Knowledge & Blessings

Dear Friends & Family,

Something exciting happened Thursday evening this week. I (Kitty) was set apart as an Anchorage Alaska Temple Ordinance Worker. This is something I have wanted to do for a long time. When speaking with the first councilor in the Temple Presidency, President Hobbs, I told him that our future schedule might change due to our involvement and primary assignment as Temple Construction Missionaries. He said that wouldn't be a problem and that he could set me apart as soon as Elder Badger was available. Just then Farrell walked out of the dressing room and I indicated he was right there and I would like to be set apart. We were shown back to the President's office. He took my name, set me apart, and gave me a blessing. Then he took my picture and jotted down my name and birthdate. The blessing was wonderful. It was very sacred and just what I needed. I start next Tuesday. The location is so close and the times are very reasonable. I have to be there at 5:45 p.m. and we finish up around 9. We still plan on being patrons together on Thursday evenings. I love doing family history work. I stayed up way too late Thursday evening doing some merges to print off more family names. The sealing sessions are 90 min. long here. 

We had a wonderful visit with Melvin R. Nicols for about three hours Friday afternoon in our home. Farrell had contacted him and made those arrangements with the intent of gaining information for the history section of the temple construction record we write. He knows more about the history of the Stake Center and Anchorage Temple than just about anyone around. He has been Bishop, Stake President, and Temple President right here and also served as a Mission President in India. He had so many fascinating and uplifting stories to tell.  While he was here visiting, a moose walked by and camped out in our next-door neighbor's yard under their play equipment. Sorry to be so distracted, but it has only happened twice before here.

His father, now 100, told him that the best years of your life are between the ages of 50 and 70. If you're ever going to have any money, if you're ever going to have any time, if you're ever going to have any health, and if you're going to have any desire, it'll be during those 20 years. He said all it takes is for one of you (either spouse), just one of you to lose one of those things, then it just becomes an obstacle that's really tough to overcome.  If you have health, money, and ambition, these will be the best years of your life. Since Farrell turns 71 next month, we are pushing the upper limits there;) 

They do not use sand here on the roads for traction, they use crushed gravel. The ice and gravel in the parking lot are already inches above the heated front curb at the temple. Sand would just get buried in the ice but the gravel works very well. At the mission office, the ice hanging from the eaves continues to be impressive. It's been a little cloudy, foggy, and very cold by turns here this week -- somewhere between -15 and 3 F. We spent some time at Home Depot picking up supplies to fix minor door repairs and replace light bulbs at missionary apartments. We were a week behind due to Kitty being sick, so the repairs coincided with transfers. It was nice to say hello and goodbye to these amazing elders, but it was also a little hectic for them. We will try to improve again next month. We may not have time to continue with this once construction begins in earnest. Overall it's been a great experience to see their dedication. One of the Elders expressed a wish to extend because he has enjoyed his time here so much. That says a lot about how they feel about the work, their companions, and the people here in Alaska. We pray their testimonies of our Savior Jesus Christ and his power in their lives will burn bright.

We are so grateful for all we are learning here and the opportunity to serve. Everyone we have met has been so kind and real. We finally picked up a humidifier at Costco and I think it has helped with my dry eyes and helped me kick this lingering cold. We are so grateful for a warm place to live and heated seats in the car. The temps have been very cold all week with little additional snow until today, and it's still coming down. Of course, all the snow that has fallen over the winter is still piled high and has not melted at all. We had a chance to drive around and look at the beauty around us early Saturday afternoon from the comfort of our car.

Remember we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father who knows and loves us perfectly. He wants us to come back and live with him and our loved ones forever. His work and His glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Moses 1:39 Our Savior Jesus Christ is waiting with open arms to help and comfort us. He has already atoned for all our sins and can make us pure again. We are so grateful for the gift of His atonement. #ThinkCelestial

Love always,

Elder & Sister Badger

Deep Freeze

Hi to All,

Well, Anchorage shares something with many other places in the lower 48 this week -- frigid temperatures! Utah to Texas, it has been cold. We have the same temperature here today, 11°F as it was in Euless, TX where my sister Karla lives. (Farrell) But... Spring is coming..... It is a little early to go down that road, but I am dreaming more about going for a bike ride.

This week was a bit of a quiet time -- at least on the temple construction side because most of the team was out feverishly working on different parts of the project resulting in us skipping one of the main meetings.

The stone is being cut and processed for the exterior requiring one more visual check by the architect and general contractor which I think happened this week in Heber City, UT. Big blocks (mill blocks) were purchased at the quarry a couple of months ago. An extensive amount of effort by the General Contractor has gone into vetting subcontractors for everything from concrete to structural steel to mill (woodwork). The object is to have a full "buyout" when the actual construction work begins. That is a major milestone followed by receipt of the building permit, followed by a "notice to proceed" from the Church. The wards move out of the building slated for removal on February 16.

The current Temple Facilities Manager is slated to be the Site Manager for the church. We spent an hour or so in a side room at the temple this week discussing details of how we will communicate and interact with him. It is something I have wanted to do for a while so that is a milestone for mission direction. He is our primary local church employee contact on the project.

The Elder's Quorum President was showing another brother in the ward the temple plans today. That happens because when a building permit is applied for, the plans become public and can be obtained from the municipality. If that doesn't happen, a subcontractor who is bidding on the project may show them to others. Everyone is curious and interested in seeing the temple plans.

I think we are almost organized enough to not have an excessive workload when everything starts in earnest. Lots of computer work. One of the other couples helped me figure out how to use 360-degree photos. I mentioned in the blog last week that I figured out how to take them but this week just figured out how to share them so that the recipient could use the 360 mode. This allows a "walk" through the building as it is constructed. I told the Sr. Project Manager for the General Contractor that I would be happy to take drone pictures. We need them for our history also. Only one problem -- I have never flown a drone before. So in anticipation, I am taking an online Part 107 FAA course to become a "pilot". Not sure it is needed in this case but will be prepared. It doesn't teach you how to fly, just the laws according to the FAA.

I am also still chasing some of the old timers who have such valuable first-hand knowledge of what has gone on before. With this temple, we have a legacy that intertwines with the new temple. It is unique among temples and will take some inspiration to get the new historical record right.

Kitty (Sister Badger) has mostly recovered from the bug she had picked up --thank goodness! I don't want to go exercise in the morning without her so it is good to be back at that -- always feel better afterward. I do go outside and walk occasionally but it is a bit cold and too slick to make a habit of it. There has been NO snow melt here since early November and it is hard-packed on all walking surfaces (except for cleared heated sidewalks around buildings) and is underlaid with a thick layer of solid ice. That hard reality is tempered by the beauty. It is so beautiful. For some reason, we have had a break in the moose sightings -- until last night. One was standing parallel and right next to the lane in the road. I slowed down and tried to get Kitty to reach out the window and pet it -- no go...There was a car behind us, so she wasn't able to get a picture.

Our interaction with the young full-time missionaries has been quite extensive this week starting with a mission-wide Zoom call last Sunday evening where those departing at their mission end had a chance to share their testimonies. We have been part of that before -- find it to be a sweet experience. What I do find interesting is the range of maturity both in manner and testimony. Not all returned missionaries are the same. On Monday we went to what is called Zone Council (about 20 missionaries gathered together) for training. They do all of it ... no mission president or like person around. It really is quite impressive. We got to be the "friends" who were meeting a set of missionaries behind the door of our house for the first time (actually one of the classroom doors at the church). Most get the message across well. Some are a little more tentative. One of the Elders has a birthday this week -- turning 19. He has been out for four months -- so young, but amazing. In the parking lot, they usually park side by side with no one in front. They have to assist with backing out if they are in a nose-in slot. They don't like that so avoid it. But ... practical joke style, some had pulled across the front and rear of a parked car. Not sure who was the target ...

We spent an entire day checking missionary apartments (required every six weeks). The 80-90 apartments in the mission get split up among the Senior Missionaries where possible. There is a standard form where safety, cleanliness, and general function are followed up. The missionaries always end up with something to do (replacing burned-out light bulbs and cleaning toilets are usually on the list). I always end up with something to fix. This time it was a door split at the deadbolt and a closet bifold door split at the bottom. Nothing a trip to Home Depot and a little glue won't fix. I am SURE glad I brought some tools. I would feel out of my comfort zone without them to turn to in such situations. The landlord does some of the standard maintenance but we try to take care of any damage. Kitty really enjoys this activity -- me less so. I like the interaction. After the visit, she spends another hour or so filling in and arranging the paperwork which we hand off to the housing coordinator at the mission office.

No week would be right without a party to top it off. We were invited by a couple to a "game night". Now if you know me, tabletop games are not on my list. The man in this couple's team is a temple sealer. He also invented a game the other seven couples played called Alaska, Alaska! It uses cards with as you would expect moose, orcas, seals, elk, etc. on the faces. He ran a fishing business in his younger days -- that is flying people into prime fishing locations. Kitty had fun. I read a book and enjoyed talking. We had an assortment of others i.e. a retired endodontist, a retired scientologist (who moved to Dutch Harbor way out on the Aleutian chain, to escape them) with quite a life story (not LDS). One couple brought homemade lox (cold smoked thin sliced salmon). Another made baked brie. All so yummy. So with that, I think we are ready for another week.

Take care and stay warm. #ThinkCelestial

Love always, Elder & Sister Badger

 

Patience and Miracles

Dear Family & Friends,

The days are getting longer! Winter solstice on December 21 was the shortest day of the year. We had just 5 hours and 28 minutes of daylight. The sun rose at 10:13 a.m. and set at 3:41 p.m. The days were very short and the evenings were very long. We now have 6 hours and 29 minutes of daylight, from 9:55 a.m. to 4:23 p.m. It's been increasing by an incredible 23 minutes a week!

As I have been recovering from a multisymptom cold, life has slowed down to a crawl. I finally felt well enough to attend our Zoom meetings, take 360° pictures of the old Stake Center, attend church on Sunday, and Zone council yesterday. Seniors don't bounce back as quickly as we once did. We have also continued to listen to conference talks. I am still working on Spanish Embark, and listening to Follow Him podcasts which are so uplifting and interesting. The Preach My Gospel book has been a little hard for me lately, but as soon as my headache and congestion subside completely I will take that up again. I have already started to think about what I want to continue doing for the rest of my life when we go back home. Definitely, along with reading scriptures, I want to listen to Conference talks and uplifting podcasts daily and continue to attend the temple weekly. I really miss walking & biking with girlfriends and yoga. We do walk at the gym & the mall. I also do yoga online, but I can tell I am getting stiffer, especially in my back. Need to incorporate that back into my schedule. We have really enjoyed serving others. We will continue to look for more opportunities. 

Seeing the Angel Moroni on the Anchorage AK Temple always lifts my spirits. This picture was taken from our bedroom window. We talked to Sister Kromar at the temple in December. She is a senior missionary and a temple worker. I thought that sounded wonderful. I have always wanted to be a temple worker and we will never live closer to a temple! Sister Cox went a few weeks ago and President Metcalf, the Temple President, heard she wanted to be called as a temple worker again. After getting permission from the mission president and locating her husband, President Metcalf set her apart that evening. President Larsen told him he was welcome to approve any senior missionaries here to be called as temple workers. I have been hoping to get better so I can have a chat with him. We attend every Thursday and I have had to cancel for the last two weeks.

I started on January 2 to cut out refined sugar and ultra-processed foods from my diet. I had hoped for dramatic results, but even without that, I feel good about eating healthier. I have avoided eating ice cream, cookies, and candy which my roommate consumes. It feels like an episode from The Biggest Loser;) I can't avoid the temptations around me, so I need to focus on myself. I'm hoping to get rid of arthritis in my left thumb joint and gradually lose the weight I picked up over the first month of my mission. Nothing like being sick to make you long for health to do what you want to do. Like they say, If you have your health, you have everything. We have a list of a lot people to visit gathering a history of the area, but many are elderly and I need to be healthy to visit them in their homes. 

On January 5 Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 took off from the Portland International Airport headed for Ontario, California. There were 171 passengers and six crew members on board. While flying at 16,000 feet, it lost a door. No one was sitting in the two closest seats to the door and miraculously no one was seriously injured. A teenager's shirt was sucked off and his mom held onto him for dear life. It was super loud, oxygen masks were deployed, and the mother & son were able to change seats for the descent. Lots of flights were canceled as a result. There was an investigation and on Jan. 6 Alaska Airlines removed 65 planes from service pending the completion of full maintenance and safety inspections. Nearly 700 flights were canceled nationwide on Sunday.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/timeline-incident-involving-missing-door-plug-boeing-737/story?id=106191494

We did hear about a wonderful miracle this week. President Metcalf, our dear Anchorage AK Temple President was in LA for a church meeting last week. In this rare instance, his sweet wife did not accompany him. Flights were canceled to AK, due to the recent issue above, so he flew to UT to be with family. The next flight back to AK was also canceled. While playing a card game Thursday evening with his children and grandchildren in St. George he went into cardiac arrest and was unresponsive. Two male members of the family immediately started CPR until paramedics arrived. Had he been nearly anywhere else he would not have survived. He is in pain with a few broken ribs and water on his lungs but is recovering. This is an abbreviated version of the story, but we are all so touched that another of our dear church leaders has been miraculously spared. We are all praying for a speedy and complete recovery. We never know when we will be called home. Heavenly Father loves us and is in the details of our lives. Stay safe and have a wonderful week. #ThinkCelestial

Love always, Sister & Elder Badger

A Happy New Year

Happy New Year to All,

It felt good to be back in Anchorage after our sojourn in Utah even though we thoroughly enjoyed our time there. We especially loved spending time with most of our children and grandchildren. Transiting the Wasatch Front multiple times keeping up with a busy schedule pretty much wore Farrell out. We came in late Saturday-- easy flights (about 6 hours of air time) to Anchorage through Seattle. We really appreciated our dear friends, Elder & Sister Cox, picking us up from the airport. We served in the MTC together and they are a joy to be around. We were finally able to see the hoar frost that night. It really is a winter wonderland here. We were intrigued by the fireworks last Sunday night. Anchorage always does things their own way --  since it is in full dusk mode by 5 p.m. they hold the fireworks celebration to welcome the new year in at 8 p.m. Afterward, I think everyone just goes home and goes to bed :-). It was nearly 8 p.m. when we looked it up with a 15-minute drive plus parking, so didn't go to see the display but understand it is pretty good. We'll plan on it next year with the other senior missionaries.

For New Year's Day, we had invited all the Senior Missionaries (18 were able to come) over to our place for the official day's dinner. As they started to roll in, carrying food of all kinds, the counters started to fill up. By the time they were all here, we had food from one end of the house to the other. A councilor in the mission presidency, Pres. Smith (the bear maul victim) brought his specialty, a plate full of smoked salmon. It was delicious and he had so much that we, and several others, squirreled some away in the fridge for later. I have found most of the smoked salmon here too sweet for my taste, but this was just right. The mission president and wife would have been here and wanted to come but because they were so busy instead had to attend to some important time with the younger missionaries. The house was full of cheerful, wonderful people. All have become friends through various interactions. I am always quite astounded by the variety of their assignments -- not one and the same. Some have close interactions with other people doing what most assume to be a missionary's role (that is teaching others about the Savior and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) while others teach and interact with the 18-30 yr old crowd. One couple supports the people in the military and it continues in that kind of variety. Our assignment is probably the most unusual -- the one that is furthest from standard missionary activities. We all have a deep love of our Savior and Heavenly Father. Whatever the case, the event was wonderful -- we talked and shared experiences for hours. They eventually started to trickle out so by about 8 p.m. we were alone together again. I am enjoying that one-on-one time with Kitty. It highlights our support and love for each other and at the same time accents our differences. We try to make the most of both.

We met in our standard weekly meeting on Tuesday (by video) with all the folks involved in designing, building, and managing the temple build. We are beginning to feel like old friends there too. As design details continue to come out and issues continue to get resolved, I can see the hand of the Lord in all of it. He magnifies the talents of each. I really enjoyed this week because we talked quite extensively about some of the artwork. For some reason, I have loved those discussions. When all the details are done, a presentation is made to the Presiding Bishopric and others for their final approval. The rendering drawings I have learned need to be near perfect. Even the flowers in the planters outside the temple need to be the right color and kind. The more I get into it the more beautiful it becomes. Much attention has been paid to the stone and the relief carvings on the outside. For example, one of the patterns had some of the standard joint lines passing through the pattern. That was changed to eliminate the visual break.

The whole project has ramped up with the new year. The BIG announcement yesterday was the official letter from the Stake Presidency stating which locations the wards in the current Brayton building (where the temple will be built) will be meeting after February 11. We will be going to the Klapp ward building about 8 min. away, and the other two wards are going to the Arctic ward building. The general contractor superintendent is moving up from St. George, Utah, and will be full-time on the project on January 22. Two others show up the 3rd week in February. They will all be here for several years including the the time needed to build the new meeting house after the temple is complete. We will only be here until the temple is complete. In some ways, I wish we were here for the whole thing. We'll definitely fly back to see it when all is completed. That's two return trips, one for the temple dedication and one when the chapel is done. Being horticulturally minded in nature, it will be a beautiful place. Every tree and bush are named and selected -- well over a thousand.

One of our efforts is to start to put together the history of the site and people. In that effort, we are asking a few members to share their feelings about what it has meant/will mean to have a temple in their midst. We had a very special Fast and Testimony Meeting yesterday. One individual shared his experience of having a motorcycle accident that nearly killed him. As he was recovering, the missionaries encountered him, and he joined the church. He was given to know that he was spared to do ordinance work in the temple for his deceased family members. He has performed about 450 ordinances so far. Another young couple with 3 active young boys joined the church about a year ago. They are so grateful to be associated with the Saints. It has changed their lives. In a short time, they will be able to go to the temple to be sealed -- that is united as a family for eternity. I asked them yesterday to supply us with a short page on how they felt about a "temple in their midst". So these and others will be added to our official "history" book.

Kitty, unfortunately, picked up a bug somewhere which manifested itself after our New Year's Day gathering. She has spent most of the week convalescing. It is a cold/sore throat/headache/chest congestion/cough/wiped-out feeling. She is negative for COVID per the drugstore test kit. I finally went out Saturday to get some exercise and on the way home picked up some flowers and made her a Thai shrimp curry dinner. Here's to hoping she gets back to normal soon -- work to do, places to go, and people to see. She was really sad to miss out on a gathering with Sister Larsen, the mission president's wife, at the Mission Home with all the other senior sister missionaries. The Lewis's are leaving this week from their 6-month mission here and it was so uplifting to hear them bear their testimonies at our weekly Zoom meeting with all the missionaries serving in the Anchorage Alaska Mission. We have loved their enthusiasm and warm inclusiveness. This will continue to happen as we see new missionaries come and go while we are here until the Temple is finished. We hope with modern technology we can keep in touch.

Wishing you a New Year filled with health, happiness, and the joy the gospel brings. #ThinkCelestial

Love, Elder & Sister Badger