November 20, 2022
Dear Elder Ford,
By the time you read this letter Thanksgiving will have come and gone. We’re ever hopeful that you had a wonderful dinner and some opportunity to share the Gospel, for which we are very thankful - the Gospel and your sharing of it.
My first Thankgiving in Sweden was odd since my companion was Swedish and had no history or appreciation of the importance of the holiday. A member of our branch understood the holiday so she prepared a delicious dinner for us (without turkey, of couse). She used for the gravy an ‘American’ soy sauce, or so she thought. The gravy had an odd taste – she used root beer extract to make the gravy. It was odd and unusual, but I enjoyed it.
I have much to thankful for. Here’s a short list:
1) An eternal partner and family I care for and who care about me
2) A roof overhead
3) Adequate food and nutrition
4) The Restored Gospel
5) Friends
Today we went to Dave and Heidi Killpack’s mission report. Heidi is Grandma’s sister. They served in Pusan, Korea for two years – coming home a year early because their youngest daughter, Cambria, was diagnosed with cancer while she was 6 months pregnant. The baby was born healthy and now she will undergo cancer therapy, but it seems that there was a miracle in her life since the cancer has gone into remission. Dave said that his other children were thankful that Cambria’s illness brought them home early – a blessing perhaps during a dark trial. Their mission was COVID-challenged, they had only Korean native missionaries for the first year or so, and they had fewer missionaries that you might expect as a mission president. Fifty or so of their missionaries sang a hymn in Korean during their homecoming sacrament meeting. A few of Grandma’s relatives attended the meeing, and it was pleasant to catch up with some of them.
Love you!
