The Michigan Lansing Mission 2020-2023

Dear Family and Friends,   You may have noticed (but probably not), that I didn’t write a letter last week. Not my first failure by any means, but I do try. Every day about 9:00pm – sometimes 10:00pm – we wonder how can the day be over when we still have so much to do? I keep telling Elmer, “I need to serve a mission where you get to take a nap.” Even with that said, we are delighted by how much fun we are having. Last week, we had zone conferences, said farewell to four amazing missionaries who finished serving, and welcomed 19 missionaries who have been reassigned to the Michigan Lansing Mission. We liken this missionary flood unto the 60 additional sons of Helaman who joined the 2,000 Stripling Warriors in the Book of Mormon, except we are getting a much higher percentage than Helaman did. I love when Helaman received these additional young men to his army, he writes, “And now behold, we were strong.” Just a little force bringing great hopes and much joy to others.   We’ve ...

Dear Family and Friends,   Overheard Elmer: I really got a lot accomplished this morning. Amy: Me too! See how good my hair looks?   Elmer has written in his journal every day that we’ve been here. I have written once. Yeah, I got THAT guy for a companion. Lucky me. Really, I mean it!   In my defense, I have written these letters, taken any photos we have so far, and initiated most of the communication we’ve had with our kids and grandkids.   Everyday there are wonderful things and hard things about leading a mission, just as there are wonderful and hard things about being a missionary. But one fringe benefit that I didn’t know would happen is that everyday since we’ve been here, Elmer has said something to me like, “Wow! You look great!” Sometimes multiple times a day – like it’s truly a surprise! For the past four years before we came out on our mission, Elmer was working 60-80 hours per week. When he’d leave in the dark morning hours, I’d still be in bed. When he’...