Home from Alaska-

 So this will be our final entry of our mission to the Anchorage Alaska Mission, assigned as CES missionaries. As I'm writing this, we are home in Malad, Idaho, and have been released as full-time missionaries. In one way it's very sad, and we miss so badly the people that we have been working with and serving. But we recognize that our service had a time to end and it is now time for us to look to the future and what it holds for us. 

Greeting Party at the Airport

The last two days of the mission was heart wrenching as we realized that many of these people we will never see again in this life. But we have faith and confidence that we will see them again. 

Monday we went to our final District Council with the Westchester District--Young missionaries.  President Larsen our mission President joined us--and unusual treat for all of us. It was so great to meet with them one last time and feel their wonderful spirit and testimony. 

Westchester District

 On Monday night, JUSTIN REEDER, had worked with the YSA Ward and North Stake group to have a combined FHE and the announcement he sent out said we were going to celebrate President and Nelson's 100th birthday by reviewing and sharing how he has impacted our lives. He also said that we are also going to say goodbye to Elder and Sister Cox. He had told us that we might be asked to say a few words at the end so we weren't sure what was coming. As we gathered together as a group with 30 or 40 YSA's

Last FHE some of our friends who came

that we had served with, we were able to share with them, some of our feelings about being in Alaska and serving a mission here. We ended the meeting about 8 o'clock so it was a short one hour FHE and we didn't leave till about 10 that night because we stayed around and talked and laughed and took pictures and had a great time.

Tuesday night was our regular Institute night, and again an opportunity for us to say goodbye to other people who we hadn't already. Although we would've loved to been in the lesson with

Justin Reeder-Our mission leader

JUSTIN, we were needed out in the hall to talk & to counsel with some kids who were in need. We didn't leave that night till about 10 o'clock as well. 

Patti & Darrell Kincaid -she was Thurs night teacher

We love these people dearly and I was talking to Carolee, I thought how amazing it was that we came on our mission, hoping to be able to touch someone and we hope we did, but it ended up that they were the ones that touched us.

As we look back on our 12 months here in Alaska, there is no question in our minds that we gave it our all.

My First friend in Alaska--ALI

A senior mission is way, way different than a mission when you're a young adult. It is so much better, and because our missions are not proselyting missions nor teaching missions per se, we hope that we were able to Influence someone for good among the people that we associated with. We will forever be changed because of our service in Alaska and as full-time representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ. We love Him and testify that He lives. 

Love you all...

P.S. This is our favorite Sister Missionary in the whole world--even thought she is not in the coldest mission in the world, but probably the hottest in Tucson, Arizona !! We got to talk with her on Monday before we left when all three of us were missionaries at the same time.  It was an honor for us.  She is so awesome. 

Sister Kaley Cox Our first grandchild missionary!!