Dear Family,
We have just returned from the general session of the
Liberty, Missouri Stake conference. It
was held in an outdoor amphitheater in Kearney and was very well attended. So many of the stake members travel long
distances for church meeting. We left
(for instance) at 8:00 this morning and returned home at about 2:00 this
afternoon. The stake president, Jeremiah
Joseph Morgan, presided. He is a highly
respected leader, having been converted from the Reorganized L.D.S. faith when
he was 18 years old. He is an attorney
and serves as the Assistant Solicitor General for the state of Missouri. The temple president and his wife spoke
also. She told of a chauffeur who came
upon a tragic accident that resulted in the death of an individual. For the balance of the day he felt an
oppressive melancholy that persisted until later that evening as he circled the
temple several times in his car (outside the locked fence). Soon after this experience he was travelling
down the same freeway while carrying two Jewish Rabbis. He asked them if they knew what the building
was. They replied that it was the
“Mormon Temple” and that the church had missionaries who could tell him
more. He called them, was taught,
baptized, and (more recently) was in the Kansas City Temple participating in
proxy baptisms.
The stake has fourteen units and a little over 4800
members, having grown by over 1000 in the last 5 ½ years. This morning’s session was the first time the
entire stake has met at one location in those years. The setting was beautiful. Fortunately no rain fell although it was very
chilly. Even the organist had a hooded
winter coat and gloves on. We will try
to include a picture or two of the setting.
The entire week was very full of activities. Saturday began early with a community project
in Jameson which lies immediately west of the Adam-ondi-Ahman property. We helped clean the streets of litter. With nearly all of the twelve missionary
couples participating the job was finished quickly. We then cleaned up in preparation for the
trip to Liberty to attend a Temple session, which was followed by a quick bite
to eat and attendance at the Saturday evening Adult Session of Stake
Conference. While at the temple we met
one of our former missionaries (during our time in Nevada), and while at the
Stake Center a young couple we had met while on assignment at BYU Idaho and,
later, a couple (Bishop and Sister Fager) who had moved here recently from the
Idaho Falls South Stake. It was a nice
day of reunions.
Another community service in which Marilyn will
occasionally participate, is performed at the Seventh Day Adventist’s thrift
store. Wednesday all the volunteers and their
husbands were invited to a luncheon and orientation session. It is similar, in principle, to our Deseret
Industries. They open to the public one
day a week but have volunteers accepting donations, sorting, cleaning, and
preparing the items for either sale or further donation on other days. We certainly do not have a monopoly on
goodness. These kind and generous people
are doing a tremendous amount of good in their little community. It was nice to become acquainted with them.
Nearly all other days of the week I was spraying weeds
along roadways, pathways, and drainage channels. I think I have now gone through more than
nine gallons of Killzall and 2 4d concentrate.
That amounts to over well over 1,000 gallons of mixed material. There remain many other areas to spray, not
even counting the many acres of mowed grass being invaded with lots of
dandelions. I think it will be a never
ending job, as will be Marilyn’s involvement in indexing.
Often, while about the property, we are approached by
visitors who ask directions or other questions.
I believe it was Thursday evening, while cleaning some weeds from two
flower beds we are asked to care for this summer, that a couple asked if we
were aware of a trailer park nearby where they could spend the night. We led them to our apartment to find a
brochure from Jamesport that we thought might have a suggestion. This couple was on their way to visit
children in Idaho Falls and Rigby. While
on our way we noticed a parked vehicle with a 4B license plate. As we stopped to say hello a flat tire was
noticed on their car and so we offered to return to help. While visiting (upon our return) we learned
that they were the Palmers from Goshen.
He had grown up next door to Grandpa and Grandma Speas in
Woodville. Fifty years ago he had served
in the Central American Mission and had visited this place (much less developed)
then. They were so pleasant. When I said I was sorry for their difficulty,
he responded that they had been on the road for over 3700 miles and that this
was the first hiccup. The world is a
small place.
Marilyn is busy downloading photos on to her computer as
I write this note. All of the sisters
share selected pictures taken to a database from which all can, then,
draw. Perhaps some of these can be
shared with you at some time along with those we are taking. She always keeps busy at projects. Besides household chores this week she tried
some new recipes and made a batch of strawberry jam. She has spent lots of time on the assignment
she received to plan the plantings in all the flower beds that will be planted
and cared for by the various sisters. We
celebrated her birthday Monday. She was
sung to by the Sisters, by the Fieldings from St. George (over the phone) and by
our family home evening group. And she
was so happy to receive lots of cards and messages and phone calls from family
and friends.
We have appreciated telephone contact with several of you
during the week. Thanks for these, we
always are pleased to hear from you. We
are glad that Grandma Wilding is now in her home, and grateful that LaNona has
been there to help in the transition. We
wish that we could be of more help; and we appreciate so sincerely all that has
and will be done for her by those closer to home.
This coming week will be (as each has been) very
busy. It appears from the forecast that
the weather is going to be nice, with sunshine several days. We have lots of projects underway. The greenhouse that we ordered is now in
transit. Hopefully it will arrive Monday
or Tuesday. I don’t know just where its
construction lies on the list of priorities.
Some groundwork must be done first, along with lots of mowing, road
grading, fence post scrubbing and painting, a large shop door to install, new
tile in the public restrooms, etc.,
etc.. We can more fully understand why
twelve couples are here during the summer months.
We are very grateful for the blessing given to be
here. The surroundings are beautiful and
the spirit so very special. We are
hopeful that we can serve faithfully.
And we appreciate all of you and are grateful for your support and
encouragement. Please keep in touch.
Love all of you.
Marilyn & Kevin, Mom & Dad, Grandma & Grandpa
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