April 2014 Mission Experience

Our purpose in serving this mission in Missouri has been to invite individuals to "come unto Jesus Christ", as we have worked in the visitor centers, in our congregation, and wherever we have interacted with people.  In the process, our lives have been blessed and we have drawn closer to the Savior.  At this Easter season, we testify that Christ lives!  He is our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer, for whom we are deeply grateful.  It has been a privilege and honor to serve Him on this 18-month mission!

 

Elder and Sister Pyne at the front desk of the Independence Visitor Center, with the painting of Christ in the background.

Kansas City is known for its outstanding BBQ restaurants.  Here we are standing in the foyer of Jack Stack's BBQ Restaurant, in the Country Club Plaza of Kansas City.  This photo is taken the day prior to Sister Stobbe (in the red skirt) returning home from her mission.  We had a enjoyable lunch with Sister Fonua and Sister Stobbe that day. 

As we were leaving the restaurant, we were stopped by a family from Des Moines, Iowa, who noticed our name tags.  They asked if we were related to the Pynes from Orem, Utah.  We replied "yes" and explained that Elder Pyne's father was Samuel Pyne.  The father of the family was the son of Anne Pyne, Elder Pyne's cousin, and daughter of his uncle Max Pyne.  This family has named two of their sons, Sam and Max.  It was such an unexpected delight to meet them as we were leaving and they were entering the restaurant.

 

Having Chad, Abbi, and Anna Rose visit us in Missouri was a special treat!  Here we are in front of the statue of Christ in the Independence Visitor Center.

Chad, Anna Rose, and Abbi, at Preachers Rock in Adam-Ondi-Ahman.

Sister Pyne, Anna Rose, and Elder Pyne at Preachers Rock in Adam-Ondi-Ahman.  What a joy to hold little Anna Rose!

After the Cox Family returned home to Alpine, Utah, we were visited by Jerry & Kristine Jensen and Elder Pyne's Aunt LaNon.  Jerry is Elder Pyne's cousin, Kristine is Sister Pyne's childhood friend.  We introduced Jerry and Kris to each other prior to their marriage, and they now live directly through the back yard of Abbi and Chad in Alpine.  At 86 years of age, Aunt LaNon, who lives in Orem, Utah, is doing terrific!

Following the Jensen's visit, our good friends from Eugene, Oregon, Kent and Ludene Hansen, visited for a couple of days.  They were on their way to serve an 18-month mission in Alabama.  They will be serving in a Young Adult Center connected with the University of Alabama.  It was great to spend a couple of days together, talking about old memories, families, and the experience of serving as senior missionaries.

Elder Pyne teaching the history of the early members of the Church in Missouri during the 1830's, to Elder and Sister Hansen.

The Hansen's and Sister Pyne standing in front of Clinton's Soda Fountain, where Harry Truman worked as a young man.

Next to visit us in April was Adam, Jessie, Alec, and Maddy!  What a wonderful week we had with them!

Maddy sitting atop the horse in the play area of the Independence Visitor Center.

Adam, Alec, Jessie, Maddy, Sister Pyne, and Elder Pyne.

At the Kansas City Aquarium.  Great for kids!  We also visited the Kansas City Zoo and the Deanna Rose Farmstead, which were also great for kids.

 At Preachers Rock in Adam-Ondi-Ahman.

Adam standing by the Adam-Ondi-Ahman sign.  We took a similar photo approximately 12 years ago on a previous trip to Church history sites.

Sister and Elder Mehlin, new senior missionaries at the Independence Visitor Center.

Sister and Elder Kastel, new senior missionaries at the Historic Liberty Jail.

Sister Almodovar (foreground) and Sister Jorgensen, with whom we serve in the Independence 1st Ward.  We love serving with the sister missionaries!

The Community of Christ temple, across the street from the Independence Visitor Center, on a cloudy day in Missouri.

An interior view of the spiral top of the Community of Christ temple.

A painting of the Prophet Joseph Smith, inside the Historic Liberty Jail.  Joseph Smith, as the Prophet of the Restoration of Christ's Gospel in these latter days, was refined as a person and strengthened as a leader from the unjust afflictions he suffered in the jail at Liberty, Missouri, from December 1, 1838 through April 6, 1839.

March 2014 in Missouri

The winter months in Missouri are typically cold, windy, and snowy.  The last two winters we have had major snow storms in March.  This past week the temperatures have been in single digits or below zero.  Also during the winter months, the number of guests coming to the visitor centers declines significantly.  There are between 200-400 guests per day during the summer months, between 100-200 per day during spring and fall, and less than a 100 per day during winter.  In total we serve approximately 60,000 guests per year at both Independence Visitor Center and Historic Liberty Jail.  We are looking forward to spring weather, for the warm temperatures and for more guests to the visitor centers!  This photo is from the backside (south side) of the Independence Visitor Center.

 

This photo is of property owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, further on the south side of the Independence Visitor Center.  The Church owns 20 acres around the Visitor Center.

The east side of the Independence Visitor Center, with the Community of Christ temple to the north.

A group photo of Sister Missionaries at the Brenchley's home, after a pancake breakfast on February 25, 2014.

A photo we sent to Sister Allie Howe in California, for the celebration of her 20th birthday on her mission.  Happy birthday Hermana Howe!  In the photo, left to right, are:  Sister Forbush, Sister Fenzualida, Sister Morris, Sister Pyne, Elder Pyne, Sister Hansen, and Sister Gunter.

Elder and Sister Stevenson, who have returned home to Alpine, Utah, Sister Heylen, Sister Rogers, Sisters Hunter, Sister Zito, Sister Pyne, and Elder Pyne, at the Hallmark Visitor Center in the Crown Center of downtown Kansas City.  Hallmark is a major employer in Kansas City.

Sister Zito, Sister Hunter, Sister Rogers, and Sister Heylen, at the Fritz Railroad Cafe.

A selfie of Sister Heylen in the back of our Ford Explorer driving home from a P-day visit to Kansas City.

Sister Rogers on the same trip.

Sister Heylen, from Sacramento, California, who we served with for many months in the Independence 1st Ward and Independence Visitor Center.  She now serves at the Historic Liberty Jail. 

Sister Pyne's Birthday in Missouri

January 25, 2014 was Sister Pyne's birthday in Missouri.  Here is a flower arrangement she received from her mission companion, Elder Pyne.  She also received gifts from her children, a dinner out, and many acknowledgements from the Sister Missionaries in the Missouri Independence Mission.  She was well celebrated!

Our Ford Explorer was decorated to celebrate Sister Pyne's birthday.

 A hallway to the Guides Room in the Visitor Center was also decorated.

Cakes and cookies were also baked to celebrate Sister Pyne's birthday.

Sister Raymer also celebrated her birthday the same week.  She preferred fruit for her birthday, so Sister Pyne prepared mixed fruit, yogurt, and granola to recognize Sister Raymer's birthday.

Also, the same week, Ryan Brown, a regular visitor to the Independence Visitor's Center, celebrated his 28th birthday.  Ryan is developmentally disabled, and comes from a neglectful and abusive home.  The Visitor Center is his refuge.  Here he is looking unusually sharp, because he is showered, shaved, and wearing a new coat and side bag given to him by the missionaries at the Visitor Center.  We also gave him a watch for his birthday.  He was thrilled by all the attention given him, including from Sister Ray and Elder Godfrey, to Ryan's right in this photo.

When we took the birthday celebration stickers off our Ford Explorer, we stuck them to the inside of the front door to our apartment.

We also stuck stickers from our vehicle on the door of our apartment closet.

Sister Jorgensen, Sister Heylen, Mark Pope, Sister Pyne, and Elder Pyne at the Historic Liberty Jail.

Sister Moore, Sister Jorgensen, Sister Ogletree, and Sister Heylen in the Independence Visitor's Center.

At the Departure Breakfast the morning of February 5, 2014.  Sister Weng, Sister C. Wilson, Sister Ogletree, and Sister S. Wilson are returning home.  This breakfast was held on the morning of a major snow storm in Independence, Missouri.  The temperatures were below 0 with the windchill factor, and the roads barely passable, but we had a heart-warming departure breakfast in the Visitor Center, honoring these sister missionaries.

All the Sister Missionaries at the Departure Breakfast.  The snow was too deep for the Historic Liberty Jail missionaries to attend, plus many of them were sick with the flu.

Another photo at the Departure Breakfast.

January 2014 -- Missouri Independence Mission

The Sister Missionaries at the Independence Visitor Center and Historic Liberty Jail come from a rich mix of ethnic backgrounds, including Asian, Polynesian, Latino, Indian, and Caucasian.  This photo of Sister Missionaries represents that mix!  It is so helpful to have so many different languages represented at the visitor centers, since we have people from throughout the world visiting the centers.  Many of our exhibits, media, and printed materials are also in various languages, which helps us better serve our international guests.  Left to right, Sisters Medel, Borges, Villanuava, Harding, Ita, Weng, Fa'anunu,and Singh.

One of the difficult things of our mission is saying good-bye to sister missionaries who we have come to love and appreciate.  These four missionaries, from left to right, Sister Lettig from Utah, Sister Altier from California, Sister Moon from Utah, and Sister Spivey from Georgia, are four of our favorite missionaries who returned home in December 2013.  They will be amazing church members, spouses, mothers, professionals, and members of their communities.  Their mission experience will help them excel in all these areas.

 

One of the highlights of our mission is being part of the friendshipping, teaching, and spiritual conversion process of many guests at the visitor centers and many recent converts in our congregation in Independence, MO.  Sister Lettig and Sister Heylen are two of the sister missionaries we have worked closely with, since they are assigned to the Independence 1st Ward where we attend church services, teach Sunday School and Priesthood classes, and help with those who are investigating The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

 

The Senior Couples and Sister Missionaries who serve in the Independence Visitor Center and Historic Liberty Jail.

Although we are into the new year, and Christmas 2013 is completed, here is another photo of Sister and Elder Pyne, in front of the Christmas tree on the lower level of the Independence Visitor Center.  This is the level where church history presentations are given.

The sister missionaries enacted the Nativity on Christmas morning!

Sister Pyne, Sister Altier, and Elder Pyne in the first room of "God's Plan for His Family" video presentation.

Sister Pyne, Sister Moon, and Elder Pyne in front of the Christus statue, where many of the most spiritual moments in the visitor center occur.

We are grateful for Sister Villanuava and Sister Borges, two of our spanish-speaking sister missionaries.  We have many spanish-speaking guests!

Valerie Pollard was baptized in January 2014.  I had the honor to confirm her a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Anna Bella, a recent convert, is standing to the right of Valerie.  Helping friendship and teach those who are investigating the Church is a major highlight of our mission.

Sister Heylen to the left and Sister Jorgensen to the right were the primary teachers for Valerie.

In the lower levels of the Independence Visitor Center and Historic Liberty Jail are Teaching Centers where the sister missionaries contact referrals from all over the world.  These referrals are primarily people who have accessed the websites of the Church and are seeking to learn more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  With approximately 300,000 new converts per year, Church membership now exceeds 15 million.  This photo is of a training session for sister missionaries while role playing how to more effectively teach the gospel by telephone.

   

Sister Godfrey and Elder Godfrey are returning on January 24th to their home in St. George, Utah after completing their 18-month mission as senior missionaries.  We have become close friends with the Godfrey's since we work closely with them in the visitor centers and they live right across the hall from our apartment!  January 17th marked the 13th month of our 18-month mission.  We are nearing the completion of our mission.  It has been a joy serving in Missouri, but it will also be a joy returning home to our family, church, and community in Georgia.  We return home in mid-June 2014!