Mission Accomplished

Mission Reunion 2008

The Reason We Were In Salt Lake Last Week!**Read Story at end

Ron served in The UTAH SALT LAKE CITY MISSION in 1976-1978 when it was newly formed. As I told him this week, because of his choice to serve a Full Time Mission as well as WHERE he served and WHO he served with, my life is eternally blessed.

Because Ron had converted to the LDS Church at age 19 and was graduated from University of Florida, serving a mission was not something given much discussion. However, Ron, being the wise and spiritual person he is, felt that one day he would have sons and he wanted to be able to tell them he had followed President Kimball's counsel that

"Every Worthy Young Man Serve A Full Time Mission"

Ron most definitely served where and when the Lord needed him.

At the age when most Young Men are returning from Missionary Service (21 years old), Ron was just beginning his Full Time Missionary Service.

Serving In Utah brought some unique and choice experiences that could not have happened in any other part of the world.

He served most of his mission under President and Sister Eldon Cooley from Mesa, Arizona. President Cooley passed away in the fall of 2007.

Sister Cooley requested that all of her missionaries attend this recent reunion, not knowing how long her health will allow her to travel from Arizona for these reunions.

The Cooley's have been second parents to Ron, keeping in touch all these years and showing an genuine interest in Ron and his family.

At any time over the years, Ron could be driving down the road and his phone would ring....on the other end a voice would say, "Hello, Good Elder!" It was President Cooley.

The conversation would always end with, "Sure Love Ya!"

All of their Missionaries have been treated like this.

The Cooleys have an amazing capacity for love.

I will be ever grateful for their influence in Ron's life.

I am also grateful for the Missionaries Ron served with and the eternal bonds we have with them and their spouses....here we are 30+ years later and the love deepens with every year.

This is Ron with Sister Cooley

Ron, Sister Cooley, and Me

Rick Green and Ron doing the

"Sure Love Ya" Handshake.

As missionaries, this was their trademark after praying or

when saying hello and good-bye.

Rick Green and Ron
Rick had some exciting news at this Reunion...he is getting married in June!
Many prayers have been answered.
Cathy, Skip, Ron, and Shauna
Cathy and Skip are dear friends. We keep in touch and look forward to these in person reunions. They are just never long enough!
Ron and Skip
Valerie and Ron
We have had the blessing of keeping in touch with Valerie all these years. She is like a daughter to Ron's parents. Valerie was the dynamo force behind making this reunion possible. THANK YOU!!!!!

On the way to the reunion, we were discussing who we might see... we were saying, we hope we see Dale... we wonder where Dale is. Dale not only served in the Utah Mission, he was also one of Ron's Roommates when we met and were engaged.

It was great to see Dale and his wife, Renee.

**As andadded blessing, Elder Redfern (Skip) and Elder Mears(Mark) who served together 30 years ago had an amazing opportunity. The day after the Reunion, on Saturday morning, they went to Morgan, Utah where Skip baptized a man who they had taught 30 years ago. The timing was not an accident. This man was unaware of The Mission Reunion or that these missionaries who taught him so many years ago would all be in town. He had been meeting with the Sister Missionaries and set a baptism date. When he called Elder Redfern (Skip) to tell him of his decision and to ask him to baptize him, Skip told him that he already had plans to be in Salt Lake and would be honored to perform the baptism. Elder Redfern and Elder Mears have kept in touch with this man off and on over the years, never thinking that he would accept the gospel and be baptized in this life time. His wife, family, and friends are beautiful examples of patience, love, and long-suffering.

Most definitely, a Mission is never over. As Elder Redfern and Elder Mears recounted this experience on Saturday evening, I could not help but feel at a very deep level that many times, we never know what influence we have on a person or what will come of the seeds planted in a person's life.

Such a great weekend, such choice and eternal experiences!