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

"Home Sweet Home"

April 8th 2011

We arrived safely at our destination.

We were greeted with snow and cold weather.

But the snow melted quickly and we bundled up.

They decided to burn one of the fields to get rid of the weeds

We went for a walk in the woods with our mentors the Van Horns.

Home sweet home.

We arrived safely......

April 4, 2011

Dear Children,

We arrived safely and have enjoyed the first week of our mission. I believe Jackie is adjusting better than me. She is doing extraction and indexing work on the computer, which is right up her alley. The directors have recognized this and today named her to oversee the extraction program for all the sister missionaries. I knew they would immediately recognize her talents and put them to good use. She also does a lot of cooking and we do a lot of eating with the group. For me , I am doing a lot of physical labor. Running a chain saw to cut down trees and putting the branches through a large chipper machine. I also load logs onto a truck and repair field drains.

Perhaps the highlight of our time here has been our group meetings with Elder and Sister Christensen. He has been coordinating Adam-ondi-Ahman for the past four to five years. When President Hinckley called him, he said we are to maintain and beautify this place. He turned down a proposal to build a visitor's center here and told Elder Christensen that he did not want to read anything about Adam-ondi-Ahman in the Salt Lake Tribune; which has a reputation for criticizing the church every chance it gets.

Elder Christensen told us, that it was not by chance that you are here. He said, you have been prayed here.

There were 27 couples considered for this calling and we were the six chosen. He said that the Lord trusts us, and quoting President McKay he said, "It is better to be trusted than to be loved."

Joseph Smith spent 22 nights here at Adam-ondi-Ahman and at one time, there were approximately 4,000 members living here. This is a special place and we are glad to be a part of it. Be good to each other and love your children.

Mom and Dad