Devotional at Liberty Jail

        This is outside the Historic Liberty Jail where Joseph Smith spent the hard cold winter months and yet received the revelations in the D&C.  Inside they take tours and tell his heroic story.  But, on the third Sunday, President Vest & his wife (above) listen to new members of the church bear their testimonies of the gospel and their baptisms.  They then, conclude with their witness of God the Father, His son, Jesus Christ, the prophet Joseph Smith, the truth of the Book of Mormon, and their love for all.

        This week, we heard from Carlos.  He is between two of the missionaries who taught him, Elder Javeloza and Elder Tillett.  Carlos was only here for the summer and goes home in a week.  When he met the missionaries, he prayed, "Please God, tell me, I want to know truth."  He felt the answer that he had to continue and study.  He read, studies, went to church, and later received his answer.  When he was baptized, he felt clean.  And every day he feels cleaner and cleaner.  He is now going back to his country excited and eager to tell his family and friends about what he has learned.  He also said, "It is no accident I came here for summer."  "I'm a Latter Day Saint Kid!"

        This is Katie Chapman with her two children and her mother.  Katie met a girl online who became her friend.  One day her friend told her she was LDS.  Katie said, "What is that?"  Latter Day Saint.  "What is that?"  Finally, she found out she was a Mormon.  Her friend came to Missouri and took Katie through the sites and VCs.  Then, she sent the Missionaries to Katie's home.  Katie's son was wearing his BYU sweatshirt (which her friend had also sent him.)  So, Katie began to learn.  She read the Book of Mormon which gave her, "...insights to things I did not know."  This is Elder Tillet, Sister Ray, Sister Allan, and Sister Wood.  Several missionaries helped to teach Katie.

        This is Martino Brown.  He was dissatisfied with his religion.  He studied several, looking for the spirit of the Lord and a comforting feeling.  He studied Islam, then Hinduism.  But, when he entered the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints he had a feeling he could not explain.  He was crying all the time.  He was emotional, but in a quiet sincere way;  Nothing he had ever experienced.  He knows the church and the gospel are true.

        This is a new senior couple, the McCuistons, who have come from Virginia to work with us in the Family History Record Preservation area.  We just met them last night.  Their story was:  He was a member of the church, but not active, unless visiting his extended family who were active.  She was a Southern Baptist.  They were married while he was in the service and later moved to Virginia.  She of course attended her church there, but didn't find it quite to her liking.  So, she said to him, "What about your church?"  He said he would check to see if they could find someone.  But, sooner than they knew, two young men knocked on their door.  These young men were about to go home, but decided just one more door.  They had been tracting in a somewhat hostile neighborhood.  So, when she opened the door and said, "Where have you been, I've been waiting for you!"  they fell backward in astonishment.  As they taught her, her Pastor brought other members and came to their home to save them from the missionaries.  They were also invited in.  At each comment, the conversation became more heated until, one of the missionaries closed his book and said, "I'm so sorry, we have lost the spirit, could we come again and teach you.?"  It was then that the husband said to the Pastor,"You are welcome to stay, but we want to hear what these missionaries have to stay."  Unfortunately, he had to escort them out.   But, his wife felt the spirit she was looking for and joined the church.  Now, they are serving a mission to help others come to know what they know as the truth.  They are so much fun and have great personalities.

        These are a couple of pictures at our Zone Conference just this week.  Sister Currie, Sister Moody, Sister Hansen, Sister McLing, Sister College, Sister Sumsion President Vest is in the background.  The Relief Societies of different stakes furnish & serve the lunches.

        Elder Cam Christensen, Elder Parry, Elder Harrod, Elder Kaafi, Elder Jones, Elder Ingram, & Elder Dayton, who reminds me of Porter.  These are only some of the missionaries.  The Zone Conferences are divided into thirds because we have so many missionaries.  In December, they all get together for the Christmas Zone Conference.

        This is a picture of most of the missionaries singing to the ladies who served lunch.  They do this every time and the servers love it.  Of course, they sing, "Called to Serve."

Baptisms for the Weekend

        Last night we had another baptism in our little Riverview Ward.  This is Kera Anderson who was baptized by Elder Huston.  Kera heard of the church when she was a young girl in California.  A seed was planted, but years went by.  Then, awhile ago, she bought a Book of Mormon in a Thrift Store.  She read it and couldn't get enough.  She was taught by the missionaries who gave her more to read.  She ate it up.  She couldn't get enough.  She texted them, "It's so true."  She is a golden contact who continues to read everything she can.  She knows so much and truly believes.  It was great to be a part of her story.  Elder Huston is from Arizona, Sister Pita is from Peru, and Sister Laycock is from good old American Fork, Utah (Linda Laycock's granddaughter in our Stake)

        This is Kera Anderson again this morning.  She was confirmed a member of the church and received the Holy Ghost.  She said in RS that she had often felt his presence in her life, but wanted to know and have a confirmation that he was there now as her "constant" companion.  The Lord answered her prayer and request.  She felt his warm feeling and bore testimony pure, simple, and truthfully.

        This is Sister & Brother Maldonado and their daughter.  They are members of our ward.  Sister Maldonado bore a sweet and emotional testimony last week in Spanish.  But, when we understood, we were impressed.  She has had a miracle in her life concerning Cancer.  God has given her health back and she is go grateful.  Miracles do happen.  By Faith they occur and by Faith they are manifested.  They have great faith.  Their son is serving  a mission in Nebraska.  They want to go back to Ecuador and serve when they are senior missionaries.

        Then, tonight, there wasn't the Devotional at the VC.  (It's every other week)  But,  there was a baptism in our ward again.  It was Yvette.  The entire baptism was conducted in Spanish.  But, the feelings were the same spirit.  I was able to sit in on a discussion with Yvette a few weeks ago.  She has truly felt the Holy Ghost also, confirming the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  She has had some challenges and decisions to make, like all of us.  But, she had chosen to follow the Holy Ghost and let him lead her.  Her husband has let her make these decisions and was there to support her choice.  He is not a member.  Her mother & grandmother were also there to watch and see her baptized.

Activities on our Mission

        Thursday evening, after work at the office, we went to our first Major League Baseball game with some of the Senior Missionaries here.  The KC Royals vs the Minnesota Twins.  This is the mission van that Elder Atwood is driving.  Sister Rasmussen, Sister Burk, Elder Black, and Elder Rasmussen are standing here by the Van when we first arrived.  Elder Black & Sister Black are the new Office Missionaries learning all their responsibilities.  They really needed a break.  So, here we are!

        This is Sister & Elder Burk who work in Physical Facilities Management.  They take care of all the grounds at the Visitor Centers, Temple, Historic Sites, etc.  Elder & Sister Rasmussen take care of all the missionaries' cars and their medical needs respectively.  There are so many jobs and assignments for Senior Couples or Senior Sisters.  The Church can use all of us with any talents or abilities we have to share and serve.

        This is Elder & Sister Atwood, also working in the office.  It is our first baseball game and we both loved it.  We even bought the traditional "hot dog" to make the night complete.  By the way, we won the game, which made it especially nice.  The bottom of the 7th inning we scored 4 runs.  So, that made it more exciting.

        Then, the next night, Doug & Tonia, (our son & his family) came to visit on their way to Nauvoo. We took them first to the KC Temple for pictures.  It was closed for cleaning.  But, they are going on to Nauvoo and going through with their kids to perform Baptism for the dead.

        We visited both the Visitor Centers and some other sites in the area.  This is the VC in Independence, Missouri, where the Statue of Christ is beautifully displayed.  This is us with our son and his family: Kenner almost 15, Sister & Elder Atwood, Doug & Tonia Atwood, Jacob 13, with Joey 5 and Alyssa 9 in front.  They were great kids.  We loved their visit.  They are now off to Nauvoo to see other Church History sites.  They will visit Far West, Adam-ondi-Ahman, and Hannible, MO. on their way.

        At the Visitor Centers, Young Sister Missionaries give the people guided tours through the various parts of the Center.  This is Sister Moody, who did a great job of explaining history or whatever we wanted to know.  They serve for 18 months from all over the world working in the VC's and also proselyting (teaching about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) in the Missouri area.

Nauvoo Pageant

        We were able to go to Nauvoo this weekend to see the two pageants that are being performed.  Next week is the last week.  This is the bridge and Mississippi River we are crossing over by car.  It sure beats the way the Saints left many years ago.  But, they did come over into Iowa when they were driven from the state of Illinois.

        When we arrived in Nauvoo, we met another missionary couple we didn't know was going to be there.  So, we went to Pete's Diner and had a quick meal before the Pageant began.  This couple is Elder & Sister Melin, who actually serve with us in Independence, Missouri, working in the Visitor Center.  They also live in the six-plex with us.  It was fun to see someone we knew.

        Before the Pageant began, we listened to the Bagpipe Band.  They played at the beginning of the program as the American Flag was being carried in.  Those who wanted joined in the march as they hoisted the flag on the stage.  I love patriotic music and songs.  We all joined in with the singing of the Star Spangled Banner.

        This is Paul.  He and his family sat by us during the Pageant.  He is from Chicago and comes every year to see the Nauvoo Pageant.  He joined the church when he was 24 and wasn't able to serve a mission.  He wants to go with his wife later (when he is older) to Brazil.  He is from South America, but loves the country of Brazil and wants to serve there.  He was great fun and has a strong testimony.

We also met another lady from Brazil who saw the missionaries when she was a child.  They read stories to her and she loved the feeling they bought.  But, her family didn't join.  Later in life, when she had forgotten about them, she searched for a church that could answer her three questions: Why was she here on the earth?  What would happen to her after this life? and Why were there no prophets?  So, when missionaries knocked again, and answered her questions, she remembered the same feeling.  I love to listen to the testimonies of people out here.  They sincerely love the gospel.  And so do I!!

        This is a picture of the final scene in the pageant.  The missionaries came out in the end and you can see them in white shirts, center and both sides.  The Pageant was about the Saints in the British Islands who joined the church and came to build up the city of Nauvoo.  It was a great intro to the Nauvoo Pageant the next night.  We were able to see both Pageants; Friday & Saturday.  This is the first year that the British Company has done the pageant here in Nauvoo.

        This is Elder Nyholm and Elder Parry.  They both live across the street from the Mission Office here in Independence.  They are always helping Elder Atwood load furniture or whatever he needs.  They are both great workers.  I put this picture in because I love their T-shirts.  They came into the office last week with these.  It was a big hit for all of us.  I had to take their picture.  Elder Nyholm was just transferred this week, but Elder Parry is still here.

July 24 Celebration & other

        For the 24th of July, we had a big stake campout and picnic throughout the day.  There were games, singing, program, and of course food.  This is Elder Atwood standing by Bishop Munger of the Riverview Ward that we attend.

        This is Sister Atwood dressed up for the pioneer spirit.  She sang at the festivities with the ward choir.  We had five sisters in the choir.  But, they sang well.

        Of course, some of the best food was provided in the Polynesian Ward.  They had roasted pig.  We had to taste it to make sure it was edible for the others.

        They also had these bananas coated in something.  They didn't look too appetizing but they actually tasted good.  The Polynesian people eat them with all their meals, like we do with potatoes.  In fact, they taste like potatoes.

        This was a baptism we attended also.  The two young people are Kellie and Cesar Wong.  They were both baptized after the missionaries taught them.  Their parents are not yet baptized, but they were both at the baptism and I'm sure will follow suit.  All the missionaries who taught them were able to come back to the ward to participate in the baptism.  It was great to see all these Elders who we knew and who we have missed from our Ward.  Elder Anderson, Kolomoa, Kiene, Santa Cruz, Elwood, Brother Wong (their uncle) Elder Huston, Brasseaux, and Elder Hart.  We've grown so fond of most of these Elders who we have worked with in the past.  It was like a fun reunion.  The two brother & sister were then confirmed Sunday morning at church.  They were such cute kids.

Fourth of July weekend

We worked in the office until 3:00.  Closed early for the celebration of our Wonderful Country!

        We went first to the Rasmussen's home for a picnic with all the FM and Office Missionaries.  We each brought our own meat and a dish to share.  There was plenty of food.  Elder Rasmussen set up the Bar B Q and the rest of us visited and ate.  This is Elder Atwood looking for what he wants to eat.  Sister Rasmussen is fixing food beside him and Sister Flint is in front.  There were 16 people there.

        After dinner, we drove to the RLDS Auditorium where the Churches joined together with the city, under the direction of Stake President Cato to put together a free concert for all the people in Independence.  The George Dyer family from Branson, Missouri, sang.  George is an Opera singer, who sang with the Tabernacle Choir.  He, his wife, two daughters, and two sons sing in shows together.  One son is serving a mission in Mexico, so he wasn't there.   This is Sister Dyer and her daughter singing one song together.  They were very talented.

         The next day, we had our President's Devotional where new converts share testimony.  This is Doris, who joined the church after searching for years.  She was tired of looking when, Sister Moody and Sister Raymer approached her house, as the last home they would go to for the day.  She wouldn't let them off her porch without asking and talking for a long time.  She just couldn't get enough.  It was like coming home.

        This is Kayla with Elder Alvey and Elder Moss.  She wasn't religious at all and has only attended church a couple times in her life.  She is very scientific and didn't believe without proof.  But, after listening to the missionaries, asking questions, reading, and studying, something happened to her and she discovered that there is more to life than science.  When science runs out and can't explain things, there is another source.  She is converted to truth through the eyes of a Supreme Being.

        This is Kristina with Sister Atwood.  She is fifteen years old.  She was introduced to the church by a boy friend who was LDS.  He gave her the Book of Mormon.  She attended Seminary and read the Book of Mormon 7 times.  She knew it was true, and loves reading it for more and more answers to her questions.

        This is Trisha with Elder Gardner and Elder Colemere.  She was another person who had searched for answers to her questions.  She had been in several churches.  When she met the missionaries, they invited her to the Visitor's Center.  It was there, sitting by the Christus that she felt something she had never felt before.  The feeling encompassed her entire body.  She knew that the message of the Gospel was accompanied by the Holy Ghost, which she felt in that sacred place.
        The night ended with President Vest and Sister Vest, our new President, sharing their testimonies and their desire to continue this great work in bringing souls unto Christ, the only name whereby we can be saved.  He said, "The Gospel and Jesus Christ is the only thing that can mend the broken world we live in.  It is the only way we can be forgiven.  It is the only way we can find true happiness and inner peace."  God loves each of his children.  He is trying to get our attention and help us back to him. I pray that we will open our ears and listen to Him instead of the chaos of the world and the deceptions all around us.  It is a straight shot to Him!  And down deep, we know it is!

A Change of Mission Presidents

        Last Friday, President & Sister Keyes came into the office for some last minute good byes and some final business.  We had bagels & other munchies to eat for them and Elders who came by.  This is Sister Keyes eating as we sat and visited.  President Keyes was finishing interviews in the office.  She has mixed emotions of going home, but also anxious to see her children, grandchildren, and her parents who are still living.  They left for Utah on Saturday.

        This is President & Sister Keyes, our Mission President.  I work as his secretary and he is absolutely a wonderful and spiritual giant.  We will miss them, but have totally enjoyed knowing them both.  This is in the office where we take pictures of the incoming missionaries.  I take the pictures.  So, I have to practice more and take good ones.

        This is our new President Vest and his wife, Sister Vest.  They arrived the same day that President Keyes and his wife left.  They had a few hours to transfer stuff and information.  The mantle has passed and President Vest is also a great man.  I feel so privileged to work under both of them.  The Vests are from Texas.  He has been a CEO of Kimberly Clark and in Mission Presidencies and Temple Presidency before.  They are both ready and anxious to get to work.  His philosophy is: Preach My Gospel, delegation, obedience (the key to personal revelation) and considering every individual as children of God and our brothers and sisters.

        This is one of the missionaries that came in the office that day.  His name is Elder Sanger.  So, I asked him if he was related to a Dan Sanger (Cheryl Nebeker's husband.)  He said, "Yes, he's my uncle."  I said, "well, I'm his aunt."   Then, of course, we had to talk.  Small world!  He's serving here in Missouri.