There and Back Again: Week 43 BEAUTY inside and out and Words from Elder Cullen

Reg/Elder Cullen says, "Today is Saturday, August 23, 2025. Sister Cullen and I went to a Classic and Antique car show held at Plymouth, IL which is a tiny hamlet with a population of 400. There were plenty of wonderfully restored and minutly detailed cars from every decade from the 1900s.

That is: Ford model T, Model A, Chicago Gangster Sedans from the 1930s;

it just went on and on and on in a wonderful display of colors, shapes and horsepower!

There is a small town square in Plymouth, but enough variety of craft vendors and food trucks and carnival rides to make the visit worth while. The BEST part was an artist offering FREE charcoal caractures. So we waited in line and his drawing of us is shown below.

While we were sitting for our characture, Heather/Sis Cullen asked some local girls to get us a lemonade from a vendor across the path and they did so cheerfully. Previously I tried to buy a slice of German brownie Cake from an Amish Vendor, but they didn't have change for a $20. So I eventually found the cheapest craft I could and bought a $1, magnitized, needle pointed pumpkin...mostly to get the change needed for the Amish brownie cake. When the girls got Sis Cullen the lemonade, I gave the pumpkin to the girls as a tip. They refused the $5 Sister Cullen tried to give them. So it all worked out nicely: I got the German Brownie Cake and I didn't have to take the pumpkin craft home. I think that in the characture, Heather looks like Spring and I look like a young farmer! We'll likely frame this drawing and Sister Cullen may colorize it with water colors. When the artist asked me to smile more I started to sing, "When you're smiling, when you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you!..." Unexpectedly, he started singing along and we had an impromptu duet on the town square in Plymouth! We love serving the Lord in Illinos!"

Today I was looking at the flowers in my front yard and thinking how wonderful Heavenly Father and Jesus are. How artistic and fun. You can tell how they are by how they express themselves in Nature. The scriptures say "All things testify of a creator" and it's true!

Also, In our companionship study we read this in the hand book, "Throughout your life. As companions: Love, respect, and strengthen each other. Study together every day and pray together frequently throughout the day. Be humble and recognize each other’s strengths.

Treat each other as you would like to be treated. Avoid criticism and contention.

Avoid speaking negatively about each other to other missionaries, Church members, or family and friends at home. If you notice any inappropriate situation or behavior, discuss it with your companion. If the matter is not resolved or if your companion is being abusive, have the courage and love for your companion to ask your mission president for help (see 3.9.2)

Whenever you see any missionaries, of any age or gender, this is what is in the handbook. So feel free to help them follow these guidelines.

I am grateful for these reminders. I can do better at some of this. I am getting better and better at not speaking negatively about anyone. I am thankful for the Grace of Jesus Christ that helps me want to be better, gives me the strength to be better, and the only thing I have to do is be willing to change.