My Sister Visits

The past week has been full of wonderful events and opportunities to teach.  Scott Beames, our Alaska CES coordinator, visited Juneau and spearheaded our summer in-service for the coming seminary year.  His enthusiasm for strengthening the youth in the church is wonderful to be around.  Once again I hooked up our computers and monitors to the pvc vidyo software the church uses.  But once again our signal in the primary room was too weak to maintain the connection.  Those who called in from the outlying branches and wards were limited to the polycom.  Most of our teachers did join us as Scott introduced the new Book of Mormon curriculum.  The manual the church has prepared is beautiful.  The structure parallels the teaching methods of "Gospel Teaching and Learning." 

Margaret Sekona, the daughter of our Branch President, loves to fish.  Here she is showing off her King crab for the day.

Scott is an outdoors man and wanted to do some fishing.  So the following day, Friday, I drove him out to Echo Cove for some salmon fishing.  We fished hard for a bit over two hours and only caught 4 nice pink salmon, but I enjoyed the drive and the company.  The no-see-ums were out in force to try our patience.  A few mosquitos found their mark as well.  After the breeze picked up a bit we found some relief.

One of my beautiful and precious sisters, Connie, arrived by cruise ship for the day.  Except for the fact we were born a year apart, we could have been twins.

Our attendance numbers have been wonderful this month.  We have as many as 70 attend our branch block meetings.  We have an occasional visitor who finds our time schedule fits the schedule of their cruise ship.  This past week two couples from the Ogden area visited.  After the meeting one of the couples asked if I would assist in giving the husband of the other couple a priesthood blessing.  He was having miserable back problems and sitting hurt him. Standing and lying hurt him as well.   He said his sciatic nerve was the problem.  I anointed and his friend sealed the anointing with a blessing.  After we had a nice visit.  I hope he was helped and able to enjoy his trip.

Connie had mentioned that Clyde wanted to hike to Nugget Falls which is by the side of Mendenhall Glacier.  It is always a wonderful walk to these falls.

We had a very small number at FHE this week.  The cruise ship schedules have been long and heavy in numbers.  If 4 ships dock, the town population increases by at least 8000 for the day.  The YSA members work long hours when this happens.  We experience many 5 cruise ship days during the week.  However our overall YSA experience has improved greatly with wonderful lessons prepared in advance.  The starting times have improved as well. 

Wednesday evening institute the past two weeks have each seen 30 or so in attendance plus a few adults.  My challenge as the discussion facilitator is in getting all to participate.  We will have one or two that want to respond to every question, and most have to be encouraged to share even a single thought.  I think I let my exasperation show at one point as I asked one young man to hold off a bit so we could share the thoughts of others.  I was beginning to feel like he and I were team teaching. I hope I didn't offend him.  I think not, as he responded appropriately during the remainder of the lesson. 

Diane loves getting out of her missionary skirts and into some warmer pants when we go out.  It turned from a rainy morning to a beautiful (partly cloudy) day for us. 

The lessons are wonderful.  This week we discussed the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We also discussed the gathering of the house of Israel in the latter days, as prophesied by the prophets.  We had some fun referring to the recent history of the nation of Israel and the Jews. 

Once again the hit of the evening was actually Diane's meal.  She got quite adventuresome and made some root beer sugar cookies with a creamy white frosting.   Most went nuts over them.  We did find one dissension though.  At the end of the evening we discovered one cookie in the garbage with a bite missing.  Well, to each his own. 

The ride up the Roberts Peak Tram is a beautiful experience.  The tram makes a trip every 15 minutes.

The highlight of the week, no the month actually, for the time we have been here, was yesterday.  I have been looking forward to it like we all do as we look forward to Christmas.  My sister Connie, her husband Clyde, and their friends Rod and Vicki Fife stopped for a day in Juneau while cruising on the Island Princess.  They opted to spend the day with us rather than with the wonderful cruise options.  When I saw her at the harbor I could hardly contain myself.  My heart was so full to see a family member I nearly lost it. 

The Island Princess makes a weekly run into Juneau.  One week it sails in from the south and the next week it returns from the north.  It is literally a human cargo vessel.

They graciously went to our Thursday Institute discussion and pot luck.  They added greatly to the spirit of the lesson in addition to doubling our attendance.  The locals have dwindled due to summer activities.  I have assured them we would continue as long as anyone would come.  Our discussion was from II Corinthians, "The Lord Uses Our Afflictions to Help Us Become Sanctified."  I believe hind sight helps us to see the application in our own lives much better than the present does.  We often have a tendency to plead with the Lord to remove from us the very afflictions that will qualify us for eternal blessings.

Rod Fife and his wife Vicki were wonderful company for the day.  Yikes!  My picture of Vicki didn't take.  I must not have actually pushed my finger hard enough on the shutter.

After cleaning up we were off to show Connie and the group the sights of Juneau.  We walked into Glacier Gardens so they could get a feel for the flowers in there.  Clyde had mentioned he was ok with wherever we went as long as he saw a bear.  So I (had) it arranged.  While driving up to Mendenhall Glacier a black bear wondered across the road in front of us.  From the squeals in the car you would have thought we just hit the vertical drop of a roller-coaster.  It was a great moment.  That is only the fourth time I have seen a bear in the year we have been here.  And later in the evening I would see another off the highway in the river by the dump.

We walked up to Nugget Falls next to the Mendenhall Glacier.  Clyde and I had a wonderful time together as we discussed our children and where they are in their lives.  One thing for sure, I know Clyde loves his family as much as I love mine.

 

The day was so wonderful.  But at the end of it we had to say our 'good-byes.'  Thanks Clyde and Connie for going out of your way to make the day a special one for us.

We then drove up to the Sanctuary of St. Teresa.  It is a beautiful spot on the coast with a promontory extending between two beautiful coves.  A small chapel for meditation is built at the end of the promontory.

The fish hatchery seemed to fascinate them as much as anything.  The dog salmon (chums) are still gathering at the stream head, frantically fighting with one another to enter the ladder which takes them to be stripped of their eggs and seed, followed by a swift execution.  (In as much as they would die anyway, their carcasses are used for fertilizer and pet food.  Waste not, want not.)

The exercise club we go to allowed us to use corporate passes so we could ride the tram owned by the Tlingit Indians.  It climbs 1800 vertical feet providing a beautiful view of the Gastineau Channel and the surround mountains.  We viewed a short documentary on the Tlinget Indians and finished that portion of our day with a wonderful light seafood dinner. 

The day was nearly spent, and Vicki and Rod chose to return to the ship.  I can see why Connie and Clyde enjoy the Fifes so much.  Rod can give and take just as hard as Clyde can give and take.  Vicki is a sweet wonderful person. 

Connie and Clyde stayed with us another 45 minutes while we showed them Perseverance canyon that works its way behind downtown Juneau to the Perseverance gold mine.  It is now a museum.   After driving through some of the streets to give them a feel of the town, we delivered them to the ship in time for their departure to Skagway. 

Today feels like the day after Christmas.  I can't believe it is over.  There truly is something to the saying "Absence makes the heart grow fonder."  Only I would actually have penned it, "Absence alerts the heart to the strength of the bond."

There is so much truth in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Try Mormon.org.

I use to always end my letters to my missionary children this way:

Remember, Obedience is Freedom.

Birthday and P-Day

I am blessed beyond my own comprehension by being able to serve in this beautiful place.  They say that some days are diamonds and some days are stones.  John Denver put that phrase to a fun musical melody before checking out of this life several years back.  I have experienced one diamond after another in my life.  Today may have been a 5 karat day.  My lessons are prepared for the coming week and I had a bit of free time.  After checking the tide levels, I drove out the road to Echo Cove for a morning of fishing. 

On a clear and sunny day the mountains north of Juneau greet you like this. . .

 This black bear was not concerned in the least that I was outside the Subaru taking his picture.  Even whistling at him would not take him away from his salmon berries.

 I came around a corner in the road and there was this skinny young black bear.  He walked right past my driver's window and then in front of the car.  His objective was the salmon berries on the hillside next to the road.

These 3 lb pinks take about 3-4 minutes to tire out enough on a fly line that you can get them up on the shore.  In 2 hours I was able to deceive a dozen of them into surprising me with their solid strikes.  I'm fairly certain they were even more surprised to realize they had been duped.  As they were coaxed nearer the shore the more frantic they would become, and each would thrash around in a fruitless attempt at release from that tenacious barbed hook.  I then hauled them out of the water onto the gravel where I gently released them from the menacing and scarring hook.  I took them back to the water and washed them clean.  I then carefully placed them belly down, and while holding them by the tale rubbed their belly and side until I was sure they were breathing well on their own.  I thanked them each for the thrill and let them quickly swim away for the spawn.  

I believe Satan is the great deceiver.  He also thrills in the strike when we mistakenly take one of the many vices that can be presented to us.  There is no gentle release from the hook.  There is no thank-you.  And their is no return to the comfortable and safe confines of our homes. There is only disappointment, sorrow and a deep penance due for our mistakes against the laws of God.   But there is a way to gain absolution.  The way places us deeply into debt.  But the reward is a merciful and grace filled release from guilt and bondage.   It comes  through absolute trust in the Savior, Jesus Christ.  And the wonderful thing is, he wants to pay for us.  The requirements are for us to repent (change), and become divine by nature rather than being a natural man, which is our nature.  It matters not the state or size of our bill; the depth of our behavior, or the color of our skin.  The Savior's Atonement is Infinite in nature and applies to any and all who want that change in their lives.  His mercy and grace will span the gap between us and our Father in Heaven.  The width of the plank across that gap is dependent upon the sincerity of our repentance, the nature of our change, and the nature of our heart.  All of these things are taught in the Book of Mormon and in the New Testament.  The Savior himself taught these things while walking the earth.  Peter, James, Jude and Paul and John testified of these things in very stark detail in their individual writings.  The prophets today (Thomas S. Monson & the twelve apostles) second those testimonies with their own. 

I have noticed that people from many countries around this world have checked in regularly to our blog.  I hope this little bit today might peak your interest in the message of the missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints.  Next time you see LDS missionaries on the street, or in your neighborhood, I hope you might be inclined to invite them to share their message with you.  The message is life changing.  The message is one of peace, love and hope, in spite of the condition of the world as it has become. 

 

I might suggest visiting mormon.org online for more information on who Mormons really are.  It is time to check the original source rather than the rumors and fables.

A Nice Trip to Sitka

We saw the immediate effects in FHE this week having received a new Branch President.  Our numbers were bigger in large part because of an increase in the Tongan YSA members that came.  Carolyn Chenowyth, soon to be married, gave a great lesson.  She played a couple of wonderful clips of Elder Hollands talks and we discussed them.

The clouds don't want to completely leave the top of Mount Edgecombe.  The Volcano is dormant and a very symmetrical cone shape. 

In Institute we discussed the Sacrament and Eternal Life, or Exaltation.  We had some wonderful discussion.  The Thursday Institute session was a discussion on the first 10 chapters of Corinthians. 

Saturday we took the fast ferry to Sitka.  The stake president called Bobbie Daniels to be the seminary instructor there.  We went to meet her and to show her some of the things expected of a seminary teacher.  She is going to be wonderful.  She taught at BYU for 20 years.  She taught Spanish and worked somehow on television media.  She is so enthusiastic and the kids seem to like her a lot.

When we boarded the ferry we noticed a couple of sister missionaries walk on board.  We got very well acquainted and found out they were the Sisters living in Sitka.  One, Sister Frazier from Mapleton, is the sister trainer and had been in Anchorage for leadership conference.  The other is Sister Hadelius from Manti.  As it turned out we gave them a ride from the dock to their apartment.  We also took them to dinner with us.  They are very social and love to visit with anyone. 

Sister Frazier is in the back and Sister Hadelius is in the front. 

They met a couple on the ferry several weeks ago and had hoped to meet them again.  Coincidentally they came into the restaurant where we were eating.  After telling me their story, I decided to act as a catalyst.  I went to this couple and asked if they would mind taking a picture of the two sisters and us together.  They did and that led to the sisters visiting with them about possibly going on a hike with them and the Young Women from the ward. 

On the way out of the restaurant we passed two tourists who passed right by Sister Waldron and me.  But they stopped the sisters and started to bombard them with questions and challenges about the typical LDS misunderstandings and rumors.  When I returned to join them they were handling things just fine.  These are two sharp sisters.  Some of the discussion was the decision of the church to keep the priesthood from being held by all worthy males.  Another part of the discussion was the inability for non-members to witness a son or daughter be married inside the temple.  The sisters were a little stumped on that one so I helped them out.  I told them there was a way around that.  They asked how.  I responded, "You listen to what these sisters have to say.  You gain a testimony of it and join the church.  You live the standards needed to have a temple recommend and then you can witness your member daughter be happily married in the temple for time and all eternity."  We all had a bit of a chuckle and we were able to leave them with good feelings all around. 

The Sitka church house is a wonderful building.  The inside is made of Alaskan Cedar.  It smells wonderful and appears warm and inviting. 

We met Sister Bobbie Daniels at the ward house where we spent two hours orienting her to the skills of being a successful seminary teacher.  Diane went over the administrative tasks that needed to be completed, and I showed her how to build a seminary lesson.  While there I received a text from the Sitka Bishop saying, "I understand you are in town.  We'll plan on you and Sister Waldron speaking in church tomorrow along with the Stake President."  That seems to happen each time we go to an outlying branch or ward.  We actually enjoy it.  And we both enjoy being around President Youngberg from Ketchikan.

This is Sister Bobbie Daniels, our recently called seminary teacher for the youth of the Sitka ward.  She is really going to be a blessing to those that come to her early morning seminary classes.

We spent the night at the home of Gary and Dixie Peterson.  They were wonderful hosts and we enjoyed our visit with them.  They have a beautiful home above the bay.  The scenery when looking out of their front room window is breathtakingly beautiful.  Across the bay is the volcano, Mount Edgecombe.  It has been inactive for some time.   He told us the story of a town member flying old rubber tires up to the volcano one April first and lighting them on fire.  The town was in a panic thinking the volcano had begun to erupt.  It cost him a fine of $1000 for being a public nuisance, but he felt it was worth it. 

As always, I enjoy the ferry rides in between the many islands as we travel the channels from branch to branch.  It is an incredibly beautiful place. 

The Petersons, Dixie and Gary were wonderful hosts.  He loves to sail and told us about some wonderful experiences he had sailing. 

Diane's reputation as a great cook is spreading much faster and with more truth than my reputation as a good teacher.  The Elders tell me their favorite place to go to dinner is with us, because Diane is such a wonderful cook.

She got a bit of a tummy bug yesterday which made our day of travel home a bit miserable for her.  Today she seems to be back to her same happy self.

New Branch Leadership

 

These wildflowers are a brighter pink than the photo shows.  They are tall and beautiful and line the roadways.                                                            

Out of the blue our branch president, Loren Olsen, told us he had been offered a job in Yuba, California.  He had accepted the job and informed us he and Jerrlyn would be leaving within the week.  For three weeks we have been functioning with our councilors.  Yesterday our stake presidency visited our branch and notified us that our present councilors had been asked to stay on by the new branch president.  Our branch president is Josh Sekona.  I am very excited to be associating with this wonderful spiritual giant of a man.  He has three offspring in our branch, Margaret, Kaylene and a son Jaime, who actually attends the 3rd ward.  I have such high hopes that his leadership will encourage our Tongan members to be more involved in the YSA.  I think Pres. Sikona was surprised when we told him about the block meetings, the 5:00 p.m. break the fast pot luck, the 6:00 p.m. fireside that follows the break the fast, the once a month sacrament service for our workers who can't make a block, the Monday FHE, the Wednesday institute class, the Friday cleaning and activity, in addition to his Branch and Stake meetings.  It is a heavy church calling.  We are so happy to know we will be continuing our association with Bro. Richard Welling and Bro. Bob Francis and their families.

Diane wanted you to see how tall these fire weeds were.

The institute lesson was attended by about 13 members.  We discussed the principles of obedience and conversion.  One young lady came up afterward an said how much she enjoys the class, especially when you let us express ourselves on the subjects.  And they do a good job of teaching each other while I keep the discussion moving down the approved path.

I found a good quote from a Dan Brown novel: "The decisions of our yesterdays become the architects of our today."  I made that a central them of the fireside chat after our break the fast last night. 

I became acquainted with this fishing Rabbi from Northern California.  He let me know the humpys were hitting pink stuff.  I loaned him my knife so he could clean his limit of six.  For 90 minutes we fished  within 70 yards of each other.  We watched each other closely to see who was catching the most.  I think he beat me by catching 8 while I caught 7.  He expressed some real appreciation for LDS values and brotherly kindness.  When they have Jewish events too large for their synagogue, the LDS stake lets them use the stake center without charge. 

We did not hold a Thursday class as it was the fourth of July, a very wet fourth of July.  We are now experiencing quite typical SE Alaska weather.  The temperature is around 68 degrees and the skies are cloudy with periods of rain and longer periods of drizzle.  We are about out of our wild flowers I understand.  Karlynn was telling Diane that when the Fireweed goes, that is about it. 

This is my first humpy, or pink. 

Emilyann continues to be faithful attending the missionary preparation class.  She has one more track trip to Oregon and then she puts in her papers.  She turned 19 on Saturday.

Diane fills much of her time with family research and some indexing.  When I'm not studying for upcoming lessons I am doing indexing and reconciling my genealogy with the Family Search site.  Since the church is no longer going to support PAF, I downloaded Legacy and am trying to get use to that software.  I actually found I liked it immediately.  It has an ability to go right to family search to check ordinances and to help with merging duplicates. 

This is my missionary Alaska fishing starter kit.  To the side of it is my second humpy which I kept and took home to hone my skill of making a salmon filet.  (I need a sharper long bladed knife.)

When I am not doing those things I try to take advantage of the fishing for a couple of hours each week.  (The younger missionaries are allowed a P Day and I believe I am entitled as well.)  The humpy salmon have come into Echo Cove.  They are sometimes called pinks.  They aren't a big salmon but are known for growing excessive humps on their backs prior to spawning.  I went out Tuesday as I had heard a few had been spotted.  In about 90 minutes I caught 7.  The smallest was 19 inches and the longest was about 23 inches.  I'm guessing they were in the 3 lb. range.  The humpys have not manifest their humps yet.  Friday I talked Diane into taking a book and a chair with me out to Echo Cove again.  I promised I would only stay one hour.  After 30 minutes my back was acting up and so we left.  I had caught two and there were many more people around the cove.  All were catching fish.
 

 We carried a Samsonite folding chair to the beach for Diane to sit in while she read.  I noticed she spent most of her time admiring the beauty of the area.  Echo Cove is almost as far out the road north of Juneau as you can drive.  And still it is only 30 or so miles from our apartment.

We sense that the coming seminary year is fast approaching.  Our seminary coordinators from Palmer and Seattle are sending us calendar requests for time to be spent in training.  We are doing the same for our seminary teachers.