Alaska Mission

                                          Sister missionaries at the mission home in Anchorage.

                                               Seminary & Institute training in Anchorage. 

Quilt for Rachel and Jared who are getting married on Saturday in Utah.

                      More meetings.  So much to learn.  Sister & Elder Schindler 2nd & 3rd from left.

It's been another busy week.  We finished our temple preparation class today for two couples that are both getting married this week.  Jared and Rachel are getting married in Provo, Ut. on Saturday.  Rachel came to Alaska to drive busses this summer and ended up engaged.  They are moving to Ephriam, so we won't see them again.  Stephanie and Spencer are getting married on Thursday in Anchorage and are having a reception here on Friday.  They plan to stay in Alaska, so we hope we will see them occasionally.  It is such a blessing to see them prepare and be worthy of a temple marriage for time and all eternity.  It is hard to see dear friends get married and leave our branch, but that's really what the gospel is all about -- families!

We were able to spend three days in Anchorage last week.  That allowed us the opportunity to attend the temple on Thursday and on Saturday.  It's also a blessing to be able to fly there.  Friday was filled up with lots of information on how to better accomplish our responsibilities including how to be better teachers.  It's a wonderful thing to learn from such seasoned teachers.  It was good to be with Elder & Sister Schindler again.  They are taking care of seminary and institute in Juneau.  Because we were in town with the Schindlers, the couple missionaries in the office planned a couples activity on Friday evening.  We had a wonderful dinner together with Pres. and Sister Beesley in the mission home.  There were eight of the mission couples there.  It's great to feel their spirits and get to know them as well.  Senior couples are greatly needed and can fill so many different assignments. 

I've been trying to get quilts finished in my few spare hours at home.  It's fun to be able to use the fabric stash that Jerri Olsen has upstairs.  Lots of the throws that I've made have an assortment of the same fabrics in them.  I found a great easy pattern on my trip to Anchorage two weeks ago that is becoming my favorite pattern.  Hopefully I will have the quilt for Stephanie and Spencer finished by Friday.

The forest is ready for winter.

We love being here in Alaska.  The weather has been quite nice, but snow is just around the corner.  You can tell people are getting prepared.  There are GREAT stacks of wood near many houses to keep them warm in the winter.  It has been so much fun to watch the changing seasons here. 

Every day we realize how blessed we are to belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that has been restored to the earth after such a long time of apostacy following the death of the Apostles of Jesus Christ.  We recognize how important families are to our Heavenly Father's plan and are grateful for the beautiful family we have been blessed with.  We love you all.  We miss our dear grandchildren, so take good care of them.   We are thankful for our dear friends at home as well. 

Love,
JoAnn & Jim