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