Week 58 - All the comforts of home - August 24th 2020

My spiritual notes are two quotes, 

"I chose to open that door, I chose to open it again. It Is all about our choices. I chose to kick him out and I chose to let him in." this is what a friend of ours said who has had a really tough past and found the church later in life. The 2nd quote is "When life's too hard to stand, start kneeling. " I heard my companion say this one. I believe at some point we find the courage within ourselves, to turn to God. This is what we do our best to do, share our witness that God is listening. Have a great week,
Elder George

Who knew, just like in the jungles of Micronesia

Cafe Rio! We are eating really well.

A full size piano donated by some members.

My new suit - left by a departing missionary!

The members just keep giving us food

Elder Fullmer studying

Mattresses and everything.

We even have a real dishwasher

Plenty of practice mowing at home.
This lawn is not like a velvet carpet.

Week 57 - Seattle Washington Mission - August 17th 2020

          I'm back to mission life and gotta say it was a pretty easy adjustment. The reason why - My two zone leader companions Elders Taylor and Fullmer are awesome, they are solid missionaries and have made it really easy to get back to work. They teach well, they build each other and myself up, and they are fun to be around.
          Spiritual highlight: Wei Wang (someone we're teaching) said in order to receive an answer he believes in addition to reading and praying he has to serve people, he believes he isn't receiving an answer about the book of Mormon yet because he has to also serve people as the savior did. I respect that. I too wish to serve the people here as the savior did.
Once again,
Elder George

President and Sister Beard

Elder Taylor                                             Elder Fullmer

             

        

The Spanish members house had all these little toys on top of the
 piano and gave me a glass coke bottle because they all love coke.

     Right after I got my clothes hung up the closet the entire closet came crashing down!

 This was exciting for me and depressing for my companions hahaha. 

       

Someone stole our sandbags, which we need for our car wash, 

but don't worry our 24/7 toga wearing neighbor will find out who did it.

We were filming simplex testimony videos and I found this place
 Reminded me of pictures of the Sacred Grove. Kirkland, Washington.

Week 38-56 - Covid-19 and Quarantine

For the past 5 months Jacob has been home on a temporary release. The first 14 days were spent in quarantine. Then a whole lot of family time! In May he received his new call to the Seattle Washington mission. (Leaving August 11th) We were very grateful for the time we got to spend as a family again.

Elder Stoddard and Elder George just off the plane!

  

Social distance visits

    

Welcome home cookies and a whole lot of piano, ping pong and family togetherness!

Food, Food and more Food

Adventures camping, fishing and biking

Chandler and Jacob working on their tans?

Lake Powell Family Trip

Week 37 - Goodbye for Now

Within the week the missionary department called all Micronesia missionaries immediately back to Guam. President and Sister Hicks worked for the next 3 days getting flights for eighty plus missionaries to return to their homelands. Elder George returned home to Salt Lake City Friday March 20th @ 10:45am. He was given a 14 day Quarantine and issued a "temporary" release with reassignment waiting until the world is once again a safe place to travel.

After 9 months, this is not the end, just a detour for now. Returning to the Guam airport.

Sister Hicks and the assistants pick up the Yap missionaries. Back to the Guam Mission home.

President Hicks delivering the sad news - Missions completed
early for some and temporary releases for others. The missionaries
on the Isles of the Sea will return to their homelands. 

One last time all together - singing the mission song

Luggage gathered and off to the airport 3am

Farewell Elder Nascimento! He heads back to Brazil having
completed a 21 month mission. "Sipwap Chu" Til we meet again. 

 

      Elder Bataclan off to the Philliphines and my friend Elder Goth returns to Canada.

Sister Hicks, "This week we sent 83 missionaries home to Japan, New Zealand, Samoa, America Samoa, Mexico, Tonga, United States, Canada, Philippines, Tahiti, Vanuatu, Kiribati, and Brazil! We love them and they will be missed. They will be in our hearts forever and ever! We will continue to gather Israel on the isles of the sea! “The Standard of Truth has been erected [in Micronesia]"

After 23 hours a very tired Elder Jones, Elder George and Sister Christensen return Friday 

morning March 20th to a very empty airport.....No crowds, No happy families,

  

  

                                 

     No Posters, No Welcome Home Signs, No hugs...We'll save that for a later date.

Katie was the lucky one to greet her brother, Randy
grabbed the luggage and mom drove the getaway car.

stay tuned....