Corn, Corn, Corn

Corn, Corn, Corn....

Dave and I went and worked at the cannery this morning. Our stake was scheduled from 8-12. I didn't sign up because I never saw the sign up sheet, so I went along anyway and figured there would be something for me to do. Well they put us right to work. I knew Dave was going to get a heavy labor job. Most of the men there were elderly and as soon as they saw Dave their eyes lit up. So he worked on the truck unloading all the corn. He unloaded 1 1/2 semi-trucks full of corn. They normally unload 2 semi trailors a day and Dave did 1 1/2 in 4 hours. The machinary was getting jammed with stocks so Dave even jummped in and helped with that. Way to go Dave!


I sat where all the corn came down the conveyor that had been cut from the Cob. I had to use another piece of corn as a "stick" and pull out any large pieces of the Cob that came through, pull out the stringy things from schucking the corn, and just make sure the corn niblits/kernals were flowing through the grate into the huge bucket for cleaning. At first I thought "Thank goodness I get a sit down job" Everyone around me was standing. Well after about 15 minutes I was envying those that were standing. I had to sit on this medal stool and lean way over to perform my job because the trash can had to be in front of me. My back was killing and I got soaking wet. My jeans were wet on both legs all the way up to my thighs. They had plastic aprons for us, but I was around so much water I was bound to get wet! Anyway, I just kept saying to myself "Suck it up" who cares about getting wet or a hurting back or whatever. I did just have a good attitude and was grateful that Dave and I had the time to go and serve. We certainly have received a lot of help these past few months with our situation and we were happy to serve.

Just to give you an idea on how much corn there was... The church has asked the Salt Lake cannery to produce 1.5 million cans of corn in 6 weeks. They usually do about 750,000 cans a year. So this is a huge task! They are producing cans 10 hrs/day and 6 days a week.


They think that by tomorrow they will reach the 750,000 can mark. They have 3 more weeks to go. They have done nothing else, but produce the canned corn. It is just amazing to see how the process worked. I don't think I will ever eat corn without thinking about this great opportunity that I had to help in accomplishing this grand goal.

With the current economic condition, the Bishop Warehouse's (Storehouse? I can't remember what the proper term is) have been stretched to their limits. So many people are out of jobs or had cuts in pay that they need the help. Canned corn is the most popular veggie at the Warehouse so that is why they need so much. I am so grateful that the church has this wonderful welfare system that helps people all over the world.

Oranges, Oranges, Oranges...


I remember when I was a teenager and we lived in Fallbrook, our stake would have assignments to go to the orange groves and pick oranges. I remember my Mom and Dad taking all of us kids to go pick oranges on Saturdays. It was hard work, especially when your bag got really full. The thing I remember most are all the spiders. Maybe that is why I hate spiders so much. Anyway, depending on the size of the orange, some would go to make juice and some would go to large bags to be consumed. They often had extra bags (about 20 pounds) and we would come home and have fresh squeezed O.J. it was so good. And again, this is a memory that I always have whenever I eat an orange or have some O.J. It is always good to serve, no matter what capacity it is in. That is one of the things I love most about the church. Everyone's willingness to serve.

Banana's, Banana's, Banana's...


Well I haven't really ever done anything with banana's except for eat them. Yes this was my lame attempt at humor. Ha, Ha, Ha!