Elder Jason E. Otis is coming home!

Today will be another one of those memorable blips in time for our family. Elder Jason Edward Otis is coming home from Los Angeles tonight! He's been serving a full time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for two full years.

As a family we have seen amazing personal growth in Elder Otis. He has become a spiritual giant of sorts. He's gained personal self esteem in many areas of his life including his gift as an accomplished singer. We always knew he had it in him to be amazing! It's nice to know we were all so right!

In the previous months, Elder Otis has been a zone leader and has done a very good job from what I hear. He is on top of the world and has loved every minute of his mission. He loves the Lord dearly and takes each day in stride.

His letters home have been filled with joy, fun and a depth we love to hear in his written voice. He has found his gift for writing and has begun putting his pen to paper while writing a book. I have to say that makes me a very proud mom!

The thing I've heard the most from people who write to me across the miles-- is that he makes people weep as they listen to him sing. He has such a pure voice and such a spiritual depth to his presence, that it is a joy to listen to in a congregation. Personally I think his testimony of Jesus Christ rings true through his music. I feel this fact to be true. I can hardly wait to hear it myself very soon.

As we've written back and forth through the past two years, I've gotten to know my son a lot better. I have come to respect him and love him a great deal more. Gone are the childish antics of days past. He has matured and become a giant among men. It's a blessing to hear from perfect strangers about the good he has accomplished.

I have laughed right out loud when I've read his letters. His playful banter and description of the moment when he was being persecuted by one homeless man and defended by another after Prop 8 was passed-- will make for great reading for years to come. His new found spiritual maturity will serve him well in the years to come.

Gosh I can hardly wait for the plane to land tonight at 9:07pm! We will be the rowdy, expectant family, smiling from ear to ear-- while waiting at the base of the escalator for the first peek at our return missionary. My heart jumps at the thought and I know that many others are feeling the same way today.

They do come home. I'm so grateful! We all love him so much.

Two Letters and a Terry Update

Guest House in Sweden above
I tried without success to post our Elders letters on Monday due to the holiday and travel plans it didn't work out. So, here are this weeks letters and some photo's of our Elder in Sweden this week. Please pray that Russia will allow him to go back into the country. I hear that now all elders who (Swedish Temple Above)return are given even shorter visa's and must leave every 70 days now. I'm posting Elder Matthew Otis's letter first and then Elder Jason Otis's second. Enjoy!

"Hey Family,

Well, sorry I didn't write you guys yesterday, we kind of crashed after our flight over here. Then in the evening we had a fire side, so we didn't get our emailing done. And I'm pretty tired right now so I'll just write you a quick note, I can write periodically through the week, so I'm not in a big hurry. Well, I just want to say that this place is amazing. We are staying in the guest home, at least I think that's what it's called, and it is really nice. I'm sleeping on a good bed for the first time in....7 months and have access to washing machines, and dryers. But besides that, it's beautiful here. Sweden is a pretty amazing place. We won't be going out into the city until Monday, but the flight in and the train ride was great. Today we did service in the morning, I went around with a big gas powered leaf blower blowing leaves. Then we were in the temple until 5, I did two endowment sessions, the second one they did it in Russian for us missionaries. It was a pretty neat experience. It's really great going back to the temple after not having been to a session in over a year and a half, it was really refreshing.

So I'd like to tell you whats been going on over here for us missionaries. I guess there is a group here from Samara who has been here for almost three weeks, there has been problems getting visas renewed here and we don't exactly know whats going to happen. We are waiting on word from Moscow, and until then we are all stuck here. But it's not like it's bad here or anything, it's wonderful being here, but it's taking a lot away from our missions having so many missionaries here in Sweden. But, maybe this is all meant to be. We are getting so much temple work done. I guess after the Finland temple was built, this temple lost half of it's attendance, and having us missionaries here brought it back up to where it was, so the temple workers just love us. The Swedish people are so nice, most everyone can speak understandable English, so it's easy to get around. It's so weird leaving Russia and seeing how much better other countries are. Most of the times it's just little things that you take for granted, like customer service and drinkable tap water, but it just feels so much different here. Don't really know how to describe it, but there is a tangible difference. But we are just hoping we will be able to get back there quickly, so pray for us to get back into the game. I really wouldn't like to go to another country for the rest of my mission.

I'm glad that dad's surgery went well, glad to hear that he's doing good. Well, I'm just trying to soak up knowledge while I'm here, I won't have another opportunity like this for rest of my life I don't think. We get to regularly talk with the temple president in the temple and ask him any questions we have about the temple or just about anything. This is a great place, and I'm going to try and enjoy every minute of it.

Love,

Matt

Next is Elder Jason Otis's letter from Los Angeles.

"Heya!

I didn't write yesterday cuz it was Columbus day and all the libraries were closed. So that's my excuse, not sure about Matt. I don't think they have Columbus day in Russia ; )
You know, it's really funny how many people keep asking me how my dad is. It's nice to know that people love me! Heehaw. I think for all the people that are praying for dad, God would just heal him to get us to be quiet! HA! You're well taken care of Dad!
So other people mentioned that I bore my testimony? Must've been Elder Moake huh ; ) He's a good guy. Definitely one of the better missionaries here in L.A. It's still really funny to me that you have so many connections mom. If I ever poke fun at you for it just know that I'm actually quite impressed with you. You've done a lot of good for people in the last couple of years and I know the Lord is blessing you now for it. Dad too of course! Our whole family is experiencing the blessings that come from faithful service to the Lord. "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God". You have been serving God by serving others. That's what the Gospel is all about.
Things are heating up around here with the election coming up. Also things are pretty tense about the whole "Proposition 8" thing. That's the bill that will define marriage as between a man and a woman in the California constitution. All the members of the church here have been doing phone calls and knocking doors and handing out signs to support the proposition along with a coalition of other religions. The quorum of the 12 just gave all of California a fireside via satellite asking everyone to give at least 4 hours of work to this effort every week until the vote happens. By far our church has done more for this proposition than anyone else which is really cool. I wish I could help in some way but us missionaries are to stay out of it. In light of the present economy and the election and proposition 8 it seems like California is ripe for the 2nd Coming. ; ) Of course we know that's not going to happen quite yet but the scene is rather intense around here. And it's only going to get worse. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I will never live in California!!
Today I'm on "splits" with Elder Romrell here in Malibu. He's a greenie from Idaho Falls and is an awesome missionary. It's one of my duties as a district leader to go on "splits" once a transfer with every Elder in my district. While doing so I observe the missionary and give feedback at the end of the day. It's always a fun experience. Today we're going to do some tracting up in the Palisades near Malibu. I love driving around in the hills! We also have dinner Scheduled with Rick Schroder finally. He just got back into town from wherever he was filming some movie. I also got to meet Micheal Mclean and his wife at church this Sunday. He's been in Utah at his other home in Ogden for the summer. It's definitely interesting serving in this area.
Anyway I just thought I'd give you some random facts about life recently. I'm having a good time and I'm glad everything is going well over there. By the way mom, did you mean 10,000 dollars or 100,000 dollars in regards to the insurance. You wrote 100,000 and that kinda boggled my mind. That would be a lot of money ; )
Give my regards to everybody! The last email I wrote I sent to everybody who's email address I had.
Just to let you know, I WILL NOT BE TRUNKY TILL THE DAY I SET FOOT ON THAT AIRPLANE! That's a fact! ; ) I may think of home but I just don't get homesick. I think this whole email thing helps with that a lot. That and the fact that I'm still in a fairly familiar place. Life is good as it always is.
I love you all! Ryan I keep meaning to send you a letter that I wrote a while ago. You'll get it eventually. Hunter I'm about to send you an email with some info I've got for you. Some good music that I heard on the Promenade the other day. I think you'll really like it.
Have a great week all! Keep on healing dad! I'm glad to hear the surgery went well. I knew it would. Love ya! Buh Bye!!!!!!!

Elder Jason E. Otis
District leader
District 2
Marina Zone
California Los Angeles Mission
Rockin' the coast!!!!!!!!

Update on Terry......

Terry had his surgery on Monday. It was really tough on him. He was in so much pain it broke my heart. It took us a good 24 hours to get the pain under control. His hand was broken in four places as it turns out, instead of two. So there was a large incision where the doctor had to open him up and there is now three screws holding the blood bearing bone together. After his first follow up apt next week he will have a tens unit hooked up to him. It's an electric stimulator to help his bone heal faster. I keep praying insurance will pay for this as well.
His surgery was on Monday and today it's Wednesday and he is doing really great! His pain is still under control and he sleeps often. He is able to do a lot more things for himself and his headaches are now gone from the concussion. His chest still hurts from the broken sternum. His liver is giving him some problems now and we have to do a repeat blood test on Friday to see what is going on. It does worry me, but I've put it all in the Lords hands and all seems to be improving due to all the prayers going up on his behalf and we are so thankful. Terry heals fast and I can see him returning to work in a couple of weeks time. Another blessing.

We feel so loved by family, neighbors and church family and friends. So many people love this dear man and that includes myself and his boys. My world would be a different place without him in my life, that's for sure. But I also know he would be cheering for me from the other side if things had turned out differently. He's jsut that kind of guy.

Thank you all so much for your love and support. Thank you for keeping our missionaries in your prayers too.

Hugs!
Valora

Hodge Podge of Weekend Activities

This weekend I had several kids come to visit my boys from the previous town we lived in. It was wonderful to see all of them again! Some things never change. They are all still the same unique individuals and most of them make me laugh so hard my guts hurt! I love them all so dearly.

Several of them were in my home day-care for a few years when they were little. Now they are all about 19 years old and doing fantastic! Most are in college and nearly all are staying on the path they had made for themselves as far as serving missions for the church. I'm so pleased to learn that!

They all went to a place in St. Cloud and had fun cliff diving for the day on Saturday. It was a perfect summer day to do so and they all came home sunburned and happy.

We also went to our youngest sons play on Friday. It was amazing! He was in a leading roll in The Pirates of Penzance! It's an operetta and was downright adorable! Hunters voice rang out crystal clear and my mouth gaped as usual even though I've heard his singing voice a million times! I am so amazed at his gift and how humble he is about having such a beautiful voice.

I loved the era the play was written in. Where men were men and women were feminine and adorable. It swept me away as I giggled at their antics and silly humor. The bathing beauties covered from head to toe was so hilarious!

These days of summer have been so memorable for me as I awake from my long slumber and am sleeping better each day. I'm getting stronger and stronger and am amazed at the beauty all around me once again. I have been able to enjoy my kids and go fishing and garden often. Family work has become so much fun again!

Speaking of the garden! We have been inundated with summer squash! Everything is producing at once! Oh my! I have four yellow squash plants and three zucchini. Far too many and after several weeks I'm giving it away left and right. Soon the spaghetti squash will take over and the cantaloupe as well. Green beans are also keeping us VERY busy. But sadly half my tomatoes have fallen to blight! My cucumbers have been fighting a fungus. So, I'll have to hit the farmers market for some later this season to fill in the gaps as I start to can sauces and pickles.

Matthew in Russia has been struggling with getting Baba Anya to allow him to fumigate her apartment and the infestation of bed bugs. Ugh! I told him that he needs to tell her he'll have to inform her neighbors if she won't allow him to spray. I think it will work.

Our son in LA has been warned about bed bugs there as well. Thank goodness for small blessings and the lack of creepy critters in our home! I hate nasty bugs! I quiver just thinking about it.