Post 2 I Have Grown A Foot or Two.

They have called me on a mission and I have grown a foot or two!

Elder Jones in charge of finance, Elder Langilde, housing coordinator, and Elder Hillquest over vehicles.

A footnote, perhaps is in order here to reflect on the timing of our call.

We were in Branson Missouri starting a thirty day vacation, getting ready to watch the Chinese arcrobats when I received a call from Wendell Jones, saying that Spencer Jones was in town and they want to visit with me. The previous year we had gotten together for dinner with our wives. I told him we should be back in town in about thirty days.  

When we got back I called Spencer and told him we were planning on turning our papers in for a 23-month mission. He said he had about 25 couples but didn't know their status, yet. He advised me to go ahead and submit our papers relating our conversation. He then called me back two days later saying that he had been set apart and wanted us to come to the New Mexico Farmington Mission asking us to expedite (fast track) our papers which we did. Janelle was in West Richland,WA. with Andrea so I drove there to bring her home. On our way home Monday, July 19, 2010 we received a cell phone call from the mission office in SLC, saying we had received our call, however, they couldn't tell us where until President Monson signed the letter tomorrow, and that an email would be sent with President Monson's letter indicating our official location. We were asked to be at the MTC in one week or on July 26, 2010. The next day, Tuesday, we were eating at a Chinese restaurant in Kanab, Utah. when we received our official letter from President Monson by email.

On arriving in Mesa, we hurriedly packed our things and then were invited by President Jones to route ourselves to the MTC through Farmington and spend the night in his General Authority's bedroom. We did just that and also found a spot to park our fifth-wheeler  at the Sundowner for when we were coming back to Farmington, New Mexico for the next 23 months. Now, on with the rest of the story.

As the housing coordinator we have taken the opportunity to visit some of the historic sites while visiting our housing units all over the reservation.

This is the Chaco Ruins northeast of Gallup.

Saturday, we were gone from 9am-9pm sight-seeing and inspecting four missionaries apartments. We traveled to Red Valley, Lukachukai, Chinle, St. Michaels, Window Rock, Crystal, and Sheep Springs. This was over some of the most beautiful country on the reservation.

We travel all over the world, yet we have some of the most historic sites right in our back yard.

Canyon De Chelly is a deep canyon filled with grass, water and ruins.

The Hubbell Trading Post near Ganado is the oldest operating trading post.

Inside the Hubbell Trading Post.

This is Window Rock --the home of the Navajo Reservation.



The drive from Farmington was fantastic!  It was Elder Jones' birthday so we stopped at "That's a Burger" owned by a member and treated him to mutton stew, Navajo tacos, chicken burger, grilled hot dog, and two fry bread.

These are the trailers and a small house in Chinle, one for the Elders three for Senior Missionaries.

Elder and Sister Jones with the Elders in front of the shack in Ganado.

Today, we went to Dulce, the home of the Jicarilla Apache Reservation. The Elders have been moved while they are in shortage so President Jones asked us to cover the area until we get more Elders.

This has been our third visit to the branch. Today, September 26, 2010 was a fast and testimony due to General Conference being next week. Sister Langkilde (played the piano today for sacrament) and I bore our testimonies and I gave the closing prayer. I taught the Sunday School lesson and since their were only two of us in priesthood.  I gave the opening prayer there, too.

It has been very interesting to get ones mind around the Indian culture and its various challenges. There are two hundred eighteen members out of the Jicarilla population of about two thousand five hundred, with less than ten showing up lately. A new branch president will be called on October 10th. It will be interesting to see what plans are set in motion. As a misson we are encouraged to work with local leadership so as to promote consistency and local stability.

We had President Spencer V. Jones 65th birthday, September 17th--birthday song, cake, balloons and decorations, and a 65 tootsie-roll hunt. That evening we went to Olive Garden.  We celebrated Elder Jones 64th birthday, September 24th, with same balloons from President Jones office decorations, had coconut cream white cake that a former cruise-ship chef made at his specialty shop.

We love you all.