Those Senior Couples

One of the many blessing we receive as senior missionaries is the association that we have with other senior couples. Last week, more than ever, that blessing was magnified as all of us met together in Porto for zone conference. The men and women shown here have lived valiant lives and are now experiencing one of their greatest adventures. They know the value of hard work, discipline, sacrifice, overcoming trials, and sharing their love and testimonies with the many people with whom they meet. Without exception they know that Jesus Christ is their personal Savior and will go and do as He instructs.

As further evidence of their love and willingness to sacrifice, almost all of these current missionaries have served multiple missions.

From left to right, Elder and Sister Benedict have previously served together in Cape Verde and Brazil. Elder and Sister Demke have served in East Timor and Cape Verde. Sister and Elder Snelson have served in Mozambique. Elder and Sister Ramsey are young in heart and are serving together for the first time. Sister and Elder Osborn have served in Mozambique, New Jersey and online as Pathway instructors. And, as most of you already know, Sister Erickson and I have served in Cape Verde and Atlanta, Georgia.

Usually a senior couple is assigned to a small branch to support the members and branch leadership. After several months of work, attendance at Sunday meetings typically increases dramatically. Also they are a huge support to the young missionaries and are there to listen to and uplift them as they adjust to the rigors of missionary life. However, one of the trials of serving a senior mission in a small branch is that often a couple experiences a certain degree of isolation. Each zone conference affords us the opportunity to meet together and spend time discussing our frustrations and successes, as well as sharing the many simple but significant miracles that constantly occur in our lives every day.

Having dinner together is a natural way for us to fellowship and get to know each other on a personal level. Indeed, it is truly an honor and a privilege to serve beside these wonderful people.

A Taste of Portugal

Last week we did something special and were unable to post to our blog. Elder and Sister Osborn invited us to visit them on Terceira Island, one of the islands in the Azores. So we took a long weekend and flew out into the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and spent three wonderful days with them.

The landscape of Terceira is simply gorgeous. Most of the island is covered with green checkerboard fields lined with black volcanic rock fences, some of them hundreds of years old.

On the north side of the island we saw some magnificent wave action.

The wind seemed to be ever present.

Our hotel was built within the walls of an old fort, The Pousada de São Sebastião (The Inn of Saint Sebastian).

The trip was definitely an enjoyable and uplifting break from the rigors of office work.

The Members

Silvia and her son, Ismael, are from Brazil and arrived just a couple of weeks before we did.

The Missionaries

One of the highlights of working in the mission office is that we get to see missionaries passing through practically every day.

Elder Alvey is from Sandy, UT and Elder Gardner is from Highland, UT.

At the zone conferences we are also blessed to see many of the missionaries.

Sister Austin is from Kaysville, UT and Sister Larson is from Colorado Springs, CO.

Another Sunday Dinner

Once a transfer, Sister Erickson prepares a delicious meal for the missionaries in our ward.

Today we were pleased to have these fine missionaries at our dining table including Elder Moats, Elder Costa, Elder Azevedo, Elder Burnham, Elder Jeppsen, Sister Mendenhall, Sister Furniss and Elder Forsberg.

And so it goes...