Keeping Busy
We are excited now to also be able to serve in the Alaska Temple as ordinance workers one night a week while serving in the mission office during the day. It is a small temple and there are about 16 people that we work with on Thursday nights. We started last week. Elder Robinson has served as a temple worker for 12+ years and is a great asset. I have never served as a temple worker so I have a lot to learn. We are enjoying getting to know more people here in Alaska and it is always good to be able to spend time in the temple.
We had our ward Christmas Party last Saturday which was very nice. Our ward is small but there were about 70 people there. Everyone was very excited because with fewer activities with Covid this year they had enough money to have the dinner catered. They said they have never had a catered church dinner before. It was Hawaiian food, teriyaki beef and kalua pork, from Hula Hands. When they announced it we thought it was Houlihans, like an Irish Pub. Our ward is half Polynesian and half Caucasian but everyone loves Hawaiian food. I have been craving Mo' Bettahs food from home so this was just right. We didn't have any Samoan food which is turkey tails and palusami (coconut milk and onions in taro leaves). They didn't serve spam either which is a popular meat option in Hawaii (it made me think of all the recipes for spam I received from Lisa as a gift). We will have to try that another time. It was nice to eat and socialize.
It was 37 degrees yesterday which felt so warm. Some of the missionaries were wearing short sleeve shirts and no coat! There is a snow storm today and we will get 4-8 inches of snow so it will be cold again soon. They didn't waste any time getting the industrial sidewalk snow blower going. The frosted trees are pretty even at night.
We have 4 more elders who will leave for Argentina and Chile this week. It has been hard getting Covid tests for travel. Last week everything went so smoothly and I thought I finally had a system that would work. This week the company that did the PCR Covid testing is being replaced by a cheaper testing company that does not do PCR testing. The PCR test is required by many countries for international travel. So after this week the only way to get a PCR test is to collect a sample and send it by FedEx Overnight to a lab in Salt Lake City. FedEx can't guarantee overnight delivery from Alaska. The last time we tried to send test samples they did not arrive in time to get results within the 72 hrs. requirement. I think the missionaries will now have to fly to Salt Lake to get tested and then go to their mission assignments from there.
The missionaries who are leaving this week came in to the office to do some paperwork. They have been living outside of the Anchorage area and will stay with local missionaries until they leave in 3 days. It was hard for them to say goodbye to their mission companions. They develop such close relationships. I appreciate seeing how the missionaries grow spiritually and emotionally from serving a mission. What a blessing those friendships will be for them for years to come.
There was an unusual experience for one missionary this week who had to fly from Juneau to Anchorage for a transfer. His plane had mechanical problems and had to make an emergency landing on the small island of Yakutat. The passengers were stranded there until the plane could be fixed. The lady who runs the airport has a small hotel and cafe by the airport to provide room and board for the passengers while they waited. The problem was they don't take credit cards, only cash or check. Missionaries carry a little cash and use a missionary credit card for most expenses. Elder Tracy was able make arrangements for him to stay anyway. After 3 days they were able to charter a plane for 9 passengers to leave. It cost $1100 per person for the flight. Those who didn't get on the charter have to wait another 4 days for the original plane to be repaired before they can get to Anchorage. It didn't seem to bother most Alaskans. You just have to be patient. That's part of living in Alaska. The missionary enjoyed his unique adventure on Yakutat.
Spiritual thought: A young Filipino sister was baptized a few weeks ago. She is in her mid-twenties and so happy to be baptized. She commented that she didn't know everything, but she knew enough, and she is willing to learn. I appreciated her faith and humility. It is important to always be learning. I like the scripture in Matthew 11:28-30. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and LEARN of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Learning of Christ and developing spiritual knowledge is what brings peace, strength to overcome and rest to your soul. Those are great blessings.
A second thought I have had this week is about Christmas. I have heard some comments from people that don't like Christmas because of the commercialization and stress of shopping and activities. It has made me think of how much I love every part of Christmas celebrations. I love hearing Christmas carols; seeing lights on the houses and trees; being around happy, excited children; the taste and smells of food and baking; feeling the peace of a quiet starlit sky or gently falling snow; and just the anticipation and joy of Christmas. I have missed seeing Christmas school concerts and family activities but am grateful for our unique Christmas mission experience. I like remembering the blessings of family and friends as I shop and think of what would be a good gift for them. It reminds me of God's gifts to his children and how he gives us perfect gifts (although we may not always see or appreciate it). I am grateful to see more kindness in others and reaching out to help others. The spirit of Christmas brings a softer heart and a humble spirit in serving others and God. There is a lot good in celebrating Christmas. I hope it will be a season of joy and hope in finding what is good and not letting it become just a time of stressful activities. I like the peaceful feeling at the end of the day, listening to music and reading by the tree. It is good to spend time in activities that bring the joy and peace of Christmas to your heart. Try to treasure those moments. That is my Christmas wish for you.
We love you and are so grateful for your examples of kindness and goodness. We hope you have some happy Christmas moments this week!
Love,
Elder and Sister Robinson
Not many pictures this week but I liked the sunset at 3:48 p.m. The sunrise is at 10 a.m. Still pretty any time of day. Also a lot of Christmas packages arriving at the mission office.
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