Chapter VIII - Spring & Summer 2022

 

CHAPTER VIII

SPRING 2022

March — Sealing

In March of this year, Doll and I flew home to Utah— the second time this mission.  For the sealing of Adam and Kylee in the Ogden Temple. Which ordinance and surrounding events were a joy to us.  And gave every sign that our son and his bride are a wonderful match and blessing to each other.

 After the Sealing there were photos outside the temple.  Including those of Matriarch Sharon and her Eleven.

One evening was a fine potluck dinner for family and friends at Adam’s place.

We attended a basketball game.  Where Arthur was team leader and star far beyond anything his Grandpa Mark ever achieved.  In any sport.

One night Adam took Doll, Kylee and me to the Salt Lake Vivint Arena.  To hear from pundit Jordan Peterson.

April — New Mission President.

Last Fall, Sister Lynnell King — wife of our Mission President — was diagnosed with a rare carcinoma, running from her sinuses into the spine and brain.  Which meant flying her home to Utah, for chemo and radiation treatments.  And the eventual release of her and President King.

We’re told the ordeal has been rough for Sister King.  But she is responding well to treatment.  And the long-term outlook is good.  We continue to pray for her.

In April we received a new Mission President and Companion. Evan and Mindy Larsen.  This is now the fifth President Doll and I have had in the course of our Germany, England and Alaska missions.  All of those Presidents and their wives have been tremendous.  Truly.  Valiant servants of the Lord.  Whom we’ve watched in awe. 

And it's clear to us already that the Larsens are “not a whit behind” any of those previous presidencies “as to things pertaining to righteousness.”

Mission Activity

 Doll and I sometimes ask ourselves.  “Is the Lord pleased with our service?  Or is He merely long suffering as we muddle along?”  And we’re never entirely sure of the answer.

Whatever that answer may be, our Winter eventually disappeared sometime around May.  And we rolled into that coolish Alaska season of Spring, Summer and Fall wrapped in one.  While plodding on with our mission.  And our regular events.  Like the Tuesday night dinners at the USO.

The monthly FHE potlucks on base.

The Get Air Trampoline activities.  (Bless friend and owner Jake Goodell for providing them.  They were great opportunities for military parents and kids of all ages to bond and feel less alone in their often-changing world. 

There were missionary gatherings.  Like our Zone Conferences featuring Elder Mark A. Bragg of the Seventy.

And a Mission Conference with Elder Ronald Rasband.

We were assigned random duties here and there by our Mission President.  Doll and I, for example, represented the Church at a ceremony in which our Missionaries were recognized for several hundred hours of service to the Food Bank of Alaska.

With our Military ID cards, we can sponsor people onto base.  And one of our ongoing duties was helping other missionaries get passes, so that they can visit and serve folks on base.

One weekend Doll and I, as well as our senior missionaries, drove new Mission vehicles to the port in Whittier.  Where we loaded them onto a ferry bound for Juneau and other outposts.

             And there were events like this, involving Colonel Roger “Tony” McIllece.  A colonel who served as the Staff Judge Advocate of 11^th Air Force here at JBER.  He and his wife Amber are stalwart members of the Church.  Tony served in Bishopric of the Arctic Valley Ward we often attended.  And Amber became the Stake Relief Society President while we were here.

When it came time for Tony to move to another assignment, he did what many military members do in Alaska.  He said, “No, thank you.  I’m retiring.  And staying right here.”

Tony invited me to offer the invocation at his retirement ceremony.

The greatest joy of our mission remained, perhaps, our serving twice a week as ordinance workers in the Anchorage Temple.