Reflections

Upon reflection of my mission experience with Joanne, I can wholeheartedly say that it was a wonderful adventure.  I had hoped and prayed that our mission together would be a sacred time in our lives as I felt my mission to England as a young man had been for me.

From the beginning of the preparations for our mission there were serious obstacles. My diagnosis of prostate cancer nearly derailed the whole thing.  Thanks to divine intervention, we were still called to serve in Europe even though the medical department at church headquarters had advised against it.  It became very clear to Joanne and I quite early in our mission experience that we were serving exactly where God wanted us to be.

Wonderful experiences, week after week kept piling up the whole time we served.  I tried never to let a special experience pass by and take it for granted.  I have tried to thankfully acknowledge God’s hand in our lives every day. 

The COVID-19 pandemic created massive challenges but at the same time, we saw God working to bless his children and his missionaries greatly.  While face-to-face missionary work stopped completely for a long time, teaching sky-rocketed with the use of technology.  The prophetic changes in the systems of the church prior to the pandemic enabled a smooth transition to at-home discipleship.  We felt privileged to be asked to stay in Europe instead of being evacuated back the USA with most of the other senior missionaries. 

We made so many new friends and had regular close contact with the general authorities who led the Europe Area as well as employees of the church who work in the Area office in Frankfurt, Germany.  Joanne and I were blessed with good health the whole time we served and were protected from COVID. 

While we thoroughly enjoyed day trips and multi-day adventures as tourists, that is not what made this mission such a wonderful journey.

In reviewing this blog, one may understandably conclude that we spent a lot of our time traveling and sightseeing.  Actually, it was the experiences we had each day between our outings and even while we were away that were the most awesome.  My lifetime quota of castles and cathedrals has been met.  However, the beauty of God’s creations always energized Joanne and me.  For example, the Alps of Switzerland and of Austria took my breath away in awesome wonder.  To me, each testified of the existence of a loving God.

My regrets are few.  I wish had been able to do a better job helping some of the missionaries who had to return home early from their missions.  I wish I had kept a comprehensive record of the special experiences I had.  I regret not having been a better companion to Joanne, although she never asked for a transfer to my knowledge.

Joanne was absolutely amazing in her service.  Her positive, can-do attitude blessed me and by extension those that I served.  She was a good friend to other sister missionaries and great worker in the Europe Area Communication office, BYU Pathway and English Connect.  As we were confronted with new challenges and uncertainty in serving in Europe during the pandemic, she always rose to the occasion.  I love her with all my heart and am so grateful for her willingness to go on this adventure together. 

Our last days in Europe included traveling to Northern Italy to present training to the various zones of missionaries in the Italy Milan Mission.  We spent almost a week traveling throughout the mission with President and Sister Browning whom I had grown to love.  I had worked with so many of their missionaries during our mission that it was a tender mercy of God that I could see them in person and that Joanne could hear their gratitude for what I had tried to do in counseling with them.  What a joy to finish our mission with them.

I can’t really speak about the sacrifices we made to serve our mission because the blessings of serving so vastly outweigh the sacrifices.  They are not even worthy of mention in my opinion.

I don’t know if Joanne and I will have an opportunity to serve another mission together, but if we do, I hope it will be as meaningful as this one was to both of us.  I am thankful to my Heavenly Father and his son, my Savior, Jesus Christ for our mission.  I saw them work mighty miracles in the smallest of details and in the largest of challenges.  It was an honor to be an instrument in His hands during this time in my life.

To my posterity that may read these words, please believe this:

-       God lives in the heavens and labors on our behalf tirelessly.

-       Our brother, Jesus Christ, gave His life that we may live again in eternal peace with our families.

-       There is nothing in this fallen world more valuable than cultivating a meaningful relationship with our Savior and Redeemer.

-       I know of no better way than serving others and learning to love each other more fully and forgiving each other liberally.

-       The restored gospel of Jesus Christ is upon the earth and that path will lead us back to God’s presence.

Our Mission is finished, we're on our way home...

 

Just before our return home, there was a Zone Conference of Senior Missionaries assigned to the Europe Area.  What a difference from the COVID time when we were part of just a handful of missionaries left at the Area Office.  President and Sister Sabin spoke to us at the conference.

We cleaned our apartment and packed up for our return home.  We had previously shipped a few boxes home with some of our Europe treasures so we could comply with the airline baggage limits.  It was a strange experience to say our final good-bye to senior missionary friends, the young missionaries and mission leaders that we had worked with.  Off to the airport !

We flew from Frankfurt, Germany to Denver, Colorado where we cleared US Customs.  Everything was on schedule until our flight was delayed and then cancelled.  It was so late at night that the only option was to sleep in the airport.  Joanne found a semi-comfortable place and tried to sleep.  I wasn't so lucky in being able to sleep.  We caught an early flight in the morning and made it back to Spokane.

This mission release letter sent to our Stake President was given to us when we visited with President Julian to be formally released.  It is a loving letter that expresses the Area President's assessment and appreciation for our missionary service.  It has brought tears to my eyes many times as I have read it.  

To know that the service we gave for almost two years during difficult times was 

recognized and appreciated meant a lot to us.

Joanne and I were asked to report to the Stake Executive Committee and share our testimonies the next week and we also spoke in our Ward's Sacrament Meeting.  

Joanne gave a great talk and I followed her.  The Spirit was present in abundance as we recounted several faith building experiences we shared during this sacred time spent serving together in Europe.

It has been a privilege to serve the Lord full-time together, a sacred and special time.

Our children and grandchildren attended our homecoming via Zoom. 
(Thank you Darci for capturing this picture.)

Italy Milano Mission - Days 4 and 5 - Milan

 The final zone conference in Milan was powerful.  So many of missionaries I had counseled were there.  They expressed love and appreciation for my help.  What a tender mercy to finish our mission with a trip like this.  The Brownings were so generous with their time and attention trying to help us have a great experience.  Our hearts were so full for the privilege it has been to serve the Savior in Europe.

We had one day off before we had to fly back to Germany.  We spent it seeing a few of the popular sites in Milan.  The Duomo is a spectacular cathedral in it's design and detail.  You can walk around on the roof and get a close look plus enjoy the views from on top.

The Galleria shopping center next door to the Duomo was a great place to have lunch.

Leonardo DaVinci left a powerful legacy in Milan.  This statue to him along with other visionaries of the area was great to see.

DaVinci's Last Supper mural was something we had to purchase tickets well in advance to see but was worth the effort.

We enjoyed being hosted by the Brownings in the mission home and spent our last night with them having dinner and enjoying some fun games.  What a marvelous trip this was!

Leaving Milan at the airport we were greeted by another representation of the DaVinci Last Supper mural.

In appreciation to the Brownings for their invitation to the zone conferences and their hospitality, we sent them one of our favorite wood carvings from our favorite craftsman in Germany, Tony Sauer.

President and Sister Browning were thrilled to get this carving of Moroni.

Italy Milano Mission - Day 3 - Verona

 The chapel in Verona was very beautiful and unique.  The saints in Verona are numerous and faithful we were told.  What a great conference we had here.

Verona is home to the real families in the famous play, Romeo and Juliette.  We visited the home and courtyard.

The sky began to look very ominous and it wasn't very long before we were caught in a torrential downpour of rain.  

Public entertainment was a big deal to the Romans and Verona has its own ancient arena.

As the rain descended heavily, Sister Browning did some hard negotiations with a street vendor that suddenly appeared for umbrellas and ponchos to keep us dryer on our walk to dinner.

The Brownings wanted us to experience their favorite pizza in Verona.  It was literally over 3 feet long and delicious.

As if the three-foot long pizza wasn't enough, we ordered a little more for the AP's.

The rain subsided as we made our way to the car.  We learned enroute back to Milan that the mission home and mission cars in Milan had been damaged by a short but powerful hailstorm.

Italy Milano Mission - Day 2 - Venice

 Our next stop was Venice.  The chapel was a charming old building that had been remodeled as a chapel.  The conference went very well.

Joanne assisted some the senior missionaries serving in this zone as they prepared lunch for the group.

We had a few hours before we needed to leave Venice for our next city on the tour.  We went into this famous city of canals that is so famous in world history.

When in Venice, we just had to go on a gondola ride.  Streets of water is so unique.

The assistants to the mission president had their own gondola.  What a great time.

We walked about, had some gelato and other snacks as we took in some of the city.

President and Sister Browning with the assistants.

President and Sister Browning, Joanne and the AP's on a famous bridge in Venice.

As the sun started setting we grabbed a bite to eat and took a few final photos.

Off to Verona.