Fry Guys/ The Ukraine Donetsk Mission Experience

Friday, November 6, 2009

I'm Back in Ukraine!!

I went home for some surgery and everything went very well. The most wonderful experiences has been visiting with my family. I've posted some slide shows of my children and grandchildren. We've had some great talks and sharing our experiences and feelings along the way. I've been able to share about our mission in Church and Family Home Evening. That has been very exciting. I've gotten to know some people I sat by on the plane and shared the gospel. It was a great feeling. I had a wonderful blessing before my surgery from my son and son-in-law and all went well and I recovered very quickly. I visited with my in laws and gave them the low down on the mission. It felt so good to share experiences. I now know how the Kinghorns feel, being at home, and sharing about their mission. It is the most exhilerating feeling and I enjoyed every minute!I have worried about my husband while I was in St. George but the missionaries and couples rallied around him and he was well taken care of. I'm excited to be here and to get back on my schedule. I still get worn out and have to take things easy but I'm ready to go. We have 3 busy weeks ahead of us. I love and miss my family but I know that this is where I'm suppose to be. I'm grateful for this opportunity to serve the people of Ukraine and these great young men & women, our missionaries. I look forward to the next 20 months!!!

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Missionaries Arriving in September 2009

Here they are! Five Elders and One Sister!!!

Elder Barton has lived in Kenya, Bolivia, Nepal, Peru and Egypt! He enjoys tennis, ultimate frisbee, and is an Eagle Scout. He speaks Spanish fluently and he completed a Duty to God project at a Leper Colony in Egypt. We are glad he is here with us now.

Elder Belyeu is from Alabama but worked for a year in Texas before coming on a mission. He enjoys fencing, automotive maintenance and is an Eagle Scout. He recently served as a Branch Mission Leader and Assistant Clerk. We are happy he is in our mission.

Elder Ryser is from Sandy Utah. He is an Eagle Scout and is certified in CPR and First Aid. He enjoys sports, snowboarding, wakebarding, music and friends. He worked as a life guard for 3 years. We are certainly glad he is in our mission and grateful for his CPR and first aid skills!

Elder Lott is from South Carolina. He enjoys cross country, track, scouting, computers and friends. He participated in the Student advisory council, Beta Club, National Honors Society and Student Ambassador. He worked at ICareKits.com for 2 years and Coldstone Creamery for 2 years. Welcome to the mission. We are glad to have you here with us.

Elder Beck is from Oregon. He is an Eagle Scout and enjoys cross country, track, choir, work, reading and snow boarding. He worked in various Priesthood callings in his ward and worked on a farm. We are so grateful to have him in our mission.

Sister Burke is from Georgia. She was a part of the Marching Band, Color Guard, National Latin Honors Society in High School. She also enjoyed playing the clarinet, reading, writin, cooking and being in Young Woman's. She recently served as a Relief Society President in her student ward and worked as a resident assistant for 2 semesters. We are always so grateful to have Sisters serve with us in the mission.

Yummmmmy Breakfast!!!!!

Goooooood food!!!

The assistants, office Elders and our new Missionaries enjoying breakfast together!

We are always happy to eat!

Soooooooooooo Glad to be here!

The Fry Guys "Our Family"

This is our wonderful family that has been very supportive. Our Oldest is Tim. He is an Engineer, and is married and has 2 children. His wife Heather manages my salon while we are gone and their children are Payton -6 and Trey -3. They live in the St. George area. My daughter Denise lives in Cinncinatti with her husband Nick. She is a French Teacher and he is a Financial Planner. They have 2 little dogs - Chandlor and Charlie. Jeanette and Wyatt live in our home while we are gone. Wyatt is a Pharmacist and Jeanette is a mommy of 2 - Lucas -2 and Kate -1. She also helps out with the salon. Tiffany and Morgan live in St. George on the same street as our home. Morgan is a Seminary Teacher and working on his masters degree. Tiffany is a mommy of 2 and 1 on the way. Savanna - 2 , Gracie - 1 and little boy coming in February. Tiff helps out with the salon too. Jeff is 6 months home from his mission. He is working and preparing to go to school. He loves soccer and D.J.'s at times. Our youngest, Danielle is in a Performing Arts School in L.A. She finishes in December. She is now auditioning for various jobs.

OUR STORY

WHEN I WAS 16, I RECEIVED MY PATRIARCHIAL BLESSING AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STUCK IN MY MIND WAS A PHRASE THAT SAID "YOU WILL PROBABLY BE CALLED TO SOME OF THE FAR OFF PLACES OF THE EARTH SIDE BY SIDE WITH YOUR HUSBAND." WHEN I MET MY HUSBAND AND WE BECAME ENGAGED, WE SHARED OUR BLESSINGS WITH EACH OTHER. WE DECIDED THEN AND THERE THAT WHEN THE CHILDREN WERE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL, WE WOULD SERVE A MISSION. AS OUR CHILDREN GREW OLDER, WE REALIZED THAT TIME WAS PASSING QUICKLY AND WE STARTED TO PREPARE MORE SERIOUSLY. OUR LAST CHILD GRADUATED IN 2007 AND WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING OUR HEALTH CHECK UPS IN ORDER. WE WANTED TO TURN OUR PAPERS IN ABOUT JANUARY OF 2008. IN SEPTEMBER 2007, WE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM ELDER BALLARD'S OFFICE THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH US. WE ABOUT FELL OVER!!! WE WERE NERVOUS BUT WHEN WE ENTERED HIS OFFICE - WE FELT VERY PEACEFUL AND IT WAS LIKE WE WERE OLD FRIENDS. HE TOLD US THE INTERVIEW WAS A PROBING INTERVIEW TO SEE IF IT WERE POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD SERVE AS MISSION PRESIDENT. HE HAD A THICK FOLDER ON US THAT HE KEPT FLIPPING THROUGH. WE ASKED HIM WHERE HE GOT ALL THE INFORMATION ON US AND HE SAID " WELL I COULD TELL YOU BUT.... I WON'T." AND HE CHUCKLED. WOW. HE TOLD US THAT THINGS LOOKED GOOD AND WE TOLD HIM WE WOULD DO WHAT EVER THE LORD WOULD WANT US TO DO. HE SAID THAT THIS WAS JUST AN INTERVIEW - NOT A CALL AND WE WERE TO DISCUSS THIS WITH NO ONE. THAT WAS DIFFICULT SINCE OUR CHILDREN AND SOME EXTENDED FAMILY KNEW WE WERE HAVING AN INTERVIEW. TIME WENT BY AND WE THOUGHT - WELL MAYBE THAT IS NOT HOW WE WERE SUPPOSE TO SERVE. DECEMBER 5TH 2007 PRESIDENT MONSON'S OFFICE CALLED AND WANTED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH US AND TOLD US WE COULD DO THIS OVER THE PHONE. WE SAID, AND MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY? WE'D BE HAPPY TO GO TO SALT LAKE AND SIT IN PRESIDENT MONSONS OFFICE AND FEEL OF HIS PRESENCE( HE WAS NOT YET THE PROPHET). WE WILL NEVER FORGET HOW AT HOME HE MADE US FEEL. HE TALKED TO US FOR AN HOUR. HE TOOK AN HOUR FOR US!! WE LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!! WE JUST SAT AND NODDED OUR HEAD UP AND DOWN! IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR TALK HE SAID, "OH BY THE WAY... THIS IS A CALL... DO YOU ACCEPT?" HE WAITED FOR BOTH OF OUR RESPONSES. OF COURSE IT WAS YES!! WELL HERE WE ARE IN THE SERVICE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, FULFILLING WHAT MY BLESSING HAD SAID SO MANY YEARS AGO!