Here's the updates so far....

Becky Wagner

We are getting ready to move for the first time since our kids have been born. I am still in young womens as a mia maid advisor, Ted is the 1st counselor in the elders quorem. We just celebrated Drake's 4th birthday and Lincoln's 2nd. Drake had a transformer party and lincoln had a monkey party. It was a lot of fun. I am going to be working one day a week as a surgical assistant for a periodontist. Just until this economy gets better. We are are healthy and doing well.

Nancy Peterson

Everything is going well around here. Ben and Brittney are doing great. If
you have a need for a beautiful cake or cupcakes, Brittney is the one to
call! She has done some amazing projects with cake frosting and fondant.
She's considering starting a business. Julie just celebrated her 21st
birthday, which I find very hard to believe. Colton is taking drivers ed and
opted to go to Viewmont High for the last semester of this year. He is on a
formation ballroom team and is really into piano and music in general. We're
still home schooling Mac, Henry, and Lucy - we love it; it works very well
for our family. Alan is commuting to DC still and things are very busy for
him right now. He's had to put his own project on hold for awhile. I am
learning to cook, and it's almost like a foreign language to me! But Henry's
health has been impacted immeasurably by changing our diets, and though I've
never really enjoyed cooking, it's becoming a joyful experience to learn to
prepare healthy, whole meals for my family. The dogs are great too. Even
Argus, the little thief, has come a long way.

Mark Thomas

Jeremy has graduated in math from the UofU and is completing his student
teaching this year. He wants to teach in a high school. Ann has applied to
various masters programs and is waiting for acceptances. Mark is working on
students projects in Mozambique (Gorgonosa National Park), Lockheed Martin
(the production of the F35 stealth fighter), Stephen Covey (recently joined
business school at Utah State) Craig Jessop (former director of tabernacle
Choir and leader of music dept at USU). Chris is the busiest of all helping
her sister who is going through chemotherapy and radiation for cencer
treatment ---we are hoping for the best (no phone calls at the
moment---Chris is very busy and needs to conserve her emotional strength).

Whitney

Greetings from the other side of the world!
We are all happy and healthy and enjoying our adventure here in Indonesia.
We loved spending the holidays in the USA and welcoming Jessie Emily to our
family.
Coming back to Indonesia was much easier the second time around. We had a
brighter perspective, and a greater appreciation for what our family has
here.
We are really learning that home is where you hang your heart.
The kids are enjoying school, Jeff is whipping the economic efficiency of
oil production into shape, Jessie is growing like a weed, and I am running
to keep up!
Elder Russell M. Nelson, of the Quorum of the Twelve, came to Jakarta two
weeks ago for District Conference. We flew over to attend the meetings and
had
a great time mingling with the Saints and meeting Elder Nelson. When he
learned that we are the only members here in Borneo and that we have our
meetings at home his advice was "Ohh, you'd better be strong"!! Well, we
feel like weaklings most of the time, but that causes us to rely on Heavenly
Father and Jesus Christ more and more and we consider that a great blessing.


We love you all and miss you! I think about Grandma and Grandpa a lot, and
their adventures in Africa. I find great solace in knowing that they are
watching over us and that they have great empathy for our challenges and
opportunities here. I consider that a tender mercy. What a legacy of faith
and perseverance they've left all of us, no matter where we live or what
life holds for us.

Love,
Whitney, Jeff, Tanner, Sydney, Thomas, Morgan and Jessie

Ben North

Rachel, thanks for following up with everyone, you are so good to keep this up. Our family is great! We are expecting our 4th child in June, a girl, which will make 2 boys and 2 girls. Our kids are growing by the day! Carter is in first grade and much smarter than I ever was, he is top of his class in math. He also just took 2nd place in his pinewood derby! He begins player pitch baseball next month also. Elle is in preschool and has unusually neat handwriting. She is also taking dance lessons and loves it. Garrett is 3 and it shows. He is full of energy and loves action. He fully enjoys jumping off high furniture! Tricia enjoys staying home with the kids and is more than ready to have another child join the group, soon! I am working like crazy (which is great in such a nasty economy) and feel very blessed. Work, family and church keeps me busy and satisfied. Hope everyone is healthy, happy and blessed! Hope to see you soon.

Ben, Tricia and Kids

Rachel Leavitt

Now that Spring is here, house renovations are starting again. We're crossing our fingers that we'll be able to pay for the second story this year. Brent's work is going well and he is still working from home in web design/media. On the side he is doing stuff with the lds film festival, and building a house:) Nic Dumas just put in a beautiful cabinet for us that I love(THANKS!). And our side walk will hopefully be in soon. I'm still working L&D part time and being mom full time. Emma, Aaron and Dallin are all doing well in school and working hard. I'm very impressed with what hard workers they are. We also have three new members to our family...three chickens. The kids won't let me kill them to eat:), but we're looking forward to the eggs. Love to all, Rachel