Richard has been scoping out rooftops lately, wondering which one would be the best to preach from. He wants to help everyone here to feel the power the gospel brings.
The fall weather is sunny, crisp and agreeable with us. We love the feel and smell of the air—except for around the creeks. The salmon are dying, tightly gridlocked in all the rivers and creeks in an unfathomable struggle toward a home they’ve never visited since they broke from their eggs and swam to the ocean. There are so many millions jammed into the waterways that there’s no room to swim past one another, so they die where they are. We hold our noses as we drive over bridges. Weather is often rainy, which we hope will remove the stench.
We have no personal encounters with bears yet and hope to keep that record. There are lots and lots of brown bears (like grizzly bears only a little larger) and they’re active right now. They eat lots of salmon and get fat for their hibernation.
It was announced that we need to keep investigators nameless when we write to our families and friends, particularly when using electronic-type communication methods. When we get home we’ll fill you in with details, including heartbreaks and exhilarations.
Two upcoming baptisms:
Sitka: We’ve been teaching a young mother, who is now on date for baptism. Her husband is supportive, although not interested in learning about the church at this time.
Bush Branch: A woman attorney living in the Bush area of Alaska accepted the invitation to be baptized, which will happen either the end of October or in November, whenever she has an opportunity to fly to Anchorage or Fairbanks.
Both baptisms appear solid. The investigators have testimonies of Jesus Christ, the Gospel’s restoration through the prophet Joseph Smith, and of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. We’re excited, exhausted and happy to report this good news.
We have a few other investigators who are in various stages of progress or digress, which keeps us jumping and trying and praying. We taught a family with nine children a few days ago. The father is a member but joined his wife’s church shortly after marriage. It’s a small church—it began in Anchorage in the 70s and this man is one of the three elders in the church. Upon inviting us into their home and introducing us to their children we were invited to sit and study with the parents. We told them we had come because the father’s name was on the records of the church, to which he said, “I keep that there just to get people like you here for a lively discussion.” We let him know we would leave if there was any edge of contention. However, the discussion was wonderful and left us wondering why he wasn’t active. He shared some of the beliefs that were different, but when we asked him where the beliefs came from he wondered about that too. His wife, however, had serious misperceptions about “The Mormons.” We explained that the philosophies were not part of our church but she didn’t seem to believe us. We hope they invite us back.
Our work with less active families is paying dividends. Last Sunday an unordained brother (early 50’s) had a priesthood interview. He and his wife will be sealed September 2012 in the SLC temple, and we want to be there. Also last Sunday another couple met with the Stake President, who flew in for one hour for their temple recommend interview, and now they both have temple recommends. They will go to the Anchorage temple November 17, and we will be at their sealing. Today their 17-year-old daughter wants to meet with us so she can prepare to go to the temple and be sealed to them. She hasn’t attended church for years but has a sudden change of heart. We hope we can prepare her in time.
Also, we’re preparing two recent converts, both single men, for the Melchezedek priesthood and temple.
Our youngest grandson, baby Jace, turned four months old on the 1st, and what a wonderful ball of smiles he is. Our oldest grandson, Nic, will be 20 on November 19, and won his rugby match 48-15. Nic is a good-looking power-house. We cherish him and baby Jace and each grandchild in between. When we’re drawn to be with them, we have a peaceful feeling that we’re in the right place doing the right thing.
We love our family and friends!!!
Love,
Richard and Linda, Mom and Dad, Papa and Nanny
Below: Sitka Sunset; Our District at Zone Conference; Sitka Relief Societ Helping Hands project; Termination Dust on the mountains signify winter is just around the corner; Wilma June with daughter, Maxine. We love them.
