September 1,2024

We recognize this week we can't say we will do something we want to do later anymore, so we're just doing.  Like Gary will want to know what is down that road so we turn down it instead of drive by it like we have for a year! 

 Also coming up is our next to last Tuesday at the Institute building so time to clean and organize! Along with making waffle cookies and cutting watermelon for class that night, I cleaned out a lot of cupboards and organized our paper goods etc. Should have done this day one here just so i would have been better at knowing all we had! Still will do some more cleaning and organizing this week so our replacements can see better what they are working with! We had a big class Tuesday night studying The Book of Revelation. Justin is a great teacher! 

 Thursday we only had like 3 young adults at class besides missionaries! It is a great course but hard to teach with that number. I did bake bread and everyone likes that. I sent an extra loaf home with Christopher. He comes religiously but does not come into the class room! He is a sad case since suffering a traumatic brain injury a few years ago.  He was a promising young man and now he is state custody and talks intelligent words, but just cannot connect concepts and it ends up total gibberish. He walks 4 miles each way to institute two nights a week no matter the weather.  He is surely one whom the atonement of Jesus Christ will cover in such a beautiful way.  Till then, we are kind and loving to him and Carolee always makes sure there is enough for him to take home. Some interesting challenges! 

I was able to work in the temple and I now only have one more time. Gary went and help butcher & process Caribou again and then we went on a session with our young adults that evening. Talli, the relief society president was the only YSA  there. She broke up with her guy so was sad. I was glad we were there to give her a hug. 

Friends at the Alaska State Fair, Palmer, AK

State Fair 2,035  lb pumpkin  (It's the orange one, 
not the blue one 😂)

Friday we went to the state Fair in Palmer. We went with the Badgers and Gailey's who work down in Soldotna on the Kenai Peninsula! It was a nice day to enjoy the culture and be with friends! We spent all day and were glad we went! Badgers had us for dinner again! Steaks and it was all delicious! We are so sad to say goodbye to them!  We have had a lot of adventures with them.  We hope to come back to visit them with Kuerths next summer sometime! 

 

Fall is really here because not only are the leaves changing but BYU football started so after a morning walk down a trail we came home to watch the game! It was a fun game! I was able to stay a little distracted by mending some elders clothes and prepping food for Hawaiian haystacks for our break the fast today at church! We made way too much food cause only 40 or so came. We had 65 in Sacrament meeting but they hadn't announced this meal ahead so kids have plans I think! 

Campbell Creek Estuary

Fall is coming

Saturday after the game, I (Gary) cooked a Caribou Roast for dinner.  Michael shared it with us.  I swear, it tasted just like chicken!!😂😂 Actually, it is not a very gamy flavor, looked like a beef roast, but was very, very lean.  So I blew it by over cooking it a bit so it was kind of dry.  We used different  sauces with it.  It was kind of good, although I'm not sure I would order it or ask for more.  If offered to me, I would take it.  

I'm saying Caribouuuuu, not doing what face 
the kids nowadays pull...the smoldering kind of look!

 We also visited the Russian Jack ward. I met some sisters there that a family member needs institute! I was able to encourage and give info! Gary was able to talk to a young poly waiting for his mission call who was discouraged! He helped encourage him. We bear our testimonies tonight on Larsen's Lessons which is our Sunday night mission-wide zoom meeting, so I think that means adios!! We'll show them and work for another week! We do love it here!  (Gary) We have so loved being missionaries.  If you want to do something valuable with your time, that will make a difference in the world, a senior mission is such an awesome way to do it.  We can't wait to be home, but it is getting harder and harder each day telling people we've come to love good-bye.  

We love all of you and can't wait for hugs! May God bless us all this week! Think Celestial!