Beneath the Wraps

           Today was the day assigned to our stake to go pick pears in Medford – which we had planned on.  Jenna had even had a friend stay the night so that we could take her with us. But as I was talking with the RS president last night, she said everything had been picked clean except for the tops.  Thus the only jobs available was to climb ladders.  Neither Roland nor I are in condition to climb ladders and it didn ’ t seem to appeal to either Jenna or her friend either.           Jenna does and always has liked to climb.   But there is a difference climbing with the use of both hands and standing on a latter with a heavy bag that only gets heavier as pears are loaded inside.   And then to climb back down again?   That would be the toughest part for me personally.           I really doubt we could have gone this morning anyway.  Roland ’ s back ha...

            The church has a pear orchard in Medford, Oregon.   Each year the church donates the pears to the food bank and those on welfare (see here )   The Roseburg stake (church boundary that I belong to) has asked its members to pick pears at least once a year.   Our assigned day is usually the third Saturday in August.   This is the fifth year that we (our family) have gone to pick pears for a service project.             Each year we have tried to stay for more than a couple of hours.   Each year our health has prevented either Roland or I from wanting to continue.   The last two years were so filled with smoke, it was hard to breathe.   Last year I had filled my bag only half way before I’d make the long trek to the pear bin.    I used to be in better shape.   I vaguely remember telling a couple that ...