Lusvardi Mission Reunion

In mid-October we flew to Salt Lake City for a mission reunion.  Fred Mensel was insistent that we stay with them.  That was warmly welcomed.  We so enjoyed our time with Fred and Jane.  It was wonderful to get to know Jane better.  Fred was the one I worked with in the paint shop.

Colleen and Allan Schmidt live in South Jordan so it wasn't a long drive for them.  She was everything Conservation and he was a master craftsman in the carpentry shop.

There were so many familiar faces of people I love!  There were also a lot of faces that were completely unfamiliar as they left prior to our arrival.  We served under the Lusvardis for only seven months.

Jane Mensel showed off her talents with others who perform some amazing music written by Gregg Draney and Philip Munoa.

So many young, beautiful faces.  I recognized many but cannot recall names as I didn't have much interaction with them. 

Larry and Jody Prettyman were some people that we enjoyed very much.  

So thankful for Mela Whiting for taking so many selfies with others so I could grab them off of her Facebook.  Here she is with Joyce and Tom Craner and Sharon Hayhurst.

This was supposed to be an outdoor event but I'm so glad it was cool and blustery and wet so we could be inside.  

Mela with Debbie Jensen.

Mary and Morgan Warner singing with the group.

Our dear Eloise and John Carlson.

We drove in the same time as Allan and Mary Howard and hugged tightly in the parking lot.  They were such a blessing to us as we rode with them to Hannibal each week.  When they went home, church was cancelled due to the beginning of the pandemic.  I loved painting with her although she was a lot slower than I.  Allan was the other half of the talent in the carpentry shop.  

Larry and Jody opened up their mission call while they sat at our table.  They will leave in early April to serve in Adam-Ondi-Ahman.  

Gloria and Rich Irion served as temple president and matron for the first few months of our service.  He is so funny.  I'm glad they were invited.  

Mark and Julianne Lusvardi put on a very specific event.  He was always very mindful of time.

Eloise with Linda Stapley and Pat Quirl.  Lovely ladies!

Sherry Robertson and Mela.

Maryjane Wadley lent her voice to some of the music performed.

Ian Baeten was there with his wife.  She was part of the Nauvoo Brass Band our first summer or maybe the summer before we arrived.  What a small world!

It wasn't nearly long enough to get to visit with everyone we wanted to.

One bonus of going to this reunion is that we were able to attend the homecoming of Doug and Jolene Bingham.  We, and the Carlsons surprised them and the tears they shed let us know how they loved us.  The Julanders and Kearls were also there.  There was no way to know that this would be the last time we would be blessed to see Doug as he passed just six weeks later.  We have lost three men whom we served with already.