NOVEMBER, 2015

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!  AS ELDER WADLEY AND I CONTINUE OUR MISSIONARY BLOG, WE AGAIN WANT TO EMPHASIZE TO THOSE VERY SPECIAL GRAND babies, HOW WONDERFUL IT IS TO SERVE THE LORD, AND HOW MANY BLESSINGS WE HAVE FOUND IN THESE LAST 3 MONTHS.  WE CAN SEE THE LORD'S HAND IN EVERYTHING WE DO.  WHILE YOU GRAND babies ARE SITTING WITH YOUR FAMILY AT FAMILY HOME EVENING AND IN YOUR PRIMARY CLASSES, WE HOPE YOU WILL LISTEN HARD TO EVERYTHING YOUR MOM AND DAD AND YOUR TEACHERS ARE TEACHING YOU, SO THAT WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN TO SERVE YOUR MISSION, YOU WILL HAVE A GOOD FOUNDATION OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST AND BE A VALIANT SERVANT OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.  WE TESTIFY TO YOU THAT YOU WILL FEEL SO MUCH JOY AND HAPPINESS AS YOU SERVE!  THE LORD WILL BLESS YOU AS YOU ARE REPRESENTING HIM TO OTHERS IN THE WORLD.

WE HAVE SEEN PEOPLE'S HEARTS SOFTEN AS WE HAVE GONE OUT TO VISIT MEMBERS HERE IN THE CAMERON WARD.  OUR BISHOP HERE, BISHOP COLBY, IS A CHAPLAIN AT FT. BRAGG AND A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF REPRESENTING THE TRUTHS OF THE GOSPEL TO THE MILITARY MEMBERS HERE.  BOTH OF HIS COUNSELORS ARE ALSO MILITARY MEMBERS.  BROTHER CHAMBERLAIN FLIES HELICOPTERS AND BROTHER BUSH IS IN CHARGE OF THE ROTC PROGRAM AT CAMPBELL UNIVERSITY HERE.   AS WE MEET WITH THEM AND THE REST OF THE WARD COUNCIL EACH MONTH, THERE IS DEFINITELY A FEELING OF BEING IN A MILITARY WARD!  THE MEETINGS ARE KEPT TO 1 1/2 HOURS, BUT EVERYONE IS ABLE TO SPEAK AND EVERYTHING GETS COVERED.  I TOLD ELDER WADLEY, I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER TO SALUTE AT THE END OF OUR LAST WARD COUNCIL OR NOT!!!  I SAY THIS JOKINGLY BECAUSE AT ONE POINT NEAR THE END OF WARD COUNCIL, BISHOP COLBY ASKED THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY WHAT TIME IS WAS AND HE SAID, "8:24" AT WHICH BISHOP COLBY SAID, "ALRIGHT, WE HAVE 6 MORE MINUTES!!!"  I CAN THINK OF MEETINGS THAT I WISH HAD ENDED "RIGHT ON THE DOT!"  ANYWAY, THAT IS JUST AN INTERESTING SIDE NOTE!

THE MEMBERS IN THE WARD ARE JUST WONDERFUL!  WE HAVE SEEN THEIR SPOUSES LEAVE ON DEPLOYMENTS, AND THEY JUST CARRY ON WITH THE FAMILY AND NOT ONLY CARRY ON, BUT TAKE CARE OF OTHER MEMBERS IN THE WARD, WHICH MAKES FOR A REAL CLOSE KNIT WARD.  WE SEE MEMBERS WHO HAVE A BIT MORE DIFFICULTY COPING WITH CHANGE, AND WE TRY TO VISIT THEM MORE FREQUENTLY.  THE WARD HAD A RE-DEDICATION OF THE CHAPEL, WHICH MEANT THE BUILDING HAD AN ADDITIONAL WING ADDED ON (THE NURSERY), PLUS THE CHAPEL WAS UPDATED.  THE 2 WARDS WHO USE THIS BUILDING (SANFORD AND CAMERON) GOT TOGETHER AND HAD A VERY NICE RE-DEDICATION PROGRAM WITH A CHOIR FROM THE 2 WARDS SINGING AND THE STAKE PRESIDENT PRESIDING AND CONDUCTING.

WE ARE STILL DRIVING OUT TO CAMP MACKALL 2 TO 3 TIMES A MONTH TO HAVE A SACRAMENT MEETING WITH THE MEMBERS OUT THERE WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THE SPECIAL FORCES TRAINING.  THIS IS ALWAYS SUCH A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE.  ELDER WADLEY AND BROTHER WOOD FROM THE FAYETTEVILLE 3RD WARD BISHOPRIC (WHO TEACHES OUT AT CAMP MACKALL) BLESS AND PASS THE SACRAMENT AND THEN SISTER WADLEY USUALLY GIVES A SHORT TALK AND ELDER WADLEY THEN TALKS.  BROTHER WOOD GAVE US A TOUR THIS LAST TIME OF THE FACILITY AND WE FOUND THE CHAPLAIN'S OFFICE AS WELL AS SAW THROUGH THE BARBED WIRE WHERE A CONVENIENCE STORE WAS FOR THE SOLDIERS.  IT IS DEFINITELY A VERY REMOTE AREA FOR TRAINING OF OUR SOLDIERS.  ONE OTHER INTERESTING NOTE ABOUT CAMP MACKALL:  WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS SURVIVAL TRAINING AREA IS MENTIONED IN THE FILM "BAND OF BROTHERS."  WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOVIE, BUT WERE TOLD THAT.

ONE INTERESTING NOTE ABOUT OUR VISITS OUT TO CAMP MACKALL - A MEMBER OF THE CAMERON WARD HAS BEEN TRAINING OUT THERE.  WE MET HIM ABOUT THE 2ND WEEK OF NOVEMBER AS WE HELD SACRAMENT MEETING.  THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE ANY CONTACT WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD FOR THE 6 WEEKS THEY ARE OUT THERE.  THAT PARTICULAR SUNDAY, HIS WIFE HAD JUST BEEN RELEASED FROM THE PRIMARY PRESIDENCY.  HE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT, AND WE WEREN'T ABLE TO SAY ANYTHING TO HIM.  THE FOLLOWING WEEK, WE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH HIS WIFE TO COME BY AND GIVE THEIR FAMILY A LITTLE THANKSGIVING FAMILY HOME EVENING.  WHILE WE WERE THERE, WE LET HER KNOW THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE A SPECIAL SACRAMENT MEETING WITH HER HUSBAND OUT AT CAMP MACKALL AND SHE BEGAN TO CRY AND AS SHE HUGGED SISTER WADLEY, SHE SAID, "OH I HAVE BEEN SO WORRIED THAT HE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO HAVE ANY SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT FOR THIS PAST MONTH."  SHE WAS SO HAPPY.  ANOTHER LITTLE NOTE ABOUT THIS ENCOUNTER:  SHE IS EXPECTING THEIR 4TH CHILD IN MARCH.  HER HUSBAND HAD TOLD US OUT AT CAMP MACKALL THAT SHE WAS GOING TO FIND OUT THE NEXT DAY WHAT THEY WERE HAVING AND WHEN WE VISITED THE FAMILY, THE CHILDREN TOLD US WHAT SHE WAS HAVING - SO WE ACTUALLY FOUND OUT BEFORE HE DID.  THIS WAS KIND OF A BITTER SWEET MOMENT.  THEY HAVE 2 GIRLS AND A BOY AND SHE IS HAVING A BOY!  SUCH A WONDERFUL FAMILY!

THERE ARE SEVERAL FAMILIES IN THE WARD WHO LIVE IN TRAILERS AND HAVE A LOT OF DOGS FOR PROTECTION IN THEIR YARD.  WHEN WE GO VISIT, THE FAMILY USUALLY HEARS THE DOGS BARKING AND SO THEY COME OUTSIDE AND WE VISIT AT THE GATE.  THERE ARE ALSO 2 GATED COMMUNITIES WHERE THE FAMILY NEEDS TO LET THE GATE GUARD KNOW WE ARE COMING AND WE ARE LET IN.  THESE 2 ARE CAROLINA LAKES AND ANDERSON CREEK CLUB.  THESE ARE VERY NICE AREAS.  CAROLINA LAKES ACTUALLY HAS DEER ROAMING THROUGHOUT IT AND  THE HOMES SURROUND A BEAUTIFUL LAKE.  OUR BISHOP AND RELIEF SOCIETY PRESIDENT LIVE HERE AND WE HAVE TRAVELED THERE SEVERAL TIMES.  WE ALWAYS HAVE TO GO SLOWLY WHEN IN THERE AND WATCH OUT FOR DEER.  IT ISN'T LIT THAT WELL AT ALL.

ONE OTHER VERY NICE AREA IN OUR MISSION AND, ACTUALLY IN OUR STAKE IS PINEHURST.  IT BOASTS 3 MAJOR GOLF TOURNAMENTS EACH YEAR AND IS ABSOLUTELY BREATHTAKING!  WE HAVE SISTERS SERVING IN THAT AREA NOW AND IS ABOUT A HALF HOUR FROM WHERE WE LIVE ON FT. BRAGG.  WE MET A COUPLE AT STAKE CONFERENCE WHO LIVES THERE AND ARE SERVING A SERVICE MISSION NOW OUT OF THEIR HOME WHILE HE TAKES CARE OF HIS PARENTS 24/7.  THEY RUN THE ADDICTION/RECOVERY PROGRAM AND TOLD US THAT IF WE HAVE PEOPLE TO REFER TO THEM, THEY WOULD HAPPILY PRESENT THEIR CHURCH STRUCTURED PROGRAM.  THEY ARE ACTUALLY VERY BUSY WITH IT RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE THE CAMERON WARD IS SO TRANSIENT, THE BISHOP HAS HELD AN OPEN HOUSE TO GET TO KNOW THE NEWEST MEMBERS AND THE RELIEF SOCIETY PRESIDENT HELD ONE THE SUNDAY PRIOR TO THANKSGIVING.  THE ATTENDANCE AT BOTH WAS VERY GOOD AND WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE A LESS ACTIVE SISTER WITH US EACH TIME.  WE HAVE SEEN SOME SUCCESS IN GETTING SEVERAL FAMILIES OUT TO CHURCH BECAUSE OF VISITS WE HAVE MADE TO THE FAMILY AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE HAND OF THE LORD IN THEIR LIVES.  THEY HAVE TOLD US HOW THEY DIDN'T THINK ANYONE CARED ABOUT THEM.  I THINK THIS CAN HAPPEN A LOT IN WARDS, FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, AND IT'S A WONDERFUL FEELING WHEN YOU SEE THEM OUT TO CHURCH AND ENJOYING THE SPIRIT THERE.

WHERE WE LIVE IN MERIDIAN, IDAHO OR GROWING UP IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, WHEN IT RAINS IT USUALLY COOLS THINGS OFF.  NOT IN THE SOUTH!  ON THE 19TH, WE WOKE UP TO THE RAIN JUST POURING DOWN AND RUNNING LIKE CRAZY OUT OF THE DRAIN SPOUTS!  ELDER WADLEY HAD LEFT A BAG OF DANISH COOKIES ON THE TABLE WHERE WE DO OUR TYPING AND WORK AT NIGHT, AND HE DIDN'T SEAL IT CLOSED WITH A CLOTHES PIN.  WHAT HAD BEEN SOME VERY HARD, YUMMY COOKIES HAD TURNED INTO SOFT COOKIES THAT COULD MELT IN YOUR MOUTH FROM THE HUMIDITY OVER NIGHT!  IT'S VERY STRANGE TO GET USED TO.  ANOTHER INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE WEATHER IN THE SOUTH.  WE ARE SURROUNDED BY BEAUTIFUL TREES; SO MUCH SO THAT IT IS UNUSUAL TO EVER SEE THE HORIZON.  WE MAY HAVE MENTIONED THIS IN A PREVIOUS POST.  ANYWAY, WE ARE TOLD THAT BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH MOISTURE AND A HIGH ANNUAL RAIN FALL, THE TREE ROOTS SPREAD OUT NEAR THE GROUND LEVEL INSTEAD OF GOING DEEP DOWN INTO THE EARTH TO FIND MOISTURE.  AS A RESULT, THEY ARE NOT WHAT WE CALL "STRONGLY ROOTED" AND THEY BECOME VERY VULNERABLE IN STORMS WITH STRONG WINDS.  BECAUSE THE ROOTS DON'T GO DEEP INTO THE GROUND TO GIVE THEM STURDY SUPPORT, THEY WILL FREQUENTLY TIP OVER IN THE STRONG WIND BECAUSE THE ROOTS ARE REAL CLOSE TO THE SURFACE.  ELDER WADLEY HAS USED THIS ANALOGY IN SEVERAL OF HIS TALKS HE HAS GIVEN HERE IN BEING "STRONGLY ROOTED IN THE GOSPEL."  SISTER WADLEY TOLD OF A LADY WHO HEARD HER LITTLE GIRL FALL OUT OF BED AND WHEN SHE WENT INTO HER BEDROOM SHE ASKED HER, "WHAT HAPPENED HONEY?"   THE LITTLE GIRL LOOKED AT HER AND SAID, "I WASN'T IN THE BED FAR ENOUGH."  AGAIN, WE CAN RELATE THIS TO NOT BEING IN THE GOSPEL "FAR ENOUGH." - NOT HAVING A GOOD FOUNDATION TO SEE US THROUGH THE THINGS OF THE WORLD TODAY.

WE WERE ABLE TO ATTEND THE SIMMONS AIRFIELD STATIC DISPLAY AND OPEN HOUSE ON THE 24TH OF NOVEMBER.  WHAT A GREAT TIME WE HAD!  BROTHER CHAMBERLAIN IN THE CAMERON WARD BISHOPRIC FLIES ON OF THE HELICOPTERS ON DISPLAY AND WE WERE ABLE TO LOOK INSIDE IT, AS WELL AS A BLACK HAWK, AN APACHE, AND A CHINOOK.  WE VISITED WITH THE PILOT OF THE BLACK HAWK.  HE HAS BEEN ON 2 DIFFERENT DEPLOYMENTS TO SAUDI ARABIA.  HE SAID IT IS USED TO QUICKLY PICK UP SERVICEMEN WHO ARE STRANDED AND THE ENEMY MAY BE NEAR.  THIS WAS PORTRAYED IN THE MOVIE "BLACK HAWK DOWN."  ELDER WADLEY SAT IN ALL 4 HELICOPTERS.  THEY HAD THE GOLDEN PARACHUTISTS FROM THE ARMY PUT ON A PROGRAM AND 9 OF THEM JUMPED OUT OF A CHINOOK AND WERE ABLE TO MANEUVER THEIR CHUTES TO AN EXACT LANDING POINT WITH THE CROWD ALL GATHERED AROUND THEM.  THEY HAD RED STREAMS COMING OUT OF THEIR PARACHUTES AS THEY DESCENDED.  QUITE A PICTURE!  THEY HAD HOT DOGS, CHIPS AND DRINKS FOR EVERYONE AND IT WAS A REALLY FUN TIME!

ELDER AND SISTER HILL, THE OTHER MILITARY RELATIONS SENIOR COUPLE HERE ARE FINISHING THEIR MISSION AND WILL BE HEADING HOME THE WEEK AFTER THANKSGIVING.  THEY LIVE IN A SUBURB OF ST. GEORGE (WASHINGTON.)  WE SURE HATE TO SEE THEM GO.  THERE IS SO MUCH WORK HERE AND THEY HAVE BEEN SO VERY HELPFUL TO GET US OFF THE GROUND WITH EVERYTHING WE NEED TO DO HERE.  WE HAVE WITNESSED A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF TRUSTING IN THE LORD AND DOING THE LORD'S WILL, EVEN UNDER DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES.  THE HILL'S SERVED A MILITARY RELATIONS MISSION TO HAWAII (TOUGH ASSIGNMENT, RIGHT?), RETURNED HOME FOR A YEAR AND THEN HEADED OUT ON A SECOND MILITARY RELATIONS MISSION HERE TO FT. BRAGG.  THE WEEK BEFORE THEY WERE DUE TO ENTER THE MTC FOR THEIR MISSION HERE, ELDER HILL SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK.  HE ENDED UP HAVING 3 STINTS PUT INTO HIS HEART.  HIS DOCTOR TOLD HIM IT PROBABLY WASN'T THE RIGHT TIME TO GO ON ANOTHER MISSION.  ELDER HILL JUST SAID, "WATCH ME."  THEY GOT TO THE MISSION FIELD 2 WEEKS AFTER THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO ARRIVE.  WHILE SERVING THEIR MISSION HERE, THEIR LITTLE 4 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER BEGAN HAVING SEIZURES AND HAS AN INOPERABLE BRAIN TUMOR AND IS NOT EXPECTED TO LIVE MUCH LONGER.  HER OLDER BROTHER WHO IS 7 HAS CANCER AND IS, AT THIS TIME, IN REMISSION; HOWEVER, HE HAS HAD ONE OTHER TIME HE WAS IN REMISSION AND THE CANCER CAME BACK.  IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH FOR ONE FAMILY, IN MID NOVEMBER, THESE TWO LITTLE GRANDCHILDREN'S MOTHER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH FIBRO MYALGIA AND IS QUITE SICK WITH IT.  CONSEQUENTLY, THE HILLS ARE CUTTING THEIR MISSION SHORT BY A MONTH TO HEAD HOME TO HELP WITH THEIR FAMILY.  ELDER HILL'S COMMENT TO ELDER WADLEY WHEN WE LAST WENT OUT TO EAT WITH THEM WAS, "HEY, THERE IS SO MUCH WORK STILL LEFT TO DO, I'M TRUSTING YOU TO GET IT DONE!"  WOW - WHEN WE HEARD THIS, WE THOUGHT....WHERE ARE 3 OR 4 MORE SENIOR COUPLES TO HELP US!!  WE DROVE AROUND THE HOUSING ON FORT BRAGG WITH THE HILL'S TO GET ACCLIMATED TO WHERE WE NEED TO VISIT AND SERVE, AND WE BOTH CAME HOME WITH OUR HEADS SPINNING!  IT COVERS A REALLY BIG AREA.  ELDER WADLEY AND I WILL BE STARTING TO VISIT EACH MEMBER OF THE FT. BRAGG WARD, GETTING TO KNOW THEM, AND LETTING THEM KNOW WE ARE HERE TO SERVE THEM.  WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT IT!  WE KNOW MOST OF THE CAMERON WARD MEMBERS NOW AND IT WILL BE FUN TO GET TO KNOW ANOTHER WARD.

THE YOUNG SINGLE ADULTS CONTINUE TO HAVE A GOOD TIME TOGETHER.  WE HAVE A GOOD GROUP COMING OUT TO INSTITUTE AND FAMILY HOME EVENING NOW AND WE WILL BE HAVING A FEW GETTOGETHERS WITH THEM AT OUR HOME HERE ON POPE ARMY AIR FIELD BEFORE THE NEW YEAR.

THE ENTRANCES TO THE GATES ON FT. BRAGG CONTINUE TO KEEP ELDER WADLEY AND MYSELF LAUGHING OUT LOUD!!  TO FOLLOW UP ON A PREVIOUS POST WHERE ELDER WADLEY FOUND OUT WHAT HE IS TO SAY TO THE GUARDS WHEN THEY SALUTE HIM AND SAY, "ALL THE WAY SIR."  HIS RESPONSE IS "AIRBORNE."  WELL...... THE OTHER NIGHT WHEN WE WERE COMING HOME FROM INSTITUTE, ELDER WADLEY HAD A LITTLE DIFFICULTY FINDING OUR MILITARY I.D.'S.  HE FINALLY GRABBED THEM JUST AS WE CAME TO THE GATE.  WE HAD JUST LEFT THE YOUNG MISSIONARIES AT THE CHURCH AND ELDER WADLEY HAD THINGS ON HIS MIND HE HAD TO GET DONE FOR THEM SO AS WE APPROACHED THE GATE, THEIR WERE 3 GUARDS THERE INSTEAD OF JUST THE USUAL 1.  SO INSTEAD OF THE GUARDS SAYING GOOD EVENING SIR, ELDER WADLEY PIPES UP AND SAYS, "HI ELDERS!"  WELL...THAT GOT A GOOD LOOK FROM ALL 3 GUARDS!  THEN...ELDER WADLEY CONTINUES TO SAY, "ALL THE WAY!"  THAT GETS another LOOK FROM ALL 3 GUARDS.  SO I GUESS THEY DECIDED TO "PLAY" ALONG WITH ELDER WADLEY BECAUSE ALL 3 RESPONDED, "AIRBORNE!!!!"  OH....WE LAUGHED AND LAUGHED ABOUT THAT ONE.  I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS DOWN THE ROAD!  JUST ONE OF MANY MANY FUN, FUN TIMES WE ARE ENCOUNTERING OUT HERE IN THE MISSION FIELD!  OH YES, AND DID I HAPPEN TO MENTION THAT "WE LOVE OUR MISSION!!"

THE WEEKEND OF NOVEMBER 21ST WAS OUR STAKE CONFERENCE AND WE HAD ELDER BLUTH FROM THE 4TH QUORUM OF THE SEVENTIES HERE AS THE PRESIDING AUTHORITY.  WE WERE ABLE TO MEET HIM AND HAVE A LITTLE VISIT WITH HIM.  HE EXPRESSED HIS THANKFULNESS TO US FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF OUR LIVES TO SERVE THIS MISSION AND SAID HE KNOWS THE LORD WILL BLESS US FOR OUR EFFORTS.  IT WAS REALLY A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE!  OUR MISSION PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT JAMES AND HIS WIFE BOTH SPOKE AT THE SATURDAY EVENING SESSION.  ELDER BLUTH HAS SUCH A GREAT TALENT OF TALKING ABOUT VERY SIMPLE THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO HIM AS A CHILD AND THEN HAVING THESE STORIES CONNECT WITH A PRINCIPLE OF THE GOSPEL IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU NOT ONLY WANT TO LIVE YOUR LIFE IN SUCH A WAY TO EXPERIENCE THESE LESSONS IN YOUR OWN LIFE, BUT YOU NEVER WANTED HIM TO FINISH TALKING!  IT WAS REALLY INCREDIBLE.  HE TOLD A STORY OF HOW HE AND HIS BROTHER EACH STOLE AN APPLE OUT OF THE NEIGHBORS APPLE ORCHARD.  THEY RAN BACK TO THEIR HOUSE AND AS THEY STOOD BY THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE AND BIT INTO THAT JUICY APPLE THEY FELT A HAND GRAB ONTO THEIR NECKS.  IT WAS THEIR FATHER.  HE VERY CALMLY SAID, "COME WITH ME BOYS."  HE TOOK THEM TO THE FRONT DOOR OF THE NEIGHBOR WITH THE APPLE ORCHARD AND HAD THEM RING THE BELL.  THE WIFE CAME TO THE DOOR AND ELDER BLUTH SAID, "I DON'T KNOW WHY I HAD TO BE THE ONE TO TELL HER WE HAD TAKEN AN APPLE FROM HER ORCHARD - BUT I HAD TO."  AFTER HE SAID IT, THE KIND NEIGHBOR SMILED AND SAID, "ANY TIME YOU WOULD LIKE AN APPLE, PLEASE JUST COME AND RING OUR BELL AND ASK, BUT never STEAL AN APPLE FROM OUR ORCHARD BOYS."  ELDER BLUTH SAID THAT MADE HIM FEEL SO BAD AND AS THEY WALKED HOME WITH THEIR FATHER, THE HAND THAT HAD BEEN AROUND THEIR NECK, SLOWLY MOVED DOWN TO HIS SHOULDER AND A BIG HUG TO PULL HIM CLOSER TO HIS FATHER FOLLOWED AND HE SAID HE WILL NEVER FORGET THAT AS LONG AS HE LIVES.

OUR MISSION PRESIDENT AND HIS WIFE SPOKE AT THE SATURDAY EVENING SESSION AND GAVE SUCH GOOD TALKS.  SISTER JAMES JUST SPOKE FOR A FEW MINUTES ABOUT THE PLAN OF SALVATION AND HOW WE NEED TO STAY ON COURSE WITH ALL THAT IS GOING ON IN THE WORLD TODAY.  PRESIDENT JAMES CAME TO THE MICROPHONE SEEMING VERY SOLEMN.  HE BEGAN BY SAYING, "IN 2005 A GIRL NAMES ELIZABETH SMART WAS KIDNAPPED FROM HER HOME.  FOR A WEEK, OVER 2,000 PEOPLE SEARCHED FOR HER."  HE THEN BEGAN TO SORT OF CHOKE UP AND SAID, "I WISH THEIR HAD BEEN 2,000 PEOPLE THERE TO RESCUE OUR DAUGHTER."  HE THEN BEGAN TO CRY AND WE TOOK IT THAT THEIR DAUGHTER HAD CHOSEN TO LEAVE THE CHURCH.  HE THEN WAS ABLE TO COMPOSE HIMSELF AND TALKED ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT REACTIVATION AND RETENTION IS IN THE CHURCH.  IT WAS A GREAT TALK!  I FELT SO SORRY FOR THEM THOUGH, AFTER HEARING HIS TALK.  IT MADE ME REALIZE, ONCE AGAIN, HOW VERY BLESSED ELDER WADLEY AND I ARE.  OUR 4 CHILDREN AND THEIR SPOUSES AND OUR 13 GRANDchildren ARE ACTIVE IN THE CHURCH AND THEY ARE TEACHING THESE CHILDREN THE PRINCIPLES OF THE GOSPEL, WHICH WILL BE SUCH A BLESSING IN THEIR LIVES AS THEY GROW OLDER IN SUCH A WICKED WORLD.  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU A MILLION KIDS FOR YOUR WONDERFUL EXAMPLE TO DAD AND I AND FOR LIVING GOOD LIVES AND STAYING CLOSE TO THE LORD.

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND FOUND US OVER IN CONCORD, N.C. WITH OUR DAUGHTER, KATHRYN, AND HER SWEET SWEET FAMILY.  THEY ARE THE FAMILY WHO LIVE THE FURTHEST AWAY FROM THE REST OF OUR FAMILY.  WE RECEIVED PERMISSION FROM OUR MISSION PRESIDENT TO TRAVEL THE 2 1/2 HOURS OVER TO SPEND THANKSGIVING WITH THEM.  THEY ARE IN THE CHARLOTTE MISSION AND CONCORD IS A SUBURB OF CHARLOTTE.  WHAT AN AWESOME TIME WE HAD.  THEY HAVE KAYLEE WHO WILL BE 14 IN FEBRUARY, AND IS OUR OLDEST GRANDCHILD, AARON WHO WILL BE 8 IN JUNE AND BE BAPTIZED!!! AND REBEKAH WHO WILL BE 5 IN JANUARY.  WE HAD A HOUSEFUL AT THANKSGIVING, SHARING IT WITH 2 OF THEIR CLOSEST FAMILIES THERE.  WE HAD A TOTAL OF 19 PEOPLE THERE.  KATHRYN HAD SET A BEAUTIFUL TABLE AND  I KEPT REBEKAH BUSY COLORING NAPKINS FOR ALL OF THE CHILDREN WHO WOULD BE THERE.  SHE LOVED IT!  IT HAS BEEN A FAMILY TRADITION EVER SINCE I WAS A LITTLE GIRL.  ALL OF MY SIBLINGS WOULD TRY TO COLOR THE BEST NAPKIN EVERY THANKSGIVING!  SO MUCH GOOD FOOD!!!  OH MY WORD...IT'S A GOOD THING ELDER WADLEY AND I WALK AT LEAST A MILE AND A HALF EVERY DAY.  AFTER THAT FEAST, WE WILL BE UPPING OUR DISTANCE FOR SURE!!!  WE WENT TO SEE THE NEW PEANUTS MOVIE TOGETHER AND WENT TO A FRIENDS HOUSE THE NEXT EVENING FOR THEIR TRADITIONAL "PIE PARTY."  WOW...MORE FOOD!!  WE ATTENDED CHURCH WITH THEM ON SUNDAY BEFORE HEADING BACK HOME.  WE MET ANOTHER SENIOR MISSIONARY COUPLE WHO WERE IN ANOTHER WARD THAT MEETS IN KATHRYN'S BUILDING AND THEY ARE FROM HIGHLAND, UTAH.  THEY HAD JUST RETURNED FROM AN 18 MONTH MISSION IN HAWAII AND THE NEW CHARLOTTE, N.C. MISSION PRESIDENT KNEW THEM AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD COME AND WORK IN THE MISSION OFFICE FOR HIM, SO THAT IS WHERE THEY ARE SERVING.  COME TO FIND OUT, AS WE TALKED TO THEM, THEY SERVED WITH ELDER AND SISTER HILL, WHO ARE THE SENIOR COUPLE WE HAVE BEEN SERVING WITH HERE WHO WILL HEAD HOME THIS NEXT WEEK.  TALK ABOUT A SMALL WORLD!  THEIR NAMES ARE THE ADAMSON'S AND HE IS ALSO RETIRED AIR FORCE AND SAID HE THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE AN AWESOME MISSION!  WE TOLD HIM IT IS!!  ONE SAD NOTE THOUGH, SISTER ADAMSON TOLD US THAT THE OTHER COUPLE WHO SERVE IN THE MISSION OFFICE WITH THEM, THE MAN PASSED AWAY DURING HIS SLEEP ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND THEY HAD JUST TAKEN HIS WIFE TO THE AIRPORT TO FLY HOME.  HOW VERY SAD.

WE WILL BEGIN OUR SERVICE WITH THE FT. BRAGG WARD THIS NEXT WEEK.  WE HAVE A BIG MAP OF ALL THE HOUSING ON THE POST AND WILL WORK ON EACH SEPARATE HOUSING AREA TO GET TO KNOW THE MEMBERS.  IT SEEMS LIKE A DAUNTING TASK, BUT WE HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME GOING ALL OVER THE CAMERON WARD AND MEETING ACTIVE MEMBERS, INACTIVE MEMBERS...EVEN THOSE WHO HAD BEEN OPPOSED TO THE CHURCH, SO WE THINK THIS WILL BE A REALLY FUN TIME.

ONE REALLY FUN NOTE:  WE HAVE A YOUNG SINGLE ADULT HERE WHO WAS GOING TO BE HEADING HOME TO MIDDLETON, IDAHO TO GET MARRIED IN THE BOISE TEMPLE.  HE IS ACTIVE DUTY ARMY.  WHEN WE MET HIM HE WAS GOING TO BE LEAVING THAT NEXT SATURDAY.  HE SAID THAT PRESIDENT BELLISTON, FIRST COUNSELOR IN THE BOISE TEMPLE PRESIDENCY WAS GOING TO SEAL THEM.  HE SAID HE GREW UP AND WAS BEST FRIENDS WITH PRESIDENT BELLISTON'S SON.  WHEN HE CAME BACK WITH HIS BRIDE, HE TOLD US THAT PRESIDENT BELLISTON HAD BEEN CALLED AS THE NEW TEMPLE PRESIDENT AND "WAS TRAINING FOR HIS NEW CALLING."  I THOUGHT THAT WAS SO IRONIC THAT WE WOULD MEET SOMEONE WHO WOULD BE RIGHT WHERE ELDER WADLEY AND I SERVED FOR 2 1/2 YEARS PRIOR TO COMING ON OUR MISSION.  HE AND HIS WIFE ARE NOW IN THE FAYETTEVILLE 3RD WARD AND HE WILL BE GETTING OUT OF THE ARMY IN 7 MONTHS TO GO TO BYU IDAHO.  HE, ALONG WITH 2 NEW YOUNG MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH SPOKE AT THE SATURDAY EVENING SESSION OF OUR STAKE CONFERENCE.  THEY COME OUT TO INSTITUTE EVERY THURSDAY EVENING AND WE HAVE HAD THEM OVER FOR DINNER AND HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW THEM.  SHE IS FROM SEATTLE AND ALL OF HIS FAMILY LIVES IN MIDDLETON.  WHAT A SMALL WORLD!

WELL, MANY FUN THINGS HAVE GONE ON WITH OUR GRANDchildren SINCE WE BEGAN OUR MISSION.  OUR OLDEST GRANDSON RECEIVED HIS ARROW OF LIGHT (YEAH BRETT!)  ANOTHER GRANDDAUGHTER LOST HER FIRST TOOTH (YEAH LILYA!)  ANOTHER STARTED KINDERGARTEN (YEAH ASHLEY!) ANOTHER HAS FINISHED POTTY TRAINING AND IS WEARING BIG GIRL UNDERPANTS NOW (YEAH JANE!)  OUR OLDEST GRANDDAUGHTER WAS SELECTED TO PERFORM IN A SPECIAL CHOIR THAT PERFORMED IN WINSTON SALEM N.C.  SHE WAS ONE OF THE 145 CHOSEN OUT OF 1,000 WHO TRIED OUT. HOW VERY PROUD WE ARE! (YEAH KAYLEE!)  OUR SECOND OLDEST GRANDDAUGHTER, SARA, THRILLED US WITH STRAIGHT A'S ON HER FIRST SEMESTER REPORT CARD AND WAS CHOSEN AS FIRST CHAIR VIOLINIST IN HER SCHOOL'S ORCHESTRA!  WAY TO GO SARA!  LIKE EVERYONE ELSE'S THEY CONTINUE TO GROW AND TO FILL OUR LIVES WITH HAPPINESS!  YOU KIDS BE SURE TO CONTINUE TO LET GRANDMA AND GRANDPA KNOW ALL OF THE HAPPENINGS IN YOUR FAMILIES WHILE WE ARE ON OUR MISSION!  WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU SO VERY MUCH!

WELL, I THINK WE HAVE ABOUT CAUGHT YOU UP ON THE WADLEY'S MISSION.  IT HAS BEEN A HUMBLING, SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE TO SERVE THE LORD AT THIS TIME IN OUR LIVES.  WE HAVE SEEN THE LORD'S HAND IN SO MANY OF OUR ENDEAVORS.  WE CAN DEFINITELY SAY THAT MANY THINGS THAT HAVE TRANSPIRED WERE NOT OUR DOING, BUT THE LORD'S.  WHAT A TESTIMONY OF HIS GOODNESS AND HIS LOVE FOR US.  WE LOVE OUR SAVIOR.  WE LOVE HIS EXAMPLE AND HIS TEACHINGS.  WE FEEL HONORED TO BEAR A NAME TAG THAT HAS THE LORD'S NAME ON IT, AS HIS REPRESENTATIVES.  IT REMINDS ME OF A MAGNET ON KATHRYN'S FRIDGE I SAW WHEN WE WERE OVER THERE FOR THANKSGIVING.  IT READ: "YOU ARE MY HANDS" AND HAD A PICTURE OF THE SAVIOR.  WE CAN ACTUALLY SAY THAT THIS MISSION HAS BEEN THE MOST WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE WE HAVE EVER HAD.  COMING HOME EACH NIGHT SO DEAD TIRED AND YET FED BY THE SPIRIT SO RICHLY THROUGHOUT THE DAY, IS TRULY A BLESSING IN OUR LIVES.  WE HOPE THAT AS YOU PREPARE FOR THIS SPECIAL TIME OF YEAR, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO BE ENLIGHTENED BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD TO HAVE, AS SISTER BEDNAR SAYS, "SPIRITUAL EYES" TO SEE THE NEEDS OF OTHERS AND LOSE YOURSELF IN HIS SERVICE.  MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU.  WE LOVE YOU.

SISTER WADLEY HAS, AS USUAL, GIVEN AN EXCELLENT UPDATE ON OUR MISSION. WE FEEL SO FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS UNIQUE EXPERIENCE OF HOLDING AN OCCASIONAL SACRAMENT MEETING OUT AT CAMP MACKALL FOR THE MEMBERS WHO ARE IN ONE OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT ARMY SURVIVAL SCHOOLS.  IT REMINDS ME OF THE CHALLENGING TIMES I HAD IN THE AIR FORCE SURVIVAL TRAINING, AND ALSO OF THE HUMBLE AND SPIRITUAL SACRAMENT MEETINGS WE HAD 25 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS DEPLOYED TO SAUDI ARABIA FOR OPERATION DESERT STORM IN THE FIRST GULF WAR.  THE SAYING IS SO TRUE THAT "NOBODY PRAYS FOR PEACE LIKE A SOLDIER."  WE ARE VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE CALIBER AND DEDICATION OF THE FINE MEN AND WOMEN HERE AT FORT BRAGG, WHICH IS THE HOME OF THE 82ND AIRBORNE, AND HOME OF THE ARMY SPECIAL FORCES.  WE ARE BLESSED TO BE IN THEIR MIDST, AND BE ABLE TO HELP THEM AS FULL TIME MISSIONARIES.  OUR PRAYERS ARE ALWAYS WITH THEM, AS THEY COME AND GO ON SO MANY DEPLOYMENTS.  OUR PRAYERS ARE ALSO WITH ALL OF YOU, OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AND WE HOPE YOU KNOW OF OUR LOVE FOR YOU, AND THE LORD.  HE HAS BLESSED US SO MUCH ALREADY ON THIS MISSION.  WE HOPE YOU FEEL OF HIS SPIRIT DURING THIS WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS SEASON.