July 18, 1982

Dearest Roy, Bob, Claire & Michael, Rick, Jean, Ricky & Barbara Jean, Ron, Ann, Susanna, and Russell,

We have really had a busy week and I'm sleepy so this will be a short letter. We left Monday about noon to go to Great Falls, Montana for a zone conference on Tuesday morning - we had to do some things on the way. Wednesday morning we left Great Falls and went to Missoula by way of Glacier National Park - we saw some of the most gorgeous scenery we have ever seen. They had called Daddy the week before to see if we would speak at a fireside on Wednesday night there - well, we have spoken at firesides in Little Rock for the last umpteen years so we didn't think too much about it. We got in Missoula about 6 and the fireside was to start at 7 p.m. so we went to the motel and cleaned up a little and then went to their chapel. They have a big beautiful chapel and the missionaries were already there and of course they were so excited to meet Daddy. They showed us some "flyers" they had printed up and we could have died when they told us they had passed out 400 of them in Missoula. In just a short time people started coming and before long the chapel was filled - I have never been so dumbfounded in my life. I just talked for about five minutes and poor Daddy was left with an hour and people had come from all over - he did a beautiful job though. After the meeting we met the people and there was a Regional Representative and Stake President's and Bishops and you name it in the audience. They really regard Mission Presidents very highly in Montana and it's the position they are honoring because they don't even know us. I'll enclose a flyer to show you. We are so sick of that pictures we could scream - we see it every time we turn around. One of the Elders in Great Falls is really a talented artist and he sketched a copy of that on a huge poster board and that greeted us as we went to our zone conference.

After Missoula we went to Butte for another zone conference - that is almost an eerie town - so many people are out of work. The chapel there is beautiful and it is a place where they expected Butte to grow - we hope it does. The missionaries there are really sharp and we really enjoyed that. We left Butte yesterday (Saturday) about 6 p.m. and got in Billings about 10 p.m. I had a week's laundry to do so it was midnight before I got to bed. We had to go to a dedication ceremony at 6 a.m. this morning up on the mountain side - it was really a beautiful sight. Then we had to hurry home and get ready for church at 9 a.m. where we all had to talk. I helped Brenda a little with dinner and now I am ready to go to bed. Tomorrow is "P" day and am I ever glad - Tuesday we have another zone conference but it's here in Billings so we won't have to travel. I hope we can keep up.

I know you must be tired of hearing about all "our glory" but I don't have anything else to write about. Annie says she doesn't want any "missionary" letters and I guess I don't blame any of you. It's really hard to not write about those things though because when you live in this environment you really get caught up in all of it and if we didn't we wouldn't be doing a very good job. The missionary program here is so much more successful than it was in Little Rock - maybe it's just because we're right in the middle of it.

Johnny got home from Fort Collins last night about 10 - he said he had a really good time. From what I can get from him the competition must have really been tough - the Explorer Post he went didn't do anything spectacular but it was good for him. He doesn't have anything to look forward to now - we wish he could find a job to keep him busy but they are few and far between here. He is really growing - every day he seems to have grown some more. He still hasn't decided where he wants to go to High School and it doesn't start until the end of August so he had a little while yet. Some people say "Senior High" is best and others say "West High" is best - we are in the West High District.

We loved your letter Annie and those adorable pictures - thank you and I will get yours to you soon. Jeannie - that picture of Barji and Ricky standing on the piano bench would take a prize - we have all our pictures lined up on the book case because we don't have any books in our apartment. Our things from Little Rock haven't come yet - it isn't so bad for us but Brenda only has the things she was able to bring with her. Daddy says he is going to call the church tomorrow and really get upset with them - he probably won't!!!

We think about little Michael all the time - wish you could come over for Sunday dinner again. Roy - let us know your address in San Antonio!!! WE LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH - PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO - COME SEE US!!!!

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