"Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only."
James 1:22
On Tuesday, July 11th our full-time mission will come to an end.
We have served in the Idaho Boise Mission as Office Staff for the past 18 months, and have been privileged to serve with two amazing Mission Presidents and their wives,
President John Q. Winder and President Randall D. Bartlett
If seems only fitting that we offer a special thanks to just a few people who have touched our hearts and made a difference:
The two counselors in the Mission Presidency:
Elder and Sister Scott Christensen
Elder and Sister Owsley
The Mission Office Staff(and lifelong friends) both present and past::
Elder Stephen and Sister Linda Christensen
Elder Paul and Sister Irene Anderson
Elder and Sister Hodgkin
Elder and Sister Sorenson
Mission Nurse extraordinaire:
Sister Smith
Housing Inspectors:
Elder and Sister Rees
Elder and Sister Phelan
Elder and Sister Watson
Elder and Sister Hicks
Elder and Sister Woodruff
All of he Stake Relief Society Presidency's who have graciously hosted our Zone Conference lunches.
Let's not forget the 46 Sisters and the 109 Elders who are currently serving as full-time missionaries in the Idaho Boise Mission and of course our family and friends who have missed us on special events and weekend activities.
We are sure that we have forgotten someone, but please know that you are loved and appreciated even if not specifically mentioned by name.
JULY 4TH
Shelby, Marianne, Sienna and Wade feeling patriotic!
Hanging out with the big boys
A new home for Sister Mata or Sister Lee currently assigned to Mountain Home,
thanks to the help of Elders Parker, Brisson, Brown and Arganaraz
JULY 5TH
Departure Diner and Devotional at the Mission Home 2nd Counselor in the Mission Presidency, Elder Scott Christensen and Elder Lundquist
Elders Lomax, Osterhoudt, Hawke, Harney and Lundquist
July 5th Departing Missionaries-"Returning with Honor"
8 newly arrived Sister Missionaries
JULY 6TH
Sister Bartlett had a birthday!
While she was in Twin Falls taking care of transfers we celebrated in Boise in her honor.
JULY 7TH
Grandson, Cale, had eye surgery and as expected was a super hero!
JULY 8TH
Elder Bastian and Elder Wade receiving "life skill" instructions from Elder Busath on how to properly install a washer and dryer
Sister Morrill and Sister Aquino, in Heyburn, grateful to have a washer and dyer
in their new home
Leaving their home in Emerson...
to a new home in Hazelton
Elder Wade and Elder Bastian happy in their new home!
JULY 9TH
Attend church in the Verona Ward
JULY 10TH
Complete Mission Office orientation for our replacements
JULY 11TH
Tie up loose ends at the Mission Office, attend a Boise Temple session, be released by our Stake President, President Tonn Peterson
As we close this special chapter in our lives and look forward to future adventures
we feel impressed to leave a few parting words.
For those of you considering serving a full-time mission as a senior couple, do not delay, GO!
No matter how you participate, this promise is sure: You are needed, you can contribute, and you will be blessed and loved.
Make Yourselves Available
“We need many, many more senior couples. … Make yourselves available. … There are few times in your lives when you will enjoy [so much] the sweet spirit and satisfaction that come from [serving] together in the work of the Master.”
“We need many, many more senior couples. … Make yourselves available. … There are few times in your lives when you will enjoy [so much] the sweet spirit and satisfaction that come from [serving] together in the work of the Master.”
Of all qualifications to serve, a desire to serve may be the most important. The Lord has declared:
“O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.
“Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work.”
For those of you preparing a young son or daughter, grandson or granddaughter, to serve a mission,
PLEASE STOP ENABLING THEM!!!
Instead, teach them important life skills
and they will thank you!
Finances: help them gain an understanding of money and how to use it responsibly.
Food Prep Skills: A missionary who doesn’t know how to cook could find himself/herself very hungry very often.
Household Chores and Maintenance: Missionaries often live in their own apartment and will need to understand basic home maintenance. And of course, they will need to keep their room and apartment clean and tidy which will allow the spirit to reside, helping them to be a more productive missionary.
Personal Development: Teach life skills and skills for hygiene, manners, living independently and emotional strength that will be necessary for young missionaries to live away from home for an extended period without mom and dad around.
Spiritual Progress: Help them to develop their own testimonies of Jesus Christ, the scriptures, living prophets, and the restored gospel.
Transportation: Missionaries do a lot of traveling via bikes, cars, buses, trains, and airplanes. Knowing how to get around is an important skill for missionaries. Have them practice while still at home.
Sister Busath's favorite scripture in the Book of Mormon is this:
"I will go and do the things which the lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."
1 Nephi 3;7
Whatever our calling, regardless of our fears or anxieties, let us pray and then go and do!
We love you and have appreciated you checking in
to see how we are doing in the mission field.
We are tired, scared, and excited as we wait to see what the Lord has planned for us in the future. We loved our experience in the Idaho Boise Mission and feel honored to have served here.
In closing, we testify that God lives! He knows us and He loves us. He loves us so much that He sent his Son to set an example, to pay for our sins and to die for us so that we might live with Him again.
Satan is real and will do everything he can to frustrate the Lord's work.
Joseph Smith really did see what he said he saw and because of that knowledge we have a duty a responsibility to share the good news with everyone.
The Book of Mormon is truly the word of God. And we have been promised that if we read it every day we will not go astray.
We have a living prophet on the earth today, Thomas S. Monson.
Obedience brings blessings. 100% obedience brings miracles!
By embracing 100% obedience as part of our life and acknowledging that we cannot love God without loving His commandments and putting Him first, He will bless us.
He has promised miracles and He always keeps His promises.
In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen
The name badge may be gone soon, but we plan to paint one on our hearts forever!
