14 April 2018 - Saturday

14 April 2018 - Saturday

Well, this certainly was a wonderful and bittersweet day for two senior missionaries.  We had the Sathre Family, The Lasher Family, the Brown Family and the Gratton Family present for our setting apart this morning at 8:00am.   It was a very special setting apart with our stake president who gave us very specific instructions and counsel from the Spirit.  Thanks to Josie and Ali, we have a copy of those blessings with us to review regularly.

Granny and Grandpa at setting apart today

We went home and changed to our traveling clothes.  It was so difficult and tender as we said our good-byes to our precious children and grandchildren.  Then we quickly jumped in the car and began our journey waving our good-byes with tears in our eyes.  But we are excited to serve the Lord and pledge to do our very best in this mission!

Saying our good-byes

The last hugs and kisses for a small season

Grandchildren lining the street and waving goodbyes

President Russell M. Nelson is on a world tour and made this statement, in effect, while in Jerusalem;  We are bringing the love of God to the world so that the people will have that love to share with each other.  We have so much anger and hate in the world, and the world needs to feel the Saviors love for them.

We stopped in Orem, Utah, on the way to the MTC to have lunch with our dear friend Claudia Goodman.  It was good to see her again!  We served with her in Nauvoo and enjoyed our association there with her.  She picked a wonderful Thai restaurant that was one of her favorites and we agree!  Then she escorted us the rest of the way to the MTC and it was there we waved goodbye as we entered the MTC check-in and parking area.  We are grateful for the wonderful missionaries we have been privileged to serve with!

We settled into the lobby of the MTC and got checked in.  The desk clerk came and helped us unload our luggage and got us safely to our assigned room.  The area we entered into was the same door that Josie, Bob, Amy and Ali dropped us off in November 2014.  The room we were assigned was the same room we had in 2014!  The difference in feelings from 2014 to April 14, 2018, is about as different as it can get!  We were so unsure of the mission assignment in 2014 and the feelings were very troubling.  Today we felt joy in our assignments.

Heavenly music CD currently filling our room with joyful sounds!

How wonderful it will be as we make the effort to share the love of the Lord with those we serve with, as well as those we come in contact with everyday!  This is our desire and with His help, we can do hard things!  Actually, I feel very thankful that Heavenly Father has allowed us this opportunity to serve!  We love our precious family members and our friends for their love and their support, and especially their prayers!

7 April 2018 - Saturday

7 April 2018 - Saturday

We are in the final stages of preparing and packing the mission essentials.  It is getting harder for mom and me to think about leaving this precious family.  We are planning meals together this entire week as we anticipate the morning of April 14th!

At the gun range with Bob Jr, and Bob III

Teaching Cody how to operate the new zero turn Toro!

Having fun with the grandson's this final two weeks.  Baseball games and lawn mower training and gun range shooting are par for the course!

2 April 2018 - Monday

2 April 2018 - Monday

We just experienced the most inspiring General Conference in my Church lifetime.  On Saturday morning we participated in a solemn assembly to sustain a new Prophet, Seer and Revelator, the 17th one in this dispensation, President Russell M. Nelson.  It was so apparent that the sustaining of President Nelson was exactly what the Lord wanted for His Church membership at this critical time.

Every talk, every song and every prayer denoted the exceptionalism of this 188th Annual General Conference!   Helen and I are so grateful that we can, again, join the ranks of the missionary force!

We have confirmation from our Stake President that we will be set apart as missionaries on Saturday April 14, 2018, at 8:00am.  We are excited to be with family and friends on this special day for us.  Helen and I will then leave for the MTC in Provo, Utah, to begin our 10 days of training.  We will then leave the MTC on Wednesday April 25, 2018, and drive straight to Alcova, Wyoming, to begin our service in the Wyoming Mormon Trail Mission where we are assigned specifically to Martin's Cove.  We hope to see many of our friends during our service!

Our mailing address and contact information is;

Elder Robert and Sister Helen Lasher

Wyoming Mormon Trail Mission

47600 West US Highway 220

Alcova, WY  82620-8803

 (208) 520-6317 (Elder Lasher's cell - probably messages only)

 1-307-328-2953 (Main line at Martin's Cove to leave contact information)  or;

robertlasher@gmail.com 

Our home for the next six months... or so!

23 March 2018 - Friday

23 March 2018 - Friday

Here is a brief update.  Mom and I will report to the Missionary Training Center on Saturday April 14th.  We will be there until Wednesday Morning April 25th.  On Wednesday, April 25th, we will drive directly to Martin's Cove.  It is about a 6 hour drive and we will be officially on our second mission!  There has been a lot of information shared from the Wyoming Mormon Trails Mission office, and we are keeping up with our reading.

I have started my second reading of the 255 page mission handbook just to help me better digest the information.  I am also reading Andrew Olsen's book, "The Price we paid", and have gotten about half way through the 539 page book.  It has been a lot of fascinating reading that helps me better understand the history of this sacred site.  I tried really hard, 10 years ago, as the trek leader for our Rigby 10th ward youth group to understand what took place here.  But this time around, I am not only being refreshed on the history, but also I am appreciating more and more the sacrifices that were made.

16 March 2018 - Friday

16 March 2018 - Friday

I just wanted to post that we were able to spend the day with Hayley on her 12th birthday.  She decided that she wanted to be in the temple on her birthday.  We were excited to be there with her and especially that she wanted to begin her eligibility as a temple recommend holder to attend the temple!  Mom and I are very proud of her!

15 March 2018 - Thursday Mission Prep

15 March 2018 - Thursday

We are continuing our mission preparation with some additional expenses that we feel we need to make.  We are replacing the tires on our CRV and discovered that will cost us about $1,200.  Then we are getting some necessary vaccines from the Public Health Department that will cost us about $180 each.  Our mission prep expense is adding up quickly!  However, we are grateful we have the money to be better prepared with our time away in Wyoming.  

In addition, we had a windshield crack from our trip to Washington this past week.  Fortunately we purchased coverage for such an occasion when we bought the car last January so there will be no charges to replace the windshield.  

Once we return from this mission that we anticipate will be six months, we plan on build on to Ali and Jared's home.  I have put together a drawing of what we want to do.  It will be a separate space from the main house, but it will be connected.  We are excited to see how this will work out when we return in late October.  The only downfall to putting on the addition is if we are asked to stay in Wyoming for the winter and be there next summer.  That would make this an eighteen month mission and we are not opposed to extending.  Here is my drawing;

About a 900 sq ft addition

As of today we are 31 days out from reporting to the MTC.  What a privilege it is to serve a mission and to be able to anticipate our family coming to see us at this sacred and historic site!

13 February 2018 - Preparing for our next mission!

17 February 2018 - Saturday

Our mission call to the Wyoming Mormon Trail Mission was dated February 13, 2018.  We got a call from our mission president, President Lonny Pace on Saturday February 10th stating that we were headed to Martin's Cove as our assignment in the mission.  This is the mission we had hoped for and one that would help us better understand the experiences of the ill-fated handcart comping of Edward Martin and James G. Willie. 

Both mom and I were part of our ward trek in 2008 where I served as the trek leader for about 110 youth and adults.  I had no idea, as a convert to the church, what they went through or even who they were.  It was such a sacred and special experience back in 2008, that we feel it such a blessing to be able to spend at least 6 months there this year.  We report to the MTC on Monday April 16, 2018, and then report to Martin's Cove on Wednesday April 25th.