4 disctricts celebrate APOSTALIC

Four Districts were invited to the mission home for a barbecue as a reward for working so hard to get Apostalic in their #s. They came and ate and played and laughed and relaxed and went back to work. What a great bunch of young adults. There were 2 district from Fredericksburg , one from Mt Vernon, and one from Potomac. (2 spanish and 2 english zones)Elders Bazzle, Bothwell, Holmstead, Brazell, Bell and McFarlane

Elder Roothoff
Elder Espinoza
Elder Espinoza, Thompson,Roothoff, McFarlane, Bro and Sis. Butler and sis. Hahn and Arnett
Sisters Ferry, Burns and Pilar and Jordan Fish
Jordan, Elder Bell, Butcher and Wilkinson
Elders Kotyk and Brazell
This is a serious basketball game. Go Wilkinson, Kotyk and Simmons look on
Elders Brazell, Bell, and Espinoza
Elder Simmons shots
Simmons
Elder Espinoza





Elder Markestein
Elder Bothwell
Elders Tamir and Brazell
Pres. Albright visits on the patio with Elders Walls and Stewart

Sisters Garbrick and Butler
Pilar and Jordan Fish

Sis. Bay, Ferry and Spencer

Elders Espinoza, Wallace, Lewis, Thompson and Bales
Lunchtime: Elders McMillan, Roothoof, Kotyk, Knechtel, Markestein, Walls, Wasden and Sisters LeSueur and Garbrick
2nd dinning room with Elders Williams, Bell, McFarlane, Brogan, Lewis, , Simmons, Bothwell, and Grundvig.

DEPARTING INTERVIEWS AND TIE ONE ON

This was a crazy day. The departing interviews started early in the morning and I feed these missionaries breakfast. They have a final interview with Pres. Albright and I just get to visit with the rest of them in the living room. I get them to mark their favorite scripture in my special set reserved for this. I get a favorite conversion story for a special book and they get to put their tie on the banister. A sign of departure and a tradition in this mission.

We were having a 4 district barbecue in the afternoon and these 2 activities got interlapped a little bit.
Elder Stirling Sill. It will be hard to see him go. He served as our Assistant for 6 months and we spent a lot of time together.
Elder Bales. A lot of fun. Always happy. A fello Las Vegan. Although he is going home by way of Iowa where he lived when he left.


Elder Nielson. Everyone loves him. Quiet and diligent. He will be missed in the burg.
Elder Metcalf. Another great leader. Can't believe I got him without his smile.
Elder Hunt. Devoted to the work. Steadfast is how is peers described him.
Sis. Bay. A little angel.
Elder Bladwin. A great example to everyone. Strong and spiritual
Sis Johnson and Bay
Elder Baldwin helping Sister Johson Tie hers.
Sis. Johson. Loves pink. Completely devoted. Charity towards her work. Pure love
Ss. Lofgran. One of Mongolian girls. A little ball of fire.
Elders Ford, McFarlane and Wasden arriving for the afternoon activity. 4 dictrict barbecue
Elders Stewart and Knechtel

Sister LeSueur, Ferry Spencer, Butler, Hahn, Garbrick
Elders Simmons, Brogan, Bazzle, Larsen, and Stewart
Elder Lewis show pictures of his swollen cheeks.
Poor guy. one thing after another. Started with poison ivy A BAD CASE and now lots of other ailments.
Elders Ford and Nielson
Pres. Albright and Sis. Burns
Sis. Bay signing her tie
Sis Johnson working on her tie and Sis Lofgran on the couch.

Elder Baldwin marking his favorite scripture

Elders Wasden and Hunt

Sis. Bagely (sis. lofgrans companion)
Elder Ford playing the ivories
Elder Wasden
Sis. Nichols (Sis. Johnsons companion)
Pilar visiting with Sis. Johnson

OUR FRIENDS-JOHN, PILAR & JORDAN FISH

Some of our dearest friends came to visit us for a few days. We had a great time. Especially me, it was so nice to see Pilar and spend time just visiting. She is one of the most sincere and thoughtful people I know. John had meetings for his business in DC during the days and Jorday is the nicest young man. They arrived on Sat, June 5, and stayed until the morning of the 9th.

This is Jordan, Pilar and I in the kitchen during a barbecue for 4 districts. Pilar was so great about helping with all the cooking and mission work. Thanks Pilar and Jordan.
Jordan Fish with Elders Thompson and Wilkinson
Jordan, Pilar and John visiting Mt. Vernon.
Arlington Cemetary, in front of the Eternal flame at Pres. Kennedy's grave.
The Ampetheater at Arlington.
Jordan in the Throne with his parents above
At the Natural History Museum
On the National Mall, Capitol in the back
The National Mall with the Washington Monument in the back.

Funny Story. I drove in with Jordan and Pilar to spend the day in DC. John and Mark were at meetings. We were so lucky. We found a parking spot right in back of the museum. We crossed the street and had no line for the Archives. Saw the Bill of Rights, The Declaration, and The Constitution. We went to the Natural History Museum and spend quite a while there. Then we went out the front doors to the National Mall and saw the monuments. They really wanted to see the Holocost Museum and so we walked A LONG WAYS to it at the far end of the mall and when we got there all the tickets for the day were gone.

So we walked ALL the way back to the car. And it was GONE. We had not read the parking sign which said this lane became a travel lane at 4:30-7:00. Mark came to the rescue while we ate hotdogs on the mall and then we went on a wild goose chase looking for the car. Directed here and there and 20 miles out of town. And then as we drove up to an impound lot just as it was closing this woman gave us a phone # and said they would know where the car was. So I called the # and was told "Oh yes, we just tow the cars around the corner out of the way of traffic. So we drove back to DC and there it was just a few feet from where it was left-- around the corner. Too bad I didn't click the alarm button, I might have found it. PRETTY FUNNY.

And Mark was calm, cool, and collected the whole time. Just like him. Thanks honey.

Weddings and Baptisms together!!

What a wonderful day for Magdalena Sorto Portillo and Florentino Alvarado Ismalej.

Today they got married and baptized.

June 5, 2010. We drove to Fredericksburg to witness these events. We don't get down to Fredericksburg for Baptisms very often and decided it would be a great day to take the drive and witness one. Maria and Florentino have been taking the lessons. They are a wonderful and very sweet couple. They wanted to be baptized and so needed to be married first

These wonderful Elders Simmons and Brogan. They decorated the room and set up all the table chairs, table clothes, etc. Even an arch for the cake to go under.

Pres. Kulbeth performed the wedding. Even though we could not understand it, since it was in Spanish , we could feel a wonderful spirit. After the wedding was finished the crowd moved into the Relief Society Room for the Baptism.

Elder Simmons baptized Maria and Elder Brogan baptized Florentino. Elder Stewart gave the closing prayer.

Spanish people always celebrate BIG and they followed with a nice reception.

Elder Simmons, Maria, Florentino, Elder Brogan
With Elder Williams
The wedding ceremony
The room before it started

Baptism Saturday - May 29, 2010

On Saturday, May 29 we attended a baptism for Jackie Wahlgren. Elder Campbell and Freeland, and Franzwa, Wilkinson were involved in this baptism. Jackie is the mother of Luke Wahlgren who was baptized a few months ago. And Luke got to baptize his mother. What a great experience. They are a great family. Elder Campbell said the opening prayer, Elder Freeland spoke on Baptism, Elder Franzwa spoke, and Elder Wilkinson spoke on the Holy Ghost.

(pictures are coming)