IT'S GREEK TO ME!!!!

Well, it's about time! Some blessed soul added a new feature to this application that allows a blogger to add text in another language. They even included Greek. Now I can do some stuff with New Testament Greek. (The only draw back is that there are no accents. But, originally, there weren't any accents in the classical and biblical Greek anyway

Now, I can do things that are impressive to the Gentiles and the weak of spirit. For example: the verb that is used in the New Testament: for baptize is:  βαπτιδζω (pronounced baptidzo). The verb βαπτιδζω comes from the verb βαπτο (pronounced Bapto), which means literally TO DIP. Doctor Phillips, who was the department chair of the Biblical and Mideastern Languages at BYU, was always making commentary about John the Baptist by calling him "John the Dipper." That's not because John used a dipper to pour water over the Savior's head, but because John completely immersed or dipped Jesus into the water. Thereby The Savior was totally covered with water in likeness of the grave, and the womb, so that he could come up in likeness of rebirth and the resurrection etc. etc.

Speaking of baptisms: Sister Campbell and I were asked by our mission president, President Jon S. Beesley, to help our elders in the Chester Valley Ward to teach a nine year old girl that lives in unusual circumstances.

The young girl is named Nina Spartage and lives with both her mother and her grandmother. Her mother is a baptized member of the Church, but she has gone off the deep end with drugs. She is usually dressed in black and has the Gothic painted face. She considers herself a witch (figuratively, that's true) and is usually strung out on drugs. Her grandmother is also a member, is in a wheel chair, is as active as she can be, and is also Nina's guardian. She is the one who was trying to get Nina baptized.

The experience was something surreal at times. But, we finally got her baptized last Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. We bought her a new dress and shoes for the confirmation.

This is Nina with her grandmother, Mary Carroll.

Sister Carrol is in a wheel chair which makes getting around difficult.

Nina didn't smile much on this shot --

So, I told her I wanted to see a real smile.

I finally got them both in the right mode.

This is Nina's inactive older brother.

The Elder on the left is Elder Johnson.

Elder Frank is on the right.

Here's our whole "disambly."

Yes, there we are...

ANCHORS AWAY -- NOT!

A couple of Saturday's ago, Sister Campbell (at the suggestion of Cari) decided that we needed to drive down to the Port of Alaska and look at ships. After driving into a couple of restricted areas, we finally found the place to park and look around. (It was actually the boat launch.) The first "Sehenswuerdigkeit" we encountered at the boat launch site was a ship's anchor. There is a sign on the anchor that I never did read. I guess I'll do that the next time down.

My calender girl.

The fat Elder Campbell.

This is the chain with which Sister Campbell has me

bound to her. (Actually, it's an anchor chain --)

Winding around.

Sister Campbell standing on the chain to my heart!

Sister Campbell in contemplation.

Hark! What light through yonder window breaks?

PORT OF ALASKA

Sister Campbell insisted that we go to the Port of Alaska to see if there were some ships there. After driving into two different areas that were restricted (fun! fun!), we finally got to an area where we could see that there were no ships in port -- But, I could see what looked like a cargo ship further out into the water. As we watched, it became apparent that it was headed for port. (Whoopee!) So, with bated (baited?) breath, we watched the ship approach port.

It soon became apparent that it wasn't a ship approaching, but rather a monster barge being pushed by a tug. Suddenly, two more tugs started their engines and went out to help push the monster barge around. Between the three of them, they very slowly and carefully pushed the barge to a dock where it was secured.

This is what it looked like without the zoom employed

on my trusty camera.

Zoom employed.

After a few minutes and  still with the zoom.

More zoom.

Without the zoom.

Stacked high at both ends and empty in the middle.

The other tugs going out to help push.

All three tugs on the south side.

Pushy, pushy, pushy!

On the left, part way up, you can see a vehicle.

That vehicle is the tractor portion of an 18 wheeler!

Now you can clearly see the truck.

-----

More pushing --

Without the zoom -- close to the dock.

Almost there, and it was becoming too windy and cold,

so we left. Spoil sports, I guess.

PREPARATION DAY WITH THE CAMPBELLS

I finally rallied my energies and took on the project of fixing and otherwise repairing a severely busticated couch. Some fat elder or sister plopped their 400 pound frame onto the front edge of the couch and broke the frame. We brought home some wood scraps from the old office and I finally shored up the frame. Now a body can sit in the middle of the couch without injuring their back or keester. This little repair made the Mrs. very happy.

Part of the trusty tools that I've collected.

Busticated couch view one.

view two

View three. (Highly technical lingo.)

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We had a "tender mercy" bestowed on us by the Mitchells, who live in our word. Jack is the ward mission leader and a gungho missionary. We ate at their home two Sundays ago and on the way out, I noticed that they had a "sad light" (Seasonal Affective Disorder). The bulbs in the sad lights are a full spectrum bulb and replicate sun light, for people who suffer from depression. I mentioned to Sister Mitchell that I had to find one for myself before the dark cycle sets in. They both said, "Take this one!" Brother Mitchell was going to throw it away but his wife rescued it because it belonged to Brother Mitchell's mother. But, neither of them had any use for it, so they gave it to us. That was a sizable savings for us! We priced one at a medical supply house and one this size was $400.00! Much Bucks!

View from the front (more technical lingo)

And, Yah - view two!

Don't know how the image got flipped 90 degrees.
But, the light it puts out blanks out the rest of the picture.

THE CARPENTER FROM ANCHORAGE

Jan and I have been watching this deck go up for weeks now. I've never seen a job take so long. I mean - I'm the first to appreciate fine craftsmanship and love to watch a true craftsman at work. But, this is ridiculous. This last Saturday, the guy who is building the deck was there for quite a while. I finally decided to catch some pictures of the "carpenter from Anchorage."

Behold! The Deck!

The owner is sitting in the chair under the umbrella and

the "shy artisan" is behind the umbrella.

Still hiding --

Ah! Finally, he retrieves a tool!

Walking back --

Shazam! It's an escapee from the mid 60's!

You need to magnify the picture and take a look at our

artist. Maybe this explains the long time requirement to

build the perfect deck.

TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL - OR - RETURN TO GIRDWOOD

Last Saturday (our preparation day) we loaded into the car with a lunch and headed for Girdwood again. This time, rather than stopping and seeing everything along the highway, we drove directly to Girdwood and went into town. It's very difficult to ascertain that there is a town there, as everything is pretty much obscured by trees. But, we did get a few pictures in the town.

This is the first view we saw after coming into town.

Same view, without the zoom.

another "unzoomed" view

Sister Campbell took a couple of the above and I

took a couple.

more prettiness!

Gasp! Ooh! Aah!

This is the mountain we were looking at while we ate lunch.

Looking toward the school from where we ate lunch.

Sister Campbell found a path through the forest and we

found Glacier Creek. CREEK! It is at least four times

larger than the Provo RIVER.

The water was rather milky. I guess that comes from

melting from a glacier.

The Girdwood airport is across the creek from where

were standing.

The north end of the airport

When Jake and colette were here, they took the Kids

up the chair seats to the outlook. Impressive.

Lift! Lift!

Up! Up! and away!

I loved the fern plants growing all over the place.

Pretty Condos.

A lady walked by with her dogs. The one above

was named "Little Foot." Cute pooch!

This one was 17 years old and was named
Goliath. He was very slow and docile.

A small street and circle with the same name of one of our best friends, DeEtte Laker Lyons. She should be delighted with this picture when she receives it from us.