June 17th through June 24th, 2024

Experienced a very different and very enjoyable week.  We spent Monday through Friday helping the Traverse City District Girls Camp at Hideaway Inn in Indian River not far from Burt Lake State Park.  Elder Gibbons was one of two Priesthood holders there and their role was to watch over and protect the 16 young women, ages 12-17, who attended.  I am still waiting for more pictures, but here are a few I did take with my own camera.

First day get-to-know you came and lunch at Burt State Park before heading to the camp.

Right now this is the only picture I have with Elder Gibbons in it (middle, back)

After checking into the lodge and taking a group photo, we piled into vehicles and went to a preserve to hike.  It wasn't much of a hike, but it was beautiful.  Later back at camp, two girls actually had ticks!

Each day there was a gospel focus.  On Tuesday Elder Gibbons and I taught a devotional about Temple Wedding Sealings.  The blessings of the Temple are dear to our hearts so it was a joy to share with them.  As part of the class we gave them a picture of the Detroit Temple and provided materials for them to make a "vision board."  We asked them to visualize themselves one day kneeling in a sealing room across from their fiance and write on their board qualities they hope to find in a young man and qualities they want to develop in themselves.  In the evening, five couples were invited to answer questions about relationships.  

I was asked to hang out with the youngest group of girls, which only ended up being 3 girls and their two Youth Leaders.  

From left to right:  Ann and Eliana (youth leaders), Ariya, me, Nadia and Emma

Before leaving the last day, each girl was presented a certificate stating how they contributed to a wonderful camp experience.  To our surprise, we even received one.  LOL.

On the first day, one of the youth leaders provided a big poster board with fire logs on it.  

All week long people filled out little "flames" of ways they saw people doing kind things.

You can see what was written about us.  

A water slide was rented for a couple of days and the girls loved it.  As for Elder Gibbons and me, we had great fun watching them :) 

Needless to say, by the time we got home Friday midday, we were ready for a long nap, but we wouldn't trade our experience for anything.  Although we wore our missionary name tags all the time, it sure felt different to be focused on something completely different.  We are glad to back in Cheboygan hoping to love and support the people we have come to know and love in the Branch here.

Sunday at church we had a Taco Bar potluck after our meetings.  We regularly have about 40 people attending Sacrament Meeting, some are visitors during the summer.  We had three from New Zealand this week.  We also had another Senior Missionary Couple serving in "Records Preservation" in the Lansing area join us as they were in our area doing some sightseeing.  Just so happens we have mutual friends.  Each of us know Dave and Tammy Montgomery.  They knew them in Utah and we knew them in Arizona when he was serving as the Stake President of the Young Single Adult Stake.  Small world!

Left to right:  Elder Rogers, Elder Sines, Elder and Sister Gibbons, Sister Smith and Elder Smith

Even though today was our PDay, we had to squeeze in apartment inspections across the Mackinaw Bridge.  Transfers are Wednesday and they had to be done before then. This is our second time doing so.  It was sunny and 78 degrees.  Along the way we saw a herd of buffalo, but the picture we took isn't a good one.  I am sure I have mentioned the bridge before, but it crosses the Straits of Mackinaw which is where Lake Huron meets Lake Michigan and leads to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  We drove to the very top to inspect one set of Elders apartment which is right at the Canadian border.  

The two pictures above are driving to the north.

These two pictures are heading back home from north to south.

It is pretty spectacular and was the world's largest span bridge for a very long time.  Apparently when the wind gets too strong they close down the bridge and you can get stuck on the wrong side.  We have an extra bedroom in our home here which we are to use for any missionaries getting stuck from crossing back over.  We understand that on Labor Day they shut it down and allow people to walk across the bridge.  It is said to be about about 5 miles.  If you cross over and back walking 10 miles you can claim the title "Double Crosser."  Who know?  Maybe we will do it ourselves!

When we got home today and picked up the mail, Elder Gibbons had received this wonderful, homemade card from Sister Froelich.  We learned this week that none of the missionaries in our District are being transferred Wednesday and we were all SO happy!!  Sister Froelich has been with us since we got here.  We will be so sad when she is transferred, but at some point we know she will be.

June 11th through June 16th, 2024

Welcome to a new day and a new week!  This will be a short email, because in about 20 minutes we are headed to a lodge for a week of helping at the Traverse City District Girls Camp.  We will have stories and pictures to share next week.  We sure hope you are all doing fantastic and feel God's love in your life everyday.  We think of you often and we haven't forgotten Arizona, but we wouldn't trade this experience.

One of the sisters in our Branch gave this to Elder Gibbons.  She has a son who lives in the Phoenix area.

I spent all of Friday afternoon cooking in the kitchen preparing for Saturday baptisms and large cookies for Father's Day gifts to present at Church.  I wasn't the only one though.  Sister Nixon brought food from Petoskey for the baptism and she and I made sure it was served "Relief Society Style."  

This was a week of sitting in lessons with the Elders and testifying to the truth we share.  They have sincere testimonies themselves and people feel it.

They often teach this lesson about God's Plan of Salvation and Elder Sines has become quite an artist.  Notice what the picture spells.  L-O-V-E.  God's Plan is all about His love for us and in every step of the way includes His Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World.

Saturday was a wonderful day.  We were at the Church building for most of it.  After spending time in the kitchen preparing brownies, cookies and macaroni salad we went to help at the baptism of four children all around the ages of 9 and 10.  They actually came down from Sault (Soo) Ste. Marie which is located north across the Mackinaw Bridge.  There are three sets of missionaries up there and they do not have a building with a font so they come to use the one in our small building here.  The building was filled with the Spirit, smiles and joy and love.  

This was just a few of us after the baptism while each of us waited for our interview with the mission President.  His wife, Sister Peckham is sitting in the front, second from the right.  The Elder in the back, second from the right is serving as the Branch President up in the Soo.  Elder Andrus from Wyoming.  I don't think I have ever seen him without a huge smile on his face.  He was the  Assistant to the President until he was called to be the Branch President.  The Elder at the left, Elder Loar, is from Arizona as well. 

 Elder Plowman, again, from Arizona. 

Once again Sister Froelich had something for one of us.  This time for Elder Gibbons.  As I have mentioned in the past, the Sisters think he is a turkey.  So she just had to give him these stickers.  We have served with Sister Froelich our entire time being here.  She is a fantastic missionary!

Sister Froelich and Sister Wehrmeister provided the music for the baptism.  They were asked at the last minute to do so.  It amazes me how willing and cheerful these missionaries are when they are asked to serve in some way. Always with enthusiasm.  They used my phone to play the accompaniment for the songs so while they had my phone they left me a something a little extra.

Happy late Father's Day to our sons, sons-in-law, family and friends!  You play such a vital role in the health and well being of our/your family!  Cannot overstate the importance of a father as a role model.

Snapped this picture yesterday on Father's Day just prior to leaving for Church.  (I think we kinda look tired, but happily so.) I am so grateful for Duane (feels funny to call him that because here I always say Elder Gibbons,) the amazing father in this family.

June 3rd through June 10th, 2024

 Once a week, typically Fridays, we are asked to plan for the upcoming week.  Who we will visit, lessons we will teach, and everything in between.  Some days we wonder if we have our ducks in a row like this adorable family we saw on a lake here...  

Or are we "squirreling?"  A phrase our District recently started using when someone gets off track like this wandering squirrel (lots of critters around these parts)...  

Okay, so those were geese not ducks and that is a chipmunk, not a squirrel, but it didn't fit my narrative.  So I sent a second email that corrected my error and gave extra credit to anyone who noticed it.  Then I posted this picture with the invitation to look for "the angel among us."  This is in Sister Pugh's yard and she is definitely an angel.

Actually one of the things we've been doing a lot of is preparing food.  Our Branch holds lots of potlucks.  And we often have missionaries in our home, and hey, we gotta feed 'em.  This group was here on Saturday. 

Elder Gibbons spent the day out teaching and finding with Elder Rogers and one of the Zone Leaders, Elder Mower.  I spent the day with the Sister Trainer Leaders, Sister Sherwood (from Gila, AZ) and Sister Wilson (from Texas and who is returning home in just a couple of weeks.)  When the day was done we fed them.  What was really wonderful is before leaving Elder Rogers asked Sister Wilson to share what she has learned on her mission and what ensued was a 30 minute sharing from each of us on how we have grown closer to Jesus Christ while here on our missions.

There is something special to my heart about missionary cars lined up and ready to take us where we need to go.

One of the inactive sisters in our Branch makes dolls.  Dolls that are eerily very realistic to me.  But it is quite a talent.  I took the Sisters there to meet her and see how she was doing.  They asked to take a picture of her dolls, so I did as well.  But let me tell you, there is a whole other room to the right full of dolls.  She sells them online from time to time.

Our District started something on Facebook Messenger.  It's called #bereal.  (It's not original because people use social media sites to do this.)  During the course of a day one of the companionships sends a picture of what they are doing that very moment with that hashtag.  Then each of the other companionships takes a picture right that minute.  One came across when we were at the Church building Friday night for our monthly game night.  After everyone had left, I sat in on a lesson Elder Sines and Rogers were teaching while Elder Gibbons straightened up the building.

  

Elder Rogers is to the left of the camera view.  Elder Sines was teaching Ashley "The Plan of Salvation" using the word LOVE.  From time to time they asked me to share my thoughts.  I learn so much from these young Elders.

On Sunday, we took the Elders out to our Branch Presidents home for dinner.  It is a 45 minute drive.  One the way back a #bereal came and so this is the picture of what we posted.

Yesterday, Monday the 10th, we had our District PDay.  Once a "transfer" (typically a 6 week time period) we do something together.  This time we went to Petoskey and went to Fisherman's State Park in Charlevoix, Michigan.  What a beautiful area.  We had a picnic and then they played in the sand and water's edge looking for Petoskey stones.  It was sunny, but very windy and about 60 degrees.  Being the wimpy Arizonans we are, we bundled up and avoided getting wet.  We have so much fun together!

May 27th through June 2nd, 2024

Meet Arthur and Sheree, 

the newest members of the Cheboygan Branch of 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!  

I have been staring at this picture for several minutes and wondering how can I even begin to write what is in our hearts in a way that enables you to share in the experience we had yesterday at the baptism.  I don't think I can.  That's the thing.  We have to experience and know for ourselves.  But I can give you a bit of background...

We met Arthur and Sheree the first Saturday of our mission.  Arthur, who many of our Branch members knew already, was in the hospital in Petoskey and we went to visit him.  Before leaving Sheree walked in and we briefly met her before saying goodbye.  They have been on a path of faith and repentance (turning to God) and yesterday were baptized and received the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  Now they are in the process of walking The Covenant Path and "enduring well to the end."  On a mission these are the five things we are asked to share with everyone.  It is the Doctrine of Christ.  And Arthur and Sheree have accepted and desire these things in their lives.  Arthur is a man of great depth of understanding and love and Sheree is a woman of great faith and lives in such a way the spirit is ever-present.  

"Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;

And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth!

And if it so be that you labor all your days...and bring, save it be one soul unto me,                  

how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!"   

Doctrine and Covenants 18:10, 13, and 15

That's what is hard to describe to others the joy!

 

Elder Rogers escorting Sheree to the dock for baptism.

Walking to the water.... not to be confused with walking on water.

   

  Sheree is baptized

Arthur had to go under twice.  His hand didn't completely immerse.  He was sure it was Elder Gibbons' doing.

Back row:  Sister Pugh, Tucker (their grandson), Elders Gibbons, Rogers and Sines

Front row:  Arthur, Sheree and Sister Gibbons

The baptism took place at the home of our Relief Society President and her husband, Garry.  They live on the shores of Lake Mullett.  It had rained overnight and was cloudy as we headed out to their place.  By the time we got there, there was plenty of sunshine.  So grateful.  I am not sure it helped warm up the water at all, however.  But, no one complained even if it took their breath away when first entering.

Arthur and Sheree both asked Elder Gibbons to perform the baptism and Arthur asked Elder Sines to confirm him a member of the Church and give him the gift of the holy ghost.  Sheree asked Elder Rogers to do so.  I was asked to give the talk on Baptism and Sister Pugh the talk on the Holy Ghost.  These two missionaries have been amazing to watch as they taught them the required missionary lessons.  As a matter of fact, a called and set apart missionary brings a light into any lesson and people feel it.  

The lessons focus on four key areas:

The Message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Heavenly Father's Plan of Salvation with Jesus Christ central to His plan

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

Becoming Lifelong Disciples of Jesus Christ

Arthur and Sheree had invited lots of family and friends and we had a potluck after the services.  We have a lot of potluck dinners in this little Branch.  They love to gather together, especially over a meal!  The Branches are so spread out in northern Michigan that when church leaders come to visit from the District they always have a potluck to feed them before then make the long drive home.

Next stop for Arthur and Sheree, the Detroit Temple, to perform baptisms for the dead!  (See the New Testament, 1 Corinthians 15:29)  Within two or three weeks, we will be going there with them and the Elders (who are so excited because they don't usually get to travel outside the mission boundaries.  There are so many of God's children who live and die before ever knowing about Jesus Christ and His gospel.  They are taught in the next life and have the opportunity to accept or reject the work that is performed here for them with us here as "proxy" for them.  God's plan is perfect for ALL his children.  All glory goes to God and to His Son, Jesus Christ.

The Elders told Elder Gibbons to wear his blue suit for the baptism.  They were going to wear theirs too because they wanted to take a picture with them.

More pictures from the baptism...

This week has been one to remember for sure.  

We have been serving on Monday and Friday at "The Lord's Kitchen" that the Nazarene Church here hosts.  We took the Elders on Friday for the first time and they will take that shift for us.  People we have come to know commented on the goodness they felt from these young men.  The light does shine through them.  But they are still 20 year olds filled with fun and play...with a purpose.

                                               

Elder Rogers said, "We look like we are working at Culver's."

Can't waste the pictures we take, so for the record (and for the mission book I will print when I get home, here are some more pictures of Elder Sines and Elder Rogers.  We don't know how long they will be here serving with us in Cheboygan.  We try not to discuss or think about the time that one or both of them are transferred to a different place.

Sure love these young men!