Mail Call!

Here's the latest. This is only part of her email, but the whole thing is just so... bubbly!

Daddykins!! :D

Did you know that Alaskans eat more ice cream per capita than anyone else?...crazy little factoid, huh?...that's so weird!
and ice cream is so good...I might have to buy some today...

Sister Aitken and I are doing awesome. Yesterday I made us Strawberry pancakes for breakfast...they were way yummy...I wished I had some yogurt though so I could make yogurt pancakes like you used to do when we were younger. :D We're getting along great though and we're seeing some success. We have a mother and 2 of her kids on date for the 21st...it's one of those stories that always seems to happen to other missionaries...it's awesome! Last Sunday we were going to do some tracting before church. So, we turn down this road and Sister Aitken asked if we had anybody who lived in this area and I said yes, Laura lives here. So, we decided to go visit Laura (Sister Moeller and I and then Sister Aitken and I had been trying to contact her for the past 6 weeks). We pull in to her driveway and there's a car there and the door to the house door is open and a lady comes to the door when we get out of the cars - it's Laura Vazquez! She comes outside and says "Sister missionaries! We're almost ready - we're coming to church today, it starts at 11 right?" We told her it didn't start until 1 so she invited us in and we visited with her and her 9 year old daughter, Gabriela, for a little bit. Then, we had to leave and get something from our apartment before church and they had to finish getting ready.

So, we get to church and they aren't there yet but, they did show up and they sat with us...and they stayed for the whole 3 hours! Gabriela loved primary and she's working on memorizing the Articles of Faith. Laura loved all three hours - she took notes in Sunday School so she could read up on the stuff later. She cried through practically the whole 3 hour block...and she loved Relief Society! She loved getting to know that there were other women out there who know what she's going through with her kids and everything - it was GREAT!

Every time we leave her house we practically have to pinch ourselves because we can hardly believe that this is happening to us....it's so amazing! The Lord has been preparing her for a long time to receive the Gospel...and we are so grateful to be a part of this!

See, transfers here are different. All the companionships who are changing meet at the Eagle River chapel at 3pm on the day of transfers and then we have a little meeting, the people who are going home lead us in the mission song, we move our luggage to our new car and leave to our new area with our new companion. Unless you're going somewhere where you have to fly...like Juneau, Ketchikan, Whitehorse or something like that...then you leave early that morning and fly, by yourself, to your new area...scary!

It is easier to keep my place clean when I have less stuff. I've got a lot of stuff to go through when I get home...

I did have moose - it's way good! I've had moose pot roast, moose meat loaf...we have moose steaks in the freezer...it's good stuff. :D

Well, my Daddy, have a fantabulous week! Your card finally went out on Saturday (I think...). I put it in the mailbox Wednesday night, but the mailman didn't come around again until Saturday...

Well, I've got a few more emails to do and then we've got to jet out of here - we have a TON to do today...

Love ya!

Love,
'chelle

Happy Birthday America!

America The Beautiful

Katharine Lee Bates wrote the original version in 1893. She wrote the 2nd version in 1904. Her final version was written in 1913.

Here is a note from Katharine Lee Bates:

"One day some of the other teachers and I decided to go on a trip to 14,000-foot Pikes Peak. We hired a prairie wagon. Near the top we had to leave the wagon and go the rest of the way on mules. I was very tired. But when I saw the view, I felt great joy. All the wonder of America seemed displayed there, with the sea-like expanse."

America the Beautiful - 1913

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

More...

Mail Call!

Here's the latest from Michelle. She's still at the same address but has a new companion.

Daddy,

Did I tell you what President Lewis said when I got my last transfer call? He told me that they were very impressed with how well I was doing and they've noticed that I'm making myself available and that I probably won't stay a Junior for very much longer...crazy!

I've been working really hard this week. I'd heard that Sister Aitken is super obedient and a really hard worker so I wanted to make sure that I was being like that when she got here so she wouldn't have to drag me along. It's been a tiring week, but it feels so good! I'm so glad that I made this decision to come out and serve a mission - it's such a neat experience! :D Right now we live in the coveted Wasilla apartment...we have a washer and dryer, two full bathrooms and a garage. :D Our's is second only to the "Celestial Kingdom" which is a mother-in-law apartment at a member's house. Slowly, but surely, they are going to start moving as many missionaries world wide as they can in with the members to cut down on the cost.

Yeah, I really don't have too much trouble with thinking about home. I've never really gotten homesick. It is an adventure and I'm pretty good at adjusting to things...the only thing I don't like about being transfered is having to pack and unpack everything....

I miss music too...but I have lots of good stuff to listen to so I'm good. I also really miss Harry Potter...it's everywhere and it's driving me crazy. I can wait a year though so I'll be okay as long as nobody spoils the 7th book for me. :D

I'm going to pass off my first lesson this week though...I'm pretty excited. :D

Apartment inspections are a joy... Really though, I'm a lot better at keeping my stuff organized and clean when I'm living with someone else who isn't related to me...kinda weird...but true. :D

Yep, Sister Hubbard and Sister Moeller are both home in the lower 48 now. It wasn't too hard to say goodbye...she's going on to the next mission in her life and I've still got this one to finish. It's all good. She did email me though...she went out for like 5 hours with the Sister Missionaries this past week..lol.

Halibut Lasagna was so good! It was with a white sauce...yumm! We just had halibut tacos at another member's house this week. This time the halibut was breaded and the sauce was mayonaise, white vinegar, water, cilantro, jalepeno, and garlic all blended up...it was actually pretty good. It had just enough kick to make your mouth tingle. :D I'll see what I can do about getting recipes for you. :D Speaking of food : Last night I had a bear. We had bear sausage spaghetti. It was pretty good. I don't think I'd eat plain bear, but it was good in the spaghetti.

The weather this past week has been pretty good...well, good to me. It's been overcast and rainy and in the 50s...I love it! :D That's awesome that you look forward to Sundays...I used to too. Now, Sunday is the most stressful day of the week. I look forward to Mondays....:D

My new companion is awesome! Sister Aitken and I were both trained by Sister Hubbard...so we're sisters! :D She's from American Fork, Utah and she turns 25 this year. Her year mark is on the 5th of this month. She actually trained Sister Pedersen. :D She's awesome though and we're gonna tear it up this transfer! We're so excited! I guess she actually prayed that she would come to Wasilla and be my companion...she said she needs someone happy and upbeat like me....awesome, huh?

Well, I've got to finish my emails so we can go shopping and then I have to write like 5 letters...yikes!

I love you and Happy Birthday!!

Love,
'chelle

Church Announces Millionth Missionary Milestone

They are as much a symbol of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Salt Lake Temple and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, clean-cut suit-clad young men [and women] on bikes or on foot going door to door with a gospel message. Mormon missionaries have fanned across the globe since the earliest days of the Church and in the process have reached a major milestone.

Here's a link to the rest of the article.

Here's the latest from our favorite missionary.

My Dearest Daddy,

I felt so bad when I remembered [Fathers Day] on Sunday morning...I really meant to send you a card or something...ARGH! I still love you!

I'm glad the girls had fun at the Edward's Family Reunion...that's a bummer that you missed it.

I do remember when Grandma and Grandpa were missionary apartment inspectors. The Senior Missionaries in the office take care of inspections and stuff like that here in Alaska. Hey...are there any Sister Missionaries in our Stake?

Yep, teaching in the summer is rough....but, teaching in the winter is tough too since people are out snowmachining or staying warm down south somewhere...it's not as hard to find people during the winter though. The people we find now though are pretty good.

I'm definitely working on my obedience to certain things. President Lewis tells us all the time that it's natural to think about home and sometimes it's necessary too but, if that's all we think about and we focus on it constantly that's when it's a problem. We can think about home and stuff, as long as we stay focused and I'm doing pretty good about staying focused. T.V. is the WORST though - as a missionary I HATE the T.V.!

My new companion, who I get this afternoon, is Sister Aitken. She's been out for almost a year now and she trained my MTC companion, Sister Pedersen. She's been serving in Fairbanks for the past couple of months. She and I were both trained by Sister Hubbard so we're "sisters."

We get two new Sisters this week but, we also lose two: Sister Moeller and Sister Hubbard. So, we're at the same number of Sisters and will be for awhile. We have atleast one Sister coming out next transfer but, we also have another one leaving.

It is kind of awkward sometimes to try and make friends with the Elders but, I'm finding that, for the most part, it's not awkward on my part. I feel like I've gotten a grasp on my flirtatiousness and that I can just try and "hang out" with the Elders and be friends or whatever. It's pretty cool. The only time it's really awkward is if an Elder or someone else makes it awkward.

Mmmm...BBQ Salmon. I haven't had any BBQ Salmon up here...but I've had it prepared lots of other ways...and Halibut too! :D I love whenever we have fish for dinner at anyone's house, I always get so excited! We had Halibut Tacos 2 or 3 weeks ago and then Halibut Lasagna the following week - it was SO GOOD!! :D

I can't believe that Grandma and Grandpa have been married for 60 years...that's so cool! I still remember when we were preparing for their 50th anniversary!

Well, we've got to head to Anchorage in the next half hour so I better keep replying to emails. We're meeting all the Anchorage Sisters in about 2 hours to do lunch and hang out before transfers, it's going to be fun!

Love,'chelle

I'm assumeing Michelle is staying at the same address. She said she has a new companion, but she didn't say anything about a new address. I'll have her clearify that next week.

Halibut Lasagna... That actually sounds like it might be good! Anyone have a recipe?

Mail Call!

Michelle is doing great. She's enjoying the warmer weather and the almost 20 hours of sun! Even when the sun does finally go down, it doesn't really get dark. It's just twilight.

Talking to and teaching people is becoming more of a challenge now because of the good weather and long daylight ours. She says in Alaska there is just so much to do! Hiking, boating, fishing, etc. No one is ever home. Nonetheless, she is persevering and absolutely loving what she's doing.

Monday is transfers and Michelle will be getting a new companion since Sister Moeller, her current companion, has completed her mission and will be going home.

Happy Fathers Day!

Ours is a great privilege and responsibility. The exalted position of a father was well stated by American general Douglas MacArthur, who said: “By profession I am a soldier and take pride in that fact. But I am prouder—infinitely prouder—to be a father. A soldier destroys in order to build; the father only builds, never destroys. The one has the potentiality of death; the other embodies creation and life. And while the hordes of death are mighty, the battalions of life are mightier still. It is my hope that my son, when I am gone, will remember me not from the battle but in the home repeating with him our simple daily prayer, ‘Our Father who art in heaven.’” *

Thanks for the picture Bobbi!

*In Emerson Roy West, comp., Vital Quotations (1968), 118

Missionary Information

For those of you who would like to know more about the missionary program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, here is a link to an article on the Church's website. It has some interesting information.

Here's a short letter from Michelle I received last Monday. Sorry it took so long to post.

Daddy,

I haven't been home since 7am since our Zone went on a Hike this morning; it was wicked hard. I couldn't do it, but some of the Elders had ropes so Elder Southworth, who used to be a gymnast/male cheerleader aka he's pretty strong, tied it around his waist and then had me hold on to it and he helped me up the trail. It was really nice of him. Elder Whittington (who is from Pleasantview UTAH!) let me have some of his gatorade and he and Elder Heaton (one of my Zone Leaders) encouraged me all the way up. They were very sweet and they're my favorite Elders right now. :D lol The view where we finally stopped was beautiful (there are pictures) and totally worth the fact that I won't be able to crawl out of bed tomorrow morning. It probably won't help that I spent a couple of hours playing Dodgeball and kickball today too. Pretty much, my Zone is awesome! :D

I love you tons too! :D

Love,
'chelle

Mail Call!

Here's what our favorite missionary had to say today:

Daddy!

The weather here the past week has been reminding me lots of home. We've been kind of cloudy and overcast with some occasional showers, it's nice. Yesterday after church when we went out to the car the thermometer inside said 81....yikes! It was only in the high 60s, but the car was baking inside...my chocolate bar turned to goo...lol

Speaking of mailing things, I sent you a letter today with my notes from our meeting with Elder Nelson and a copy of my talk outline. I'll have to record the talk on my tape recorder since it's just an outline that I sent you.

I do like my new companion. Someone called us a married couple the other night at dinner, lol. It was really funny.

The work is going well here and the members are AWESOME too. They take such good care of us.

I love you bunches!

Love,
'chelle