The Last Month of the Mission

Dear Family and Friends,

We are in our last weeks of service in the Michigan Lansing Mission with more to do than time to do it. We feel excited that we know what the Lord wants us to accomplish in the time remaining. The sense of urgency we feel is fueling us, and we find joy each day that we get to be here with our Michiganders and our missionaries.

Over the years, really over the transfers (missions are broken into six-week segments), we have continually asked more and more of the missionaries who serve with us. That is living the gospel of Jesus Christ after all. It gives us the opportunity to continually repent, change, and turn to God, who will make more of us than we can imagine as we chose to do His will. One of the evidences, for me, that we have a loving Heavenly Father is that He teaches us in language we understand, and His learning comes line upon line and precept upon precept so that we will yearn for more and not be overwhelmed. However, I do think a few missionaries end up feeling overwhelmed because they either don't yet see their own efforts as significant and valued by the Lord, or they see the mountain ahead and aren't sure how to climb it. Just one step at a time. By small and simple things, great things do come to pass. As we choose to start doing something we should be doing or stop doing something we shouldn't be doing, Jesus will take our efforts and multiple them.

A couple of weeks ago, we had our last stake/district conference with The Traverse City District. It was a great and emotional day. We've loved serving with the members Up North. Our missionaries love being there. Everyone is spread out over a large geographic area. If your hand is the Mitten, knuckles to fingertips is Up North. Then there is also the part of the Upper Peninsula that is in the Traverse City District including St. Ignace and Sault Ste. Marie. A stake already exists in this area, and we know that many will come back to Church and many others are joining to grow this wonderful district so it can become a stake. We spoke in the Sunday morning session of the conference. I spoke about Jesus Christ being a God of abundance. He will take our efforts like loaves and fishes and turn them into miracles. When I was done speaking, I heard someone in the congregation say, "I love her." That pulled on my heartstrings. I already told Elmer that he's going to need to be the strong one, because I've got dibs on all the crying. One of the members in the Alpena Branch made us a wooden nativity puzzle that we will treasure. There was a farewell reception for us, which was so kind. There were so many people to talk to! We've especially loved our friendship with Buddy and Tina Stoddard. He is currently the Traverse City District President and she is the Relief Society President in the Petoskey Branch. When he was first called to serve, he explained that he really doesn't live Up North but only summers there. And as President Stoddard tells it, he was told, "Well, now you do." Because people travel so far to come to Traverse City for the Saturday sessions of the conference, the last meeting on Saturday ends at 6:00PM to allow people time to drive home before it's too dark. Yes, Michiganders can drive in the dark but the risks of deer strikes and tricky weather on country roads is real. We were able to have dinner with our mission presidency counselor President Nick Gentile, the Stoddards, and Elder David and Sister Lori LaFrance, who came from the Toronto area for the Conference. He is an Area Authority Seventy that we've gotten to know in our time in the North America Northeast. It's not often that Canadians go north into the US, but Toronto is southeast of Traverse City. They actually made it a 20-hour roundtrip of driving because they dropped off their three teenagers who are still at home to spend the long weekend (Victoria's Day) with friends on St. Joseph's Island (Ontario). We closed down the restaurant and might still be there talking if they didn't kick us out.

President Buddy & Sister Tina Stoddard, Elder David & Sister Lori LaFrance, us, and President Nick Gentile - Traverse City, Michigan

Last week, we had three outdoor zone conferences in Muskegon State Park in North Muskegon, Fort Custer State Park in Augusta, and Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling. At each zone conference, the young mission leadership led out in some great activities and training. Elder Gathercoal and Elder Bailey (our Assistants) led a great activity and discussion on being consistently efficient, and Elmer and I concluded things with a discussion about what we are learning about faith, hope, and charity from our study of the Book of Mormon. (Have I already mentioned that we are studying the Book of Mormon as a mission and trying to complete it before June 30th? It's a fast-paced read). Of course, there was an invitation and a promise. At the end of each conference, we hiked, of course. Our former mission presidency counselor, Stan Brown, who lives in North Muskegon, joined us for the first day's zone conference. He led us straight up the sandy dunes to a beautiful view of Lake Michigan and Muskegon Lake. Many of our missionaries didn't know there were steep hills to climb in Michigan and the sand made it quite the workout. The view was spectacular! After three straight days of hiking, my left knee is feeling it. It's been sore for a few months. I've already been to the doctor and have my referral to physical therapy (not the kind of referral we missionaries want). It's either soft tissue damage or arthritis. Ugh. I wasn't even doing anything cool. It just got weird. Elmer has a strained muscle, but at least that happened playing pickleball at MSU with Elder Bailey and Gathercoal. We think we are young like the missionaries until this stuff happens!

Lake Michigan is out there. We hiked miles in this sand. All uphill. Both ways.

The Grand Rapids and Holland Zones - Muskegon State Park, North Muskegon

My man, also the best companion at Snug Harbor - Muskegon Lake

Sister Janette and Elder Kevin Lake give their departing testimonies. They will be missed by all of us!

The Grand Rapids Zone leadership - Elder Lowder, Elder Wells, Hermana Lau, Hermana Scott

A beautiful setting for a zone conference

Last zone conference with Elder Luke Clouse 🥹

Holland Zone - that's Elder Curtis, Elder Cordova, Hermana Tiatia, and Sister Jamieson way far away

Our original mission presidency. Our talented niece, Serene Papenfuss, made beautiful Michigan maps for all those who have served with us and given this great work such outstanding support.

Top of the sand heap with some great missionaries in the Holland and Grand Rapids zones

Hermana Tiatia is teaching me how to take the 0.5.😅

Fort Custer State Park - Whitford Lake with the Kalamazoo and Lansing Zones

The Lansing Zone

Sister Hallie Roundy while Elder Jonathan McAllister does work

The Kalamazoo Zone getting water to the end of the row.

Elder Jacob Marsh and Elder Ethan Rasmussen

Elder Mitchell Craw and Elder Lane Marley

Kalamazoo Zone Leadership - Sister Haylee Sullivan, Sister Roundy, Elder Samson Davis, and Elder Zach Jones

Don't zoom in on this photo - the Lansing Zone had t-shirts made for outdoor zone conference with a sketch of their mission leaders. Brain child of their great district leader, Elder Trey Stoker. 🫣

Charlotte District: These shirts have Elder Brycen Doman's photo and his quote, "And I took it personally."

When at outdoor zone conference, ask Elder Doman to bring his guitar and sing a hymn.

Hikers from Lansing and Kalamazoo Zones

Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling - Traverse City and Midland Zones

Traverse City Zone Leadership - Elder Kaleb Woolsey, Elder Garrett Nelson, Sister Eliza Arrington, and Hermana Makenzie Jackson

Elder Ammon Gathercoal and Elder Clark Bailey

Missionaries of the Traverse City Zone

Hikers from Traverse City and Midland Zones

Classic Elder Reese Squidward-face selfie with Sister Petersen and Sister Lunt

With our office missionaries, Elder and Sister Anderson and Elder and Sister Armstrong, who took care of all the vehicles and didn't hike thus they are not hot and sweaty like us!

With Sister Petersen and Sister Lunt

With Elder Long and Elder Barlow in Grayling when the group became the Grayling Branch

On Sunday, we drove over two hours back to Grayling as our last group in the Traverse City District became the Grayling Branch. A branch presidency and new elder's quorum president were sustained. It was a such a sweet experience to be there with those Saints who have made great sacrifices to go to church, sometimes driving 80 miles each way to get there. A wildfire in the area cut power to the entire town. So there were no electricity and no bathrooms. But the fire was contained and the wind died down. It wasn't too hot or smoky (reminded us of the good old California wildfire days when we smelled the air), so everything went forward. After church, we drove home for a presidency meeting, then Elmer made a three-hour round trip to Holland to teach with Elder Curtis and Elder Cordova where they had an amazing experience teaching a woman and some of her family who are now preparing to be baptized.

One of our senior missionary couples, Elder Jeffery (this spelling is correct for him) and Sister Suzanne Smith, planned a really fun day in Grand Rapids for all of the senior missionaries to say goodbye to us and have some fun together over the Memorial Day weekend. We went to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, had a nice lunch together, and finished the day at Meijer Gardens.

A week ago, we went to our last Lansing Coordinating Council and our new Area Seventy's first. Our new Area Seventy is Elder Brent Ward (Bryan's brother). We have loved our association with him. A couple of weeks before that, we got to be with him and Elder James W. McConkie III as the Midland Stake was reorganized, which was a sacred experience. We are so grateful for these years we had to know and work with President Henrie and his two great counselors in the Midland Michigan Stake. One thing we will always remember is how they wanted to be the best and give their best in service of the Lord.

President Michael Hales, First Counselor, President Derek Henrie, Stake President, and President Chris Deibel, Second Counselor of the Midland Michigan Stake (2012-2023)

See photos below for whatever else has happened since the last blog post in April. 😅 Including our last, incredible Mission Leadership Seminar with other mission leaders and the North America Northeast Area Presidency in Boston, a transfer, departures, and arrivals. And our last Mission Leadership Council, which happened today. 🥹

We often get asked about our post mission plans. The first thing we have planned is to go to the temple in Detroit on July 1. Then we are going to take a little vacation as we make our way home. We've planned a stop in Denver to see Hillary, Newel, and the boys. Our children have planned a family reunion that we are looking forward to, so that is another planned stop on the way home. More time with children and grandchildren is definitely on our to do list. We believe we are speaking in the Pacific Beach Ward on Sunday, July 23rd. That's when our family and missionaries have made their travel plans. And then we hope to get to the wedding of one of our former missionaries the following week. What happens after that? We aren't sure. 😊

We love you all and look forward to many happy reunions ahead.

With love,

Elmer & Amy

Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids. So many flowers and plants! In honor of my dad, I did take a few hundred photos.

Don't worry, only sharing this one flower ...

... and a miniature pear tree!

At Meijer Gardens

Lunch with the senior missionaries in Grand Rapids ...

... where we were spoiled with gifts and good times.

At the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, we put together an outstanding Cabinet. Most agreed, Sister Heap should sit in the President's seat.

With the Hart District - minus Sister Bernards who was in her interview with President Heap

With the Jonesville District - Exciting news that the Jonesville Branch became the Jonesville Ward a couple of weeks ago!

With the Battle Creek District - small miracle, I caught Elder Taylor giving a real smile. He always makes the goofiest faces, and I can never post a photo of him (on the far right). Even our new missionary Elder Ritter had to look (far left).

Sister Velvet and Elder Yves Rollin serve in Member and Leader Support in both the Petoskey Branch and the Cheboygan Branch. We are so thankful for them!

With the Sault Ste Marie District

With the Manistee District

With who was still around when I remembered to take a photo of the Gaylord District. Thank you to Elder Douglas for making his district a delicious cake!

With the Grand Rapids District

With the Kalamazoo District

With the Sister Training Leaders and some of the Social Media Leaders at the May Mission Leadership Council + Mission Technology Council Meetings

Lunch at the May Mission Leadership Council + Mission Technology Council Meetings

If you think I am actually getting worse at taking the group photos, you are correct! May Mission Leadership Council + Mission Technology Council Meetings

If you think we are getting good at pickleball, I don't think we could get worse. Elder Bailey and Elder Gathercoal are so nice to us.

With Sister Gamette and Hermana Downs in Mt. Pleasant

And the rest of the Ithaca District - Sisters Lunt and Petersen, Elders Willden and Junsay

With the Bay City District. I have declared them the best singing district in the mission. Amazing!

Sometimes we run into missionaries after interviews getting something to eat at Culver's in West Branch

or DeBoer's Bakkerij in Holland

With the Spring Lake District

Not to be missed in Western Michigan: Tulip Time in Holland

I have so many tulip pix!

Sister Eubank helped Sister Anderson create fun Mother's Day cards for some of the missionaries to send home - aka when one of the senior office missionaries is a retired second grade teacher. Loads of fun!

The transfer happened on May 2nd.

Our May departing missionaries: Sister Cambree Webber, Sister Hannah Gibson, Sister Madison Timm, Elder Ethan Stallings, Elder Preston Squire, and Elder Jarom Hunter

President Heap's shakes get a thumbs up all around.

Such a happy, enthusiastic group of trainers for the new missionaries: Sister Petersen (Harrison), Sister Abegglen (Cheboygan), Elder Marsh (Jonesville), and Elder Moore (Battle Creek)