Have we been busy! Last week we set a new record for the most lessons we have ever given in one week—26! We also had a baptism yesterday and it was one of the best.
Sitka used to be Alaska’s capital and it was here that the Russian sale of Alaska to the USA was transacted. Unlike the rest of the state, Alaska Day in Sitka was a week-long celebration, which culminated October 18. On the 17th there was a costume ball featuring costumes from that period of time and everyone talked about what they would wear. On the 18th the school children had early release (10 am) so they could prepare for the parade and re-enactment ceremonies on Centennial Hill. All the store windows were decorated and each day the newspaper featured winners of contests. Weeklong activities included slave auctions, authentic Russian food for the entire town and the Russian Archangel dancers performed 90 minutes of wonderful, spirited dancing. Throughout the week there was free food in the park and police women with plumed hats giving kisses and tickets to those NOT wearing Alaska buttons. They also jail people for resisting, and you cannot get out of jail unless you call a friend to bail you out, which isn’t cheap, the bail-money going to charities. We bought our Alaska buttons early and have been wearing them on the opposite side of our name badges.
Scheduling missionary during celebration week wasn’t easy, nor was it easy the week after. We decided to get busy, so we made a list of 35 people to find and visit to assess their interest in the gospel. We’ve barely made a dent in the list and already we have new people to teach.
There’s one ward member who is a missionary’s dream—Brother Womack. He tirelessly and fearlessly asks everyone entering his gift shop if they’d like to meet us. Our mission president and a visiting general authority told the Alaska missionaries NOT to ask members for referrals. They said that if we work hard the members will learn to trust us with their friends. Our baptism yesterday was a referral. Brother Womack and a few members here trust us. We are careful and appreciative of that trust.
We reconnected with a woman we met while in Anchorage last June. We taught her two lessons while we were there, but after we turned her over to local missionaries she fell through the cracks. When we were able to contact her she was in the midst of moving to Kenai, so we taught her by telephone—something we’re getting accustomed to. We matched her up with some sister missionaries in Kenai and now she’s back on track for baptism on January 8. We hope and pray she can make it. We’re helping her through the 12-step program for addictions to cigarettes.
We love our family and friends!!!
Love,
Richard and Linda, Mom and Dad, Papa and Nanny
 |
| President and Sister Beesley preside over the Alaska Anchorage mission. They're amazing. Google Jon Beesley and you'll get just part of the story. |
 |
| Delivering lots of Rotary roses to shut-ins. Rich took this. Roses are all over the car, and the ones that wouldn't fit sent on our laps in the front seat. |
 |
| Casey and her pink spider. We read "The Busy Spider" to the kids at the library on Saturday and they made webs and spiders. On Thursday we read "Little Cloud" and they made a lamb into a cloud. Or vise versa. |
 |
| Christiana's baptism. Brother Bauder baptized her. Her husband, Ben will come along in time. |
No comments:
Post a Comment