April 24, 2016

This has been a very busy week, with spring projects and friends and family visiting.  The weather pattern seems to be changing to resemble last year a bit more in recent days, with the forecast calling for continuing instability.  Rain storms are beginning to come more frequently.  The lawns are bright green and growing rapidly.  Many areas are now requiring a mowing twice a week.  Fortunately breaks in the weather, with sunny days, have allowed us to stay caught up so far.

One evening’s sky was adorned by a beautiful double rainbow.  The air was so clean and fresh and the view – spectacular!  It seems that for each such an occurrence someone captures a beautiful picture which is then shared with everyone else. 

We have enjoyed visits during the week from Bruce and Sandi Hemming and Dean and Marsha Burdick. 

Left, Dean, Marsha, Sandi, and Bruce

 Sandi was the winning photographer with her capture of the bright rainbow.

Rainbow from our front yard

 We had a great time with all of them, touring the property and visiting other church history sites and the Amish community.  Friday was especially enjoyable and memorable.  Dean and Bruce helped mow the missionary grove.  We should sign them on full-time. 

Dean Burdick

Bruce Hemming

We enjoyed a visit to the Kansas City temple in the early afternoon. 

Kevin with sisters Marsha & Sandi

 That evening Dean treated us to tickets to a professional baseball game.  This was the first time we had ever been to a sporting event so large.  We really enjoyed the evening. 

Kansas City  Royals vs. Baltimore Orioles

 The home “Kansas City Royals” won the world series last fall and continued on their winning way that night, defeating the Baltimore Orioles.  One amazing thing was how quickly the thousands of cars were able to exit the parking lot and enter nearby freeways. 

Sandi’s son Jake and her granddaughter Rose joined them here at Adam-ondi-Ahman Saturday. 

Rose with Grandpa Bruce & his fish

 We surely enjoyed their visit.  We also welcomed Brother and Sister Steiner who are from Rexburg.  They had served here approximately ten years ago.  You could readily sense how their return had brought sweet memoires and enabled joyful reunions with friends from the area whom they had grown to love.   

We have so many projects underway or needing attention.  This makes us keenly aware of our gratitude that the new missionary couples have arrived with such diverse talents.  Each are very devoted and all seem determined to what they can to assist in maintaining and beautifying this wonderful site. 

We helped the residents of the adjoining community of Jameson with their spring neighborhood cleanup project Saturday morning. 

Jameson Cleanup

 Twenty-two of the missionaries combined with a few local folks to make the job go quite quickly.  Other involvement with them will be frequent over the summer months as we help with numerous fundraising functions.

We have not learned well enough how to outrun approaching Bishopric Counselors, we guess, as one approached recently and requested that one of us speak in today’s Sacrament meeting. The topic assigned was “feasting upon the word of the Lord”.  All who spoke were assigned the same topic.  Many inspirational suggestions were shared.

The coming week will be equally busy.  It seems that the weeks pass as though they were days.  We hope that we are adequately accomplishing what we were called to do.  As we have heard, “so much to do, so little time”.  And yet we take comfort in the fact that others will succeed us and continue with the work ever at hand.

Please know of our love and appreciation.  And, keep in touch.  We always enjoy every contact.