October 9 2023

We have had another great week!  A few highlights were being able to go to the Anchorage temple on Wednesday night.  Also meeting the temple president and his wife. A few interesting things different here are you take your shoes off as you go in the temple( in the entryway).  The baptistry is on the main floor of the temple, right by recommend desk!  It is very small overall but does two sessions a day 10 am. And 7 pm.

We went to FHE with the singles ward and got to meet the bishop and just a few of the kids!    Only about 40 kids came to church in young singles ward!  There are about 550 kids on the list.  So in Anchorage stake  we had 10 at fhe.  Tonight in northstake there were10.  Pretty interesting!  It lets us get to know the kids which is great.  Rachel is relief society president and she is a redhead that plays piano and organ. Very much reminds me of  Jar and Chalae!!  We went to their church on Sunday and Bishop asked us to give the prayers. When I went up to give the opening prayer my earring I had lost day one of the mission  was on the pulpit.  It wasn’t a huge loss but a little tender mercy that I was up there and it was there for me to see and get back!

We had a very good meeting “by chance” with a missionary couple that just got here on Monday. We were at Costco for a prescription and as we were leaving I said to Gary let’s split a hot dog. We sat at only table.  This Man comes up to us sees our badge and says they are missionaries .  Could they join us. They were splitting a hot dog too!  They were having a bad day! Moved into a filthy apartment, hadn’t met pres. And we’re feeling out of whack!! We sat and talked for 2 hours.  They are mark and Lynn Kuearth!  Military relations! From Davis county and we have tons in common. We had them over for Lazagna last night!  We visited another 2 and a half hours.  We will hang out with them !  

We also had district meeting on Monday afternoons.  I was really lost last week! Today was better and I brought cinnamon rolls so they like me now!!  We have 16 in our district and our leader is from American Samoa.  The Spanish elders are in it too so we have some friends!

We took Cinnamon rolls to institute both nights and I think they were a hit!  They are with the missionaries for sure!!  We have seen a lot of elders smith,major and Gonzalez, and sister Hogan and Young. They are fun to be with!!  Great young people!!  They are ysa missionaries so we will help each other locate our missing souls!

We had dinner Friday night with sister Couier and Pruitt.  They fed us ribs and we had a great visit!  They said she buttered us up to ask us a favor to inspect appartments for them.  We will do 12 I have scheduled this week!!  We enjoy their company also!

Sat we went a baptism with missionaries from our district and got to have a great visit with one of our Bishops.  They are anxious about their youth so are glad for help!!  After we drove up to Eagle River north of here  and hiked a mile to a waterfall!  It was foggy before but cleared up!  It was drizzling and in the 40s. I told Gary if we were home we would not be out and about but here we want to explore before it snows.   We ran into some members on the trail too!We drove up to Palmer and Wasilla on wed just to see! It was a beautiful!

We are loving it here and are grateful to be here and serving at this time!!!