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