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