Deep Trenches

Hello Friends and Family,

Another busy week! The civil contractor has been digging deep trenches, laying pipe and covering them back up. The water line trenches are about 12' deep with sloped sides to prevent cave-ins so the top of the trench is about 15' wide. That is a lot of dirt moving! One of the workers summed up his job by saying, yes, we dig holes and then cover them up:) They worked late on Thursday (7:30 p.m.) to finish up a section in anticipation of the big event the next day which was full water flow through the new line or blow out. We were in the temple Thurs. evening. The chandeliers were shaking from the big roller compactor in close vicinity finishing off the newly buried line. It didn't last long. Friday morning, the city inspectors were here to turn on the water. The contractor had laid down a large sheet of reinforced plastic to prevent erosion -- a bit too cold (50F) for a water slide. The water ran across the site and down the normal storm route along the side of Brayton Drive. All was successful and there were smiles all around.

9:56 p.m. Notice where the sun sets.

We took a little break Wednesday evening and drove a short 16 min. to the Flattop Mountain Overlook. We had never been there before due to the snow and the lower parking lot was still blocked with snow. It really gives you a feel for where you are.  Anchorage is very spread out. You can see water, a million trees, and downtown looks very small by comparison. We will definitely come back for some hikes with warm clothes, water, snacks, & bear spray.

We woke up Saturday morning wondering what was different -- it was quiet with no machinery running. Usually that is our alarm clock somewhere a little before 7 a.m. The successful test following a couple of weeks of hard work merited the break. It probably also gave the left over water a chance to sink and and dry up. They also take Memorial Day weekend off (and so will we).

Kempton Hills garage sale

We saw a sign about an garage sale on Saturday in an area close to our neighborhood called Kempton Hills. We heard thru the grapevine that this event was annual and huge. They were right. There were dozens of garage sales all over the area. Cars were parked in every available position including down our street. Their HOA provided several porta-potties and hand washing stations. Kids were on nearly every corner selling lemonade, candy, or snow cones.  Kitty bought a vase for $1 and six linen napkins for $2. It went from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. We tried to give away a clothes washer and two stands. Someone at least took one of the stands. Our neighbor said it used to be even bigger before online marketplaces came into existence.

Sister Watanabe,
Elder Parks, President Pace

We had the great opportunity Saturday evening to be taught by President Mark Pace who is the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Sunday School until Aug. 1. He has been a very busy man holding multiple meetings here. It was held over Zoom and the chapel was only about 3/4 full. It was an area meeting so covered from Juneau to Whitehorse to Barrow. It was wonderful. He was very "down to earth" and taught some great things. Elder Parks (Area Authority Seventy) presided. He lives here in Anchorage and we love hearing his counsel.

We learned a lot about the Sacrament. You would think after going to church most of our lives and taking the Sacrament there wouldn't be much to learn. This was about the spiritual meaning and difference between the bread and the water. The bread is about the choice we made in our pre-earth life to follow the Savior and come to earth. That decision resulted in the blessing of immortality for all mankind because of the Savior's Resurrection. The water is about redemption, the opportunity he gave us through his suffering to repent in our process of learning and growing in this mortal life. That brings us back to him. Those gems are great. 

The chapel emptied out after the meeting leaving just a few. We had the opportunity to visit with President Pace one-on-one for several minutes. We talked about our mission and he had a few questions about the new temple. Leola Bryant, Grandpa Badger's wife later in life was a Pace. Turns out she is only a distant relation.

After the meeting we met up with another senior missionary couple for dinner. We relished their company and finished up around 10:15 p.m. -- of course the sun hadn't set yet. Our first light is now at 3:43 a.m. and our last light is at 12:11 a.m.. Soon, those two will converge on a night with no darkness. Sunrise is at 5 a.m. and sunset is at 10:53 p.m.. That means that twilight on both ends lasts a long time. Summers are beautiful up here in Alaska. The long dark winters make the long sunny days even more precious. 

We continue to enjoy visitors to our center. One sweet lady had just come from the temple after performing baptisms for some of her immediate ancestors. She is 84 years old. She was very impressed by the experience. We were impressed an 84 yr. old could pull off 10 full immersion baptisms. She has only been a member of the church since last August. The two young Elder's who taught her got mixed up and knocked on the wrong door. The older we get the less we believe such things are coincidences. 

We had dinner Sunday with an extraordinary family. They are so welcoming, faithful, and inclusive. There were about 20 adults present including a daughter and son-in-law currently living in Mapleton UT. We told them about the reservoir and paved trail. They had two recent graduates from college (USU and BYU). Two announced they were expecting. One of those had just finished a triathlon. One non-relative (but friends of ours we see at the temple all the time) is from southern Italy. She learned English in the ESL program at BYU Provo where she met her husband and married. He is an endodontist. Lots of Utah dentists up here -- money is much better. Our host is also a dentist. They are all crazy pickleball players -- not casual but more at the competition level. What a talented group!

We love you and miss you! Keep in touch. #ThinkCelestial

Love, Elder & Sister Badger