FROM MISSIONARY TO A TEXAS FARMER'S WIFE!: A New Year! January 8 2017

I've always loved the first of each year! It brings new hope, anticipation, excitement, and a commitment to do better! This new year will bring to a close the two missions we have served in the past 2 years. We left home on August 26, 2015, taking the scenic route to Washington DC, to serve 6 months in the DC Temple. At that point, 2017 seemed such a long way off, and to think of being gone for 2 years seemed a little scary. It would be difficult to leave our home in the care of people we rented to, and didn't know. It would be hard to leave behind our children and Grandchildren, knowing wouldn't see most of them for 2 years. But we willingly accepted the Call to serve the Lord! In spite of all the unknowns, we were very excited!! We met with Elder Schwitzer, and after we accepted the call to serve as the AMA, he gave us some advice. To visit our kids and grandkids and family before we left for our missions. So that's what we did starting June 29 to August 26 when we headed east. We stopped in Texas for extended visits with Glenn's family.
As we start this new year, I look back at the last year and a half, and I can't help but have so much love and gratitude to our Heavenly Father for the wonderful journey we have been on. It's not been without it's struggles, aka.....kidney stones.....problems at home with the renters, till they moved out 8 months later. It cost us five grand+!! Bed bugs.....but the blessings far out weigh the others. We have seen all of our kids blessed in so many ways!!! We have also been blessed in ways we never would have imagined! Having never been in Missouri before our mission, we have loved serving here and being able to become familiar with all the Church History sights. We have also been able to take everyone who has come to visit us on a tour of all these sights. Our testimonies of the Gospel, the Prophet Joseph Smith, and the restored Gospel have grown!! Aside from Glenn being the AMA, we have been able to Host at the Liberty Jail, and the Independence VC. We love doing that, and have had some wonderful experiences serving there. We have also seen part of the mission, when we go with the Housing Director and his wife, Elder and Sister Ross, to help move and clean missionary apartments when they move! Four weeks ago we were set apart as ordinances workers in the Kansas City Temple. We work every Thursday morning! I also think I have done more baking and cooking since coming here than I've done in quite some time. I love it! Everyone who knows me is aware that that is something I love to do!!!!

So now that it's January, we're winding down on our two year missionary service. Looking back I wonder how it went by so fast! The memories, the friends, the people, and the wonderful experiences we have had will have an impact on our life for good. We definitely are better for having experienced it all. And we would never have experienced any of it, if we hadn't "heeded the call" to serve a mission. We would never trade these past two years for anything else in the world. We have missed our kids and our grand babies immensely, but it has been a sacrifice well worth it! I wish I could get the message out to ALL the Senior couples out there of the joy of serving a mission!! What a legacy you can leave to your family, and posterity!! Sacrifice DOES bring forth the blessings of Heaven! We testify of that!

Until next time,
Say your prayers and be Happy!!!
Much Love, Elder and Sister Tefteller

Here are some wonderful memories of the past year and a half......