We had to stop and take a picture of the beautiful sunrise on the way to the Institute.

                                  Trisha in Pres. Olsen's judge's robes for Halloween at home evening.

 Elder Ulu'ave on the far right and Elder Williams at our apartment for a final dinner before Elder Ulu'ave
leaves for his double home of Utah and Hawaii.

                                   Sandy and Cameron at Sandy's baptism this last Saturday.

The top picture is looking into the deep southwest as the sun starts is winter decline. We still have about eight hours of daylight but the day length continues to shorten. The Alaskan winter has more or less settled in with days and nights hovering around zero degrees. The little snow we get is so powdery that it blows of of the road and also the car. We have started to plug the car into our block heater that comes on for three hours before we start the car in the mornings. The heater and the remote start are real advantages here in Alaska.

The next picture of Trisha is at our family night Halloween party. I think she really enjoyed putting on Judge Olsen's robes since she works as a law clerk here in Fairbanks. The party was great fun and we were overwhelmed with Halloween goodies since the were very few trick or treaters who came to the house. Even though Trisha is not a member yet President Olsen asked her to be the director of our family home evening and to host it at her apartment.                                                                                                                                                                 The picture of the two zone leaders was taken at our apartment when we had the farewell dinner for Elder Ulu'ave. At dinner we found that he knows Ti Salakielu from Hawaii and has been to the Salakielu home in Sandy as well.

The last picture is of Sandy's baptism. She is truly a very spiritual lady. Cameron came to UAF in the Physics department last year and Sandy is the secretary of the department. Cameron had the opportunity to introduce her to the gospel and she has been investigating for the last year. She finally met with the missionaries and committed to baptism. She said that she has been looking for the right church to join and had been seeking the truth for the past three years. She is extremely happy to have found the true church and to have been baptized. Her husband is already recognizing that she has changed with her acceptance of the gospel.
 
We have experienced two great firesides this week end. First Elder Holland and Bishop Burton came to Anchorage on Saturday and presented a fireside on Saturday night that was broadcast to Fairbanks stake. Then on Sunday night the CES fireside was a presentation by Elder Packer. It has been great to have been instructed by members of the quorum of the twelve this weekend.

Jim and JoAnn

                                              A sample of the Thursday night treats for Institute.

               Joe Verhagen at his going away party as he leaves this Tuesday for his mission in the New York City South Mission.  (The same general area where Elder Spens was a young missionary.)

                            Nick Maynes at the Halloween party.  This Alaska bear gave his all for this costume.

                                          Andy Pusateri and Karlie Gray, our latest engaged couple.

                                           The pie eating contest at the branch Halloween party.
                                                     (Anne, Riley, Ethan, Taylor, Nick)

Another week has passed with more adventures in classes and other fun activities.  We were excited to have some of our students from Delta Junction and Nenana come for classes this week.  It's always a boost to our spirits and to the classes when the students from a ways away are able to come join us.  President and Sister Hull spoke at our Institute class on Tuesday night and it was wonderful to hear their testimonies on how faith in Jesus Christ can help us provide for ourselves and others.  Sue Hull is one of our seminary teachers, and Pres. Hull is a member of the stake presidency.  Both of them are wonderful teachers.  Our broadcast is getting better, but it is only available at the time of the class because of our internet speed.  We hope some are able to log in on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Saturday evening we took two of the young adults with us to Nenana to the Verhagen's home to say good bye to Joe.  He is a great young man and he is so excited to go to the big city to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Some of his family have been having a wonderful adventure in Utah being part of the cast for the New Testament videos the Church has been filming in Goshen.  We were able to see some wonderful pictures and hear about their experience.  We can't wait until the final production comes out.  Josh Verhagen is very grateful to be clean shaven again and have his hair cut as well.  Here is a link to a video clip of the filming.  Josh is the young man standing behind the girl in the first picture.  He is also standing behind the widow as she deposits her mite in the temple coffers. 

http://lds.org/church/news/behind-the-scenes-on-the-jerusalem-movie-set?lang=eng

Saturday evening was also the Branch Halloween party at the Institute.  The kids did a wonderful job of decorating and planning a fun time.  All of those that were there had a great time.  It's fun to see them having such a great time together.  They really enjoy each others' company.  Nick gave me quite a start when he hid behind my door in his real black bear skin.

Today was Sunday.  We traveled to Healy about 128 miles away to speak in Sacrament Meeting.  We needed to visit our seminary teachers there and were able to do some training as well as have a seminary lesson with the two families that are teaching seminary at home.  We were anxious to get them started.  Some times we have a difficult time getting in touch with our teachers that are far away.  I hope things will go well with their seminary experiences.  Each family has one child that they are teaching.  At least now we have some contact information and know who we are talking to.  That is a huge help.  They were very kind to have a nice lunch for us afterwards.

It has been a great blessing to be able to study the gospel of Jesus Christ and share it with students and branches here in Alaska.  The more we study and learn of Him, the more we will feel His love for us and He can become our greatest friend.  Understanding and relying on the Atonement of Jesus Christ takes a lifetime of learning that can bring us the greatest joy.  Have a wonderful week.

Love,
JoAnn and Jim

                                             The quilt for Stephanie Dayton & Spencer Ashcraft.

                                              M & M's with their pictures on them--pretty fun.

                                                       Jim & Riley Nelson at home evening

Monday evening is always a fun time at home evening.  We meet at Trisha & Christina's apartment.  President Olsen had a great lesson and the new Christina brought a wonderful apple bread.  We keep a detailed record of our home evenings which has provided many smiles and laughs later on.  This time, we decided to take pictures of each one there so that we could add them to the journal.

Classes this week have been enjoyable and challenging.  We continue to have trouble with our camera in broadcasting our classes on the internet.  Travis Payton came and spent several hours working on things and eventually bought another camera.  We thought all was well until we tried to broadcast class on Thursday and it all froze up.  Needless to say, we will be working on that project again tomorrow.  Technology is really stretching us.  We have been having some great classes although most of the classes are small.  We realize, however, that each one is important.  It reminds me of the song the Reynolds sisters sing called, "He Blessed the One."  We were looking at pictures of those we met when we first came to Alaska and realized that about 60% of them are no longer in the Branch.  We did have several new people come to the Branch today, and we are encouraging them all to attend institute classes.

Spencer and Stephanie were married in the Anchorage Temple on Thursday.  Because of classes, we were not able to be there.  On Friday, they had a ring ceremony especially for family and friends that are not members of the Church.  Afterwards, they had a wonderful reception.  I felt badly that we didn't get to take a picture of them.  The most important thing is that they were sealed for time and eternity as a family.  That is the main goal--to see members receive eternal temple blessing.  Today another couple announced their engagement.  What a blessing.

Saturday we had Zone Conference in the afternoon with President and Sister Beesley and all the elders from our area.  It is always uplifting to learn from them and feel their spirits.  We are always given challenges to help us become better missionaries.  To close the meeting, we sang a wonderful Primary song, "If the Savior Stood Beside Me."   As we look at our lives and our missionary work, and think of the Savior being right by our sides, we can strive to be better examples of his followers. 

We are so thankful for the blessings we have received here and for the blessings that our family have received as well.  Thank you for taking care of each other so well.

Love to all of you,
JoAnn and Jim

To hear the song, here is the link to the Sally DeFord site. 
http://www.defordmusic.com/mp3/ifthesaviorstoodbesidemejamesloynes.mp3

                                          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

Zone Conference in Fairbanks one week before transfers.  Elder William R. Walker and his wife Vickie in the center back.

Sisters' conference in the mission home in Anchorage.

Prudhoe Bay--the beginning point of the oil pipeline taken from an airplane.

Seminary in Barrow, Jaden Nethercott, Pavel Hernandez, and Bro. Todd Henke.

It's windy in Barrow!

The Arctic Ocean with the top of a whale skull bone on the beach (with frozen puddles.)

A typical scene in Barrow with snow!

 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Barrow, Alaska.

      You will notice that there are 20 young elders in the Fairbanks zone pictured above. The zone is a good part of the mission. Geographically it is very large although most of the missionaries pictured are working within a thirty mile radius of Fairbanks proper.  Elder Walker was here for three days touring the mission however, he was only in three areas Fairbanks, Anchorage and Juneau. If he were to tour the entire mission with its remote villages and isolated areas he would have been here for two or three weeks. You will notice that Elder Spens is not in the picture because I was doing automobile inspection out in the parking lot. 

     We went through Prudhoe Bay on our way to Barrow this time. Prudhoe Bay is just one big oil field and it is a processing point for the beginning of the trans-Alaska oil line. It is a town if you will filled with workers of the oil industry. About half the men on our flight got off the plane at Prudhoe Bay to go to work.

     The last 5 pictures are of our trip to Barrow. Barrow is the furthest north city in the U.S.A. and the early morning seminary may very well be the furthest north early morning seminary in the world. Barrow is at 71 degrees north latitude. Winter starts there early and we were there for the very beginning as the snow came and the ground started to freeze. Bro. Henke picks up the seminary students each morning transports them to class and then after to the high school where he works as an industrial arts teacher. They have a very new and fully equipped high school with all of the latest technology as well as  full woodworking , automotive and metals shops. It is all paid for by monies that come into the North Slope Burroughs native Indian fund from oil and gas profit sharing. The fall whaling season was soon to get under way and is a big thing for the subsistence life style of the natives. They harvest about 10 bow-head whales each fall and all of the surrounding villages share in the meat and whale blubber. Barrow has no grass or trees or shrubs. It is just dirt that was mud when we were there and was thankfully starting to freeze so things are cleaner in the winter. The edge of the Arctic Ocean is a gravely beach with an occasional bow head whale skull displayed. It is usually overcast and windy in Barrow and warms up to a balmy 40 to 60 degrees in the summer which is July and August. 

  We are now back home and this week returned to a typical week of teaching institute classes here in Fairbanks. We have started a program of live video streaming the evening institute classes so that anyone in the remote areas can via the stake web site watch the class. We are just getting started in this area  as was recommended by the stake presidency.  They use this system for stake conference and also use it with a secure feed for their high council meetings.

     This week end we had conference sessions at the institute building and includes a breakfast/brunch for the young adults between sessions. Remember with our 2 hour time differential we started the sessions at 8:00am so our break is between 10 and 12. We had investigators attending all of the sessions. We certainly enjoyed the conference broadcasts and the good food as well. JoAnn and I enjoy our association not only with the YSA but also the recently baptized members as well as the investigators that we have a chance to talk with. Those who are investigating the church seem to add a certain vitality to the church with there enthusiasm as well as questions about the gospel. These young investigator/converts add considerably to the joy of our mission experience. 

Jim and JoAnn

Hi, everyone.
Sorry we're late.  It's been a busy and fun week. I had a Sister Missionary Conference in Anchorage and we spent three days in Barrow.  There is snow in Barrow already.  It was probably our last trip to Barrow, so we went up on Saturday in time to catch the Relief Society Conference and then we went to the Branch meetings on Sunday.  They have a small but wonderful branch.  It is quite multicultural with members from Samoa and Tonga, the Philippines and Americans.  Our main purpose was to visit the seminary class on Monday morning.  Todd Henke, the seminary teachers picks up the 3 boys every morning to bring them to the church for seminary.  Because we got to stay with Todd, two of the boys came on a four wheeler so that we could fit in the jeep.  They were pretty cold by the time they got there.  It was a great class.  We realize how important each one is to the Lord.  Even small classes are important.  Todd and Elaine had a skin sewing class on Saturday that we visited.  It was so interesting to learn how to work with furs, etc.  Fur parkas and hats are really a necessity in Barrow.  The wind a really strong most of the time and it's cold!  Elaine is working on a parka for herself lined with some nice sheep skin that she had shipped up.  It should be really warm.   We wanted to visit before things were totally frozen.  We got some fun pictures of the Arctic Ocean that we will post later.  

We had a wonderful zone conference last Monday with Elder William Walker of the Seventy and his wife.  It was an intense day of learning.   We met them at the airport along with Pres. and Sister Beesley and the two assistants to the president.  Elder Walker was raised in Raymond, Alberta, Canada and knows the Ehlert family up there.  It was fun to be able to call Dad and tell him about the conference and Elder Walker's comment, "the Ehlerts are a good bunch."  Now I know how our sons felt after zone conferences on their missions. 

I got to repeat the zone conference in Anchorage on Thursday, only this time we had five zones together so that Elder Walker could meet more missionaries.  After zone conference all the sisters in the mission got together for dinner at the mission home and a wonderful meeting together.  The theme of the conference was that we are all children of our Heavenly Father and that each one of us is so important.  It went along perfectly with Pres. Uchtdorf's message in Relief Society conference.  The sisters in Barrow really responded when he talked about the forget-me-not since it's the state flower of Alaska. It had special meaning to us in Alaska.

We forgot to bring home the camera from the institute tonight so we missed trying to take pictures of the aurora that was out tonight.  We'll have to catch up with pictures later. 

Be sure to watch general conference.  It is such a blessing to know that we have a prophet on the earth today that can guide us if we will be listen and put into practice the messages we hear.  Listen for ways to strengthen your family.  That's what life is all about--helping our family and others return to Heavenly Father.  We love you so much and want to have our family be together forever.

JoAnn and Jim

 This is a very large bull moose just inside Denali park. The bulls are in rut now and are very dangerous. This one had a antler spread of six or seven feet! It was moving away from us at about 200 yards.

 This is the same large bull moose with a great view of his back side. The Yukon moose variety is the largest moose in north America. They are very plentiful in the forests of Alaska. It is hunting season now and we see and hear of many being taken.

This is a view inside the Denali National Park. 

 The upper picture is a view inside Denali park in late September with the fall conditions. It is the Savage river drainage which is as far as you can drive in to the park in a private car. We saw a lone Dahl sheep on the high ridge just in back of where this picture was taken. He was too far away for a picture. The bottom picture is the ten thousand foot pinnacles just south and east of Denali s peak. They are spectacular peaks in and of themselves because they are so steep and pointed.

This is a view of Denali peak from the Park highway just east of the mountain probably about fifty miles. The picture was taken from a flat valley floor of about two thousand feet elevation. Then the lower mountains in the foreground are shorter peaks of eight or nine thousand feet. Then Denali is in the far back jutting up to over twenty thousand feet. With our binoculars we could see the snow cornices on the south face of the east buttress of the mountain and they appeared to be several hundred feet thick. Denali or Mt. McKinley is truly a spectacular mountain.

Life is wonderful in Alaska.  We were excited to have about 12 attend our Tuesday night class.  That was a big change from 2 the week before.  Since we are having guest speakers from the stake, we are anxious to have people there.  We even put up posters at Stake Conference inviting people to come.  On Thursday we got a new laptop and camera to help us begin to broadcast our classes on the stake internet site.  Travis Payton is helping us work out the technology, and we are very hopeful that things will begin soon.   We had a great group of young adults attend classes on Thursday.  It's always fun and challenging to bake cinnamon rolls for between classes and think of something more substantial for after class for munch and mingle.  The chili dogs were a hit, but the sauerkraut was not a favorite.  Good thing to remember.  On Friday, we had two new Relief Society sisters come and a sister call in from Wainwright, a village of about 700 people.  The sister and her husband are the only members of the church in their village, so they are used to using the polycom to join in meetings.  We hope more will join us.  Technology is so much fun! 

On Friday after class, we headed to Anchorage.  On the way, we drove into Denali Park as far as you can go.  It was about 35 miles.  We were very excited to see the bull moose in the pictures.  He was the second bull moose we have seen since we arrived.  It is so much fun to see the changes in the scenery.  The birch trees are yellow gold and it looks like the whole country is ablaze.  We were able to stay at the mission home again.  It is always a blessing to be able to spend time with Pres. & Sister Beesley.  Saturday morning we attended the temple.  Adam Dewey, one of the young adults in our temple preparation class, went to the temple for the first time.  We were so pleased to be able to be there.  He is leaving for a mission to Brazil in December.  It was a wonderful experience to be in the temple with several members of our stake.  Members from Salcha and Delta were there as well as a large group from our branch who came to do baptisms for the dead.  We are blessed to have a temple that is only 6-7 hours drive from Fairbanks.  The members here are hoping that there will be a temple in Fairbanks some day. 

Today we had the opportunity to speak in the Salcha Branch.  Generally they have about 100 people, but several stayed in Anchorage to see friends and family after attending the temple.  Pres. Price told us that they usually have about 90% attendance at their branch meetings.  What faithful saints!  They have even move a house of some of the members this summer.  They had been told that their home had to be moved because of the possibility of flooding from the river, and the community got together and moved it.  The father in the home has terminal cancer, but he was at church sitting on the front row with his family.  After the meeting was over, his wife brought their granddaughter up to the stand.  She told me that she had something to give me.  I was overwhelmed when she gave me the biggest hug and just wouldn't let go.  She was about 4 years old and thought I needed a hug from a "granddaughter."   She was right.  I truly miss all my grandchildren, but I know it will be a blessing to all of us through our mission here.  I feel like I am learning so much by studying more and teaching classes.  We all need to strengthen each other in our testimonies of Jesus Christ.  Through our faith in Him and our obedience to His commandments, we can stand against the evils and trials of the world around us.  Be strong and faithful and follow the prophet!


JoAnn and Jim