Foulger's Start Their Mission

Well, since we started our Military Relations Mission on June 9, 2014, we have been to the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo for two weeks, and have been at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Washington since June 25, 2014.

The MTC was an amazing experience.  The first week was training in missionary work as outlined in the Preach My Gospel Manual.  The best part of being at the MTC was associating with the 1,400 young Elders and Sisters.  They were so full of energy and love.  They all look so good and always greeted us wherever we went.  We were fortunate to have Elders Cook and Ballard talk to us at the Tuesday night devotionals.  The devotionals were beyond amazing when those 1,400 young missionaries sang Called to Serve.  I simply listened because my emotions were so out of control.  Two days of the second week were Church Education System (CES) training, with three days of military relations training.

"We're going to the State of Washington"

Our MTC District.  Sister Yazzi on left and Bro.
Zundel on right were our amazing instructors.

We were home for the weekend of June 20-23.  We packed for a Monday morning depart for Washington.  DeeAnne and family came Friday night.  They were life savers in cleaning the house and the car.  Cynthia, Scott, Lauren and Lindsey came Sunday evening and fixed us dinner which was also a life saver.  We were going to depart Monday at 8:00 a.m. sharp but that was not to happen.  It was 10:30, but that was ok.  We drove just a little over 400 miles and stayed the night in LeGrande, Oregon.  An interesting happening in LaGrande.  We went to a KFC for dinner and when we went to pay the girl said the boss said missionaries eat free - pretty amazing!!

Elder and Sister Foulger in our official senior missionary P-day traveling
attire.  Overlooking the Columbia River in Oregon.

We arrived at our apartment in Lacey, Washington, at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24.  We were met there by Elder Jim and Sister Sandra Vermason, the couple we were replacing.  The mission had our apartment all furnished. The Vermasons helped us move in.  It took about 30 minutes and we had a new home for a year. The apartment is new and very nice - 2 bedrooms and 2 baths (so come see us).  We then went and had a sandwich with the Vermasons and Elder and Sister Peterson and Elder and Sister Searles, other military relations couples assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Our Apartment building

Elder and Sister Vermason on
their moving day

Starting on Wednesday, June 25 the Vermasons started getting us oriented and introducing us to people.  They were such a help in making us more capable to hit the ground running.  On Wednesday we attended a mission conference to say good-by to President and Sister Weaver who were being released in two days.  Needless to say it was a very emotional meeting.  The meeting ended by singing, Amazing Grace, the mission song.  It was a special arrangement and so powerful - WOW!  Another one of those experiences you can only have on a mission!!!

This part of Washington is so beautiful.  It was quite rainy for the first week we were here so we didn't see Mt. Rainier (14,411 feet) for that whole week.  We were just driving one day and there it was.  It is just huge!!

Our first view of Mt. Rainier

Beautiful walking and biking trails

We were able to go to the Seattle Temple last Tuesday

Our mission is to serve the needs of the over 130 military families (mostly Army at Ft. Lewis) in 12 wards in the greater Tacoma area.  Eighteen of these families currently have the spouse deployed, most to Afghanistan.  What a sacrifice these families are making for our freedom!!!  We have a daunting, but wonderful task.  Clearly the Lord knows these families and cares for them a great deal.  Already, we have been lead to families who have amazing needs.  A few examples.  We visited a family that we felt needed a visit and found that their seven year old daughter is having brain surgery on July 21 and the father is deployed to Afghanistan. The good news is that the Army is letting him come home on emergency leave.  Another young Army wife we visited a week ago is expecting their first child next month and he is not able to come home from Afghanistan. Last week we visited a retired Army soldier in the Army Regional Madigan Hospital who is a Vietnam veteran.  He had congestive heart failure, diabetes, and prostrate cancer.  The cancer is a result of Agent Orange that he was exposed to in Vietnam.  Agent Orange was a tree defoliation chemical that was sprayed on trees from the air to remove the leaves so satellites and airplane reconnaissance could see the ground and enemy activity.  So, the sacrifices of these American heroes goes on for years.

This flag is an amazing story.  Elder and Sister Vermason visited a home while they were serving here
and this flag plaque was hanging on the wall.  When the Vermasons inquired, the soldier said he
was a helicopter pilot in Afghanistan.  At times, he would have nightmares and see faces of people he
may have killed.  He said this plaque with these title of liberty words from the Book of Mormon was the only
thing that would bring him comfort.  WOW, the power of the Book of Mormon to bring peace to an
American Hero!!!!

It is our honor and privilege to serve here and give back a little to true American heroes - those who serve and their families!!!