As we noted last letter, one of the sad times is when we have to say goodbye to some of our stalwart soldiers. This was the case this week. Four of our regular attendees (and one who had not come a single time during his training - about 4 months) graduated and left for their next assignment All 5 are headed for Monterey California and the Defense Language Institute (DLI). Some pf the will learn French, one person will learn Farsi, and the others I can’t remember specifically. Those courses typically last between 12 and 18 months. Isn’t it amazing how the government program takes that long and the training at the MTC is only 6 weeks (mostly). Hard for most non-members to comprehend how our missionaries do it. We did get to meet the families and/or girlfriends of most of this last group.
The couple in the bottom right-hand picture were really cute kids. They’re not officially engaged YET, but we expect to get an announcement soon. The soldier is headed for DLI and they want to wait until he completed his training before they get married. We were able to pick up the girl - her name is Anna - at the airport in Tucson and bring her here. She stayed with us for two nights, and then she and her guy drove straight through to home - he’s from Monroe UT, and is majoring in political science at BYU. She is attending USU. Brother Williams - the guy - even picked out and paid for her dress, and he made a great choice.
The top-right picture shows all 5 of the graduates. The guy on the left of the photo reminds us of our son JD - looks, mannerisms, walk, even the sound of his voice a little. He’s married, but his wife was unable to attend due to on-going medical problems. He even transferred to the Arizona Guard so she could get better medical care for her problems. She’s been in the hospital most of the tome he’s been here, although he did get to see her a couple of times when the group went to the temple in Mesa.
The little short girl in the bottom-right picture has been out of high school less than a year. The bottom-left picture is us with Brother/Pv2/Talon Williams. The other two are the young missionaries that we work with a lot. They’re assigned to Huachuca Ward, Huachuca City, and the post.
We are sure going to miss these young people, but another group has already arrived and look to be equally as awesome. Most of those we have in the group are young enlisted folks (E1/E2), but we have a a few officers here for some of their recurring training. One of these is a guy from Grafenwohr Germany. He’s in the bishopric there When Elder Phippen was last in Germany - 45years ago - there wasn't even a branch of the Church there. Now there’s a ward.
Before we had to say goodbye to these soldiers, we had the opportunity to make a trip too the Mesa Temple. We had a good group - about 20 including the group leadership and spouses - and it was very enjoyable. We go to the Mesa Temple because there is a visitor’s center there, as well as a Distribution Center and Deseret Book. This gives the nonmembers, and those who don’t have a current recommend, something to do while the rest are serving in he temple. We get to do this about once a quarter. We get a van from the chaplain’s office for the soldiers - since most of them don’t have cars and can’t ride in POVs (privately owned vehicles) while they’re in training. On this trip, one of the soldier’s wife was able to join us.
The first two photos are of the group, but not everyone was in both shots. The top picture is our two young missionaries with the young man who was baptized about two weeks previous to the trip. He was able to perform baptisms for the first time.
The picture on the left is one of the grapefruit trees on the Mesa temple grounds. We were able to pick some oranges - from a different tree, obviously - and they were actually very good. Before we came to Arizona, we had never seen actual citrus fruit trees where you could pick and eat the fruit like you would from an apple or peach tree.
Earlier this week we went to Tucson for our monthly Senior Missionary Pot Luck lunch at the mission office. This is always fun, as we get to see most of the other senior missionaries and have really nice visits. Some of these people are ones we could be very best friends with in other circumstances. When we go to this lunch, we try to swing by the temple lot and check on the progress of the construction. This time it was cool because the skeletal structure of the temple is up so we can now get some idea of how it’s going to look upon completion. The middle shot is of one of the yards in the neighborhood where the mission office is located. This is what’s typical residential neighborhoods look like here.
The last cool thing this week was our quarterly zone conference. One of the great blessings of serving a full time mission is being taught by inspired leaders. We got a chance to practice teaching - very briefly - the key elements of the restoration lesson. We hd to do it in not more than 2 minutes. Makes you realize how well you have to know something to hit ALL the key points in 2 minutes. President Passey also challenged each companionship to teach the Restoration Lesson at least once every day for the entire month of March. We don’t have to do this since our responsibility isn’t directly in proselyting. But practicing and being instructed in basics like this was invaluable. We also learned - from Sister Passey - about the connection between evidence and hope as it pertains to faith. The Passeys are awesome in their assignments and we really enjoy learning from them. They go home about 2 weeks before we do. Here is a picture of the missionaries in our zone. These are great young representatives of the Lord and we love working with them. Two of the sisters who are companions are Sister Adams and Sister Adams. I found that really amusing.
I’ll close with a great quote I got from, of all places, a Louis L’AMour novel. It really pertains to missionary work and the value of working with a companion in a united way. Mom put it on Facebook but here it is again: “No matter what any man says, there is nothing better than two; a man and a woman who walk together. When they are right together, there is no way too long, no path too dark.” From Ride the Dark Trail
As we continue to meet families and work with them towards their next goal, it is amazing to see the spirit enter into peoples lives. The Gospel is true and their is no doubt that Jesus Christ is the center of all that we do. Here’s wishing you all a fabulous March. Time is flying. almost 7 months! Seems like we left just yesterday.
We’d love to hear from you. Unlike the young missionaries, we can receive phone calls. And letters, of course, are always welcome!
Love, Mom & Dad, Granny & Gramps, Elder & Sister Phippen, Earl and Marie
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