Grandma Florence Speelmon

When I was growing up my family always went to Grandpa and Grandma Speelmon's house for Christmas Eve and had a BIG family gathering with all my cousins, aunts and uncles. I remember the wonderful feasts that Grandma prepared. They consisted of fried chicken (the most delicious fried chicken ever! from their own farm chickens that they had raised and harvested), potato salad, and other kinds of salads and festive foods, and hot homemade rolls & breads, etc. We always had a talent show put on by the grandchildren that seemed to delight Grandpa and Grandma. Then the cousins (and unmarried aunts and uncles) exchanged gifts from the names that they had drawn (or been assigned). My mom always read a fun Christmas story to the group of kids gathered around her knee while the adults sitting in the background listened. Sometimes Grandma & Grandpa would get someone (a neighbor or most likely Uncle Lee) to ring sleigh bells nice and loud outside so that all the kids would be scared stiff that they were going to miss Santa if they didn't get home and get to bed. (Actually this was a great way for Grandpa to prevent any interference with his customary bedtime of 8:30 sharp.) So everyone dashed to their cars and sped home, and the kids went to bed in a hurry! This Christmas Eve gathering was the thing I missed most at holiday time when I grew up, married, and moved away from my family. I would often cry on Christmas Eve when I knew that everyone was at Grandpa and Grandma Speelmon's in Idaho carrying on this tradition of joy and I was in Utah missing it. My longing for this special time in my life always made me want to make Christmas Eve a special time for my own family to enjoy a good meal and do something to make family memories. We have followed through with the talent show on Christmas Eve when we could and have had some great laughs and memorable shared experiences. We always have some delicious food - but never again have I eaten fried chicken that could in any way compare to Grandma's.

Grandma Florence died on April 3, 2010 at Aunt Ramon's home in Taylorsville, Utah where she has lived for the last 9 years. She was laid to rest in the West Jefferson Cemetery in Mud Lake, Idaho on April 7, 2010.

Thank you Grandma Florence for helping make my childhood one of happy memories and feeling safe and secure among many who loved and protected me.

Elder Pink the 2nd & His Hard Working Missionary Feet

Dear Elder Pincock,

"And now, my son, I trust that I shall have great joy in you, because of your steadiness and your faithfulness unto God; for as you have commenced in your youth to look to the Lord your God, even so I hope that you will continue in keeping his commandments; for blessed is he that endureth to the end."
"I say unto you, my son, that I have had great joy in thee already because of thy faithfulness and thy diligence, and thy patience and thy long-suffering among the people of the [Philippines]."
". . . I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day;" (Alma 38: 2-3, 5)

When I read these verses on Friday I thought of you. I have such joy in my heart for your faithful missionary service - thank you. I love you. Also, on Friday I was reading some of the summaries from the general conference talks in the Church News. When I read Elder Rasband's from the Priesthood session and he spoke of being assigned to help Pres. Eyring assign missionaries to their fields of labor, I could just see, in my minds eye, your photo being brought up on the computer screen before them and Pres. Eyring greeting you personally as if you were in the room with them, and then studying your handsome face and praying for inspiration to know "perfectly" where to assign you for your mission. This brought tears to my eyes as I considered the love Heavenly Father has for His children, and especially you, one of His missionaries."

Love, Mom

Elder Pink the 2nd writes:

"these are just some pictures of our church here in my area and the behind and front grounds of the church. i also took a picture of the sick tan lines that i have on my feet from my chaco's."

"guess what my nick name is in this area?

it is elder pink.

that's what all the members call me here.

same as what cory was called in his mission.

lol."

SERIOUS MISSIONARY WORK IN THE PHILIPPINES!

ELDER PINCOCK WRITES:
"As we were out tracting one day in the rice fields we were not having much success and then I saw a scarecrow. So I thought I would go and try to tract him for fun. I talked to him and I introduced the gospel to him and he really listened good, and looked at me the whole time. I tried to set a return appointment with him, he did not say anything, but he is always there so I guess we can go back anytime and continue teaching him!"

ALSO:

"This week has been a pretty good week. We have been working hard. The only crappie thing is, is that we have a lot of baptismal dates for April 18th but we have had to move them because they [our investigators] have not been coming to church every Sunday. They have to come to church 4 times in a row before they can be baptized, that is the hardest thing for our investigators. So because we had to move their baptism dates, if I am transferred on the 25th, I will not have any baptisms in this area, which will kind of suck. I have a feeling I might be transferred. I have been here for a pretty long time."

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, ELDER!

WE LOVE YOU.