Sister Vance is a new missionary from South Jordan, Utah. She has an amazing adoption story. After being adopted as an infant, sealed in the temple, and raised by wonderful LDS parents, she sought out her birth parents when she was 18. Her birth mother had since met a righteous man and was sealed in the temple and was anxious to meet her daughter. Her father had also met a righteous woman and was sealed in the temple and was anxious to meet her daughter. As it is, she now has three caring sets of parents, but is devoted most deeply to her adoptive parents. Sister Vance is 6 foot 1 inches tall, and her younger adopted sister is five foot 4 inches tall.
The Independence Visitor's Center is surrounded by beautiful flowers this spring and summer.
In addition to flowers around the front and entrance, there are flowered pots that surround all sides of the Independence Visitor's Center.
Sister Alder is from Mesa, Arizona and as a new missionary worked hard to be effective and valiant. She suffered from mono and eventually had to go home to recover. We are hoping she will be able to return to her mission after she fully recovers.
Some of the Sister Missionaries from the visitor centers sang at a special conference when the Missouri Independence Mission was split to create a new mission -- the Kansas Wichita Mission. The Elder playing the piano - Elder Top - wrote an inspiring mission song for the new mission. The Sisters are singing this song to the missionaries called to the Kansas Wichita Mission. The choir is being directed by Elder Brenchley, Director of the Visitor Centers, who served 24 years as Choir Director of the Missionary Training Center Choir in Provo, Utah.
As always, we enjoy going out to lunch with other missionaries on Preparation Day. From left to right, the Pyne's, the Brenchley's, Sister Altier, Sister Dalsing, Sister Erikson, and Sister Ewell.
Sister Pyne and Elder Pyne enjoyed a Preparation-Day in Weston, Missouri, northwest of Kansas City. It is a historic town with lots of antique shops.
Sister Pyne on the streets of Weston, Missouri.
Storm clouds gathering around the Community of Christ temple, across the street from the Independence Visitors Center. The weather can change quickly and dramatically in Missouri. The winter was cold and snowy, the spring was pleasant, and the summer is starting to be hot and humid. Missouri is known as a state of extreme weather patterns.
Elder Pyne's older brother, Doyle, passed away on Sunday morning, June 30, 2013, a few days prior to his 71st birthday. We flew to Utah to attend his funeral in Lehi, Utah. It was a very fitting funeral for a very good man.
Doyle's siblings next to his casket in the Lehi Cemetary. Left to right, Roger, Lola, Elaine, and Mel.
Doyle's wife, Judy (in the purple), and their children, left to right, Gary, Stephanie, Stephen, Jay, Kimberlie, Diana, and Greg.
Brea (Lola's daughter), Lola, and our daughter, Abbi. This is one of the few photos we have of Abbi being pregnant. We are excited about flying to Utah for a few days on July 30th to see the new baby. The expected delivery date is July 22nd.
Abbi and Chad at Cascade Springs outside of Midway, Utah. We enjoyed an extra day with Abbi and Chad after the funeral on Friday, July 5th. We watched the Wimbledon championships, enjoyed each other's company at their beautiful home, and drove to the Homestead in Midway.
Sister Pyne, Abbi, and Chad at Cascade Springs.
Elder Pyne and Sister Pyne at Cascade Springs.
Sister Litteg, Sister Rogers, and Mark, an investigator we are helping teach. This photo is outside the Independence Stake Center, which is located just east of the Independence Visitor's Center.
Three of our wonderful Sister Missionaries who have completed their missions. Left to right, Sister Castellano, Sister Peterson, and Sister Sant.
Sister Zito from Draper, Utah, and Sister Call, from Newport Beach, California.
Sister Moon (left) will be taking the place of Sister Sant as a Sister Leader in the Missouri Independence Mission. We will miss Sister Sant. She has served at the visitor center for the past 11 months, including all of our time on our mission. She has been a superb missionary and an excellent leader. We wish her the very best as she returns to her home in Virginia.
A new senior couple, Elder and Sister Jones, who we helped orient to their calling at the Independence Visitor's Center. They are from Santaquin, Utah. He worked over 30 years as a locomotive engineer.
Many of the Independence Visitor Center sister missionaries in the frontier cabin of the visitor center.
Sister and Elder Stevenson, and Sister Thurston. The Stevenson's are from Alpine, Utah, just north of where Abbi and Chad live.
