Last posting for 2010...

Thanks to Kevin Ganschow's advice for our egg/alcohol experiment we impressed the sox off our 10-year-old investigator and her parents.  "Pop" -- the egg went right into that glass bottle, whole and undamaged.  Whew! 

Beginning yesterday there’s no wind; just a little rain. The tops of the mountains are so white they look like giant mounds of sifted powdered sugar. The water is like ink, still and black, reflecting finite details of shorelines and boats. Even with close study it’s difficult to see where the edges meet. The eagles aren’t flying but are perched on every available surface, 50 to 100 in a bunch. If only Don Busath were here with his camera.

Meet our Primary children. The snow plow piled a “mountain” on the side of our church building so the kids came over and had some fun.

The view of our volcano from our front steps.

Example of the Spirit of Unalaska: Brother Wood was hired as the State Trooper last year and moved here with his family: wife Holly (yes, that would be Holly Wood) and five kids. Brother Wood needed beds for his kids but didn’t say anything. On Christmas day Brother Palmer and his son brought the Wood family a set of bunk beds and two dressers that he had constructed in his garage.

Newest Friend: Carolyn owns the gift shop. She’s a natural beauty – wears zero makeup and uses her fingers and the wind to comb her hair. Everything in her pristine, tiny shop is hand-picked by her and it smells so good just to go inside. We love to hear her describe each item she’s chosen for her inventory and how she found it. She frames and cuts mats in one small corner of her shop, and her work is impeccable. She’s a highly-trained museum archivist and launched her business after her divorce a few years ago. Her son is 17 and they were going sledding together today. Carolyn is easy to talk with.

Small world: Yesterday Richard met Swan in the barber shop. She’s Vietnamese Buddhist and, as it turns out, is BJ’s wife. We’ve been hunting for BJ at his jobsite since arriving. He works at the dump so we’ve done a lot of eagle-dodging. Imagine that all those seagulls are eagles next time you go to the dump.

Thinking of our loved ones far away, we bid a fond adieu to 2010 and optimistically welcome the new year wherein we'll get a brand new grandchild about midway through.  We love you.  Stay warm and may you be blessed with good health and tons of joy.   

Merry Christmas!

Good news! Our boxes came and we have boots and coats.

What a neat Christmas we're having. No hustle, bustle or hassle—Just the sweet spirit of a new baby that graced our world so many years ago. We sort of chuckle at the dizziness and busy-ness of those who have no time, remembering how distracted we were in the “land of the gentiles.” If you can help yourself to slow down and just feel the loving kindness beaming down from heaven, we promise it’s worth it. It's there…just waiting.

Here's a picture of our tree.

Richard found it. We put it on our laptop today and we took a few minutes to sit around it talking about our many gifts, including you. Our little Christmas is oversimplified, for sure. Our only stresses are trying to get our “Joy to the World” DVD shipment in so we can finish delivering to all our prospective investigators. We’re on our last DVD, trying to figure out whether to give it to a prospective investigator or to use it ourselves as we teach this week (we have 6 appointments). Since we gave one to the library we thought we could check it out but it isn’t available. This is a good stress.

About the library:  It's open long hours and won a prize of being the 4th best in the nation.  Very popular here.  I love the librarian. Her name is Cory and she has a hooked arm. She likes to write and gave the community a challenge: They are to write a story of at least 250 words, Dr. Seuss style (Like Green Eggs and Ham), and they can only use the 50 words on her list, and they have to use every word. I wrote a story about the Plan of Salvation using words like Aleutian and vole. I’m hoping I’m the only entry so I can win.

The skies are dark, the snow is blowing and the fields are white. This morning we were going to make a quick run to the post office before our District meeting began (via polycom-telephone since the rest of our district is in Anchorage) but when we turned on the porch light and saw how hard the new snow was blowing our courage failed. It might sound better to say our intelligence prevailed. Anyway, we didn't get to the post office until after our district meeting. Meet our district elders:

Elder Harris, Elder Yang, Elder Loomis, and Elder Cameron

They asked how they could help and we’re teaching a little family with a 10-year-old daughter, so we asked them for teaching gimmicks. They told us to boil an egg and get a bottle. Draw a face on the unpeeled boiled egg and tell the child she’s the egg. Then crack the egg and peel off the shell (repentance) to reveal the goodness within. Then baptize (dip the egg in water – Richard’s part), pour a little alcohol into the bottle, cap it and shake it, then light the bottle and tell the child that it’s the kingdom. Stick the egg on top of the bottle and it will be drawn in. Our egg got half sucked in. We tried it again and again until our church building smells like a meth lab, but the poor eggs just shattered halfway into the sucking in process. We just can’t put this child through such a demo. We report on this to our district next Tuesday. The mishes had such high hopes for us.

Here’s Rich with our broken egg in the bottle, the bottle of alcohol and lighter. It’s your turn.




Next day: We met with the Mobley family last evening. The little 10-year-old was impressed with Richard’s salt-and-pepper demonstration. Brother and sister Mobley are great people. We felt warm inside as we bent into the storm to find our snow-covered truck. Yes, it’s worth it. We look forward to that sweet, quiet thrill throughout our beautiful white Christmas week.
Merry Christmas! We love you!

Richard and Linda Later

p.s. May-day:  Need teaching demo ideas for next Tuesday. laternlater@gmail.com

Car wash.

Quick blog.  Big day.  It began early with NO WIND!!!  Since our little truck hasn't been washed since it was manufactured we (actually Richard) took the opportunity to wash it.  No hose, so we used buckets.  Yes, it was dark.  Some of the paint actually came off with the wash job.  There is no car wash.  We asked the Branch President what to do about washing our car and he said that the rainy season generally takes care of that.  But, forgive us, we're from Idaho. Our little truck got washed in the dark December Alaska morning.

Rich washing the car on our first windless morning

Bald eagles sit on everything.  We counted over 50 on the way home.

Aimee and Derek (with their 10-year-old daughter) are a little family we are teaching.

Branch Christmas party presentation

Branch President, Don Clark.  A great, fabulous, wonderful servant.

Our church, where we have a small 1-room apartment in the back.

Missy.  She didn't want to give up Baby Jesus (a doll) for the Christmas play.

Rich made the turkey for the branch party.

One of the wise men.

Wind and weather

Greeny chant:  "Weather and wind velocity are not relevant factors."  

When we first arrived on our island I combed and primped, walked outside, and my pins and hair promptly blew upwards.  Now I just get up and go, as is, and do my hair when I’m in for the day.  Honestly, there's no difference in appearance.  After chasing his hat a few times, Richard purchased a new one that tucked down over his ears.  Second time out the hat blew off his head.  He chased it down and now is considering a chin strap, which may make him airborn like Mary Poppins.   

Today the winds are running in the 50 mph range.  We went out to do some inviting to our Branch Christmas party tonight and do a couple of errands.  We have our first investigator in our Bush Branch -- Randall.  He's 22 and we mailed him a DVD and pamphlet this morning.  For those of you who may have missed the announcement, in addition to being full-time missionaries in Dutch Harbor/Unalaska, we are also the first full-time missionaries to work in the Bush Branch.  There's very little to do in the Bush Branch right now but we're trying to change that.  That Branch consists of all remote places in the Alaskan interior and our work is done by phone.  Randall lives in Sleetmute so he qualifies as ours.  Lessons and Sunday meetings are accomplished via telephone.  Think about holding Primary on the phone. 

Back to our work here in Dutch:  We blew into the postoffice then headed for Alaska Ship (a mini-Walmart without the good prices) to pick up a couple of things for tonight's party and to meet an investigator.  There were about 40 cars in the parking lot of Alaska Ship, a sure sign that the fishing season is beginning.  On the way home we saw a fishing boat in our bay.  The waters have been too rough for fishing.  Next week we may see some calmer days.   



Business as usual in 50 mph winds



Windblown @ Alaska Ship next to a $357 Christmas tree

Branch Pres's wife, Sister Clark, works at the post office



Last 2 bags of pistachio's on the island:  $52 each




First fishing this season in the harbor



Made it to our new home...

First, you MUST click on the YouTube link below and watch Bekah sing.

Second, we wrote this yesterday, before we were on Internet, and hopefully have enough "juice" to cut/paste whatever we wrote.  We'll send photos of our new home when the storm dies down enough to stand still enough to shoot -- maybe by Sunday.  These shots are of our trip here.  They're not at all like our island, which is breathtakingly beautiful even in this storm.   

We hope we keep this optimistic, blessed feeling about where we’re serving. We arrived last evening after a very cold flight from Anchorage. The prop hummed along through the blustery snow and winds and stranded us temporarily on an island called Cold Bay (well-deserved name). We feared we might have to knock on one of the six or seven doors in the community to ask for a place to stay the night, but the winds relaxed a little and we were able to get into Unalaska (Dutch Harbor to “outsiders”).

Richard boarding our plane in Anchorage

Cold Bay -- our plane sitting on the "runway"

Our island has sweeping white mountains rising sharply from translucent cobalt-blue oceanic waters. Bald eagles are as thick as crows. There are about 4,000 permanent residents here and about 3,000 additional seasonal workers employed mainly by fisheries, all of whom live along the northern seacoast. We drive a Chevy S-10 extend-a-cab pickup which is in desperate need of a wash job, but doing so would likely freeze the doors shut since the gales have dropped the chill factor. Locals say the wind will let up Saturday. Alek, age 10, haughtily informed us that Unalaska is the warmest place in Alaska. I’m still thawing from the plane ride and recall that I wasn’t freezing in Anchorage. Today I wore 9 layers (10 if you count the zip-out liner in my raincoat). All we want for Christmas is our sweaters and boots that we shipped to our mission address. Meanwhile, we’re wearing everything at once and looking a lot like greenhorns.

Today we went to town seeking a high-speed Internet connection. Town consists of 2 stores, 2 schools, a community center, several ship-servicing companies, and utility offices. We met Jan, one of two employees at Tel-Alaska. She wanted to know more about the church. She had heard we were coming and had an Ensign that she loved reading. She will be coming to church a week from Sunday. Next we went to Safeway to get cookies for the Primary children and we met Aimee, who called herself a less active member (piercings). We asked her to come back. She said she would. Then we went back to the church, where we have our living quarters, and got ready for the Primary children. About twelve came. Amidst the mêlée of music, running and squealing children Darlene Jeppsen brought us a beautiful dinner. She’s my newest best friend—bright happy eyes and easy tears. Her husband is not a member – has his own electrical business and works long hours – and her brother “should be a member but isn’t.”

If there’s this much work and warm reception when we don’t even try, imagine how lucky we feel to be here. There’s actually a big job that has been prepared for us to do, and we’re about to roll up our sleeves. We’re so happy.



In addition to the Dutch Harbor Branch our mission president also asked us to be the first missionaries to the Bush Branch. The Bush Branch is composed of members from the interior (remote places of Alaska) where there may be only one or two members in a distant settlement. We think the branch may have fifty members but we have yet to talk with the Branch president, a busy dentist in Anchorage. Sunday meetings are held by telephone. We’re looking forward to embarking into this area as well.



In between our errands Richard replaced our bedroom doorknob with one that locks, braced the closet rod, ran the wires for our Internet (which should be connected tomorrow, thank goodness), fixed an entry table leg in the church, and hung some brackets. Together we cleaned floors, did several wash loads, and made our twin beds into a king. We’re feeling a lot more comfortable than we did yesterday, and we’ll just keep going in that direction.

We love you. Keep the home fires bright.

YouTube - popandnanny's Channel

YouTube - popandnanny's Channel


Hit the link above to hear our Bekah sing. 

MTC

 Hunter (7) wanted just one more game of Battleship, and Tanner (6) gave us his lucky marble, and Bekah (4) did a stunning pirouette for us, and then we left for the airport (compliments of Jana's taxi service) and flew to Salt Lake City, then shuttled to the MTC in Provo and were assigned to cozy room in the senior missionary hall. 
 
The MTC experience is a spiritual ramp.  There are about 50 other senior missionary couples and we share classes, swap stories, and get to know one another a little better each day. 

We were assigned districts the first day and our district has three other couples, with whom we've shared most of our learning experiences.  We dress up in suits and beginning at 8 a.m. we're grilled, taught, corrected and challenged in gospel teaching, which is both humbling and elevating. 



Our District:  Us, the Pettingill's, the Hansen's and the Leavitt's (seated).
The Pettingill's are going to Nicaragua, the Hansen's are going to West Virginia,
and the Leavitt's are going to Florida. 



Meals are a wondrous sight.  In addition to us seniors there are about 4,000 single missionaries, average age of about 20, who are fed gourmet meals three times a day.  It's nothing short of a dance to get from one end of the 2-acre-size cafeteria to the other. 

The young elders and sisters go out of their ways to serve us seniors -- hold doors, give cuts in line, carry our trays, etc.  The laundry may be an exception to that.  We had to do a load today and getting into the laundry we maneuvered down stairs where missionaries were studying with books, marking pens, tablets, 3-ring binders and scriptures spread across every step.  Once inside the laundry we found that most washers and dryers were in use.  We managed our way down the washer/dryer aisle amidst lots of legs sprawled out where young missionaries were studying with their backs braced against machines.  No one even looked up.  Missionaries must teach in new languages from their second week at the MTC and are in classes from 8 a.m. through 9 p.m. every day except on their preparation day, where they have a few hours to wash clothes and do personal chores.  Even during that precious little time they study.  We carefully stepped through their legs so as not to disturb their studies. 

The Christmas lights came on today on the MTC grounds.  It's certainly a magical place to be and we are very, very happy.

Our love to each of you.

Richard and Linda; Papa and Nan.



Daughter Tammi's family: Husband Allen, Nicholas (19), Erin (16) holding dog Molly, and Jara Lynne (12)





Daughter Jana's Family: Husband JJ, Hunter (7), Tanner (6) and Bekah (4)



Calling!

NOTE:  In case you don't want to wade through the rest of this right now, just understand that we're sending Christmas cards via Blog this year and would love to get emails instead of cards from our loved ones at laternlater@gmail.com . 

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After a couple weeks of sitting on our mailbox we received our mission call at 6 pm on Saturday, October 25, 2010. 


OK, I'm gonna look...

It's Here!



We finally get to know.  Drum Roll...

Hunter reading our calling

Relieved and Excited Family

"You have been called to serve in the Alaska Anchorage mission," it said.  Richard was ecstatic immediately.  I had to go through my usual deer-in-the-headlights adjustment.  I tried to understand my own reaction and could only explain it this way:  Imagine fighting for the first spot at the guillotine and then having someone give you a free pass.  It takes a minute or two.  Or a day or two if you're slow. 

Reminiscences: We love Alaska.  Richard went there last summer to fish with his friend Steve Hunt.  They each brought home 125 pounds of halibut.  My parents and grandparents both homesteaded in Alaska and I've had a thousand memories rush through my mind over the past two weeks.  I celebrated my first birthday there and met Richard in Anchorage when he came up to work after serving his first mission in Australia.  We had children there and lots of amazing friends.  For us it's like going home.  Home to where my parents worked hard to influence the building of the church in the Chugiak/Eagle River area.  We held the first home Sunday School in Chugiak in the front yard of my uncle's house and I only recall three things:  I wore my best dress, Brother Johnson from Anchorage blessed the sacrament, and my aunt was late for church.  Dad commented that he didn't know how she could be late for church when it was at her house.     

Our letter from President Monson says that we will be reporting to the MTC on November 29 and in Anchorage December 4.  We have no clue where (within the 850,000 square miles) we will serve, which will be a future blogspot.  The mission also includes parts of Canada:  Yukon and Northwest territories.  Wherever it is I have excellent examples of courage and faith to draw from in doing my best to serve those hardy, independent and wonderful people. 

We will go to southern Utah to see Tammi, Allen, Nic, Erin and Jara Lynne on the 18th so expect pictures from that sweet family in the near future.  They are happy and supportive and expressed relief that we're going to Alaska.  Nic will be 19 on the 19th of November.  He's a rugby dude at SUU.  Erin is in her junior year and Jara is in junior high.  They're all three communication guru's so we hope to be able to stay close to them.   

We found a family to live in our home and sold our truck to a police officer who is letting us use it until we get personal things moved to a storage unit.  Only one interested buyer for our Cadillac, who hasn't called back.  We've made room for it in our storage unit.

Jana brought us some news on October 25 -- the day after our mission call:

It's a "Wahoo!" and a "Oh no!"  We missed Bekah's birth and want very much to meet this important person on his/her first debut.  We plan to be as close as possible, depending on our mission president.

Our subdivision entry at Autumn.  



Bekah playing with her shadow



JJ is shooting the photo. 



Pre-mission preparations...

We had an interview with our stake president last Sunday, passed, and today received an email from SLC stating that our paperwork had reached that office.  They sent a short multiple-choice questionnaire, which is new since our first mission.  They had questions about weather, learning foreign languages, doing mundane tasks, serving in remote areas, etc.  At the end of the questionnaire we were told it would be about 4 weeks before we received a call.  October 22 maybe.  We said we were available November 1st. 

We've picked up some steam on our physical workouts, gathering strength for whatever lies ahead.  We feel really fit and happy.    

Our "get done before launch" checklist is long and daunting, from selling automobiles to doing estimated taxes.  I (Linda) took up the quest of organizing scrapbooks.  Last evening I put together Nic's Diaper Derby pages, which he participated in on May 30, 1992.  Yes, I know.  Slightly behind.  It's delightful to go back through those years.  I finished 12 simple pages, which thrilled me.   

On Richard's "get ready" list included "change all faucet washers".  He decided to do that today.  He's been working 9 hours and 3 minutes, steadily and patiently.  All went well until he dismantled the upstairs bathroom tub.  It was different than the others.  He went back and forth to Home Depot three times before they sold him the right part, and then they forgot to put the part in his bag so he went back.  And then the part didn't have a subpart in it so he went back.  And then they told him he had to have a special and unique tool, so he went back, but they didn't have it.  And then... And then...

Today I organized my hobby room and the "cable cords" box, adding substantially to the land fill.  Organizing our office is also on my to do list, and I'm looking for a place to begin.  I distinctly recall my college computer professor predicting that within ten years (that would have been in the 1980s) no one would be using paper.  If only he had been right. 

We met with our attorney to update our trust information, changed bank accounts to a more international-type bank, reviewed safe deposit box, and rented a storage place large enough to hold my car in case I don't sell it.  Our former bishop wants to purchase Richard's truck but will allow us to use it until we leave. 

This is an exciting time for us.  Also a sad time.  We adore our grandchildren and ache to think of missing these important years.  We go forward relying on the promises given by our Prophet that our family will be blessed more if we go than if we stay.

Celebrating Richard's Birthday

The three of us (Richard, Linda and Erin) awoke early to get to the Tamarack Zip Line, which was a birthday gift to Richard.  We were the first ones there. After receiving a little training and dawning company equipment we headed to the ziplines. There are eight. The first two are for training purposes, and then we took a van to the top of the mountain – 1700 or so feet – and got serious. What a rush! These photos should tell the story, mostly of Richard since it was his day. The excursion over all the lines took us about 4 ½ hours, and then we went out for Richard’s birthday lunch at Subway Sandwich. When we got home we fixed strawberry shortcake. Jana and the kids called so we sang “Happy Birthday” with them on speakerphone, then Rich blew out the candles.

Rich running down the ramp to pick up speed

You can see the red dot in the middle -- that's Richard, zipping along about 45 mph.

Richard coming in for a landing at the treehouse

Erin was fearless

Rich coming in for another landing after zipping about a thousand feet

Linda on one of the walking bridges.  Always confident and got up a lot of speed, but crash landed 7 out of 8 times. Unhurt and wants to go again. 

Happy Birthday, Papa.