We had some major events this week. Most significant is Kaley going through the temple yesterday for the first time! I am so proud of her and these choices she is making ! Second the Teeple's are putting on Beauty and the Beast and we got to watch it on FaceTime last night! They looked so good! We are proud of all of them!! Lastly we got to volunteer at the Iditarod! We heard of this race lots of times before!! Now has personal meaning as we were at the end of the ceremonial start here in anchorage. We were on the Campbell strip runway with lots of other missionaries on and lots of observers! It was fun to see the dog sleds. All 38!
Also saw a couple of cute families that I thought would make great members . Ended up they are members and both dentists. One saw my tag and came across the trail to say hi! It was also -8 when we started! A balmy 18 by the time we left!! Went to church to day without a coat!! 20 degrees didn’t bother me!
We had really good institutes this week with big classes! We are studying pres. Nelsons talks and I really enjoy that!! I made cinnamon bread for both classes. It was a hit! We ate 3 big loaves both nights! We also did family night with Cook Inlet and did baptisms with Maplewood group! I'm enjoying working at the temple more each week as I get comfortable. During our shift this week they started knocking down the Brayton building!! That is kind of historic too!
We have called more youth to our institute counsel. We plan to meet this week to plan activities and welcoming the 18 year olds! Seminary is out of the hanger and in Klatt building! Bummer cause it is far for kids! Justin is a good guy! He rolls with things well!
We are doing better in our self world ! Set some goals and sticking to them better so that feels good! Still liking my companion. (Emphasis added by her companion) 😊So glad to be serving our Father in Heaven! This is his work and we are grateful to do our part! Carolee
March 5, 2024
This week has been a challenge for me, for different
reasons. Kaley going to the temple for the 1st time and we are so proud of her. Plus, Chalae’s family is putting on
Beauty and the Beast in Malad and Hayes is starring as the Beast. We are missing both of these significant family events. We are typically really involved with Teeples as
they prepare for this and we go to every performance and just able to give a
lot of support. We watched it on
Face-Time the second performance and were so impressed! Hayes was fantastic—such a rich baritone
voice. Myriam, Bentley & Dot were
fun to watch as well. The FaceTime was
better than nothing, but it was not like being there. It has made me feel a little melancholy and
missing home. Tanner came up to see it from
California and we missed being with them too.
Maybe with us coming up on our half-way point of our
mission has made me feel like time is moving too fast and we have so much to
accomplish. I’m struggling with how slow things move, even though we think that
things are progressing well. Some of it
is the Polynesian effect and some the Church effect. So, I guess I’m just a mess! Missing home and angst over the work
here. Wow! Get me a sedative…☹
But a big highlight of the week was the start of the Iditarod dog sled race. The Iditarod is a grueling, 1,000-mile race from Willow (just 40 miles north of Anchorage to Nome through some of Alaska’s toughest terrain. Since Dog sledding is Alaska’s sport, race veterans and the people here consider it their Super Bowl. The day before the historic race officially begins on Sunday March 3rd in Willow, Saturday, the mushers and their dogs run along the easiest 11 miles they’ll see in the coming days for the Iditarod ceremonial start in downtown Anchorage. It takes them down city streets and onto the trail system ending at the Campbell Airstrip.
All along the route through Anchorage thousands of fans elbow for position along the trails in celebration of the state’s sport and to cheer the mushers on. We were able to help at the end of the ceremonial run as they came down the last stretch of the trail onto the airstrip where many hundreds more stood cheering on the teams as they came to the finish line. These guys were like tail-gating with a tent, fire, hot dogs, lawn chairs, the works. there were quite a few making a day of it tail-gating the Iditarod!
Many other missionaries were lined up along the 11-mile trail managing the crowds to keep the trail clear and people safe. One of the things the race celebrates is the Alaskan Husky. It is not a recognized breed, but is bred for dog sledding. It is a combination of Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malemute, and other less prominent of greyhound, Pointers, and other breeds. They have speed dogs for shorter term races and distance dogs who can run forever. This race is 1,000 miles and they will finish in 8 days. That is 125 miles a day!!
And there is a stretch of the trail that has no snow and they go over tundra of dirt, mud, patches of snow. Apparently, that section is thru what they call the burn. So with no trees because of the fires, the snow just blows away. it’s really amazing what these dogs can do.
So, the race itself started in 1973 as a celebration of Alaska, the Alaskan Husky and the way of life. Since it ends in Nome, there is a similarity between the race and the famous Serum run in 1925 where dog sleds made a 750 mile run in blizzard conditions to get the diphtheria serum to Nome and saved hundreds of children.
Much of the trail is the same as then, and each year they remember that event as they celebrate the race, but it is not to memorialize that run. But that story is such a great story. Watch the movie Togo if you want to be inspired.
So last night we had a great FHE with the YSA ward, with
over 30 there and some brought their friends from work who are not members. We have an enthusiastic new ward member named
Mary who has brought new energy to the group.
We played games with a large group that we’ve never heard of or
seen. It was a riot.
With 31 grandchildren and our 7 kids and their spouses,
there are always problems, drama, heartache, joy, fun, happiness etc all at the
same time. So to zero in on one of the
46 other people considered immediate family doesn’t happen very often. But last night and this morning, Lolee was
really on my mind. She has had some very
real emotional issues over the last couple of years and it was hard for us to
leave because we felt really connected with her. But as it goes, being apart and each busy
with our lives, we have not had as much contact with her as we hoped. But this morning I pleaded with heavenly
father of how I could help Lolee when I was so far away. The answer came in just a few hours. Lolee texted me and told me she had just
re-read a back to school blessing I had given her before we left to come here. (Chalae had taken notes of the blessing and
typed them up for her.) She said she
loved having a bless that she could look back at and find the things that are
coming true. As I read that, I almost
felt like I had just given her another blessing. My prayer was answered in a way I could not have conceived and I was
able to help Lolee in the only way I really can. Isn’t it amazing how the Lord works. Such a testimony to me that He is looking out
for us and that we are able to serve and still minister to our families we have
left behind in ways we didn’t think possible.
I am so grateful…
I have the best comp, the gospel is true, the Lord loves each of us and we are so
blessed and grateful to be missionaries, set-apart representatives of Jesus
Christ. Love you all Gary
❤️❤️❤️ love the updates. What a cool experience at the dogsled race!!! Adam has been learning about it in his GT class and so this is extra fun for him to hear about from his grandparents!!!
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