Dear President and Sister Kennedy,

Thank you for your devotion to the Lord and your service to me as you served as President of the Arizona Tempe Mission. Your personal example, teachings, training, and trust in me as a young missionary blessed my life then and continues with me today. As I look at the picture of you both I am placed back in those wonderful, youthful, missionary days. I remember well the feelings of being in zone and mission conferences, having Sister Kennedy give gamma globulin injections (and some of the elders getting pretty woosy over it), and learning how to properly make a bed and fit a pillowcase. I remember the training and the inspiration that was given during those conferences. I remember the wonderful meals prepared by the Relief Society sisters! Above all that though, under your direction I knew I was where the Lord wanted me to be, a most wonderful feeling and blessing.

I learned how to teach the gospel while on my mission, Elder Greg Palmer was the one who really taught me, by example, how to do so. I had remarkably great companions who became great friends. I loved the gospel then and loved to teach it. That love has deepened over the years and I have learned by faith to trust in the Lord. I know there is no more worthy place that I could put my trust. I know that he restored his church though the prophet Joseph Smith. I am most grateful for it all.

Thank you President and Sister Kennedy for your love and concern and your worthy service.

Ever your brother,

Dan Crites
dan@thecrites.com
79-81

Lets see, it’s been 25 years since I came home. It has been a great 25 years, and I wouldn’t change a thing if I could. I have seen the world and skied most of it saw some great sunrises and sunsets. I have a great life and it is working out just like I hoped it would.
I have been blessed with a hard work ethic received from my parents and this has enabled me to succeed even with my short comings.
Today I lack for nothing and the only limiting factor would be my old age. Things I remember are those ugly Fairmount’s we drove, the heat, the dumps we lived it, Mexican food, the whole zone going to Mexico, Elder Whitaker, I look back to my time in Arizona, and the greatest gift that I received was friends. The people that I still have contact with are Bateman, Donofrio, Julian, Payne. My email address is Gordon.petrunik@edmonton.ca

Dear President and Sister Kennedy:

It was a privilege to have served during the 3 years that you were in Arizona. I loved the people in Arizona. I think of the people that I taught and wonder what impact I had with them. I am thankful that you helped me to get through my mission. My oldest Son served in the Phillipine - Toblogan mission
and my 3rd oldest son is now in Knoxville Tennesee.

I know now how important it is to finish a mission to show an example to your children. Thank You for everything.

Love Elder Hill
Sphill@cableone.net

President and Sister Kennedy,

Thank you so much for you hard work and service as Mission President. I remember being told once in the mission field that serving a mission is like learning how to swim and coming home is like being thrown in the deep end of the pool. There have been many times in my life where I have felt like I was just treading water but thanks to the great experience I had in the mission field I have not drowned yet.

I currently live in Alpine Utah. I am married and have five children. My oldest two are boys and my youngest three are girls. They along with my wife are the focal point of my life. Over the years I have received much joy and satisfaction from them.

Thanks so much for being there for me on my mission. I look back and remember the things that you taught me and spirit that you carried. Those experiences have remained with me throughout my life. I hope this message finds you well and the spirit of the Lord a blessings in your life.

Your brother in the gospel,

Scott Mower
spmower@juno.com

Dear President and Sister Kennedy,

It is hard to believe that it will be twenty-five years this June since I returned home from serving with you in Arizona. Your mission days ended shortly after mine. Time has dulled my memory on many experiences and things that happened during my mission years, but the spirit of this great experience has not, nor will be forgotten.

The example you set for each sister and elder on how to be of service to others, how to love others and how to live our lives as representatives of the Savior was powerful.

Your love and concern for the safety and success of each missionary was evident, your testimony was strong and powerful, your advice always sound, and your encouragement always a welcomed blessing.

Patience, example, love, kindness, steadfast, motivated, compassion, inspired, prayerful, wisdom, forgiving, dedicated, humorous; these are just a few of the character traits you posses and effectively demonstrated to the missionaries who looked to you for guidance and support. We each gleaned from you different character traits that continue to help us in our individual lives today.

Thank you for the example you set for me and the gentle words of encouragement and love that you shared in my behalf. I am a better person today for having the experience of serving under your direction in the Arizona Tempe Mission.

My best wishes and love are extended to you always...

Brent Davies
chuckerhouse@msn.com

My mission experience was a milestone in my life and because of the characters and personalities of the Arizona Tempe Mission, my experience was a blast. I will never forget arriving at the Mission Home and meeting President and Sister Kennedy that afternoon. I felt loved and accepted immediately as we shared our testimonies that night. It was the beginning of the quickest and most rewarding two years of my life.

I came home and married the love of my life and we have five perfect children. My oldest son served in Salt Lake City South and just returned home and my second son just left for Colorado Denver South. My family life has been blessed with the lessons of my mission and I am grateful for each of you and especially my mission presidents.

I have had limited contact with a number of you guys over the years. I would love to talk to and share experiences and pictures from you Elder and Sisters anytime. Please feel free to contact me at titusb@bellsouth.net

Not a day goes by that I do not think of my mission experiences in Az. They were great times and being able to work close with Pres. and Sister Kennedy was great. I would like to thank you both for the love and the friendship I felt from both of you. Your spirit was felt by all you came in contact with and those of us that were able to see you both on a daily basis were blessed even more.

Sister Kennedy a special thanks to you for your smile and your notes. I remember the home sick feelings that I had and the notes you would send to me to let me know all was well and that you loved us really made my day. I will always be grateful for the time you both took our of your lives to go to the State of Arizona and be our leaders.

Thanks also for letting me get to know Grandpa....... We would have the greatest talks and hear some great stories. He was a special man, Grandpa, and Friend.

May the lord bless you both and let you know that you changed many lives for the better...

God Bless
Tracy Chatwin
tchatwin@FBAbenefits.com

It has been fun reading from the other Elders and Sisters from the Mission. Some I recognize and some are just too far in the past. I want to thank Dan Crites for getting this started. Dan, you have always been a hugh example to me, not only on the Mission, but as roommates at BYU. Thanks for thinking of me.

Looking back, I think I was one of those Missionaries who always flew under the radar. I was one of those "Span-Am's" who spent the first half of my mission down on the boarder, Douglas and Nogales. It was funny, when I finally transfered to Tucson, no one knew who I was and everyone thought I was a greeny. Of the 14 or so spanish Elders, I was the one who spoke the poorest spanish,,and still do. I had some great companions, but have lost track of most of them. I hope to see their letters soon.

It has certainly been an interesting 25 yrs. Life has a way of throwing you some curveballs. My health has been less than perfect, but the Lord has certainly blessed me. I have 5 great kids,3 older boys and 2 girls. My oldest has been serving in the Navy in Italy for the last 3.5 yrs and is coming home in a couple of weeks. He plans to be married in the Salt Lake Temple in August. My second son just past his 1 yr mark in Brazil on his mission. My third son will be a senior next yr. My two daughters are 14 and 11 and they are busy in school activities. Sadly, I went through a divorce in 1998, but 3.5 yrs ago happily remarried and now have 3 wonderful step-children ages 22, 20 and 15.

President and Sister Kennedy, thanks for your service and love. I was a scared young missionary who got off that plane. Thanks for your encouragement and support. Looking back, I think "I" was my best conversion story. These young Elders and Sisters today are so better prepared, they are truly Gods Army. I look forward to serving another mission with my wife someday. Maybe this time I will actually learn spanish.

May the Lord bless you.

Glen Turner
(801) 809-8040
gturner99@myway.com