May 3, 2015

Hello family and friends,

Elder Chun got a surprise birthday
 cake at our house.

One of the missionaries that serves here in Concordia with us has a birthday this coming week, so we made him a birthday dinner and birthday cake. It is always fun to have the young missionaries over and visit with them.

We hope everyone is doing well. We have had a good week.  The highlight was a meeting with Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Also present was Elder Craig Christiansen of the Presidency of the Seventy and Elder Dressler, our Area Authority, yesterday. If you've ever had the opportunity to sit in a meeting with Elder Holland then you know how exciting and spirit filled it was. He taught us some amazing things. His passion for missionary work is contagious. He was both forceful and funny, informative and inspiring. It is  rare to be taught by an apostle in person, and even more rare to get to shake one’s hand. 

When we filed through the fast-moving receiving line, Dad told Elder Christiansen, "We are Jared Gorden's parents." He pulled Dad in for a big hug and said, "You just elevated to a new level in my eyes." Jared is good friends with his son, and vacationed with their family in Mexico a few years ago. 

Elder Gorden with his big baby on his lap -
Elder Teleuga from Hawaii

We also had an opportunity to have dinner with all the senior couples on Friday night before our Saturday morning meeting. It was good to meet the other senior missionaries from all over the mission and to have a chance to visit with them. There were 29 at the gathering; that included 7 that work in the mission office.

Today Mom was set-apart for her new calling as a counselor in the Relief Society Presidency of our branch. She has already been put to work. Today she has several assignments to buy food for some needy families. She is waiting to learn what her other responsibilities will be. There is never a dull moment. 

We enjoy associating with the elders and sisters, and it was fun to be with all 220 missionaries of the Kansas Wichita Mission this weekend. We all posed for a group picture before the meeting. We should receive our copy soon.

We received a sweet letter from Camilla yesterday. It is always great to hear from the kids. Thank you, Camilla. We enjoy phone calls from Jackson almost weekly. It is always so sweet to talk to him and Charlie.  Jack often asks if we are "done being a missionary yet." We enjoyed Face-Time with Greg, Scott and Lucy the other night when Nick and Caleb's families were together celebrating Sam's first birthday. Our grand babies are the best!

Love to you all!

Elder and Sister Gorden