First Week of Missionary Work

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We finished our first week of working in the mission office. We really like the senior couples we work with and will miss the missionaries that will be leaving in 4-6 weeks. Gary has been learning how to manage the apartments and finances. I think he really likes the apartment side. He goes with Elder Curtis and a couple of young missionaries getting service hours (they are the muscle). They move furniture to and from apartments for transfers, inspect apartments for safety and cleanliness, and make sure apartments have what they need. They have a truck, wear jeans and drive around. It’s not bad since the weather is still nice. He is really getting to know his way around and getting to know the missionaries. I have been busy managing a lot of COVID questions. The church has guidelines for every situation for COVID exposure, symptoms, when to get tested and what to do when groups of missionaries are living in close quarters. It is hard because if COVID is suspected at all they need to self quarantine for 2 weeks. So I feel like I am grounding them when they have contact with COVID or have symptoms. So far though they are good about social distancing and tests have been negative. When the weather is bad and everyone is indoors it may get worse. We spoke at our first zone conference this week. They have them 1-2 times a week with 9 zones meeting every 6 weeks. I spoke about staying healthy and Gary spoke about smoke detectors and bed bugs. We drove to Eagle River about 30 miles north. I know I say it all of the time but it really is so beautiful. I keep thinking I want you all to come see Alaska. Especially in the fall!

Beautiful leaves in front of our apartment

 Yesterday we went to hike a mountain that is above Anchorage. The parking lot was packed and we didn’t have much time so we did a short loop and came home. It was so windy and cold but people were in sweatshirts and light clothes. I didn’t like the wind. 

Mirror Lake- instead of boats there are pontoon planes parked at the docks

Today we went to Girdwood, a ski resort about 35 miles south to visit the branch there. We bore our testimonies and visited with a few members after. There were only six people there but they were all very nice. We met in a Catholic Church that rents the space to the church in the morning and then they have Catholic services in the afternoon. There are so many churches here. We drove yesterday past 8 churches in a 4 mile stretch. Pres. King shared an interesting story about the missionaries in Barrow, the farthest town north in Alaska. They met and were teaching a man who had some health problems. He died a few months later and as they visited with the family and asked if they could help the family said they could not get anyone to dig the grave because the permafrost was too hard. The missionaries offered to try. After a couple of feet the ground was too hard so they got an auger and drilled holes deeper and were able to hand dig a grave deep enough to bury the man. They worked really hard! The people there were touched by that act of service and after that would smile and talk to the missionaries. They really did break the ice in getting to know the people there. It has provided some good interaction. Pres. King said the 2 reasons people join the church is the relationships they have with members and the feelings they have from those relationships and spiritual experiences. We hope to help missionaries, members and other people we meet to feel good about knowing us and to help others. It does feel good to be kind. We hope you have a good week and are enjoying fall weather and colors too.  Here are a couple of pictures from a place we stopped by on our way home from church. It is called McHugh Creek and is next to Turnagain Inlet. Mountains on one side and the inlet on the other. 




We were walking along the trail in Sunday clothes and had some stares but then we saw 2 Asian ladies dressed in Sunday clothes too. They took a picture for us and were very friendly. I think we were both happy to see each other dressed up enjoying the scenery. We didn’t go far though with my high heels.

Love you all,
Elder and Sister Robinson
(Summer, Alaska does have fjords! Good for you for knowing that. There is Kenai Fjord National Park that we hope to get a chance to see)

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