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