Home for the Holidays

Dear Family & Friends,

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

We had the privilege of going home for the Christmas holidays this year. All missions are different. We flew to Utah and stayed with our daughter Laurel & her cute family up in South Weber. Eight of our eleven children live in Utah and most of our twenty-six grandchildren. We love them dearly and want them to know they are part of an eternal family. 

Anchorage has had a record snowfall so far this year teaching over 79.5 inches. So you can imagine our surprise to arrive in Utah to dry roads and greening lawns, especially after having had record rainfall earlier in the year which really helped with the multi-year drought. Our forsythia bush in Mapleton even had a few yellow blooms on it! It finally snowed a little on the evening of the 22nd and cleaned out the inversion. Clean air in Utah is always an answer to prayer. Unfortunately, it did not stay.

Spanish Fork Lights & Dinner with Jesse, Toni, & Jane on Dec. 20.

Calvin at Hogle Zoo.

Hudson & Benson at Zoo.

Farrell & Ammon at Hogle Zoo on Dec. 21. It was 54°.


Visiting lights with Seelos Family on Dec. 22.

Badger Family Christmas Party at Roundy's on Dec. 23.

Heather at Roundy's on Dec. 28.

Tree of Life with Seelos Family.

Christmas Eve at the Kidd's in Bountiful. So precious.

Fancy Christmas Day dinner at Jesse & Toni's in Mapleton.

We enjoyed wonderful dinners, a couple of birthday celebrations, a trip to Hogle Zoo, the Aquarium, way too many delicious sugary treats, three evenings of Christmas lights, many hours of beautiful Christmas music, and two uplifting Sacrament meeting services with two of our daughters & their families. Singing Silent Night with nearly all our children and grandchildren is always tender. We've especially enjoyed watching our grandchildren in their homes, open gifts from us, and watch them play and tell us about their adventures. I was able to go to the gym with Laurel and her family most mornings. We were even able to visit a few dear friends and our siblings who live in the area. We appreciate all the thoughtful cards and gifts. There is never enough time to do everything or visit everyone we'd like to. We love hearing what you are up to and seeing pictures.

Aquarium w. Laurel, Dan, & boys Dec. 27th.

Dinner & Lights with Heather and Rachel, Patrick, & family on Dec. 28.

Jordan River Temple

We were able to do proxy baptisms with four of our grandchildren and daughters, Heather & Anna, in the Ogden and Jordan River Temples on two separate occasions. They were both sacred and special experiences. Five of the baptisms were brothers and they are my 2nd cousins twice removed. 

We really enjoyed going to church on Christmas Eve with both Laurel's and Anna's families. We had a young grandson get sick at church in Centerville. Unfortunately, as a result, we were not able to enjoy Christmas Eve with Anna's family or attend the play with Sophie for her birthday as more siblings became ill. So instead we waited in our car outside the Bountiful Temple before heading to another son-in-law's family Christmas Eve party in Bountiful. The air was crisp, 31°, and the ground was covered with fresh snow, with more snowflakes drifting to the ground. There was a nice view of the valley from way up there. They were so gracious to invite us and make us feel welcome. Dan's mother, Renee, is so creative. She played an angel and a shepherd and made the evening so fun for everyone.

A Christmas Carole

We were able to enjoy A Christmas Carole with our son, Aaron, and his wife HaLee, and grandson, Jameson on Dec. 27 at the Hale Centre Theatre in Sandy. The costumes, set, acting, and music were incredible. It was a magical evening. We went out for Mexican food afterward.

We enjoyed special dinners with many family members throughout the week. We also celebrated five birthdays in December. Joel's girlfriend, Shayli, Tabitha(15), Sophia(13), Ryan(42), and Benson(5). We were able to visit with three. Tabitha lives out of state and Ryan is in Mexico.

We are so appreciative of all our wonderful family members and amazing friends. Since it's the season of naughty & nice I've been thinking about the real purpose of this life. It's more than just a probationary period. We are put in numerous circumstances to learn, grow, and experience the difference between good & evil. Hopefully, we learn to repent through the infinite atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ, and turn to our Heavenly Father in prayer to thank him for all our blessings and pray for what we need. I testify that He hears and answers every sincere prayer. Sometimes in his wisdom, the answer is no, and sometimes it's wait, but He is always there for us. Our prayers go out to our loved ones in need. His work and His glory is to bring to pass the immortality & eternal life of man. How beautiful to know He loves us and we are never forgotten.  

We wish you a very Merry Christmas! #ThinkCelestial

Love always, Elder & Sister Badger

Merry Christmas

Dear Family & Friends,

It has been a very busy week but we wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. We are about partied out :-) - says Farrell. We went to the Anchorage Temple on Wednesday morning and had lunch afterward at the Moose's Tooth Pizzaria to celebrate Sister Cox's 70th birthday! Then we enjoyed dinner Thursday with Josh Foote (Westland General Contractor Project Manager for the new Anchorage AK Temple) at a very nice seafood restaurant at the end of an unassuming strip mall. We all had creme brulee for dessert:) 

On Friday we were invited to a Prime Rib Christmas luncheon at JBER (Joint Base Elmendorf - Richardson on 64,000 acres also hosting three wolf packs) by another Senior Couple, The Kuerth's who serve in Military Relations there. The other senior missionaries are one of our favorite things about serving a mission. We love the camaraderie.

We had a wonderful unique evening with entertainment and dinner on Saturday with one of the Samoan wards at their Christmas party in the Arctic Stake Center. We were invited by Brother Sailele, who saw our name tags at the gym and introduced himself -- we have become good friends. We finally met his wife last month. She is a nurse and their ward's Primary President. She is so kind and nurturing. What fun it was. They really know how to party, eat, and sing. They danced and performed for two hours before we started to eat. The appointed arrival time was 5:30pm and everyone was already seated at tables when we arrived. The potluck feast was varied and enormous -- taro cooked two ways - baked and boiled in coconut milk, chow mien with glass noodles served in cups, shrimp in coconut milk, shrimp in spices, macaroni salad, mussels on the shell, salmon covered with coconut milk, spices, & veggies, pork ribs, corned beef, spinach in coconut milk, chicken in BBQ sauce and a few more we are not sure of. Dessert included a sweet roll and a soft white dinner roll covered in sweet coconut milk. They used folding takeout boxes for serving.  The singing was beautiful and the little children were so cute. It was all kinds of fun experiencing the Samoan culture so far away from the islands. 

Part of what makes it so unique is nearly every activity at our Stake Center is to arrive, have a devotional or entertainment, eat, clean up, and leave. Many activities serve refreshments, and while I appreciate that everyone pitches in to leave the building clean, the entire activity and refreshment never lasts longer than two hours. Often the refreshment time afterward is only a half hour. I am sure the Samoan Christmas party lasted nearly 5 hours. We left around 9 and it was still going strong. Our son, Ryan, presently living in Mexico, said Mexicans also really know how to party. Brother Sailele said they had a son get married while they lived in St. George and the ward there is still talking about the reception!

Lest you think all we do is party here, we are also trying to exercise every day, learn computer programs, volunteer, serve at the Temple every week, work on Family Search, and also set up interviews with Saints who have lived here since before the first temple in Alaska was built. Before every activity we copy and bring flyers to all the neighbors. One of those families came to two ward activities and engaged the young missionaries to teach them. The people here are SO nice. I had a great time visiting our neighbor across the street, Kay. She has an entire Harry Potter Christmas village set up year-round in a beautiful open-shelf cabinet. She knows I love Harry Potter. I missed not seeing all the movies last October. I always run them through the ClearPlay filter. I have not watched any secular movies since arriving here. The days are short, the evenings are long, and the time is going by quickly. There just hasn't been any extra time or desire.

I try to listen to a New Testament Follow Him podcast while I exercise, watch two General Conference talks after dinner, and discuss them with Farrell. In the evening I study my scriptures, Preach My Gospel, Spanish in Embark, and lately sing Christmas hymns with the Tabernacle Choir on Temple Square. Farrell says I sing off-key with my headphones on, but I'm not singing for him. Singing brings me joy. I do listen to books on Deseret Book:) My tastes run more toward Victorian Romances. Farrell is currently listening to The Heart of the Matter: What 100 Years of Living Have Taught Me by Russell M. Nelson. He says there is so much wealth of knowledge that it is a little intimidating.

Ice skating rink at the mall.

Santa at the mall.

Trees at the Dimond Center mall.

The mall where we walk some mornings is close to the gym. It is the largest enclosed mall in the state of Alaska. Our gym doesn't have a track, so it gives us some variety. The gym also has 20 televisions which sometimes makes it hard to concentrate. I bring Farrell's larger screen to keep me engaged. I never was proficient at ice skating and am afraid of falling more than ever, so going ice skating will probably never happen.

I love Christmas. I was raised in a Catholic home as a child. I loved the Christmas carols, presents, and the stained glass windows at Incarnation Catholic Church. I attended the parochial school across the street.

Incarnation Catholic Church

Around age eight my three younger sisters and I moved in with my dad and Grandma Alice Flikeid, who were Protestant. My grandmothers were always faithful church-going women. I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with my dad and sisters when I was seventeen. Christmas has always been special. For as long as I can remember I have believed that the baby Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem. His mother was the Virgin Mary and his earthly father was Joseph. A new star appeared and the Heavenly Angels sang at his birth. He was and is the Savior of the World, the Son of God, the Prince of Peace, and the Hope of all Mankind. He means more to me as the years go by, so much more. He made it possible to live with our loved ones forever. I pray you can feel the true Spirit of Christmas. We wish you peace, joy, and happiness this year and always. Merry Christmas! #ThinkCelestial

Love, Elder & Sister Badger

Hello to All & Merry Christmas!!!

Dear Family & Friends,

Farrell writing this week:) We attended an Interfaith Christmas Musical program last night at the Stake Center right next to where we live. We sang along with the Unite Church, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel & Angus Dei. We also sang hymns and the "Tabernacle Choir on Temple Square" version of Silent Night. It was a varied program that was thoroughly enjoyed. Kitty had tears streaming down her face as three string instruments and a piano played Ave Maria. People stayed for nearly an hour afterward visiting and having light refreshments. 

Current Anchorage Temple top & left. The Stake Center is on the right.

We were even introduced to a Sister who had lived in Mapleton - a friend of Don and Carrie Walker. This kind of interfaith event seems to be more of the norm than the exception around here. I counted 10-15 missionaries present from the various wards.

A Mapleton UT friend

We allocated about an hour during the week to pass out some 

Kitty passing out
flyers on our street
mid-day

flyers to invite our neighbors to come to the event. Instead of an hour, we spent several thoroughly enjoying visiting with all the good people who live around us. We have a Medivac pilot, a veterinarian, an insulation contractor, a writer, etc., and several retirees. They all express an interest in coming to visit on the other side of the fence where the temple construction will occur. Although most of the chat was just friendly, I can't wait to invite them into our little future visitor's center next to the construction to help them learn about their family history and why the temple is important. I want them to feel like the Anchorage Temple is their temple.

It wouldn't be Christmas time without a few party gatherings. The Mission President brought in all the senior missionaries for an evening together on Friday. The Presidency served us, in true Alaska fashion, king crab for dinner -- all you can eat. It was prepared by a member of the Presidency who had recently survived the bear attack. He still has one arm bandaged and in a sling. Of course, the crab was surrounded by ham and all the side dishes along with desserts. To put this into perspective, you have to remember that this is the Anchorage Alaska Mission, which includes all of Alaska and part of Canada. One of the couples flew in from Whitehorse, the capital of Yukon, in Canada. It is a flight with three legs through Seattle and Vancouver. They left the party to catch a flight at 1:30 a.m. expecting to get back to Whitehorse by 6 p.m. Others also came from far away. The longest drive was about six hours - like this is nothing out of the ordinary.

Sr. Christmas Party in the Institute Building

We took on some missionary apartment inspections over the last couple of weeks. The mission tends to spread the load around the Sr. group because of the distances and quantity. The church requires inspections every six weeks. That consists of several safety items (smoke/CO detectors, fire extinguishers, emergency plans, security, etc.) as well as cleaning equipment available and general upkeep of the apartment. Kitty was really in her element. I even got to pull out the tools I brought to install a security lock on the Sisters' apartment. I also repaired six chairs in our residence which were missing all the front legs. The best thing about the inspections is interacting with the young Elders and Sisters. Anchorage is multi-ethnic. So are the missionaries and the wards. We opened up one set of Filipino Elders' fridges to find only a few apples. We didn't get a good explanation until we went to the next apartment a few blocks away (also Filipino elders) to find their fridge overflowing with food they said the local ward supplies them with. Come to find out, the two sets of Elders eat every meal together and keep all the food in one fridge. There are several missionaries here who are "visa waiters". We said goodbye to one of the Sisters headed for Peru on Wednesday (she was part of a trio who had a baptism last Saturday). Two Elders are waiting on Mozambique visas. They don't think that is ever going to happen.

Another beautiful sunset

Sunrise @ 10:00am

Sunset 4 p.m.

The temple project (our official assignment with the church Special Projects Department) is progressing as expected. The plans are under active review by the city. The architect is getting their feedback and clarifying/correcting any items necessary. The Sr. Project Manager for the general contractor has made several trips up and as of Friday finalized the buyout -- that is has subcontractors lined up and is awaiting church approval to issue purchase orders. After the city finalizes its review and issues a building permit, construction begins. The general contractor will take over the site on March 4. I hear by word of mouth that several individuals have construction plans in hand either because they have some connection with a bidder or because they have directly downloaded them from the city. So it won't be long now. Most of the rest of the management team will move up here Jan/Feb. We regularly meet via video with all the people involved -- keeps us busy.

Another beautiful sunrise

I had an interest in making contact with the Church Communications couple here in Alaska (their church calling). I finally tracked them down a few weeks ago. They did not know about us. I was able to help them connect all the dots between the Temple department, the Special Projects department, the Physical Facilities Manager (a local church employee and Stake Presidency member), and the Communications department of the church. This was not by accident -- felt the hand of the Lord in making all this happen. The connections are most important for communications with the community, neighbors, and members. The Alaska Communications couple handles all the news releases (provides input to the church). They have a wonderful plan to work on an interfaith outreach to provide surplus materials from the demolition to other groups who can use them. We will use some pictures, chairs, mats, etc. in the Welcome Center. Other ward buildings will use some of the materials to fill in or upgrade. There is still so much left that could be put to good use by others in the community. We will, in the meantime, assist in that effort as well as spread goodwill in conjunction with the new Anchorage Alaska Temple.

Best Wishes to All. #ThinkCelestial

We love you,

Elder & Sister Badger

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Dear Family & Friends,

We wish you and yours the warmest greetings this Christmas season. It is truly the most wonderful time of the year. We are looking forward to the First Presidency Christmas devotional tonight, or I should say this afternoon. It will air live at 4 p.m. here in Anchorage. Meanwhile, Kitty will catch you up on our weekly adventures.                   https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/broadcasts/2023-first-presidencys-christmas-devotional?lang=eng

I haven't seen the Northern Lights since I saw them on a hill at the Stake Center in Minneapolis as a teenager. On our youngest daughter Heather's birthday, November 30th, we were invited by senior missionary friends, the Coxs & Kuerths, to view the Northern Lights near the airport. It was cold and icy but we really enjoyed the experience. We look forward to seeing more colorful ones in the future. I will bring a tripod next time. Interestingly enough, our cell phones picked up the green glow before our eyes did. Usually, I'm frustrated that the camera isn't catching the beauty I see. We always enjoy getting together with the other senior missionaries. 

White light is a plane coming in for a landing.

Saw three semi-trucks full of snow on our way home!

Our stop on Northern Lights Blvd

Our Temple View ward had its neighborhood Christmas Dinner Party on Friday, December 1. We had lasagna, salads, rolls, and desserts. I didn't have any pecan pie at Thanksgiving, so I brought a pecan pie from Costco. Unlike their delicious pumpkin pie, it was not as good as homemade. I sat by Sister and Pres. Smith and a small family with young rambunctious children. He expressed gratitude to his wife for her excellent care and told me about his wonderful doctor at the Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center, Dr. Clark. Now we know where to go if we need excellent medical care. The highlight was hearing the Primary children sing. I was surprised by how many people I knew already. Farrell stayed home after a long week of being sick, in and out of bed, with some back pain, nausea, fever, and chills. Despite that, he was able to do quite a bit during the week on the temple project. As he was getting over a cold and worn out, I brought him home some leftovers. He bounced back on Saturday and seems back to normal today. He shared his heartfelt testimony today along with President Smith and many young children. President Smith quietly bore his testimony first. He was extremely grateful for being spared and comforted after his terrifying bear attack 2 1/2 weeks ago. He told us what he learned was not to get casual in our religious practices. This is eternal, it is not a game. 

This will be the first Christmas away from home for me. I took down our fall Thanksgiving decorations and put up all our Christmas decorations in about 15 minutes this year, instead of being spread over three days. I changed the color of the electric candles, put out our Christmas pillow & liquid soap dispensers from Costco, and a few misc. decor items. We will get a live wreath as soon as we find a place to hang it:) The one thing I can't do without besides the story of the birth of the Christ child and family & friends is listening to inspiring Christmas music. I will have to put on my headphones if Farrell gets sick of hearing music all day long. It brings a wonderful joyful spirit to our home. I don't like commercials, so I prefer Amazon over YouTube or Alexa. The songs remind me of Christmas in my home as a young child, years past celebrating with relatives, decades of Christmas with our children & grandchildren, singing in our ward choir, and listening to the Tabernacle Choir in person. 

https://music.amazon.com/artists/B00G70GQCS/the-tabernacle-choir-at-temple-square

We had the opportunity this week to do apartment checks for the young missionaries serving near us. We made sure the apartments were clean and safe and brought any issues to Elder Joseph, who is called to serve over housing. It gave me satisfaction to put glow-in-the-dark exit signs on the correct doors in an older apartment complex. Some doors led to other floors, decks, or garages and they were all painted brown. We purchased a shovel, mop, fire extinguisher, toilet seat, door latches, etc. We will get reimbursed, but since we don't need anything ourselves, it was nice to put our experience to work. The landlords will take care of some items. We will install a couple items next week. Farrell did bring his tools all the way from UT, in case we needed them. It was sweet to see the missionaries in their apartments. They are so good, well-mannered, and dedicated to serving the Lord.

A highlight this week was

 I snipped their picture off the amazing YouTube video below:)

seeing our dear friends, Elder & Sister Baer, on the Light the World video and reading about their experience. They are serving a mission in Long Island NY - Seminary & Institute. They are at 1:19. It was a treat to see their beautiful faces. Wish we could have been there with them for that wonderful occasion. They were the first couple set apart by President Matthew Lewis, our newly called Stake leader in Mapleton UT. We were the second. It's been sweet to be serving at the same time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INse1lhgZGA

Because Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem two millennia ago, atoned for our sins, and was resurrected, we can be with our families forever. We testify that He is the Son of God, He lives, He knows & loves us, and He hears & answers our prayers. During this wonderful Christmas season, we wish you and your family excellent health, joy, and peace. #ThinkCelestial

Love now and always, 

Sister & Elder Badger

Light the World in Times Square from Our Dear Friends Elder & Sister Baer

Our dear friends and neighbors from Mapleton Utah, Elder & Sister Baer, are serving as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Long Island New York, Seminary & Institute. This is part of the letter they sent to family & friends. We hope you enjoy reading their Light the World experience as much as we did. - Elder & Sister Badger

 I snipped their picture off the amazing YouTube video below:)

"It was a once-in-a-lifetime event, one we will probably never forget.  I’ve never been to Times Square.  I’ve heard all about it, how the young missionaries aren’t permitted to go there because of the people who regularly go there without clothes (apparently they paint themselves to look like they have on clothes…but don’t!)  And with the digital advertising on dozens of enormous screens constantly flashing away, it very much has a Las Vegas feel. (not my favorite place to visit)  So I don’t expect to ever care about going there again.  But I was grateful to get to be there when the majority of screens (most of the largest ones) were taken over by depictions of the Birth of Christ, along with promotions of the Giving Machines and the good they do.  There was still some beatbox music in the background, that at first drowned out the tune of Silent Night, but the depictions carried on, and the crowd hushed, and maybe for 30 minutes out of the day/week/month/year, sweet depictions of the Savior were dominant.

While we stood there, in that very worldly place, I kept thinking about 1 Nephi 14:12-14 - segments of Nephi’s vision of the last days, when he did “behold the church of the Lamb of God, and its numbers were few… and their dominions upon the face of the earth were small” but that he beheld the “Power of the lamb of God, that it descended upon the…covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.”  For a brief time, in a very worldly place, members of the Church of Jesus Christ took over Time’s Square to share a message of light - the true light.  It was EPIC, as they say!

And then the Church filmed the presentation - it was gorgeous, and they filmed people’s reactions as it was happening, and low and behold, my face and bad haircut and Mike’s chin got some coverage!  That was a sweet surprise!  If nothing else, it’s proof that we really are in NYC, not just skipping church for 3 months!  Here's a link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INse1lhgZGA 

...We sure appreciate your prayers!  I can’t even tell you how much!  And we’re grateful to get to be a part of this amazing work!  

Hurrah for Israel!

Sister and Elder Baer