Back to where I served a mission!

Door to the Indpendence Visitor Center. Visited there on Monday the 16th just before heading back to Utah. It has changed since I was on a mission. The history rooms downstairs are technology updated. I loved the Eternal Family rooms and made me miss my family and ready to get back home to see them.
As I got off the plane in Missouri all the feelings I felt as a missionary came flooding back. Here I was with a companion in the place I served. There were times on this trip I felt like I need to go and GQ someone at the gas station when we would stop to get gas. Miles and I both felt like we had to stick by each other and not be seperated. There were times when I found myself asking Serena and Damion about their neighbors as if I was going to go tract their neighborhood.

After the visitor center we went to the mission office next to the visitor center to see if we could get info on a few members to see if they are still active and missionaries that served in Independence in 1998. No luck.

Me at Adam-ondi-ahman. This rock has special meaning as this is where Rock proposed to me in 2006! He was sent to Kansas City for summer sales and I was going to Kansas City to see a lady I taught and was baptized her son get baptized. Rock and I had talked about getting married before I got there to Missouri and I thought he would propose when he got home. Nope he bought a ring in Missouri and proposed. Poor guy, it took about 2 minutes to say yes but I am so grateful I did! We went and visited Adam-ondi-Ahman on Sunday after church. I love this place and I feel the spirit there every time I go.

THE NEW KANSAS CITY, MO TEMPLE

It is so exciting to see a temple in the stake where I use to serve as a missionary. I love it! The new Liberty Stake Center is right next to the temple. I love how the wards have grown. My first area of Kearney,MO had only one ward while I was a missionary and now it as 2 family wards and a single's ward. What once was fields of the Shoal Creek area is full of houses and a temple!! I got to visit with Pam from Kearney. I taught her until I was transferred but she got baptized and I have kept in contact with her over the years. I was so excited to see her. She is active, been through the temple, and is doing awesome. She was a scout leader and now she serves in Relief Society!~ What joy to my soul!

This is a satue at Winter Quarter in the pioneer cemetary. The cemetary is located just above the temple.

The reason for my trip! The Buddemeyer family got SEALED!! I am so grateful that they invited me and one of my companions to be apart of this! It is amazing and feels my heart with joy to see how much they have grown in the gospel, how happy they are and how the gospel has blessed their lives! I haven't seen them in 9 years and yet it was like we hadn't seen each other in months not years.

I was serving in North Kansas City and met Serena ( a less active member) and her two kids Darrion and Desiree. Damion her husband was not yet a member, had been taught by a lots of missionaries and was nice to Sister Miles and I but was not interested in taking the discussions again.

Miles and I was trying to get Serena to come back to church and she did a couple of times. I was at a meeting at the mission home when I had an impression to go show the video "Finding Faith in Christ" for a FHE lesson to the family. After the video was shown Damion turned to us and said "What do I got to do to be baptized?" HUH, HUH, Sister Miles looked at me and said what do we do. She was a new missionary and I had been out over a year. What a blessing. He was baptized April 2003!

Now the last 8 years have been rough, but Miles has been there when Damion recieved the priesthood and when Serena went to the temple. And now they are Together Forever!

They were sealed in the Omaha Nebraska Temple.

Statue in front of the Winter Quarter's Visitor Center.

Our visit back to Liberty Jail!

Oh how I love this place. It hadn't changed much, the smell, the tour, the feeling of the spirit. So many wonderful memories came flooding back as a walked through the doors. I was so excited to go back. Memories of tours I took there, youth groups singing Praise to the Man, a family asking to see for the missionary after visiting there, baring my testimony to a group of young adults at ministry conference at William Jewel College, etc. And just remembering the lessons I learned from teaching others about Joseph Smith's experience here. A Place Where Faith was Tested but Found Sufficent! I needed that reminder! The sister missionary who took us on tour Miles and I to bear our testimony after the tour was done and to be up there again where I bore my testimony so many times was wonderful!

I am so grateful I served a mission and was called to where I served. So many times I was told I was not a real missionary because I served at a visitor center and I don't understand this. I didn't call my self to Liberty Jail and from what I understand the Lord and prophets have inspiration on where you serve so if you don't think I am a missionary take it up with Lord. I testify there is missionary work that goes on at any Church History Site or Visitor Center.

I didn't want to go on a mission. I didn't want to be a Visitor Center Sister, but the Lord knew me and what I needed. I am so grateful I did and as I look back on my life now I understand more fully why I had to serve a mission. Things got resolved that I probably never would have resolved had I not gone on a mission. Serving a mission has helped me prepare for marriage, kids, life in general.

The sisters I got to serve with at Liberty Jail were awesome. All obedient hard working missionaries and the senior couples also! I was very lucky!

Thank you to my mom, sister and husband for taking such good care of my kids. I have a great family and am so grateful for there willingness to help. A big thanks to Miles and your parents! I am so glad we got to serve together as companions and that we got to go back together!