Missions and Memories...


When we think of our blessings, we often think of the opportunities we have had to serve missions. 

We were attending our first year of college at BYU Provo when Grandpa received his first mission call. We became engaged on January 15th at 5:15 pm in 1971! I remember so well the day his mission call came the same year.  After lunch in the Cannon Center we would often peek in the little window of his mailbox to see if his call had come yet.  This April day, we saw the white envelope and he turned his key to open the box. It was here! I did not have a class that hour but he had to take a final math test and so with the envelope in hand we ran to the math building for his test.  He handed me the envelope and asked me to wait right there while he went into take his test. I stood in the hallway and looked at that envelope addressed to Elder Jay Stanley Benedict from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints and knew that the inspired words inside would change our lives forever.  It was a long long hour.  After his test, we found a beautiful place on the campus with a bench that was surrounded by trees and he opened his call.  Brasil North-Portuguese-June-President and Sister George Oakes!  Filled with wonder for sure...that was so far away... wherever it was!?

 It took 10 days to send or to receive a letter from Brasil in those days,  But, Heavenly Father was so good to me during Elder Benedict's mission. I remember coming home from work one day to have lunch with my family.  As we sat down to eat, I explained that I felt I should be fasting.  My father understood my heart and excused me from the table.  Just 10 days later I received a letter from Elder Benedict that included how he and his companion were teaching a wonderful family and how he wished I could fast and pray with all of them that day.  What loving-kindness from Heavenly Father to let me be a small part and now with the letter to let me know why. We know that Heavenly Father loves and knows each and every one of His children perfectly.


We were married 4 days after Elder Benedict returned from his Brasil North mission.  Then back to work to save money for more schooling!  Our greatest life blessing is our family.  We were blessed with 7 children (each one being our very favorite!).  Each one brought such great Joy into our home.  We experienced 'trying to keep up with our blessings' and so many good days and some not so good days along the way (this is earth-life afterall!), but we just really like and love our children and it seemed they grew up so fast. And all at once they had wonderful families of their own...so we put in our mission papers.  And rode our bikes in the sand of our Porto-Alegre Brasil mission serving under the leadership of  President and Sister Craig Earnshaw.  Oh how we will always love the open hearts of the Brasilian people! 


Our next mission was serving in the Praia Cape Verde Mission.  Such a marvelous experience!  Being on islands, we were able to experience a taste of several kinds of mission.  We worked with Seminary and Institute teachers, the young adults, helped with humanitarian work (getting hygiene packets to families, water to homes, a freezer for food to an elementary school and 800 school packets to school children), we taught Perpetual Education classes for students to be able to attend the universities.  The Church helps so many around the world to fulfill their hopes and dreams and to have food in times of need.  Elder Benedict was a counselor to our Mission President, Roberto Oliveira, and also served as a District President and was able to help prepare and send over 57 missionaries just from our two islands.  A person cannot serve a mission without experiencing miracles and we know that Our Savior guides and directs the work of His Church.  We know He does.  (President and Sister Oliveira are now serving as The Temple President and Matron of the new Cape Verde Temple which will be dedicated in June!


We are now serving in the Lisbon Portugal Mission under the great leadership of President and Sister Barcellos.  Again, we are in awe of the details, the generous giving of inspiration, and the great love that Heavenly Father has for His children. We love Heavenly Father's Plan and we love His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.  We know that even with all the things going on in this world right now...that we can always listen carefully to the counsel of The Prophets and the quiet promptings of the Holy Ghost and find Peace.  We pray for people on both sides of this awful war in Ukraine right now because we know there are good hearts everywhere that are not wanting to fight their brothers or sisters anywhere.  We pray for each of you every day.


Today is February 28th and Grandpa's 17 and 1/2 actual Birthdays on earth! That means he is 70 years old.  It is also our preparation day for the week and we are going out for lunch to celebrate! Plus, we may find some ice cream cones.  We hope you can celebrate with us in your homes.  Love,Grandma K


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