Adam-ondi-Ahman consists of ......

Friday May, 20th 2011

Dear family and friends,

Adam-ondi-Ahman consists of approximately 3,500 acres, of which 150 acres is grass. The weather has been good with no rain this week, and I have been able to work outside all five days mowing this beautiful area. I love, at the end of the day, looking at the freshly mown areas I have done. It reminds me of a beautiful golf course. Speaking of golf, Wednesday we drove to Chillicothe and I was able to hit range balls while jackie patiently waited. I rewarded her with dinner at Golden Corral. We are enjoying each others company and I love spending so much time with her.

She is loved by all and especially a missionary from Salina, Utah named Ellen Crane. They are best friends. They laugh and talk non-stop just like she does with LaDonna, Davis her sister in law in Utah.

We should all be each others best friend.

Glen and Jackie Banks

Yesterday we drove to Pella, Iowa....

Yesterday we drove to Pella, Iowa and met some wonderful people.

However, of all the people, I enjoyed being with your mother the most.

She is a lot of fun to be with and is really blossoming on this mission.

You will be amazed at her growth when we return sixteen months from now.

Dad

Your Mother and I recently drove.....

Dear children,

Your Mother and I recently drove to several places here at Adam-ondi-Ahman.

As you enter the property, you drive along a road called red bud lane.

You follow the signs that direct you to tower hill.

This is so named because it is where a Nephite tower was located.

During the first few weeks of our mission we cut down a lot of trees.

My assignment was to drag the limbs and trunks down the hill

and feed them into the chipper.

Then return up the hill and do it again. All day long, this is what I did!

I was exhausted at the end of each day, having not done this much physical work

on a daily basis since I left the farm 55 years ago.

In fact, that is why I left the farm, to get an education and work in an office.

It wasn't until two weeks later when the two of drove to this look out spot

that I saw the fruits of my labor. An unobstructed view of this beautiful 600

acre valley where the Savior will one day return.

Hopefully, as visitors come they will be able to enjoy the view and the spirit

more fully because of the work we as missionaries have done.

We took our time and walked hand in hand down a foot path that lead to

preachers rock. This distinctive rock overlooks a grove of pecan trees

and is where Joseph Smith reportedly stood and addressed the saints.

We took our time and tried to feel the spirit of this out door temple.

Jackie spent the rest of the day doing family history work, which she dearly loves.

She was able to submit some twenty names of her ancestors to the temple

to have their work done for them.

All in all it was an enriching day that each of need in our busy lives.

Be kind to each other and take time to enjoy life.

Mom and Dad

We have now been in the mission......

Dear family and friends,

We have now been in the mission field at Adam-ondi-Ahman for one month.

We are becoming accustomed to the rural lifestyle and today we planted our tomatoes.

Spring is arriving and the red bud trees are starting to blossom.

We are living on the edge of a hill overlooking the big valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman.

This flat valley of 586 acres is very distinctive from the rolling hills and the surrounding farm land of western missouri. Those who have seen it from the air, tell us it is very distinctive.

This is the valley spoken of in D. & C. 107 verse 53, wherein Adam called his posterity together and bestowed upon them his last blessing. "All that happened at Adam-ondi-Ahman in those early days was but a type and a shadow -a similitude, if you will- of what shall happen at the same blessed place in the last days when Adam and Christ and the residue of men who are righteous will assemble again in solemn worship." see The Millennial Messiah page 580, by Bruce R McConkie.

There is a special feeling about this place and we feel it each time we return from our travels.

There are peaceful groves like missionary grove, and rock out-cropping to sit upon

and contemplate.

We have discovered that home is who you are with, more than where you are living.

Please be good to each other and love your eternal companions and children.

Grandma and Grandpa Banks

Yesterday we all drove 180 miles.....

May 7, 2011,

Dear family and friends,

Yesterday we all drove 180 miles north to Pella, Iowa to attend their annual tulip festival. Most of the some 12,000 residents decorate their homes and businesses by planting tulips. The town was settled in the late eighteen hundreds by immigrants from Holland, who came to America seeking religious freedom.

Everyone participates by coming to the center of town in their native costumes. Jackie and I enjoyed the day together, strolling the tulip lined streets and gardens.

We stopped occasionally to taste their native foods sold by the many townsfolk.

A parade ended the day with many floats, bands and people walking as families dressed in their native costumes.

One rather large band all wore wooden shoes and we marveled at their ability to all march in step with them.

It was a long but very rewarding day.

Be good to each other and remember us in your prayers as we do the same in ours.

Elder Glen and Jackie

Many have asked....

April 14th 2011

Many have asked what we have been doing so far on our mission. The answer for me is work, a lot of work. I have not done this much physical labor since leaving the farm 50 years ago. Thankfully, in Arizona, I worked hard each Saturday morning prior to going to the temple. There were those at work who ask, why I didn't use a yard service like they did. Now I know why. Without this physical conditioning, I would be in more trouble today than I am.

Adam-andi-Ahman is not the Garden of Eden. It is the place where Adam and Eve were driven after the fall. This is where there are thorns, thistles and noxious weeds to afflict and torment man.

Trees have been may main affliction so far.

Winter has ended and tree thinning is necessary to give the property a clean manicured appearance for the many visitors who will be coming this summer. After cutting down the trees with a chain saw, we use a large chipping machine to reduce the branches to mulch.

This hungry machine gobbles up everything placed in its opening.

Since I am unskilled and don't know how to operate a grader or a backhoe, like some of the other missionaries; my main assignment the past two weeks has been to feed the chipper. After cutting a tree down and trimming off the limbs, I drag them (always up hill) to the chipper. Here they are fed into this noisy, growling monster. Ear plugs are a necessity as well as a heavy coat to protect one from the branches that whip left and right and smack you as they are reluctantly consumed by the chipper.

So there you have it.

I come home exhausted and hungry every night. I have taken my belt in two notches and sleep very soundly all through the night. Jackie says she has discovered a different side of me. I am not sure what she means by that. But I don't think I will ask.

Pray for us and we will continue doing the same for you,

Grandma and Grandpa Banks

We are having wonderful experience....

April 10, 2010

We are having wonderful experiences here at Adam-ondi-Ahman. This past week I continued to cut down trees with a chain saw and run the branches through a large chipper. It reminds me of working on the farm when I was a boy. So far my back is holding up and we both sleep well at night. The main purpose for clearing the trees is so visitors will be able to clearly see the big valley and other sites without obstruction. Hopefully, this will enrich their feelings as they visit this place and all our hard work will be well worth it. Burke Peterson's daughter and her family visited us this past week and she shared some of her memories of her father's work and love for this place.

We drove around the property with our mentors the Van Horns and saw many of the interesting sites. One such place is called preachers rock and next week I will revisit it and take a photo that I can send to you. Reportedly, Joseph Smith preached from this location to the assembled saints. We drove off property and toured the surrounding country side and towns. Returning to this place both your mother and I felt a noticeable change in feeling as we entered the property. This is true each time we return from either shopping, church or just touring. This truly is a special place and even nonmember suppliers feel the difference and ask our director to tell them more.

We drove to the Amish/Mennonite community of Jamesport Saturday and ate dinner in one of their restaurants. The food reminded us both of what our mothers cooked for us as children. They ride around in horse drawn buggies and wear traditional pilgrim looking clothing and are very friendly waving at all out of state vehicles. At one of their farm stores we purchased some tomato and other plants as well as peas, corn and bean seeds to plant in our assigned garden plot.

As we learn more about our fellow missionaries we discover most of them have children and grandchildren who have problems. We are so thankful for all of you and for our righteous extended family. We will be released one day from all of our Church callings; but if we are worthy, we will never be released from our family relationships. We are so thankful for the knowledge that we can all live together for eternity.

Be kind and good to each other.

Mom and Dad