Showing posts with label missionary work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label missionary work. Show all posts

Jul 19, 2011

20 years!

Twenty years ago I met some of the most amazing people that changed my life forever.  These were the deaf program missionaries in the MTC!  We had a really close district. There were about 17 or 18 of us (including an older deaf couple) and our teachers used to tell us that we were the closest group they had ever seen.  We all really loved each other and learned so much from each other.  
When you serve a deaf program mission, it's unlike any other mission.  Usually, your companion and you are the only two ( with a few exceptions) in the mission. No one else understands what it's like.  You also are transferred a couple of times (thankfully, I was only transferred once) and when I say transferred, I mean you get on a plane and fly to an entire new mission with new rules, new president, new missionaries.
2 weeks ago, we had a 20 year reunion!  Only 8 of us were able to come, but boy it was sure fun!  We often commented that when we think of our mission friends, these are the people we think of.  Isn't that weird?  We were only with each other for 2 months!  It's amazing how the gospel, the spirit and a culture can bring people so close together!
This may just look like people standing there, but actually, it's a few of us  "chatting" (signing)

Here's 2 of my favorite elders.  Brek Bolton and Travis Cook. They made the MTC so fun! They were the clowns of the bunch

This is Anne Minnich Framptom.....she was in a threesome with me in the MTC but then we served together for 9 months and then were roommates for 3 years after the mission.

Back: Sister Wendy Weaver Ormsby, Anne Minnich Framptom, me, Julie Banks Peery
Front: Elder Steven Swain, Brad Houck, Travis Cook, Brek Bolton


It sure was great to see you all!  We'll see what another 20 years brings......not that we have to wait that long!

Sep 8, 2010

In the Hollow of Thy Hand

My nephew Derek returned from his mission on Monday. We went to the airport to see him come home.
I cried when he arrived. So proud of him and just the fact that he served an honorable mission. I have a special place in my heart for missionary work.
The 5 brothers


Richie and Derek



Proud father and son


Sign reads Welcome Home Elder Griffin!

As we were waiting for him, I realized that another group there was waiting for a sister missionary in the same mission....that sister missionary turned out to be one of my students!  So cool! Also, there were 3 other former students of mine there waiting for her. One of which went on an ASL mission!  I get so excited when I find out that someone, to whom I taught the language, went and served the Lord using that language!  So cool!