Robinson Alaska Mission

  The Summer Solstice was on Father's Day this year. It was a cold, cloudy rainy day here. The opposite of the expected long summer day. I knew we wouldn't get sunrise and sunset pictures on Sunday so I took pictures the day before of sunrise at 4:20 a.m. and sunset at 11:40.  It was really pretty, as most sunrises and sunsets are.  For Father's Day the ward gave the dads an M&M bowtie. I thought it was funny that was what Spencer's ward did too. The magic of Pinterest.  I picked LeAnn up from the airport on Friday at noon. She is here to babysit for Kate for a week while Kate and Jed go fishing with some friends from Oregon. I enjoyed waiting in the cell phone lot and watching the float planes land. They fly in about every 1-2 minutes.  Kate had a bear adventure on a hike this week. She was hiking by Palmer with a group of friends and their children. Kate and another mother were at the tail end with the slower, younger kids when they saw a black bear about 25 yards

       The highlight in the mission this week was having Elder Scott Whiting of the Seventy visit. The missionaries were so excited to be able to be together. More and more are getting vaccinated and restrictions have loosened in Anchorage but still it was an odd feeling to see so many gathered close together and without masks. The meetings were very good and uplifting. I think sometimes you feel alone in what you are trying to do and it felt good to realize how we can work together -- how we listen and learn from each other. I was reminded this week about the story Sister Eubanks shared about the 1936 Olympic rowing team and how important it is to adapt to each others' strengths and abilities, to row in "swing" to get the most from your effort.  Sister Eubank said, "Rowers must rein in their fierce independence and at the same time hold true to their individual capabilities. Races are not won by clones. Good crews are good blends [...] if they are to row well togeth

        We are so excited that Summer left this morning (June 7) to begin serving in the Chicago mission. Everyone in the mission will be so happy to see her and will do all they can to help her.  President King tells the missionaries they have 18-24 months to serve and a lifetime to remember it. So make good mission memories. I know there will be miracles too. The thing with miracles is that it usually follows a trial of faith. Even in hard times it is good to remember you are not alone. Friends and family are cheering for you. But especially with the Lord on your side, the blessings will come. Go Sister Hall!      Since we first received our mission call to Alaska Elder Robinson has really been looking forward to fishing here. He has been hoping to find someone to go with who will teach him the tricks of fishing in Alaska. Fortunately this weekend Kate and Jed went fishing in Seward and as you can see they were very successful. They went fishing for Sockeye Salmon at Macdonald's