We had a wonderful experience last weekend with a visit from Elder Oaks to our area. For the first time since we have been here, by request, we brought in all the missionaries for a mission wide meeting with an apostle. Accompanying him were Elder Nattress a general authority 70 and Elder Rawson an area authority 70. Elder Rawson is from Wichita. He served here as a bishop and then stake president. We have become very fond of Elder Rawson and his wife Linda, they are good people. Elder Nattress served as a mission president in the Gilbert Arizona mission before receiving the call he has now. It was fun to talk to him about Arizona since I grew up in Mesa. Our missionaries were wonderful in doing all they were asked to do to prepare for this meeting. I felt like a proud parent! We were able to get a picture with everyone which was quite a feat working with almost 200 people but they were in place and ready when Elder Oaks showed up.
Every single missionary got to file into the chapel and shake hands with these great men!
The spirit in the meeting was strong and I was a little weepy throughout the whole thing. Mitch and I both took 5 minutes and then the time was turned over to Elder Rawson, Elder Nattress and Elder Oaks. We had a special number by Elder Winegar, Radman, Murphy, Davies and Sister Casos and Bench accompanied by Sister Daly. It was beautiful and added so much to the spirit that was already there. The meeting was only 1 1/2 hours long and as soon as it was over the missionaries reverently exited the building and got back on the road to their areas. What a spiritual feast for us all! There were two more meetings after that we attended for ward and stake councils and then youth and YSA. It was a long day but so good. We got to spend a good part of time with Elder Oaks in between meetings and have dinner with him. He is kind, funny, and an all around fantastic person to be with. Sunday we picked up Elder Nattress and took him to 2 different Sacrament meetings. We attended the Park Hill ward and then the Kellogg Spanish Branch. After we met up with the others at an airport and sent them off on the Huntsman Jet. What a fantastic weekend or really I should say 25 hours!
Our daughters Becca and Kristin and their combined 8 children paid us a visit the week before my birthday. Little did I know they were coming. It seems like usually when someone is planning a surprise you have an idea that something is happening but I was 100% clueless. I was driving us home from 2 days of zone conference and asked Mitch if he wanted to stop in El Dorado for dinner. He said he wasn't feeling really well and wanted to just get home and change clothes and then get something in town. I was ok with that. When we got to the house he handed me my purse and said I'll get the rest in a minute. I walked into the house and turned on the light and all of a sudden my family is yelling surprise! I was stunned! Had no clue! It was wonderful and so much fun to have them here for days. I felt bad because Mitch had to do 2 more zone conferences without me but not really that bad ! 😊 What fun we had! I love my family!
One last picture before they leave. It was to bright outside so we took it in the garage!
Downtown Wichita at the Old Mill Tasty Shop. It was our first time there.
Grandpa having a gospel talk with the kids. It was really good and I think I even learned some things!
In July we had a Senior Missionary activity. All of our senior couples and sisters came into Wichita. We had dinner the night before at Olive Garden. A member of our ward was there and took a picture for us.
After dinner those that wanted went to the Keeper of the Plains and then we got ice cream at Braums.
Saturday morning we had breakfast and games plus we got on our family tree apps to see if any of us were related and of course many of us were! It was a great time and we are so blessed to have all of these wonderful, faithful and diligent seniors serving with us in Kansas. I can't say enough how much these missionaries are a help and support to all they serve! WE LOVE THEM111
And here is one last picture......Mitch with Elder Benziger and Elder Saari, our office missionaries, looking at the eclipse.
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