Missionary Update

So it's been awhile since I even mentioned our

fantastic Elder Van Bibber.  Last week he celebrated

his one year mark in the mission field - hump day!

Apparently the missionary landmarks are as follows:

6 Months: Bump Day

12 Months: Hump Day

18 Months: Slump Day

24 Months: Dump Day

Here is how Taylor celebrated that day, burning a shirt.

It has been so wonderful to see Taylor mature and grow,

especially spiritually, while serving the Lord full time.

He is still serving in Kenai, south of Anchorage on the

Kenai Peninsula and has now been made a district

leader.  We think their district consists of three

companionships, one of which is sisters.

Here is a picture of Taylor, and the sisters in the car on their way back to Kenai after transfers in Anchorage. Elder Nelson, his companion, better be somewhere in that car too!

This is what Taylor said about that experience:

"  I'm not going to lie, it was weird to have girls in the car but Elder Turner liked it.  We had a good time talking and Sister Hewitt is from Vegas so she was freezing the entire time (it didn't help that she fell coming down off the snow when we stopped to take a picture in front of the sign 

when she was searching for a moose.")

It has been so exciting to see all the young men and women

rushing to serve missions after the Prophet's announcement

in October.   There really is something shifting - a hastening,

a re-committment, an excitement that wasn't in the

air even a year ago.  As parents it is especially fun for us to 

have Taylor be a part of this army of missionaries going forth

with such zeal.  Now as members we have to step it up

and help the full time missionaries find people to teach. Taylor

has been very blessed to have most of his investigators and

those seriously studying the gospel come through the efforts

and referrals of the members in his area.

More pictures of OUR Elder 

With Elder Turner from Weazer, Idaho.  

Elder Turner, Jayton - member of priest quorum, Elder Van Bibber