Departure Pictures

The Long Journey Home to Utah

Mission Departure February 2013

On January 30^th we were finally able to take possession of the new car that we had purchased to replace our old 2003 Explorer, which had a failed transmission, and 185,000 miles on it.  Our 2011 Kia Sorento is a little smaller, so we had fun getting all of our things into it.  

On January 31^st we said goodbye to our mission office staff and headed towards Boston, our mission service having been completed.  After a nice drive in cold, windy weather we arrived in the Boston area.  The next day we did some sightseeing in Boston, including touring “Old Ironsides” (the famous steel ship US Constitution from the War of 1812).  We then drove to Rhode Island.  We stopped the car so that Kent could take a picture of the sign with “Welcome to Rhode Island” written on it.  That made a full 50 states that Kent has visited (Kae got her 50 two years ago).  We visited the “Breakers” (former summer home of the Vanderbilts).  It is a huge, beautiful mansion.  We spent that night in a B&B on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.  

On Saturday we drove to Pittstown, New Jersey to the home of some friends.  They live in a very nice home situated on land that is adjacent to and part of a private airport.  Dave just has to open his private hanger, which is 200 feet from his home, and pull out his plane.  He can have it in the air in minutes.  We had a great time in church with them. We went to Philadelphia Monday and to Washington’s Crossing on Tuesday.  That is where General Washington led 2,000 of his men across the Delaware River in boats to attack the Hessian soldiers (German mercenaries, hired by the British).  Later that night we watched the move “The Crossing” on YouTube.  It was a nice movie about that event.  We have driven over 1,000 miles so far, and are just now about to head west.

Then we headed to Virginia on Wednesday, Feb. 6^th.   We spent two nights with cousins, the Millers.  We were able to visit two Smithsonian buildings, Museum of Amerian History and the National Museum of Art.  We then went to the War memorials. We had never seen the WWII memorial or the Korean War memorial.  Both of them were impressive.  We also saw the Martin Luther King memorial.  We were reminded of many people who have sacrificed for our behalf.  

Then it was on to Memphis to see our son Brian and family.  We plan on some fun times with them.  We have now driven over 1,900 miles, and have 1,700 more to go to get home.  

 

We should be home sometime after the 26^th.  We are scheduled to speak in church on March 10^th, Bountiful 23^rd Ward, 600 East 2150 South, at 1 pm. 

Pictures of November Activities

November Activities

Servoss Saga –  2 December 2012

It is much easier to paste somethings in rather than start new, so we are adding this Saga from our newsletter:

It is already the 2^nd of December and we just had our first little taste of snow here.  Unfortunately it did not stay, so we still don’t know what the “real” winters here are like.  The winter season is just starting though, so we should be content with the good weather.  

Another busy month has slipped by.  We started out November with a surprise meeting with a visiting couple at church.  They asked if we were related to Trent Servoss, who is our eldest son.   We were happy to say that he was our son.  They told us that they are from the same Stake of the church in Layton and know Trent.  We ended up inviting them (Dennis & Barb Carver) to dinner and then invited them to stay with us.  Tropical Storm Sandy was bearing down on the east coast, so they were happy to be able to stay with us.  We enjoyed spending part of the week with them and sharing our knowledge of the many historical sites that we have here. 

The next week we went through the national Presidential Election.  Although we were disappointed with the outcome, we knew that for some reason the Lord did not feel it was time for a different president, let alone a Mormon President.  We know that much good came from the awareness that the country attained of a good man with good values.  It also showed the nation that the Mormon church is not so strange.   We pray that Pres. Obama realizes that he needs to rely more on God and think more about the people.  We have been promised that our country will survive, even if it may be a rough road.  We now pray for the president and congress to make better decisions.  

Back to missionary work:  We had a week of Zone Conferences with good training.  We are always very involved at those times.  Kae stays in the office and handles the office duties, while the other three of us go to the conference locations to inspect the fleet of cars.  I return after lunch to the office to join her.  Then on the last day, Saturday, we closed the office and all traveled to Buffalo.  There we did the usual inspections and then attended the training with the others.  Kae and I were surprised when we were asked to bear testimony, towards the last of the meeting, with those who will be returning home before the next Zone Conference.  That was a shocking reality.  We will not be here in mid February.  The present plan is that we should be released to leave here at the end of January.  

We also had some specialized training during the month.  They were meetings of two zones jointly and required that the office staff prepare the meal for 70.  It is always good to meet with the other senior couples and the young missionaries.  There is much excitement here with the new missionary ages.  We have just received the notification on four new younger Elders that will be coming to join our mission in February.   We expect many more of the younger missionaries next year.  The mission is expecting to receive 100 new missionaries by the end of next year.  Mission boundaries may also change.  

On Thanksgiving Day we visited an investigator and her member husband.  They are the ones that we met at WalMart in October.  Jenn is still taking lessons and progressing.  Tracey is still healing from a car accident.  They are really good people and the LDS Church can offer so much more for them.  We keep praying for them and fellowshipping them.  

That same evening we went to the Hill Cumorah Visitor Center basement, as we did last year, and joined with 18 other senior couples for a nice meal.  We soon realized that President and Sister Christianson, Elder & Sister Jensen, and the two of us were the only couples that were in attendance at this event last year.  We can now say that we will be finished here the end of next month.  It is so great serving here.  There are such great feelings that come from serving our fellowmen.  

A week ago we made a trip to Ithaca to visit our son-in-law, Matt Pierce’s, parents.  We had a great time getting to know them better and being able to see the campus of Cornell University.   Elly showed us a bridge that he had spent five months working on, welding hundreds of joints.  Vicki works in a surgical unit and keeps very busy.  It was a nice visit to Ithaca.  We also enjoyed seeing Cayuga Lake (the biggest of the Finger Lakes).  This is such beautiful country, we will miss living here.  We do look forward to being back with family.  That is really where our hearts are.  

A great capstone to November actually took place yesterday, December 1^st.  The two LDS Wards here, Pittsford, Fairport, hosted a choir concert at 4 pm.  The local United Church choir and the Presbyterian Church choirs joined with the two Ward choirs for a wonderful program.  There was also some narration.  There were two of our members who entered the darkened chapel dressed as Mary and Joseph.  They each sang wonderful solos as Mary held the little baby Jesus.  There was a strong spirit present and the music was great.  After the program all were invited into the cultural hall which was lined on two walls with small Nativity scenes.  Everyone was able to mingle and visit with members of any of the three religions present.  All present were very impressed with the program and expressed a desire to do this on an annual basis. 

We look forward to this wonderful month and the special season that helps us to focus on the birth of Jesus Christ and the gospel that brings peace to the world.  Along with the gift giving, may we all remember to keep Christ in Christmas.  Let us all enjoy contact with family and visits where possible.

HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, and a glorious New Year filled with hope and joy.

With much love, Elder & Sister Servoss (Kent & Kae, Mom & Dad, Grandma & Grandpa)

Fall Pictures from Western New York

Report of our October Activities

NOVEMBER SAGA 2012

The big storm has missed us, extra rain and slight winds were all that we received here in Mendon.  The storm, Sandy, turned southwest and went across Pennsylvania.   We have read and watched video of the terrible things that happened on the east coast, including New York City.  Maybe it was the Lord’s way of reminding people that He is in charge.   We have not heard specific reports of LDS Church members or buildings that were affected, but there must have been some.  All of our missionaries were prepared and had been counseled to get to their apartments before 5 pm on Monday, and stay indoors until notified.  When Tuesday morning arrived and all was calm, President sent out the word to “Go back to work”.  We had been prepared to not go to the office.  We ended up just starting ½ hour late.  We just feel blessed that the storm missed us.

The cooler weather is here now, it was about 40 degrees today, and colder at night.  The feel in the air is more winter like.  The fall weather here was so beautiful, with intermittent rain.  We hear that this may be a more normal winter here, with lots of snow.  Last year was very mild.  

Last month we all were surprised with the new missionary age announcement.  The very next week our mission president was in a conference with 21 other area mission presidents and their wives.  They were instructed by some General Authorities about the impact of the new ages.  They really anticipate a huge amount of growth.  It surely is the Lord’s way of helping to hasten in His second coming.  President Christianson had to send his recommendation two weeks later.  He proposed a couple of plans.  We may receive many additional missionaries in the next two months and into the next year.   It is exciting and we will adjust to whatever is asked.  I could be adding about 20 new apartments to the list.  The eventual plan is to form many new missions in the USA in the next 12 months to accommodate the growth.  We heard that the number of missionary application a week ago jumped from about 700 to 4,000.  It is all very exciting.  The Lord is really hastening His work throughout the world.  The current 58,000 missionary force could increase dramatically.  Now is the time for us all to double our efforts. 

During October we were able to attend mission Specialized Training in Batavia and Canadaigua.  We were reminded about the lineage that most of us have from Abraham and that we also have made covenants and need to honor them and keep them.  That is one of the reasons that it is so important to attend the temple often and partake of the sacrament with the proper frame of mind.   We need to contemplate the meaning of the sacrament and every time we partake of it, we need to think of our Savior and His great sacrifice for us. 
 

On the 16^th we had transfers again.  It is always exciting to see the new companionships.  We have seen the Lord’s hand in pairing up unlikely combinations and then having them tell Pres. Christianson that they are happy and things are working out.  These young missionaries are wonderful and are so well prepared.  We hope that all eligible young Elders and Sisters will grasp the opportunity to serve.  It makes such a great difference in their lives and helps the Lord in His work at the same time.  

We had a wonderful experience recently that started at Walmart.  Sister Servoss saw a man approaching the front door from outside on crutches.  She turned to him and said, “Ouch”, as she looked at his leg (which had a large bandage on the front of it).  We walked into the store with them and the husband said, “I was baptized into your church when I was 11.”  We then mentioned to them where the church was located and that Palmyra was close by.  We gave them our card and said goodbye.  They went home and thought about things.  The wife is not a member of the LDS church.  On General Conference Sunday they decided to go the Hill Cumorah visitors center.  They had a great time and felt the spirit.  They filled out a self referral card and the next day were visited by sister missionaries.  They have taken several lessons and their two young children love Primary and have made friends there.  They are progressing well.  Yesterday Elders Servoss and Jensen were able to give the husband a blessing.  Today he said that he was able to skip his pain medication and is feeling much better.  We know that the Lord is blessing him and helping his family embrace the gospel.  Good things are happening.

May the Lord bless you and your families as you approach Thanksgiving and Christmas.  We know that Heavenly Father and the Savior are mindful of all of their children and the gospel is true. 

Much love, Elder & Sister Servoss (Kent & Kae)

Paula's Visit