Our Home in Missouri...starting to look like Spring...

Our Warm Home:

Potted Hydrangeas and Hanging Baskets...

Training with Brother Metcalf from Salt Lake (FaceTime), May 18th & 19th...

Training at HLJ and IVC:

It was great to get to have Brother Metcalf follow-up on his

training he gave when he came to Missouri last month.  He 

followed up on how the sisters were doing with balancing

the History/Doctrine/Relevance (Personal) in the presentations.

Also, he had them practice a pre-set. For instance, after greeting, ask

the visitors to think about what they are feeling and being taught

by the Spirit during the tour.  That usually helps prepare the  

person to really pay close attention to what they are feeling during 

the tour and not just to what they are hearing the Sisters are say.

That makes it more natural to give an invitation to them at the end.

And to receive information from them so you can follow up with 

them later.  We had a great discussion and role playing with all of 

the Sisters for both the balancing and the pre-set/invitation 

both at the Liberty Jail and the Visitors' Center.

 I hope to get a picture from the training at the Jail soon.

Visitors' Center Missionaries...

Front row, Sisters Larson, Lifferth, Sly, Cammack and Mudrow. 

Next, Sisters Davies, Edwards Littell, Orton, Giraud Carrier, 

Rust, Bigham, Soutas, Simkins and Anderson.  Some of the 

Seniors back there are Sister and Elder Sharp, and Elder Johnson.

Adam-ondi-Ahman with Elder & Sister Joe J. Christiansen & my Sisters! Wednesday, May 17th

Elder Christiansen giving Historical background ...

 Sister and Elder Christiansen...

Missionary board at Adam-ondi-Ahman.  Twelve couples

serving right now...Most serve for 18 months... They serve 

under the direction of the 1st Presidency instead of 

through the Church Missionary Department.

 My twin, Kandace, and me at the Look out point... A VERY 

windy day that day!!  My sister, April, wouldn't get in the picture!

This is the only picture I got of April...Not sure she would want

me to post this, but I think she looks good!

Two Baptisms Saturday, May 13th...

New Mark Ward baptism...

Sister Littell, Wilber (newly baptized), his wife, Sisters Draper 

and Dawson... All of these Sisters played a part in Wilber's 

conversion.  Sister Littell used to be companions with Sister

Draper when they first started teaching him.  Sister Dawson 

was transferred to be here and have the opportunity, with

Sister Draper, to finish his lessons.

Riverview Ward baptism of Three new members...

Sister Littell (now in Riverview ward with Sister Zarate), three
family members (16 yr. old sister, 14 yr. old brother and 19 yr.
old sister), Sister Zarate and Sister Guerrero (former companion).
All three missionaries played a special part in their conversion.

Friday Dinner With Sisters...

Elder Peterson's selfie expertise! :-) 

Dinner at Texas Roadhouse with Sisters Dawson and Draper!

It was so good to see them and have a nice visit!  They are 

Sister Training Leaders in a full proselyting area, but they are

Visitors' Center called missionaries.  We should get to have 

them back with us in the Visitors' Center or Liberty Jail 

before they go home...

Dedication of the Pioneer Woman Statue, May 11, 2017...

Friday Morning Training Independence Visitors' Center, May 12

Training at the VC:

Conducting: Sister Giraud-Carrier

Pianist:  Sister Davies

Opening Hymn: #116 Come Follow Me

Opening Prayer: Sister Edwards

Announcements: 

*Be wise with using water bottles and keep the

the Visitors' Center uncluttered with water bottle and other stuff! 

Use the cubbies!

*Don't use nick names, such as "Sis"

*Reminder of Oil change 

*Sister Vest Showed up so we had her talk a little about appropriate 

clothing for missionaries.  She also taught them the appropriate way

to walk up and down the stairs at the Visitors's Center

Introducing the new Senior Couple:  Elder and Sister told a little about 

themselves.  They have a great story about of conversion and meeting how

they got together. 

Teaching Center:  Sisters Cammack and Mudrow did a great job of 

showing us how to set goals and helping to keep track and have an

 accurate record of everything they do in the Teaching Center.

History Moment: Sisters Cooper and Sly

Busy Season and What to do: Elder and Sister Johnson gave a training 

on how to survive taking big tours during the summer...

Remarks: Sister Peterson talked about Missionary Service and the demands

that are placed on Adjusting to Missionary Life

Closing Hymn:

Closing Prayer: Sister Lifferth

After Sister Vest taught the Sister to walk up and down

the stairs in a proper, lady-like manner...We took this picture: 

First row, Sisters Cooper, Larson, Mudrow, Soutas, Cammack, 

Davidson and Sly. Next row, Sisters Lifferth, Simkin, Bingham,

Vest, and Orton. Next row, Sisters Littell, Davies, Zarate, Edwards

Giraud-Carrier, Anderson and Rust...

Book of Mormon Symposium May 5th and 6th...

We were not able to attend the Friday night session

but were able to attend Saturday night at the LDS 

Independence Stake Center.  This symposium involved  

many of the break offs from the LDS Church as well as from 

the churches that broke away from the RLDS (Community of 

Christ).  They all believed in Joseph Smith and the Book of 

Mormon.  The program went as follows:

Conducting: Casey Paul Griffiths (BYU Professor)

Opening Prayer: Apostle Janne' Grover (Community of Christ)

Speakers:  

Barbara Morgan (BYU Professor): "Lest we Forget: 

Staying Converted to Jesus Christ"

Patrick McKay (Restoration Branch): "Witnessing With 

the Book of Mormon"

Sherrie Smith (?) "Their Voice Shall Have a Familiar Spirit"

Robert Millet (BYU Professor, emeritus) "New Creatures 

in Christ: Nephite Teaching on the Doctrine of Spiritual Rebirth"

Closing Prayer:  President Dennis Cato (LDS Stake President 

of the Independence Missouri Stake)

Interesting meeting...The next day we attended Patrick McKay's

Church of the Restoration Branch...He had many of the BYU

Professors speak and it was an interesting experience...

Thursday Morning Training Meeting HLJ May 11th...

Training at HLJ:

Conducting: Sister Rice

Chorister: Sister Gonzalez

Opening Hymn:

Opening Prayer:

Announcements: 

Being on time to shift! (Stop Teaching Center 15 before)

Callings-brain storm how you want to magnify them

Elder Lovell's birthday!

MTC Learnings: Sister Mease gave a training on what she took away

from her MTC training.  She talked about how important it is teach 

at the Liberty Jail in such a way that each visitor has a meaningful

experience to help them want to come to Christ and make changes

in their lives...  Teach Doctrine through the history...Don't just connect

the dots on the map...Great Training!

Words of Wisdom: Sister Peterson

I taught about our Emotional Preparedness in our missionary work and

how to use the Adjusting to Missionary Life booklet.

Elder Peterson

Follow-up on Training, Missionary Dept.:  Sisters Udall and Bleak

Sister Farnsworth and Angerbauer volunteered to demonstrate how to 

begin to teach in the History Room.  They did a wonderful job of 

conversing and asking questions to get to know the visitors and 

star teaching to their needs.  Great demonstration and discussion

afterwards...

Closing Hymn: More Holiness Give Me # 131

Closing Prayer: Sister Garay

Celebrating Elder Lovell's Birthday!  Cheesecake!

Elder Lovell with the Sisters... This is a clearer picture, but 

Sister Lovell was busy taking a picture too...

From the left, Sisters Rice, Garay, Udall, Mease, Angerbauer,

Farnsworth, Bleak and Gonzalez...

We added Sister Lovell, but not as good of a picture! :-(

Royals Ballgame with McEowns, May 5th

Kauffman Stadium...Kansas City Royals vs. Cleveland Indians

It was good to be with family! So much fun!!

George and Devan...you can see a little bit of 

Bradley's face in the back.

Devan with her cute kids, Bradley and Kaylee!  

George and I with April and John McEown!  It ended

up being a pretty good game!  The Royals won!!

Visitors from Arizona... May 4

Brent and Carolyn Payne's Visit to Historic Liberty Jail

I just happen to notice these two as they were about to leave the HLJ.  

They had already had their tour and I was so glad that I happen

to see them as they were about to go out the door!  We sat down and had 

 a good long visit there, and then went to lunch with them to Olive Garden 

so we could visit some more!  It was fun to see them and spend some

time with friends from home...

Training at Visitors' Center May 5th...

Conducting: Sister Davidson

Pianist: Sister Cooper

Chorister: Sister Rust

Opening Hymn: #142 Sweet Hour of Prayer
Opening Prayer: Sister W. Anderson
Announcements: 
How to read the schedule,
Cleaning out the fridge after Training Meeting'
Physical rotation for the hot seat...
Car Czar: Sisters Zarate & Littell
Filling up gas when half full,
Check oil & tire pressure every 3rd fill-up,
Wash cars on p-days...
Learnings from the MTC: Sister Simkins
She talked about how she loved the training that got on
Teaching People Not Lessons...And how important that
is in teaching...be personal and make it relevant...
Testimonies: Elder and Sister Wilson
We will miss them so much and I know they are going to
miss all the missionaries when they go home! They loved
being here and it showed in their service.  They are so fun
loving, but also have strong testimonies that they bore as
they served...wonderful people whom we consider dear friends!
Doctrinal Insights from the Scriptures and Revelation:
Sisters Bingham & Soutas
Elder Peterson, then took us all to Scriptures and Revelation
and had Sisters Lifferth and Larson give a demonstration on
the Timeline of Joseph Smith and the Restoration.
Closing Prayer: Sister Sly

Here we are at the Wilsons' apartment saying our goodbyes

before they left!!  We will sure miss them!

WE were not able to have Training at Liberty Jail that 

week because of Transfers on Thursday and the Sisters 

there were giving service at the Temple 5K Run on that 

Saturday! :-(

Transfers, May 3rd and 4th, 2017

Sisters Who Left Vistors' Center or Liberty Jail:

Sister Bench left the VC.  She wasn't called to be a VC Missionary,

so we were blessed to have her for 3 Transfers.  We will miss 

her sweet, positive attitude and sense of humor! Love her!!

Sister Eraso was transferred from the VC.  She's been a Sister 

Leader there for one transfer, but has been at the VC for 5 

Transfers!  We will miss her terribly!  She was a perfect example 

of love and humility...and a great leader. Love her!! 

Elder Peterson and I with Sister Eraso...

Sister Guerrero has been at the VC for 3 Transfers.  I guess she

is needed elsewhere, but we will miss her maturity and gracious 

mannerisms.  She is a dear sister whom we love!

Sister Guerrero and her companion, Sister Zarate, who is staying

with us!

We are here with Sister Guerrero...Sorry her eyes were closed!

Fun Sister Dawson and her uniqueness!!  She was only at the VC 

for one Transfer but she had just come from Liberty Jail where 

she had served several transfers!  She went to be a Sister Training

Leader in a Full Proselyting area! (with Sister Draper)  She will do 

well, but we will miss her happy face that we love so much! 

Sister McDonald and Sister Dawson...

Sweet Sister McDonald has only been at the VC for one Transfer!

Sister Dawson Trained her for 6 weeks (one transfer) and she 

went to a new area to finish up her 12-week training in a full 

proselyting area.  She wasn't called as a VC missionary so she 

may not be back!  We love her and will miss her!   

Sister Harley...so mature for just turning 20!!  She has great 

insights, loves to teach and is a wonderful trainer!  She's been

transferred to a full proselyting area to train again!! We were sad 

to see her go!  She was a wonderful asset to the VC.  Hopefully 

we'll get to work with her again in Liberty Jail. Love her!!

Sister Harley with Sister Cooper...They're sad to leave each other!

Here we are with Sister Harley...

Sister Atkins is our absolutely sweetest Sister!!  She is from 

Australia so everyone loved to hear her talk!  Her mannerisms 

were so delightful, she won the hearts of many!!  We love her 

and will miss her!  She was here for 3 transfer and now sent to

a full proselyting area.  She was excited for the change!

Sister Atkins with the sweet companion she is leaving, Sister 

Edwards...

We are sad to have Sister Atkins leave the VC, but we are excited

for her new assignment!

Dear Sister Moulton finished her mission and went home!  We 

got to have her for two transfers at the Liberty Jail!  We love 

her and will miss her too!  She is so kind and she knows and 

loves the gospel.

Big Change...

 Sister Davidson and Sister Cammack were split up because
Sister Davidson is now a Sister Training Leader at the VC and
Sister Cammack stayed and got a new companion... She'll make a
great leader and she trained Sister Cammack well!

 New Sisters to the VC and HLJ:

Sister Mease is brand new and seems to be a pretty seasoned 

missionary already!  She is serving at Historic Liberty Jail.

Sister Udall will be training her!  They are a great companionship!

Here we are with Sister Mease at the VC when she first arrived!

This is a brand new missionary too!  She is excited and ready to

put what she learned at the MTC into practice on her mission!

Sister Anderson got transferred from the HLJ to the VC and 

will be training Sister Simkin!

Here we are on Sister Simkin's 1st day...

One of the Sister's took this picture of us and I liked it! :-)