Monday, November 9, 2015



NOVEMBER 7, 2015


OH MY WORD...WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?  IT SEEMS LIKE ELDER WADLEY AND I JUST GOT HERE AND WE HAVE ALREADY FILLED OUR WEEKLY PILL CONTAINERS 7 TIMES!  IT'S PRETTY PATHETIC WHEN YOU COUNT THE WEEKS YOU HAVE BEEN OUT ON YOUR MISSION BY THE NUMBER OF TIMES YOU'VE FILLED YOUR PILL CONTAINER.  HEY, BUT LIFE IS GOOD AND WE ARE SO ENJOYING EVERY MINUTE WE ARE SERVING THE LORD.

IT HAS BEEN A REALLY BUSY, FUN-FILLED MONTH!  IT BEGAN WITH HURRICANE JOAQUIN THREATENING US!  WE HEARD FROM ONE PERSON WHO SAID THAT "IN HIS 23 YEARS, HE HAS NEVER SEEN AS MUCH RAIN."  IT DID RAIN A LOT!  

WE HAD A ZONE CONFERENCE UP AT APEX, WHICH IS WHERE THE RALEIGH TEMPLE IS.  IT IS ABOUT 13 MILES SOUTH OF RALEIGH.  THERE IS A STAKE CENTER RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE TEMPLE.  WE WERE GOING TO TAKE THE CAMERON SISTER MISSIONARIES WITH US, BUT THEY HAD TO DRIVE THEIR OWN CAR UP BECAUSE SALT LAKE WAS INSTALLING "BLACK BOXES" IN EVERY CAR.  THESE ARE TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, SPEEDING TICKETS...RESULTING IN MISSIONARIES HAVING THEIR DRIVING PRIVILEGES TAKEN AWAY.  A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CHURCH WHO GOES AROUND TO ALL OF THE MISSIONS, CAME AND EXPLAINED HOW THEY WORK AS 3 INSTALLERS WERE WORKING OUTSIDE IN THE PARKING LOT TO PUT THEM IN.  THE MISSIONARIES WERE NOT TOO HAPPY WITH THE BLACK BOXES - TEENAGE DRIVERS AND ALL!! APPARENTLY, THEY HAVE TO SWIPE A CARD EACH TIME THEY GET IN TO DRIVE.  IT RECORDS IF THEY GO OVER THE SPEED LIMIT AND A WARNING VOICE COMES ON!  THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER WARNING SIGNS AS WELL.  THEN THE INFORMATION IS TRANSMITTED TO THE MISSION HOME.  THE MISSIONARIES KNOW THEY ARE UNDER THE GUN NOW!  WE HAVE ACTUALLY VISITED WITH SEVERAL SETS OF MISSIONARIES IN OUR DISTRICT SINCE HAVING THEM INSTALLED AND THEY SAID THEY AREN'T THAT BAD.  ACCORDING TO THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CHURCH, THEY HAVE CUT DOWN ON ACCIDENTS BY 90 PERCENT.  

ZONE CONFERENCE IS USUALLY HELD AT OUR OWN STAKE CENTER HERE IN FAYETTEVILLE; HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF HAVING THE BOXES INSTALLED IT WAS IN APEX UP IN RALEIGH AND WAS COMBINED WITH ANOTHER ZONE.  OUR MISSION PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT JAMES, AND HIS WIFE SPOKE.  THE MISSION DOCTOR TALKED ON NOT OVEREATING WHILE OUT ON YOUR MISSION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EXERCISE.  THEY HAD A NICE LUNCH FOR US IN THE CULTURAL HALL.  ACTUALLY, COME TO THINK OF IT, THE MISSION DOCTOR SPOKE AFTER THE LUNCH SO AS NOT TO MAKE ANYONE FEEL GUILTY WHILE THEY ATE!!!  THE NEXT DAY WAS A ZONE TEMPLE TRIP.  WHAT A GREAT TIME THAT WAS.  ONE OF THE YOUNG SINGLE ADULT GIRLS FROM OUR YOUNG SINGLE ADULT GROUP IN OUR STAKE WAS RECEIVING HER ENDOWMENTS IN OUR SESSION AND HEADING OUT ON HER MISSION TO SEATTLE.  PRESIDENT AND SISTER JAMES WERE IN ATTENDANCE AND IT WAS REALLY ENJOYABLE.  AFTERWARDS, WE WENT OVER TO THE STAKE CENTER AGAIN WHERE WE WERE FED A REALLY NICE LUNCH.  WE SAT AT THE TABLE WITH THE TEMPLE PRESIDENT AND HIS WIFE AND HE TALKED ABOUT WHERE HE WAS RAISED.  COME TO FIND OUT, PART OF HIS YOUNGER YEARS WAS IN VALE, OREGON AND WE TALKED ABOUT HOW ELDER WADLEY AND I LOVE TO ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN IN THE CAR AS WE DRIVE THROUGH VALE AND SMELL THE WONDERFUL ONIONS IN THE FIELD!  HE SAID HE SURE REMEMBERED THAT TOO.  AFTER LUNCH, HE SPOKE TO ALL OF THE MISSIONARIES IN THE CHAPEL AND THEN HAD A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION.  ONE THING HE TOLD THEM WAS ABOUT 2 MALE MISSIONARIES WHO HAD RECEIVED PERMISSION FROM THEIR MISSION PRESIDENT TO ATTEND A SEALING OF A COUPLE THEY HAD HELPED TEACH.  AFTERWARDS, THE TEMPLE PRESIDENT TOLD THEM THAT IF THEY WOULD LIKE, THEY COULD COME IN HIS OFFICE AND VISIT FOR A WHILE ABOUT THE TEMPLE.  HE SAID THEY BOTH SPOKE UP AND SAID THEY WOULD LOVE TO, BUT THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO BECAUSE THEY HAD GOTTEN SPECIAL PERMISSION TO ATTEND THE SEALING, BUT WERE EXPECTED TO LEAVE RIGHT AFTER....FOLLOWING THE MISSION RULES....HOW AWESOME!

THE 2 DAYS AT ZONE CONFERENCE WERE REALLY ENJOYABLE!  WE RAN TO COSTCO FOR SUPPLIES AFTERWARDS, BEFORE HEADING BACK TO FAYETTEVILLE.  IT IS ABOUT AN HOUR DRIVE IS ALL, THROUGH BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY!  

WE WERE ABLE TO AGAIN HEAD UP TO THE TEMPLE TO GO WITH THE CAMERON WARD YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO DO BAPTISMS FOR THE DEAD.  8 GIRLS AND 7 BOYS WENT.  OUR YOUNG WOMEN PRESIDENT, SWEET SISTER JENKINS, WHO IS 83 YEARS YOUNG!! KEPT TELLING ME THAT SHE WOULD STAY IN THE DRESSING ROOM TO MOP UP.  WHEN WE WERE CHANGING IN THE DRESSING ROOM, SHE SAID, "OH SISTER WADLEY, AS I GET OLDER, I TEND TO SHRINK AND NOW MY DRESS HANGS ON ME."  I TOLD HER SHE LOOKED BEAUTIFUL AND THAT I WANT TO MOP UP IN THE CHANGING ROOM.  SHE KEPT TELLING ME SHE WOULD DO IT.  I SAID NO, NO, NO...THOSE ARE YOUR YOUNG WOMEN OUT THERE AND YOU NEED TO BE WITH THEM!  SHE FINALLY CONSENTED.  OH, SHE IS SOOO SWEET.  WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME THAT EVENING.  ELDER WADLEY DID LOTS AND LOTS OF CONFIRMATIONS.

WE HAD ABOUT THE BEST EXPERIENCE OCTOBER 27-29 THAT WE HAVE HAD THUS FAR ON OUR MISSION....OUR DAUGHTER, KATHRYN CAME FOR A VISIT AND BROUGHT OUR LITTLE 4 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER, REBEKAH.  THEY LIVE IN CHARLOTTE WHICH IS ABOUT 2 1/2 HOURS AWAY. WHAT A TREAT FOR US!!  WE WENT TO THE MALL, WE PLAYED GAMES, WE ATE OUT, WE PICKED COTTON FROM THE COTTON FIELDS, REBEKAH HELPED GRANDMA FIX A YUMMY BREAKFAST ONE OF THE MORNINGS AND ELDER WADLEY AND I JUST ATE THAT BABY GIRL UP!  WE ARE PLANNING TO HAVE MANY MORE SUCH EXPERIENCES WHILE WE ARE HERE.   THEY ALSO HAVE OUR ALMOST 14 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER AND OUR ALMOST 8 YEAR OLD GRANDSON.  WHAT MORE COULD WE ASK FOR?  

OCTOBER 23RD FOUND US AT THE CAMERON WARD TRUNK OR TREAT.  ELDER WADLEY AND I SET UP OUR TRUNK WITH COPIES OF THE BOOK OF MORMON AND ALL SORTS OF HANDOUTS.  A PICTURE OF THE SAVIOR WAS AT THE CENTER OF THE TRUNK.  EVERYONE WHO CAME BY LOVED OUR SET UP AND WE EVEN HANDED OUT 2 COPIES OF THE BOOK OF MORMON TO MEN WHO HAD COME WITH MEMBERS TO THE TRUNK OR TREAT.  I MADE CHILI AND CORN BREAD AND EVERYONE LOVED THE CORN BREAD!

THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 2ND SAW TRANSFERS IN THE MISSION.  OUR SWEET CAMERON SISTERS, WHOM WE HAVE GROWN TO TRULY LOVE WERE BOTH TRANSFERRED.  WE NOW HAVE 2 ELDERS HERE WITH US.  IT HAS MADE IT QUITE DIFFICULT TO HAVE MEMBERS SIGN UP TO FEED THEM.  THE REASON IS THAT MOST OF THE MILITARY MEMBERS DON'T GET HOME UNTIL AROUND 6-6:30.  THE MISSION HAS A STRICT RULE THAT THE MISSIONARIES ARE TO BE FED BETWEEN 5 AND 6.  WELL, WHEN THE SISTERS WERE HERE, THEY COULD JUST GO OVER TO A FAMILY'S HOUSE WHO HAD SIGNED UP TO FEED THEM, EVEN THOUGH THE SPOUSE (USUALLY MALE) WASN'T HOME YET BECAUSE THEY WERE FEMALE.  NOT SO FOR THE ELDERS.  SO THE ELDERS CALLED THE MISSION PRESIDENT TO SEE IF HE WOULD ALLOW THEM TO EAT LATER SO THE FAMILIES IN THIS AREA COULD FEED THEM AND THE MISSION PRESIDENT SAID NO.  CONSEQUENTLY, I HAVE CALLED THE RELIEF SOCIETY PRESIDENT AND WE TALKED ABOUT SENDING A SHEET AROUND AND EXPLAINING TO THE SISTERS THAT SINCE WE NOW HAVE 2 ELDERS, IF THEY WOULD STILL PLEASE SIGN UP TO FEED THEM AND THEN IF THEY FIND OUT THEIR SPOUSE WON'T BE HOME IN TIME, IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO TAKE A MEAL OVER TO THE ELDERS HOUSE.  SO WE'LL SEE HOW THIS WILL WORK.  THE SISTERS WERE ALWAYS VERY WELL FED AND IF, FOR SOME REASON, THEY DIDN'T HAVE A MEAL, WE WOULD GO PICK THEM UP AND TAKE THEM SOMEWHERE THE SAME WILL BE TRUE FOR THE ELDERS.

ANOTHER REALLY GREAT HIGHLIGHT OF OUR MISSION IS THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE HAD TO PRESENT SACRAMENT MEETINGS TO MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH WHO ARE OUT TRAINING WITH THE SPECIAL FORCES.  THESE MEN ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST.  THEY HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT COURSES THEY ATTEND, BOTH IN THE CLASSROOM AND THE ACTUAL TRAINING IN THE FIELD.  AFTER ALL OF THIS IS COMPLETED, THEY HEAD BACK TO FT. BRAGG AND GO THROUGH LANGUAGE TRAINING.  WE HAVE MET SPECIAL FORCES MEN WHO HAVE LEARNED FRENCH, ITALIAN, FARSI, RUSSIAN, ARABIC, AND SEVERAL OTHER LANGUAGES.  THEY ARE BEING TRAINED TO BE READY AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND THEY TRULY ARE THE ELITE!   ELDER WADLEY AND I HAVE TRAVELED TO THE SITE WITH THE OTHER SENIOR COUPLE, ELDER AND SISTER HILL, AND AN INSTRUCTOR OF THE SPECIAL FORCES, WHO IS IN THE BISHOPRIC OF THE FAYETTEVILLE 3RD WARD.  IT TAKES ABOUT AN HOUR TO GET TO THE SITE.  THERE WE SET UP SACRAMENT MEETING IN A CLASSROOM.  WE HAVE AN OPENING SONG AND PRAYER, THEN A SACRAMENT SONG.  ELDER HILL AND ELDER WADLEY BLESS AND PASS THE SACRAMENT.  AFTERWARDS, IF IT IS FAST SUNDAY, WE HAVE A TESTIMONY MEETING.  OTHER TIMES WE HAVE HAD ELDER HILL OR ELDER WADLEY GIVE A SHORT TALK ON SOMETHING THAT IS INSPIRING FOR THE SOLDIERS, SINCE THEY ARE IN ABOUT A 2 MONTH VERY, VERY STRENUOUS TRAINING, BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY.  NO OUTSIDE COMMUNICATION IS ALLOWED.  IT HAS BEEN SO INSPIRATIONAL TO BE WITH THEM AND A REAL BLESSING FOR ELDER WADLEY AND ME.

WE WERE THRILLED IN SACRAMENT MEETING ON NOVEMBER 8TH BECAUSE AS WE SAT ON THE STAND, (WE WERE SPEAKING THAT DAY) WE SAW 3 DIFFERENT FAMILIES COME IN WHO HAVE BEEN LESS ACTIVE, WHOM WE HAVE GONE OUT TO VISIT AND STRUCK UP A REALLY GOOD FRIENDSHIP WITH.  AS THEY SAT DOWN AND SAW US ON THE STAND, THEY SMILED AND WAVED AT US.  OH, WE ARE SO, SO GRATEFUL FOR THE LORD'S INSPIRATION HE GIVES US THROUGH THE HOLY GHOST TO KNOW JUST WHAT TO SAY AND WHEN TO SAY IT TO THESE VERY, VERY WONDERFUL MEMBERS.  NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THEN THE LORD TAKES CARE OF THE DETAILS, AFTER WE HAVE DONE ALL WE CAN DO.  I HAD TO KEEP MYSELF FROM BURSTING OUT IN TEARS.  OH,  I CAN'T NOT MENTION A VERY VERY INTERESTING/HILARIOUS THING THAT HAPPENED AS WE SAT ON THE STAND THAT DAY.  WE HAD JUST GOTTEN SEATED AND WERE REACHING FOR OUR HYMN BOOKS FOR THE OPENING HYMN.  ELDER WADLEY COULDN'T FIND ONE UNDER HIS SEAT SO HE GOT UP AND WENT UP TO ONE OF THE CHOIR SEATS, JUST BEHIND THE SACRAMENT TABLE SEATS TO GET ONE.  HE SAT DOWN NEXT TO ME AND OPENED THE HYMN BOOK, AND THERE RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES WAS A HUGE....DEAD....COCKROACH THAT HAD BEEN KILLED AND PLACED IN THE HYMN BOOK WHERE IT HAS SAT LONG ENOUGH FOR IT TO BE SMASHED FLAT!   I THINK IT STARTLED BOTH OF US SO MUCH, THAT ELDER WADLEY JUST CALMLY CLOSED THE BOOK AND WALKED THAT LITTLE MONSTER BACK TO IT'S HOUSE IN THE CHOIR SEATS!  NOT A REAL GOOD TIME TO TRY TO TAKE IT OUT TO THE TRASH CAN.  YUP, WE'RE IN THE DEAD SOUTH...DEAD COCK ROACHES AND ALL! 

WE HAVE FOUND 2 DIFFERENT FAMILIES WHO WERE STATIONED IN ENGLAND AT THE SAME TIME WE WERE OVER THERE.  THEY WERE AT THE SAME AIR FORCE BASE WE WERE AT.  WE DIDN'T KNOW THEM THEN,  BUT WE HAVE BECOME GOOD FRIENDS WITH BOTH OF THEM.  THEY HAVE EACH INVITED US OVER FOR DINNER AND WE HAVE HAD THE BEST TIME REMINISCING ABOUT LIFE IN JOLLY OLD ENGLAND!  ONE OF THE FAMILIES HAS JUST RECENTLY STARTED COMING BACK TO CHURCH.  THE OTHER ONE IS STILL INACTIVE, BUT WE ARE PRAYING THAT IN TIME, THEIR HEARTS WILL BE SOFTENED.  

HAVE I MENTIONED THAT ALL OF THE SQUIRRELS HERE ARE GRAY?  ELDER WADLEY AND I WALK 1 1/2 MILES EVERY MORNING AROUND THE POST AND THERE ARE LOTS OF GRAY SQUIRRELS EATING THE ACORNS ON THE GROUND.  THE POST IS JUST HUGE.  


 I JUST WANT TO TELL ALL OF YOU MY FEELINGS ABOUT OUR MISSION THUS FAR.  ELDER WADLEY IS GOING TO ADD HIS THOUGHTS AS WELL.  I THINK THE BEST WAY TO SUM UP MY FEELINGS IS TO SAY WHAT ELDER CAPPELL WROTE IN HIS BLOG:  "I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO BUSY/TIRED, YET NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY."  THROUGHOUT MY LIFE I HAVE ALWAYS HEARD THAT WHEN WE ARE SERVING THE LORD, WE ARE THE HAPPIEST.  THIS HAS PROVEN TRUE IN MY OWN LIFE; HOWEVER, WHEN YOU ARE SERVING THE LORD ON A FULL-TIME BASIS, HE IS ABLE TO TURN ALL YOUR THOUGHTS AND EFFORT TO OTHERS - SO MUCH SO THAT EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE EXHAUSTED, YOU DESIRE TO DO MORE AND MORE.  OH...IT REALLY IS A REMARKABLE FEELING.  A FEELING I NEVER WANT TO LOSE. I HOPE WHEN YOU READ THIS, GRAND babies, YOU WILL REALIZE THE BLESSINGS THAT AWAIT YOU WHEN IT IS YOUR TIME TO SERVE YOUR MISSIONS.  IT IS TRULY WONDERFUL. (I PURPOSEFULLY TYPE THE WORD "GRAND babies THIS WAY AS I HAVE DONE IN MANY FAMILY UPDATES TO THE KIDS, BECAUSE I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT THEY TRULY ARE....GRAND!!!!)

I WANT TO EXPLAIN A TYPICAL WEEK TO YOU.  OUR DAYS RIGHT NOW ARE SPENT VISITING NEW MOVE-INS, LESS ACTIVES AND SPOUSES OF DEPLOYED SOLDIERS.  THIS COULD BE EITHER THE HUSBAND OR WIFE.  MONDAY EVENING WE ATTEND THE YOUNG SINGLE ADULT FAMILY HOME EVENING.  WEDNESDAY MORNING WE HAVE DISTRICT MEETING FROM 10:00 A.M. TO NOON.  THURSDAY EVENING WE ATTEND YOUNG SINGLE ADULT INSTITUTE.  IF THE CAMERON WARD LEADERSHIP NEEDS US TO GO VISIT A CERTAIN FAMILY OR MEMBER, WE ARE AVAILABLE TO DO THAT.  ELDER WADLEY HELPS OUT WHEN THEY NEED SOMETHING AT SCOUTS ON WEDNESDAY EVENINGS.  I ACCOMPANY HIM THERE.  SUNDAYS WE HAVE OUR WARD AT 1:00.  WE TAKE TURNS TEACHING THE GOSPEL PRINCIPLES CLASS WITH THE WARD MISSION LEADER AND THE FULL-TIME ELDERS.  WHEN WE CHANGE TO BEING OVER THE FT. BRAGG WARD, THE YOUNG SINGLE ADULT BRANCH AND THE CAMERON WARD, WE WILL BE GOING TO CHURCH FROM 8:30 A.M. TO 4 P.M. EACH SUNDAY, PLUS HEADING OUT TO THE SPECIAL FORCES FOR THEIR SACRAMENT MEETING LATER THAT EVENING.

I WANT TO ALSO MENTION A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY THUS FAR.  WE WERE ASSIGNED TO SERVE IN THE CAMERON WARD, WHICH IS WHERE ALL OF MY ENTRIES THUS FAR HAVE COME FROM.  THIS WARD IS MADE UP OF 85% MILITARY FAMILIES.  OUR CALLING HERE IS TO KEEP CLOSE TRACK OF THOSE FAMILIES WHO HAVE SPOUSES DEPLOYED.  AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 20 FAMILIES WHO FIT INTO THIS CATEGORY.  WE HAVE ALSO BEEN ASKED TO VISIT ABOUT 25 FAMILIES, WHO THE WARD WOULD LIKE US TO FIND OUT IF THEY WANT HOME TEACHERS OR VISITING TEACHERS, IF THEY WOULD PREFER A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FROM THE RELIEF SOCIETY, OR IF THEY WOULD RATHER BE A "DO NOT CONTACT."  WE HAVE FINISHED THIS LIST.  THEY HAVE ALSO ASKED US TO VISIT THE "NEW MOVE-IN" FAMILIES.  WE HAVE 6 PAGES OF THESE AND WE HAVE GONE THROUGH ABOUT 4 OF THE PAGES.  IT HAS BEEN SO MUCH FUN GETTING TO KNOW EVERYONE.  I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT ALL, EXCEPT FOR ONE SISTER, HAVE BEEN VERY CORDIAL TO US AND WE HAVE HAD NICE VISITS.   WE CONTINUE TO DO THESE ASSIGNMENTS PLUS ATTEND THE YOUNG SINGLE ADULT FAMILY HOME EVENINGS AND INSTITUTE NIGHTS.  THEY ARE A FUN GROUP OF MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE STATIONED HERE AT FT. BRAGG.  SOME OF THEM WE SEE AT THE GATES AS GUARDS WHEN WE GO IN AND OUT OF THE POST.  SOME WE SEE AS WE SHOP AT THE COMMISSARY OR PX ON POST.  

ONE VERY FUNNY THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO ELDER WADLEY WHEN WE FIRST GOT HERE.  AS WE WOULD COME TO A GATE TO ENTER ONTO FT. BRAGG, THE SOLDIER WOULD LOOK AT OUR MILITARY ID'S AND THEN SALUTE ELDER WADLEY AS HE SAYS, "ALL THE WAY SIR."  ELDER WADLEY WOULD LOOK OVER TO ME AND SAY, "WHAT DID HE JUST SAY?"  I WOULD SAY, "I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA!"  WELL, THIS CONTINUED AND EVERY TIME WE WOULD COME TO A GATE TO ENTER THE POST, THE SAME THING WOULD BE SAID AS THEY WOULD SALUTE ELDER WADLEY.  SO FINALLY ELDER WADLEY THOUGHT, "OK, WHEN THEY SAY THAT I'LL JUST SALUTE THEM BACK AND SAY, "ROGER THAT!"  SO THIS WENT ON FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS UNTIL ELDER WADLEY FINALLY ASKED THE FIRST COUNSELOR IN OUR BISHOPRIC HERE, WHO IS A HELICOPTER PILOT, AND HE SAID THAT THE REASON THEY SAY "ALL THE WAY SIR" IS BECAUSE IT HAS TO DO WITH THE 82ND AIRBORNE AND HOW THEY PARACHUTE OUT OF THE PLANES AND GO "ALL THE WAY" TO THE GROUND, MAKING SURE ALL OF THEIR EQUIPMENT IS SAFELY STORED...HIT THE GROUND AND DO WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO DO.  HE SAID YOUR RESPONSE BACK SHOULD BE "AIRBORNE."  SO ELDER WADLEY BEGAN SAYING THAT.  WHAT MADE IT SO FUNNY IS THAT OFTEN TIMES, SINCE HE WASN'T USED TO SAYING "AIRBORNE" YET, HE WOULD START TO DRIVE OFF AND THEN SORT OF YELL IT BACK TO THE GUARD!  OH, WE HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF GOOD LAUGHS OVER THAT ONE!  WE ALWAYS TRY TO HAVE A LITTLE PIECE OF CANDY TO GIVE THE GATE GUARD AS WE GO THRU AND THEY ALWAYS SAY THANK YOU SIR.  VERY POLITE.  

WE WAKE UP EVERY MORNING TO REVEILLE BEING PLAYED RIGHT AROUND SUNRISE. RETREAT AROUND 5 P.M. AND TAPS  AT 10 P.M.  IF WE ARE DRIVING ON POST AND RETREAT IS PLAYED, WE PULL THE CAR OVER AND WAIT UNTIL IT ENDS.  IF WE ARE WALKING ON POST AND REVEILLE OR RETREAT COMES ON, WE STOP, FACE THE MAIN FLAG, IF WE KNOW WHERE IT IS, OR FACE THE AREA WHERE THE MUSIC IS COMING FROM, PLACE OUR HAND OVER OUR HEART AND WAIT UNTIL IT ENDS.  THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE DID FOR 20 YEARS WHEN ELDER WADLEY WAS ACTIVE DUTY IN THE AIR FORCE.  IT SEEMS "SO GOOD" TO BE BACK TO A PLACE THAT WE ARE FAMILIAR WITH IN A LOT OF THE EXPERIENCES WE HAVE HAD IN THE AIR FORCE.   FLAGS FLY ON MOST HOUSES ON THE POST.  FT. BRAGG HAS ABOUT 161,000 ACRES THAT MAKE UP THE ENTIRE INSTALLATION, WHICH INCLUDES 7 DROP SITES FOR PARACHUTE DROPS, CAMP MACKALL WHERE THE SPECIAL FORCES TRAIN, ETC.  NOW, YOU MAY THINK I HAVE MISS-TYPED THE NUMBER, BUT IT'S TRUE!  IT ENCOMPASSES LARGE, VAST AREAS TO TRAIN THE RANGERS, THE SPECIAL FORCES AND THE 82ND AIRBOURNE.  YOU CAN TELL WHICH SERVICE MEMBER IS WITH WHICH UNIT BY HIS HAT.  OTHERWISE, I WOULDN'T HAVE A CLUE!

PER OUR VISITS WITH THE OTHER SENIOR MILITARY RELATIONS COUPLES HERE AT FT. BRAGG, BEGINNING THE END OF NOVEMBER, ELDER WADLEY AND I WILL BE THE SENIOR MISSIONARY COUPLE OVER THE FT. BRAGG WARD, THE YOUNG SINGLE ADULT BRANCH, AND STILL KEEP THE CAMERON WARD.  WE WILL SPREAD OURSELVES PRETTY THIN, BUT IT WILL BE SO MUCH FUN!  I  THINK THAT THE FT. BRAGG WARD WILL BE PROBABLY 95% MILITARY.  THERE ARE SOME YOUNG SINGLE ADULTS WHO ARE NOT MILITARY, BUT ON THE WHOLE, WE WILL BE DEALING PRIMARILY WITH THE MILITARY.  THE TRANSITIONING IN THESE WARDS IS CONTINUAL!  IT BRINGS ME BACK TO OUR MILITARY DAYS.  I SERVED AS RELIEF SOCIETY PRESIDENT IN 4 DIFFERENT MILITARY WARDS AND MY CONTINUAL JOB WAS UPDATING VISITING TEACHING ROSTERS AND TRYING TO KEEP TRACK OF MOVE-INS AND MOVE-OUTS!  THIS IS ONE REASON WHY WE HAVE TRIED SO HARD TO HELP THE CAMERON WARD GET ON TOP OF THEIR WARD ROSTER.  SO MANY OF THE SPOUSES ARE DEPLOYED AT DIFFERENT TIMES, THAT IT MAKES IT REALLY DIFFICULT TO KEEP TRACK OF THEIR HOME TEACHING AND VISITING TEACHING.  IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WE WILL BE DIVIDING OUR TIME BETWEEN 2 WARDS AND A BRANCH.  HOPEFULLY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO EACH OF THEM JUSTICE.  

PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ELDER WADLEY AND I IF WE HAVE GOTTEN CLAUSTROPHOBIA YET.  AT FIRST WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT BUT NOW WE DO.  AS YOU DRIVE EACH DAY, YOU NEVER SEE THE HORIZON.  IT IS AS IF YOU ARE DRIVING THROUGH A FOREST ALL DAY LONG.  THE TREES HERE ARE ABSOLUTELY BREATHTAKING!  ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW WITH ALL OF THE COLORS.   SO SOME OF THE YOUNG MISSIONARIES HAVE ASKED US THAT AND WE SAID, "NO WE ARE LOVING IT!"  IT'S FUNNY THOUGH, AS ELDER WADLEY AND I ARE OUT VISITING MEMBERS, THERE MAY BE A HIGH PLACE WE COME TO IN THE ROAD, AND ELDER WADLEY WILL STOP THE CAR AND SAY, "LOOK.....THERE'S THE HORIZON!"  IT IS JUST SOMETHING YOU WOULD NEVER THINK TO TAKE FOR GRANTED.   

I AM REFERRED TO AS "MAM" HERE.  EVERYWHERE WE GO IT IS, "YES MAM AND NO MAM."  THEY ARE VERY COURTEOUS AND POLITE AND THE CHILDREN TALK TO YOU THE VERY SAME WAY.  ANOTHER WORD THAT WE ARE BEGINNING TO PICK UP A LITTLE BIT IS "YA'LL."  WE FIND THE ELDERS SAYING THIS ALL THE TIME!  

ONE OF THE CLASSES WE TOOK AT THE MTC WAS A COURSE ON "RESILIENCY."  IT WAS TAUGHT FOR MILITARY RELATIONS MISSIONARIES.  WE ARE SO GLAD WE HAD THIS CLASS AND WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO START A CLASS UP VERY SOON.  THE MEMBERS HERE ARE ALWAYS HAVING CHANGE IN THEIR LIVES.  A 2 WEEK DEPLOYMENT HERE, A 3 MONTH DEPLOYMENT THERE.  ONE MEMBER WE VISITED SAID HE HAS BEEN DEPLOYED 34 TIMES THIS YEAR!  HE HAS A WIFE AND 2 SONS - 11 AND 13.  WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO TRY TO HELP THOSE FAMILY MEMBERS LEFT BEHIND FEEL SECURE AND KEEP THEM GROUNDED IN THE GOSPEL.  SOMETIMES IT IS A CHALLENGE.

LIVING ON THE POST HAS TRULY BEEN A BLESSING.  WE FEEL SAFE.  WE HAVE THE COMMRADERY OF THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD - THE MILITARY!!!!   WHEN WE GO THRU THE GATE, OFTEN TIMES ONE OF THE GUARDS WHO CHECKS OUR MILITARY ID'S IS A MEMBER OF THE YOUNG SINGLE ADULT BRANCH AND HE GREETS US WITH, "HELLO ELDER WADLEY - SIR!"  

I FEEL SO VERY FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!  I WOULDN'T CHANGE IT FOR THE WORLD.  IT HAS MADE ME APPRECIATE MY SAVIOR SO MUCH MORE, MY COUNTRY SO MUCH MORE, AND MY TESTIMONY SO MUCH MORE.  LOVE TO ALL OF YOU! 
SISTER WADLEY

HI YA'LL - ELDER WADLEY HERE.  SISTER WADLEY HAD DONE A GREAT JOB, AS ALWAYS, OF TELLING OUR STORY.  I HAVE BEEN SO IMPRESSED WITH THE CALIBER AND COMMITMENT OF THE MEN AND WOMEN HERE AT FORT BRAGG.  WE CAN'T BELIEVE HOW DEDICATED THEY ARE TO OUR COUNTRY, AND TO THE LORD.  IT'S VERY HUMBLING AND INSPIRING TO HEAR THEIR STORIES AND FEEL OF THEIR TESTIMONY.  ONE AFTERNOON WE WERE ABLE TO WATCH THREE PLANES FLY OVER A DROP ZONE, AND ABOUT 50 SOLDIERS JUMPED OUT OF EACH PLANE AND PARACHUTED TO THE GROUND.  THEY WERE EACH LOADED WITH HEAVY EQUIPMENT AND WEAPONS.  AFTER GATHERING UP THE PARACHUTE AND STUFFING IT BACK INTO A BACKPACK, THEY WOULD RUN TO THE GATHERING AREA.  VERY IMPRESSIVE!  SOME SPOUSES AND FAMILY WERE WITH US IN A VIEWING AREA.  TWO YOUNG WOMEN IN UNIFORM APPROACHED US, AND ONE SMILED AND SAID, "WE SAW YOUR NAME-TAGS, AND I WANTED TO FEEL A BIT OF HOME."  SHE WAS FROM THE SUGAR-HOUSE AREA IN SLC, WHICH WAS NEAR WHERE WE GREW UP.  (SMALL WORLD)  SHE SAID SHE WASN'T ACTIVE NOW, BUT WAS THINKING ABOUT COMING BACK TO CHURCH.  WE GAVE HER OUR CONTACT CARD, AND HAD A GREAT VISIT WITH HER AND HER FRIEND.  WE'RE HOPING TO BRING THEM TO A CHURCH MEETING IN THE NEAR FUTURE.  

WE'RE EXCITED TO START MEETING WITH, AND GETTING TO KNOW THE FORT BRAGG WARD, AND MORE OF THE YOUNG SINGLE ADULT BRANCH.  OUR EXPERIENCE HERE HAS BEEN SO REWARDING, AND IS MORE FUN THAN WE EVER EXPECTED.  IT'S VERY BEAUTIFUL HERE, AND SUCH A CHANGE FROM THE DRY CLIMATES OF UTAH AND IDAHO.  OUR TIME IN THE LORD'S SERVICE HAS BEEN GOING BY SO QUICKLY, AND WE'RE HAVING NO PROBLEM KEEPING BUSY.  






2 comments:

  1. What a fun update! I love that you are so close to Shawn and Kath's family (finally) and that you got to spend some time with them! That cockroach story is disgusting!!! Ewwww. But how cool that you had some less active people come when u were speaking! Keep up the good (hard) work! And send pics of the beautiful trees!!! Lv u!

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  2. Thanks so much for taking the time to fill us all in. I can't wait to read some of this to the kids! You make me miss being right in the throws of the air force and the sense of community it has. "All the way, sir!"

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