even the doctor couldn't identify the cause.  That is healing well, but last night she got knocked over while playing with cousins and hit her face on the wood floor, cracking one front tooth and chipping the other and leaving a large lip to mark the injury.

Avi weighed 7 lbs. 8 oz. and was 22 inches long.  That's a good size
for a baby born at least 2 weeks early.

I tended the girls for only 1 of the 5 days Sara was a the hospital.  Kelly, Sara's mom, tended 2 days, and Jamie Seljaas tended the other 2.  

Roy and I were even able to get away for that following weekend.  We took the boat up to the Gorge again--JUST THE TWO OF US!!! That doesn't happen often. On our way we stopped to support our grandchildren in their business venture of selling fresh lemonade.  We bought 2 drinks and grandpa Roy gave them a nice tip :)

Flaming Gorge Selfie

 We had a fun day on the boat with a short spell of wind and rain (typical of the Gorge), and we were able to take our walk twice.  We could have used a little more time for just sitting around and reading, but we'll take what we got.  It was great.  

Caitlyn was also able to get away.  She and Annika drove all the way to California and stayed with Bruce and Barb.  They were fabulous hosts and both girls had a great time (If you're reading this Bruce, thank you so much).  They spent a day at Disney land, a day on the beach and a day swimming and shopping.

While we were welcoming a new grand daughter and having fun at the Gorge, Nan and Bruce received their mission call to The Republic of Congo.  She had told me that they were giving their first and 2nd choices as Europe (France, specifically), or Canada.  As they were getting their papers ready to mail, they looked at each other and said, "They're going to send us to Africa."  They had that feeling because they are both healthy and neither of them are on medications.  Africa is where the need is greatest.  This is a segment of her last journal letter.

"It is old news now, but on Friday, July 27, 2018 (David Cook’s birthday), we received our mission call to the Republic of Congo, Brazzaville Mission, to serve as office specialists for 18 months.  We leave on Stephen’s birthday, October 15, 2018.  It looks as if we take in several countries.  The Republic of Congo is a safer place than the Democratic Republic of Congo.  The mission includes five countries.Although many languages are spoken in this area, French is the national language. 

Some things that worry my children are:

1.      No mail of any kind will be delivered.  “Mailed letters, cards, and packages are never received, even when sent through a private carrier and insured.” All mail is stolen, including letters. Email is the only reliable source of communication and we are told to never put any personal information such as where we live or where our families lives, passwords, etc., in any correspondence or anything that could compromise our identity. 

2.     We are to take one bottle of non-aerosol mosquito repellent, which must be backed in our checked luggage or it will be confiscated.  When we get to the mission, they will give us Permethrin to spray all our clothing, bedding and mattress.  We will also take malaria pills daily and sleep under a mosquito net which will be provided. 

3.      Our directions state:  “You may want to review and update your will, life insurance portfolio, property, and casualty insurance policies…”

There are many good things about this mission.  Here are a few:

1.       Bruce doesn’t have to even take a suit.  It is hot and humid since the mission is split by the equator.

2.      We only have to have a few shots since we received most of the shots before traveling to Argentina with my siblings.

3.      I will learn French.  I will begin my first tutorial with someone from the MTC on Tuesday at 1:30. 

We are excited.  Bruce’s patriarchal blessing states, “…life holds for you many experiences.  There may be some that you would avoid at the time, but they will all contribute to your progress…”  This will be an experience of a life time.  I remember Hayward telling me that I should go on a mission just so I could experience the cultural shock.  I already feel a love for these people.  It is weird and I can’t explain it, but I do. 

We have been blessed to have lots of family stay with us this summer.  We have loved having everyone here.  I’m so grateful they are our friends and they like being here.  I think Rachel will be living in our home while we are gone.  At least I hope so.  She will be taking care of our affairs.  I will miss all of my beautiful grandchildren the most.  I try not to think too much about that part.

It is time to go to church and I can’t find Bruce’s camera, so I’ll include those pictures in my next letter.

Love,

Nan"

In reference to this mission call, Phil wrote in his weekly letter,

"A couple of years ago we had a general authority attending our stake conference. In the leadership meeting he talked about the need for senior missionaries to serve in Africa. I approached him after the meeting and asked if a couple would be eligible to serve in Africa if one takes anti-seizure and thyroid medications. He said, “No; but you could serve in Nauvoo.” That nixed it for me. Africa or bust!"

 We are excited for Nan and Bruce, and can also see how the family might be a little worried, but the Lord will help them and they will grow by leaps and bounds as they serve.

Elise arrived on Tuesday, July 31 with 3 kids in tow.  It can be hard to travel with three small children.  She said that the first flight was very turbulent and it caused Bevy to throw up on her.  She also had a blowout, which is fun for a mom, and then Mav spilled her soda on her.  She was ready for a change of clothes when she got here.  It wasn't as bad as one of my flights home to Atlanta years ago.  Adrienne was a baby and right before we left for the airport, she threw up.  I should have called the airlines then and there and asked if there was anything I could do about my tickets, but I just assumed I didn't have a choice.  She threw up the whole flight home.  By the end I was reaching across the seats and grabbing throw up bags from other passengers.  I had changes of clothes for her, but not for myself.  I felt so sorry for anyone remotely near us.  Before the flight was over, Elise started throwing up, too--probably from the smell.  Roy picked us up and reached to hug me and I told him it would be best if he waited because I reeked.  

It's been fun to watch the cousins interact with each other.

Bevy with her grandpa

Bevy and Max

Max and Hyeji

Effie and Mav

Cait with Bevy

Bevy

Greta--at the trampoline place in Logan

Max

Bevy

Maverick

Elise and Bev

We are going to lose Caitlyn soon to Utah State.  She went up to Logan the night before her orientation and spent some time with Crista.  Ruby asked her to take her picture:

She's quite the little model--clear down to her cowboy boots!

Here is Caitlyn with her group at the orientation:

This weekend was spent in service (at least Roy was serving) at the YSA Camp out.

It was at Cinnamon Creek near Paradise Utah. The camp encompassed the entire stake, + 1/2 of another stake.  There were more than 1000 YSAs that were to be fed, entertained, and taught.  It was quite the undertaking for all the leaders! Roy left early Thursday morning to deliver one of the refrigerated food trucks, and Caitlyn, Jennie and I left a little later after Caitlyn had a doctor's appointment.  We met the shuttle bus (school bus) at a High School in Hyrum, Utah, then proceeded to ride on a very bad, bumpy road to the camp.  It took about 40 minutes.  We enjoyed lunch,  then Roy and I returned to the High School to help the YSA's learn which camp they were in and get on the busses.  We were there for 4 + hours because our relief arrived more than 30 minutes late.  We hurried back to the camp as fast as we could considering the rough road, but we missed dinner.  I was rather devastated actually.  I was pretty hungry, hot and tired.  It all turned out okay--we were able to find some sandwiches leftover from lunch.  Not the best, but it filled us up.

As usual, Roy was constantly serving, from filling the generators with gas (the ones running the food truck) even at 2:30 am, to shuttling kids (some of them were a mile from where the meals were served), especially those who were debilitated in some way; to helping with food (not his job, but that's how he is) and also socializing and enjoying the YSA's.  I didn't help much on Saturday.  I just listened to the speakers, took a nap, and read.  The speakers were John Bytheway, Paul Cardall, Brad Wilcox, TC Christensen, Sharon Eubank and a couple more.  Al Fox was supposed to come, but we heard that she had somehow double booked and therefore wasn't able to make it.  Nick had made the comment that most of the speakers were the same ones that came to all his youth events.  I thought that they were all a bit old (my age-ish) and that Al Fox would have been a nice addition because she's younger.  

Caitlyn, Jennie and I returned early and left Roy at camp to continue in service.  We hurried home to spend time with Elise.  We had a relaxing evening.  Elise had cooked a fresh tomato sauce with tomatoes, basil, onions and peppers from our garden to serve with pasta.  I cooked sausages and zucchini on the grill.  Nick came over with his girls and Adrienne came with Ila (her boys were camping with AJ--Hallelujah for Adrienne!) We visited and let the kids play (thus Effie's cracked tooth).  They had a great time until Effie got hurt.

More pictures of the kids:

Max did NOT want a nap!