Mike's Homecoming Meeting

Everyone is invited to come to Mike's Homecoming on Sunday the 24th of August, (a week from tomorrow) at 11:00 AM. The address is 8035 South Leslie Dr. (3800 West). Just right around the corner from their house.

Following Sacrament meeting, there will be an open house at the Alexander's house with some food, snacks, and drinks.

We hope to see you all there.

Pictures from the Arrival

Some pictures from Friday, Aug. 8th when Mike flew home.

How would you like to come home to these signs?

Jukka getting in on the festivities with his own missionary tie that's short just like Mike likes to wear it.

the theme was Billy Bob teeth and super short ties. Look at the driver in the background looking at us. ha ha


The happy siblings and their happy smiles

Nephew Alex, holding his "I want to be like Mike" sign

Brinlee and her Gingivitis filled smile

Aynslee holding her Mike Who?? sign. She's one of two nieces that Mike hadn't met before then

Brinlee, happy to see Uncle Mike back home

Alex too

They couldn't stay away from him for very long.

The whole family back together

Arrival at the Airport Video

It has been a fun filled day of just hanging out with Mike and the whole family. We have been able to partake of his spirit he exudes still and had a wonderfully spiritual meeting with his Stake President as he was released.

We were all there at the airport in true Alexander fashion, to see him arrive. For me in 1995 it was the Groucho Marx glasses, noses, and Mustaches. But for Mike it was the short ties and Billy Bob Teeth. We had plenty of stares from people for the whole 45 minutes we were waiting for Mike to get off the plane, say good bye to his fellow Elders and make his way down to the baggage area where we were waiting, but it was worth it. Thanks John for coming down to the airport to play videographer, capturing this for us while we were busy greeting him, and piecing it together to host on your site again. It will be great to share with everyone who couldn't make it. To watch the video, click this link below...

http://www.johnwjacobs.com/ea/home.html

There will be plenty of pictures to follow and updates on his homecoming he will give soon. Good to have you home Mike.

Parting Testimony

I have enjoyed doing Mike's mission blog for the last two + years now and have considered it a labor of love. I think he's going to really like looking back on these pictures, letters, memories, and comments from all of you in the coming months and even years. Thank you everyone, for your support of Mike while he's been gone. Although I will have a couple more posts on here to follow up his arrival at the airport and detailing some of the rest of his homecoming experience, I wanted to end his mission time posts with his last e-mail home, in its entirety. It is a beautiful testimony that we as his family were deeply touched by. Although we consider it personal and even considered if it was too personal and/or spiritual to put out here on his blog, we decided that it is after all, his testimony and that it was meant to share with anyone who would care to hear it. I'm proud of Mike beyond words. I respect him like no other and though I can't speak for our whole family, I know we all look up to him and his example over the last two years. I'm humbled by his personal relationship with the Savior and am inspired to work harder, be better, and develop that kind of close, personal relationship with Him myself because of Mike's example. Thank you for setting that bar a little higher for all of us, Mike and giving us a light to look to as you worked so diligently these last 2 years. We love you.

HI there,
Thanks for your e-mails this week. I'm not going to respond to much of anything from your e-mails although I thank you for your support and for your words. Rather, my desire is to share with you in letter format the knowledge that has been burned into my heart forever over the past two years. I am not the same Elder Alexander as the one that reported to the MTC on 2 Aug 2006. My personality is the same, my physical apprearance has not changed much, but the knowledge of the Savior is what makes me different now, than I was two years ago.
Its amazing the change giving all your time can bring when you're in the service of the Lord and striving with all your heart to not let your Father in Heaven down. I cant say that i've been perfect, but i've given it everything I have, wearing myself out in the service of the Lord.
After teaching and testifying of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Bible belt, I have gained in my own heart the knowledge of its truthfulness. My fledgling testimony has been tried and challenged again and again, by many who appear to know the Bible and who claim to preach the 'truth' about the Mormons, causing me to plead with the Lord to answer the questions that I could not. As i studied and prayed over the Restored gospel, and mainly while I was out beatin the streets I gained a sure witness that the Father and the Son actually appeared to the boy Joseph. That he was and is the Prophet of the latter days, the head of the Dispensation of the Fulness of times. Through him, the Lord restored that which was known anciently, the Fulness of the Everlasting Gospel, the Priesthood Authority, and the Church of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon is convincing evedence of this. Our Father in Heaven is so loving, and kind to have spoken to the peoples of the ancient America's. The Savior did appear to the people here, and they did feel the wounds in His hands and feet. The Book of Mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, and through it and abiding by its principles, i have come closer to God, than i could by any other book. It has taught me the Plan of Happiness, which is a fair and just plan. Father has provided it for that purpose, Happiness. I know of no other way to attain to so much happiness, than to learn and live the higher law as revealed in the Restored Gospel.
I testify that God is our Father, and that he knows us each very personaly. For we were in His presence before this life and our relationship with Him was and is real. What an empowering knowledge that is. I know that he speaks to us, for as i awaited my turn on earth, he spoke to my dear Mother and let her know of one more belonging to the Family. I am a living witness that Father speaks to us. I have heard His voice and felt His love. At times on my mission my faith in that has been tried by fire, but only to purge the dross. He has spoken to me at the times when He knew i needed it most, when no other soul knew. And has bouyed me up when i could carry myself no more. I am thankful that he blessed me with a family that is loving and supportive, and is a part of the Restored Church. I am thankful for a Mother who listened to the voice of the spirit and through much trial and tribulation brought me into the world. I am thankful for a Father who taught me the wasy of the Priesthood, and honoring and respecting the authority granted to us. For an older Brother who has lead the way for his siblings and taken me under his wing to teach and train me. For an older Sister who has begun her young family and always set an example of Scripture Study. And another older Sister who has always been my friend and has endured more teasing from me than any other in the Famliy.
Most of all, I am thankful that over the course of two years I have gained for my own self, independant of my parents and brother and sisters and companions and mission president, a sure knowledge of Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and His infinite Atonement. I know for SURE, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. I know that He suffered in the Garden, sweating great drops of blood. That He died on the cross and three days later broke the bands of death, rising in the Resurrection. He opened the door for all the over come the effects of the fall, Death and Sin. The Resurrection will pass upon all mankind, but overcoming sin requires our valiance in following the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its purity. "The Kingdom of God or nothing!" is right. Through Him, is the only way we can return to our Father in Heaven. I Testify and bear my witness of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
As I have said as Nephi of old, I am not mighty in writing. "But I, Elder Alexander, have written what i have written, and I esteem it to be of great worth, and epescially because of my people. For I pray continually for them by day..." (2 Nephi 33:3)
Read 2 John 1:12.

Love,


Elder Alexander

Sun sets on NC

As the sun sets on the horizon of NC and the day ends, so does the short two years of Mike's mission. He is really going to miss it out there! See you tomorrow Elder A.