Summer is coming to a close...even though it is only mid August

Well, the children are slowly trickling back to Utah. Marissa & Brody headed out on Wednesday, Matthew, Kimber & Jack left last Sunday, Dallin, Jaclyn, Scarlett and Spencer on Monday. Zachary & Abigail leave on Tuesday. We will be down to just Tory, which will be nice in a way. I am anxious to have some quiet time with him and talk about his mission, future plans and just him in general.

We had a crazy good time all together. Having Grandchildren on vacation was very different for us all. They run the show! I loved going from one grand baby to the next for 2 solid weeks! I feel like I got to know each one a little better and grew to love them even more.

This picture just sums up Scarlett, full of energy and a love for everything!

Jack is a cutie with his baby blue eyes. He doesn't have much time for chit chat he is on the go!

Brody is just filled with pure joy! He is the happiest little guy all the time!

Spencer won't even know he has been to Gammy and Paw Paw's. But he has grown leaps and bounds since they have been home.

We have the most beautiful family inside and out. Everyone is at different places in life and doing so well, each having their own challenges and facing them head on.

Dallin & Jaclyn are in West Virginia. He is heading into his second year of grad school, doing physical therapy. They have made a beauiful little home there. They are big contributers in their ward also. They have the sweetest family and work so hard at teaching them the gospel.

Matthew & Kimber are in St. George Utah right now. They are about to have some big changes in their lives. Matthew starts grad school here in NC at Wingate University to do Physical Therapy also. They have enjoyed being in St. George with Kimber's family and little Jack is going to miss his buddy, Pa Pa Mark. I am sure that they will spend a lot of time on Face time with them. But we are soooo excited to have them close by and have a chance to spoil them a bit. Matthew & Kimber are wonderful parents. It brings me a lot of joy to witness my children teaching their children the Gospel and providing them such a happy place to live.

Zach and Marissa leave Utah at the beginning of the new year. Zach will be graduating from BYU and heading to Charlotte to work at Ernst & Young! We are beyond thrilled to have them back this way. Zach & Marissa a great parents to Brody. They are a power couple and complement each others strengths as parents. It is a joy to witness. I look forward to kissing on Brody. Its nice that they will be here with Matthew, Kimber & Jack.

Abigail goes back to BYU where she will hopefully finish up this spring. She is doing Recreational Therapy. She is enjoying school, being social, and serving in her calling in the RS Presidency. She is a pretty special young woman. Some man is going to be swept away by her. He will just have to watch out for her brothers.

Tory just completed his mission in Long Beach, CA. He will be heading to BYUI next month. I look forward to driving out with him,, my Alma mater! I have not seen that school in 30 years! He is excited about starting school and meeting new people and catching up with old friends. It has been so sweet to see how he has grown. He has a very calm spirit, he is so gentle and sooo funny! Great thiings ahead for that boy!

I am going to try to keep up with this family blog of ours. It is so strange to know that there will be no more missionary post. That was the whole point of this when Dallin left for his mission, back in 2008. Wow how time flies!

I have been blessed beyond what I could even begin to write about. So I will write about the blessings the struggles, our home, Steve and mines adventures (we better be having some of those!) Maybe this can be my way of journaling, who knows. till next time...

Last email...

I Love You All... I'll See Ya Tomorrow!

Famous Last Words...

Hey There Everybody, So I decided to kill two birds with one stone this week. The Mission asked me since I'll be going home in a week to leave the mission with a short testimony. Of All I can say about the last two years I felt these words sum it all up.

In The Words of Elder Holland, "God Loves Us, He Is Good. He Is Our Father... And He expects Us To Pray And Trust And Be Believing. And Not Give Up And Not Panic And Not Retreat And Not Jump Ship When Something Doesn't Seem To Be Going Just Right. We Stay In, We Keep Working, We Keep Believing, Keep Trusting... Following That Same Path. And We Will Live To Fall In His Arms, Feel His Embrace, And Hear Him Say... I Told Ya It'd Be Okay, I Told Ya It'd Be Alright."

These Things I Have, Through Experiences,Come To Know For Myself. They Are True.The Lord Has Been Patient With Me Over These Past Two Years. He Has Encouraged Me. He Has Strengthened Me. He Has Helped Me Change. He Has Given Me Hope, He Has Allowed Me To Find Joy In All Circumstances Imaginable. His Love Is Real. To Those reading This Who May Be Having A Hard Time, Take The Testimony of His Apostle and Know That Everything Will Be Alright, The Lords Got Your Back. Keep Trusting In Him, Keep Doing Your Best And You Will Come To Know Him Better. I Have Loved Serving Along Side The Savior. He Has Been A Faithful Companion. I Love Him, I Have Come To Know Him Better.

I Love You. Always Have Always Will. See You In A Weeks Time.

Love, Elder Page

(The members take such good care of them. The Finley's filled their cupboards with food!)

Times of transition...

Hello Hello,
I want to go ahead and say Happy 4th of July!!!! We are having an awesome P-Day. The ward had a pancake breakfast here at the church this morning and so that was a scrumptious way to kick off the holiday. Email has been good, and today we have plans to do some fun things, so I cant complain. This past week was a really good one. I have really felt that I am preparing myself, or at least trying to prepare myself to continue doing the things I have done on a mission even after I go home. There are a lot of things I have done and learned to do on this mission that honestly I will probably only have the chance to do while I'm a missionary, but this week I have really felt that we took part in things that I will have the opportunity to do the rest of my life and things that bring me a lot of joy. We have done things like, help members of the ward move, we have offered more service, planned and unplanned for the place we have been going for the past month or so, we have had the chance to give needed blessing to people, and ultimately help those we've been around feel the spirit and feel the Love we have for them and that god has for them.

These things are things that I know my entire life will help me fulfill my calling as a priesthood holder, bring me closer to the lord, and help me build lasting relationships with people. I am grateful and happy to have learned how important and meaningful some of these things can really be, while I've served here in Long Beach. I Love being a missionary and doing the things only missionaries can get away with doing, but the things I will be able to take home with me will be the things that I will continue to do for others and for the Lord.

That's about it for this week, I Love You All. And I cant wait to give more detailed stories of the mission when I return home. Until next week, Godspeed!!!

Love, Elder Page

Find My Sheep...

Hello Hello,
Its been a great week. Elder Poirier and I have done our best to stay busy and to spend time where we are most needed. Its been a week of finding new people to teach. That's been a focus for us recently, I always like leaving areas better than I found them, and when I got to this area it was already doing really well, so for me it was a tall order, but I have tried to do my best and Elder Poirier and I have worked really well together. I want to be able to leave this area and know that Elder Poirier and his new companion will have plenty to do and many people to teach and help.
The Lord blessed us with a family this week. We made a goal to find a family and its funny how it happened. We decided one afternoon to go by a girl that we had talked to on the street my very first day in this area, but since then we could never catch her at home. But we went by, and turns out she happened to be home, as well as her aunt who shes living with and her uncle was there too. They welcomed us right in and we sat down. Fernanda the girl we initially spoke with and taught speaks English and Spanish but her aunt and uncle speak hardly any English. So at first it was tricky. But with faith we said a prayer and just began teaching them. Fernanda was translating for us, which was nice. It was just one of the coolest experiences I've had teaching on my mission because as we spoke Fernanda was able to really process what was being said and teach it back to her aunt and uncle. Elder Poirier and I were even pullin' Spanish out of who knows where. It had to have been the gift of tongues. I was remembering vocab that I learned in high school from almost 5 years ago. After the lesson which was simple and powerful because of the spirit, we had Fernanda say a prayer half Spanish and half English. In her prayer she truly spoke with her Heavenly Father. She thanked him for the spirit that she felt and said that it was very nice to have that in their home. We left filled with the spirit. It was a lesson and experience I will never forget. I've already forgotten what was said, but the feeling will always remain.
I Love the spirit! I have recently gained a stronger testimony of the spirit and his role in the Lords work. And just in our everyday lives as well. The spirit and that companionship is everything. I am grateful for it, I would not be able to do what is needed to be done here without it. This mission isn't slowing down, the work goes on, and I am happy to be alive. I Love You All. I Love the support and the emails and packages and prayers from everyone. Its been Real.

(Service day)

Until Next week. More sweet stories to come!

(With President & Sister Tew, the last week in the mission)

Love, Elder Page

(Putsin, it is a Canadian dish, so Will will probably eat this alot)

The Ultimate Cliche...

Hello Everyone,
this week was definitely one of result which is refreshing and sweet. So for starters, Elaine Came to church yesterday for the first and second hours! We are making progress with her. Just the night before church we talked a lot about the sacrament and why its so important that we are there at church to receive it weekly. The sacrament is something I've been trying to understand and appreciate more recently. I've felt that as I've taken the time each week to really think about what the sacrament is for me and how it helps me I have the spirit more with me throughout the week and then I am better able to share my testimony of it to the people we meet with.
Also yesterday a less active member that we've been working with that has been inactive for the last 13 years gave a talk in sacrament meeting. He has come for the last month and he did a great job! It made elder Poirier and I so happy to see him up there sharing his testimony and making those steps to grow in his faith and testimony of the church.
Lastly, a recent convert that we've been meeting with, Brother Hoke, was interviewed by the stake president yesterday for the Melchizedek priesthood. He has been making a lot of big steps lately to grow spiritually. Family History work, going to the temple and now the priesthood. He is such an awesome guy! Its just been a blessing for Us lately to see all of these people who we care about doing things and making choices on their own to draw nearer to the Savior.
I've caught a glimpse as a missionary how Heavenly Father must feel when we do the things that bring us true joy and bring us closer to Him. I Love being a missionary, I know its the ultimate cliche to say that, but its true. I guess cliches are cliches for good reasons. I am Happy, and I know that the Lord has more great things in store for the remainder of this mission. Until next week, never doubt yourself, trust God, and be diligent.

Love, Elder Page

P.S. President and Sister Tew gave their final trainings yesterday at a specialized training. They cried , I cried, pretty much every one cried. It was sad, but one of the most spiritual moments of my mission. It was after a long testimony meeting where we were able to get up and share thoughts from the trainings and after all was said and done President Tew Got up and closed the meeting. He said, "This will probably be the shortest testimony I've ever given... It makes me happy to know that you can teach one another better than I can teach you... Sister Tew and I always have... and always will... Love You. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." I Love them, like their my own family.

Let the Holy Spirit Guide...

Wow, the first week of my final transfers already down. I'd like to compare the last few weeks of a mission to rolling down a hill in a shopping cart with no way to stop or slow down. You know that your journey will end soon and you will be able to free yourself from the cart, but the means by which you will exit the cart will inevitable be hard and most likely painful. I am actually beginning to now face reality. It's the hardest thing to believe that two years have passed. Going back to my grocery cart analogy. Although the end may be hard to face the ride until that point is none the less sweet! The Lord has continued to bless me, he has continued to stay by my side, he has continued to answer the prayers of members, investigators, and my own. The more I think about the principle of enduring to the end, the more it occurs to me that the Savior truly is the perfect example of one who endures to the end. Not only will he continue strengthening us, and comforting us and blessing us, he Cannot Stop. It isn't his Character to stop. He will always endure our trials with us, He will always be there to Love us and to Heal. I just have a strong belief in this, because my mission although nearing its end has continued to be as Sweet to me as it always has been, because of the Blessings which are being given and received. Elder Poirier has continued to teach me french and I love it! We have continued to get to know each other and rely on one another for help and for advice and strength. I know that we are meant to be companions at this point and time in each of our missions.

One last thing, before I have to go. I have so much I want to share and talk about, but I'll just share this story because it means a lot to me. This week we began giving service for a non profit organization that helps provides for the homeless. We sort clothes, shoes, clean the facilities, and help with meals for the people. Its been a very humbling thing. So the other day as we were doing service there, there was a homeless man who didn't speak much English who was waiting outside to go in for the dinner they were preparing. He looked at me and I didn't know what he was saying but by his motions I knew he was thirsty and need water. So, I went inside, got him a cup of cold ice water and he smiled as he drank it. Just a matter of seconds later he looked at me and without saying anything I knew he wanted more because his cup was empty, So for the second time I took his cup and refilled it and brought it back to him. He was just as grateful the second time as he was the first time. To make a long story short, this happened about 4 more times where he would want more water, I was amazed not only at his ability to down 6 cups of water in a 5 minute period but I also surprised myself. Each time he would want more water I would Gladly take the cup and go refill it for him. I wasn't impatient at all in doing this, I didn't feel nagged or annoyed. I think because I saw that it was something he truly needed, but couldn't do it for himself, I was more than happy to help him. And as soon as I saw this in myself I then had a strong revelatory experience that Heavenly father is like this with each and every one of us. He has the power and the ability to provide the spiritual water for all of us! And he doesn't only do it as we ask, but he already knows before we ask what it is we need. He loves us, he is happy to help us and to provide for us. I just felt blessed that the Lord would allow me to have a small spiritual experience to help me better understand the Lords Love for me.

I Love what the mission has taught me. I Love The Lord. I Love My Companion and I Love You Guys, All of You Reading this. Until Next week, Patiently Wait.

Love, Elder Page