CHAPTER III
MARCHING AHEAD
But back to missionary work, and what we came for. After a week or two we’re pointed in the right direction. Knocking on doors, attending Sunday meetings, mission correlations, and activities in the wards. All that sort of thing — getting to know people.
And what’s the reaction of these military and their families when they meet us? Of this group we’re sent to serve? Not surprisingly I suppose, it’s mixed. You might chart a bell curve. At one end are those who plainly don’t want us. We’ve tried to leave your dang Church. Get off our doorstep. Quit stalking us. Or those less direct. We’re busy right now. And we don’t know when we’ll ever not be busy. Or those hiding out. Not answering our calls or the door. The kind of replies every missionary and home teacher has met in one form or another.
At other extreme are those who rejoice. (There actually are some.) Who beam and welcome us with open arms. So glad you’re here! Please come in. Please come often.
Though most folks are somewhere in the middle. Friendly. Glad we’re here, looking out for them and others. But they too are busy. Jobs, school activities, kids to feed and get to bed, and all that. They like us best in light doses. Serving in ways that don’t add to life’s burden. Which we get. We felt much the same ourselves, back in the day.
Somewhere in all of this is a common lament: We’re forever uprooted. The permanent moves, the TDYs, and deployments. And now COVID with its masks and isolation. We’re lonely. We want connections. With friends, our age and our kids’ age, who share our values.
Thus we’re out there. Trying to understand and meet the needs. Without becoming pests. And here’s some of what’s happening:
The Kaisers. This couple has truly welcomed us. Malik is retired airborne infantry (over 90 jumps). He and his wife Shawn — along with one of their daughters — joined the Church a while back. But then drifted into inactivity. Perhaps it was hard being the only black family in the ward. And they’ve had physical adversity. Some months ago, Shawn suffered a severe stroke. From which she is slowly regaining her ability to walk, speak and think normally. And Malik recently had serious neck surgery.
They haven’t been to church much of late. But Malik and Shawn are the sweetest people ever. And they love the Gospel. We give them weekly Book of Mormon assignments, and they study diligently. Then we visit and discuss what they’ve read. Doll and Shawn share hugs, and tell how they love to each other.
And do we have some objective with the Kaisers? Getting them more active in Church? Or back to the Temple? (They’ve been sealed.) Perhaps. I don’t know. What I do know is that our Heavenly Father loves Malik and Shawn as much as He loves any of His children — anywhere. And He wants us sharing that love with them.
(Note. JBER has something we haven't seen anywhere else. Most installations permit only active service members and their families to live on base. But JBER has a ton of housing, and allows retirees and civilian employees as well. Thus we close have contact with many of theses folks.)
The Cartees are another couple loved by their Heavenly Father and their Savior. Husband Tom (retired Army) is now upon his deathbed. Literally. Terminally ill, he lies in the front room of their on-base four-plex. Waiting for the end. Attended by his dog Mariah, and wife Mary Lou.
Tom and Mary Lou aren’t members — and it’s unlikely they’ll join the Church. Not this side of the veil. Tom’s memory is pretty far gone. And Mary Lou is beginning to slip. They’re probably not capable of baptism, new covenants and a new faith. But they too are sweet souls. They love their Bible and they love Jesus. Mary Lou has LDS relatives — and a Book of Mormon (large print edition). We read scriptures and talk of Christ's promises and love for them. We leave blessings and comfort. And believe it's what the Lord would have us do.
Some are making clear progress along the covenant path. John Smith recently retired as an Air Force Fire Fighter (Chief Master Sergeant). His wife Krista is a member of the Church, and John is a very decent guy. The sister missionaries taught him the discussions. We attended his baptism. And we have since helped with his fellowshipping and new member discussions.
Rosa Garcia Sosa is another beloved daughter of the Lord. Rosa’s daughter joined the Church and is now serving a full-time mission in Nebraska. The daughter’s conversion led Rosa to missionaries and the discussions. Rosa’s baptism was one of the most touching ever. As the missionary daughter joined us —and bore testimony to her mother — via Zoom. Lots of teary eyes.
[Above. Rosa and her youngest daughter with Elder Willis (Oregon), Elder Riddle (Croydon UT) and Mike Chadwick]
[Above. Rosa’s missionary daughter testifying via Zoom at her baptism.]
Teaming up with our friend, Chaplain Neville, we’ve been working on the loneliness challenge. One or two Fridays a month we hold a Family Night on JBER. We’ll have a prayer and a spiritual thought. But mostly it’s “sociality.” Families bring potluck. The adults visit. And the kids watch videos, play games, and happily run wild. Below are a couple of those FHEs.
On Sundays, as often as the young troops are around, Doll and Darci Neville put on a dinner at the Nevilles’ home. Then we hold an institute-type lesson taught by Doll. This work with the young troops is an important part, I think, in what we’re supposed to be doing on this mission.
We love teaching wherever we can. Mitchell and Kimmie Cramer (below) are a great young couple. They're members of the Church. Mitchell is an Air Force Security Policeman. When he was assigned to Alaska last summer, Kimmie moved up here with him. And Bishop Kendall, of their new Arctic Valley Ward, performed their marriage. And now they’re working on going to the Temple. Doll's been teaching them the Temple Prep lessons, with me pitching in. Also pitching in is Madison Wright, a young friend of theirs who served a mission in Germany.
B. Get Air
Fragmentation. A few months into our mission, I’d call that probably our biggest problem. These LDS military scattered across wards and stakes. Knowing each other not that well, if at all. And feeling new and out of place in their established local wards. Then blessings come along.
Here’s one of those blessings. Jake Goodell and Get Air. And who’s Jake?
Jake is a friend and neighbor in our Shadow Ridge Ward back in Ogden. He’s a youngish guy about our Adam’s age — he in fact shares a backyard fence with Adam. Jake is a successful businessman. Very successful. He owns about seventy Get Air Trampoline Parks across America. Including, it turns out, one here in Anchorage.
Learning of our call to this mission, Jake came to Doll and me with a remarkable offer. In support of the military and the families we are sent to serve, Jake extended free admission to his Anchorage Get Air park. On a regular basis. As often as once a month, if we want it. “Whatever helps the work,” he says.
Doll and marvel when Jake shared the idea. “That could be wonderful!” And it's turning out to be wonderful indeed!
As Doll and I go about knocking on doors and chatting with parents, their kids often eye us warily. Hoping the old folks will get lost, so they can get on with whatever. But one mention of “trampoline park” — and the change is instant. It’s beams and smiles. From toddlers through teenagers. “Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Mom? Dad? Trampoline park? Let’s go!” Suddenly Elder and Sister Allred are Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. Courtesy of Jake.
Our first Get Air social was the last Saturday in October. (For that first event, Generous Jake even provided free trampoline socks (normally $3 a pair) to all comers.) Our second Get Air was on Black Friday — the day after Thanksgiving. And the third New Years Eve morning. And they were great. The families came. Bringing less actives and nonmember friends. We had a turnout of about eighty each time.
:At our first Get Air Chaplain Neville got Army Morale funds. And threw a tailgate pizza party afterward. It was chilly — the tailgater. But folks seemed happy and having a great time. Below is the Get Air invitation we emailed and went about delivering — along with scenes of the event and tailgate afterward:
Our FHEs and other on base activities are nice. But this Get Air is the Granddaddy of Good Times. And something we could never afford without Jake. (The cost to a small family would run $50-100. And we could never make this a regular Church activity.) The kids have a blast. Parents get to know each other. And it makes a big old dent in our loneliness problem.
And I wonder. Is this a miracle? Did we just happen to get called to this mission? And just happen to have Jake for our neighbor, with this kindness he’s willing to share? I'm not sure. But I’m pretty sure of this. Using our time, talents, and what God has blessed us with to serve and bring joy to others. That’s a good thing.
C. Your Mission is What You Make It.”
And here’s a challenge. Common, probably, to many senior missions.
In coming here, the Military Relations Department told us, “Your mission will be what you make it.” Which we kind of understood then. But see more clearly now. Young missionaries have the handbook and a schedule. For them, every hour of every day is largely mapped out. For some senior couples — like those in mission offices — it’s much like that too. Set schedules and duties. But for other seniors, perhaps most, it’s different.
Take us, for example. We’re finding opportunities to share the Gospel and strengthen the flock. But once we’ve knocked on every door, and are doing all that seems wanted of us, we’re finding that our calendar has open slots. Sometimes entire days are open. So now what? I guess that’s what they meant. Your mission is what you make it.
And I guess that’s something they expect from seasoned old dogs like us. You have years of life and church experience. You have agency and are not to be commanded in all things. You figure it out.
It’s something we appreciate. The trust and minimal supervision. But the accountability can also feel weighty. And leave us uncertain. We’re called as full time missionaries. If we’ve done our best — and we’re not always finding deep spiritual ways to serve? Then what? Does that make our mission not worthwhile — not worth our coming? What do we do?
Well. We prayerfully do our best. And look to serve wherever we're needed.
Our greatest such opportunity, I’d say, has been the Temple. The Anchorage Temple is small. But it’s a gem. Truly a pearl of great price — set among the spectacular forests and mountains at the Cook Inlet to the Pacific Ocean. With the backing of our Mission President, we’ve been set apart as ordinance workers by the Temple President, James Lewis "JL" McCarry III. We work shifts every Wednesday morning, and cover some weekends as well.
Doll and I also volunteer a weekly shift at the USO. Most Americans know the USO. How, since World War II, it has provided entertainment, rest facilities, and other service our troops. Helping them feel “at home away from home.” And the USO has a fine center in JBER, where members and families can lounge, study, use computers, enjoy free snacks, etc. Doll and I serve weekly shifts at the JBER USO. Answering phones, assisting guests, and putting on Tuesday Night dinners. A scene from one such dinner:
I expect I shall say more about volunteering, and what we’re making of this mission, in due course.
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