The Man Who Kept Marching: A Biography of the Life of James Craig Larson

By Andrew Thorn

This candid biography of James Craig Larson is organized around the defining moments of his life, which include, 1) Becoming a Disciple of Jesus Christ, 2) Ascending to Major General in the United States Army, 3) Founding a Successful Business, 4) The death of Toni Larson, his wife of 42 years, and the 5) his marriage to Gail Larson and their life together.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: May 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9781098359355

Book preview

cover.jpg

These writings are for you – the beloved family and posterity of James Craig Larson.

May you come to know yourself as you learn about his wonderful life.

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Print ISBN: 978-1-09835-934-8

eBook ISBN: 978-1-09835-935-5

Contents

Introduction

I Am Statement

Part One

Becoming a Disciple of Christ

Becoming a Disciple of Christ

The Christ Centered Home

I Hope They Call Me on a Mission

Onward Ever Onward

Bishop Larson

The Military Advisory Board

The Inner-City Mission

Part Two

Ascending to Major General

The Unchosen Path of Duty

You’re in The Army Now

Intelligent Harassment

This Far Without You

Climbing the Ranks

Major General Larson

Marching On

Part Three

The Evolution of Top Stop

Preparing to Own A Business

The Acquisition of Top Stop

Growing the Business

The Character of the Man

Part Four

The Death of Toni Larson

The Mission Years

A Basic Separation

A Separation to Remember

Dangers, Distractions, Deprivation, and Decisions

Financial Lessons from A Distance

Creating A Family Together

The Death of Toni Larson

Part Five

The Arrival of Gail Larson

A Period of Loneliness

The Miracles of a Widow

Dating and Courting

The Marriage of Craig Larson and Gail Moore

Becoming One

The Man is Still Marching

Introduction

Great love springs from great knowledge of the beloved object, and if you little know it; you will be able to love it only little or not at all.

Leonardo da Vinci

When I first met Craig Larson, he was about to celebrate his 75th birthday. We sat at his kitchen table, a place that would become special to me – even sacred. He was quiet, confident and humble. It took me a while to see his smile, but I knew immediately that I was in the presence of a wonderfully optimistic man. Someone who can always see the good; even in the most challenging moments.

I expected the Major General to be hardened by the years of military rigor. My imagination conjured up a crusty old man, battle tested and scarred by the threats encountered along the ascension to higher rank. Instead, I found a gentle man, full of youthful light. He didn’t look old to me, and he was easy to love.

I asked him how old he felt. He said, 75 doesn’t feel much different than 30. The same interests occupy my attention: family, business, sports, music, etc.

Am I as sharp as I was 30 years ago? he mused. Answering his own question, he confessed: I definitely don’t have the energy I had way back when, but all in all, I feel like the same person. The difference is that in this season of my life I am yearning for different outcomes. The aspirations are the same, but I want different results. The time to build is past. I want to slow things down now and enjoy the ride.

It was easy for me to understand what he meant. The goals of his youth were successfully achieved: a prosperous business, money in the bank, and a home unencumbered by debt. These results helped him quench the constant thirst for making money. Though that desire had driven him for most of his life, his goal now was to make sense of it all, and his focus shifted to making meaning instead of making money.

When I asked him about his legacy he declared: Legacy means that you’ve led an exemplary life. That you’ve got people who respect you and hopefully a few that love you along the way. But most importantly, I hope my posterity embraces the things which we have always valued. At the end of the day, I believe I lived a life of what I would call righteous living and I hope that my posterity follows my lead. He then gratefully acknowledged that so far, the vast majority of it has, with all seven of the children that he had with Toni, and three of Gail’s four children being sealed in the temple and striving to stay on the covenant path.

It’s not terribly complicated, Craig said. My legacy is that I have raised a righteous family, that I’ve lived a righteous life, and that people respect me because I’m an honest man.

A decision was made early on to organize this biography around the defining moments of Craig’s life. It is my hope that as we examine the depths of those experiences it will enlighten both those that know him, and those who will only ever know this remarkable man through this effort.

Our early explorations resulted in the selection of 5 key turning points, upon which I then focused this biography: (1) Becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ, (2) The Ascension to Major General, (3) The Evolution of Top Stop, (4) The death of Toni Larson, and (5) The Arrival of Gail Laron.

Certainly, there are many other experiences that illuminate this life, but most of them can be directly related to these five defining experiences. It is not mine, or Craigs intent to provide an exhaustive line by line account of his life, but rather we wish to shine the light on what made it special, different, difficult, challenging, and even unique.

The research for this biography began with a series of personal interviews conducted with Craig, and with many of his closest friends and family members. A considerable amount of time was then spent reviewing the records of his personal and professional life. The interviews, and the literature review, yielded over 1500 pages of material, which was then reviewed and sorted into the categories mentioned above.

Though this process yielded significant information, it was still necessary for me to determine the best way to fill in the gaps, where content was either missing or unclear. As such, I take full responsibility for any misinterpretation of the information summarized in this record. My best efforts were employed to accurately describe the life of James Craig Larson, and I am satisfied with the results now presented.

This is the story of a man who kept marching, even in the face of adversity. Craig Larson is a man of integrity. His most important values are; devotion to God, family, duty, and hard work.

What follows is a representation of the experiences he had, and who he became as a result of those experiences. Whether he was serving the Lord or his fellowman, enduring the grueling demands of the military, creating and leading a successful business, or facing the trials and adversities of life and death, he simply kept marching forward with faith. His life, through this record, now stands as an example of how to live with meaning and purpose.

The following I Am Statement, is presented in this introduction as a summary of the amazing person that he is.

May you enjoy the journey of exploring the life of this admirable man. A man who I love dearly, and who I am grateful to call my friend.

Life is Good! – Andrew Thorn

I Am Statement

I am a hopeful warrior

My willingness to salute and be saluted reflects my peace with order and control

As I lean forward in the foxhole, I see the good in others and in the circumstances of my life

My love of the Savior softens the intensity of my natural man desires

I am comfortable with the consequences of my decisions

My faith carries me through troubling times

Generosity flows from the core of my being

The reserved expressions of my love are manifested through simple acts of service

I am boldly humble and quietly powerful

Patience sparks my resilience

Endurance sharpens my self-control

Hard work inspires my thrift and ingenuity

Intelligence and learning light my creative force

I am a covenant keeper and a disciple of Christ

I persistently submit my will to His

I am a Son of God

I am James Craig Larson

Part One

Becoming a Disciple of Christ

I’m trying to be like Jesus, I’m following in His way . . .

Janice Kapp Perry

Chapter 1

Becoming a Disciple of Christ

One of the greatest blessings we can offer to the world is the power of a Christ-centered home where the gospel is taught, covenants are kept, and love abounds.

Richard G. Scott

A Christ centered home. That’s what welcomed Craig at his birth. Though the world was at war, his home was at peace. This beautiful beginning shaped and influenced the defining focus of Craig’s life: following the Savior Jesus Christ. It also kept him safe from the physical and spiritual dangers of the world.

Craig was born on December 9, 1942. It was his mother’s 29th birthday, and she regularly reminded him that he was the greatest birthday present she ever received.

He was the second child, and second son of John Farr Larson (June 19, 1917 – April 28, 1994) and Ann Clayson Larson (December 9, 1913 – April 14, 2008).

John and Ann were introduced to each other as they served in the Eastern States Mission, where they were called to serve by President Heber J. Grant of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

In 1937, Sister Clayson was selected to play the role of the Virgin Mary in the inaugural Hill Cumorah Pageant. It was during that season that she met Elder Larson who was working as the Pageant’s first lighting technician. Together, they later worked in the mission office coordinating the efforts of the YWMIA, (Young Women Mutual in Action) and YMMIA, (Young Men Mutual in Action) in the Eastern States Mission.

Though they didn’t like each other at first, their opportunities to work together in the mission field forged a strong collaboration that later blossomed into an eternal companionship. They married and were sealed to each other on June 26, 1939 in the Salt Lake Temple. A lot can be said about the heritage of these two stalwart and faithful saints. Interested readers are encouraged to study their personal biographies. (The Life and Times of John Farr Larson, 1992 and The Life and Blessings of Ann Clayson Larson, 2000)

Suffice it so say that John and Ann formed a covenant relationship, something they had witnessed for generations in their family, and dedicated their lives to following the Savior Jesus Christ. They taught the principles of the Gospel in the home they created, to their five children: J. Bruce Larson: April 21, 1940 – April 19, 2015, James Craig Larson: December 9, 1942, Ann Louise Larson: October 6, 1946, Elizabeth Larson: October 3, 1950 and Harriet Larson, October 24, 1952. They raised their children in love and righteousness.

Craig gratefully received these values and accepted the principles taught as guidelines for a happy and joyful life. His disciplined nature and obedient heart helped him to naturally stay on the covenant path with very few deviations. Some decisions were more pivotal than others, and those were the times when he learned to righteously use his agency.

During those defining moments he simply saluted and moved forward by willingly submiting his will to the will of the Lord. He noticed that those who struggled with obedience often suffered significant consequences. When he saw their deviances, he was fortunate enough to know immediately that he did not want to travel down that path. This helped him to stay on the course his ancestors began.

Consequently, his testimony was not born out of amazing revelatory experiences. Instead it was added upon by small and simple moments that gently connected him to truth and righteousness as he faced each new season and life challenge.

His own mission experience to the Eastern States from 1962 – 1964, proved to be a pivotal moment. His older brother Bruce was sealed in the Temple instead of serving a mission and Craig was determined to follow the same path. However, his sweetheart, Toni Eskelson, insisted on marrying a return missionary and that changed the way he thought about things. Though the two-year separation was difficult for both of them, his mission experience strengthened his faith in our Savior and laid the foundation for the Christ centered home he and Toni would later create together.

His missionary service helped him develop a powerful testimony that kept him on the covenant path as he served in the military, founded a successful business, and faced the adversities of life. Craig knew the Savior and followed him in every way that he could.

Even in his busiest times he was willing to serve the Lord. He never shunned or turned down a calling, saying that it was always a blessing to be set apart to serve the Lord regardless of the personal sacrifices it required. This attitude made it easy for him to follow John Taylor’s profound declaration; "The Kingdom of God of Nothing.

Chapter 2

The Christ Centered Home

I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know who I am. I know God’s plan. I’ll follow him in faith. I believe in the Savior, Jesus Christ. I’ll honor his name. I’ll do what is right; I’ll follow his light. His truth I will proclaim.

Janice Kapp Perry

Photo: James Craig Larson in his Birthday Suit

.001%. Those were the odds in 1942 of being born into a home with membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Craig was one of only 23,808 children born that year into those peculiar circumstances.

At the time, there were a reported 917,715 members of the church. Most of them were living in the sparsely populated American States of Utah and Idaho. There were six operating Temples, 143 Stakes, 1,128 wards and 643 full-time missionaries serving for this little church.

To say that its membership, strength, and influence was microscopic is a gross understatement. This church, that was barely established 100 years earlier, was only vibrant in the mountain west, but in Craig’s family there was a powerful legacy of those who had followed the Savior and the Prophet Joseph Smith.

When he was two months old, his father held him in his arms at the beginning of a Fast and Testimony meeting that was held in the West Ensign Ward of the Ensign Stake in Salt Lake City Utah. 30-year-old W. Jay Eldredge presided over this new ward and would be Craig’s Bishop for the first 8 years of his life.

On February 7, 1943, John Larson used the power of the Melchizedek Priesthood to give his infant son a name that would be recognized on the records of this little church throughout the days of his mortal life. The name was James Craig Larson.

John blessed his son’s physical body that it would be built up properly, and his brilliant mind, that it would understand the things of this life, and pled, that as Craig’s parents, he and Ann might guide and direct him in the path of righteousness. As he closed the blessing, he asked that Craig would always be a credit to his Heavenly Father and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It was reported that Craig, looked nice in the white knit romper his mother had bought for the occasion, but yelled loudly just prior to the moment of the blessing and had to be taken downstairs in the old ward building to be fed. Then, he was perfectly quiet as he was blessed by his worthy father.

President Hebert J. Grant, the Prophet and leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was in attendance that day and shook hands with the Larson family. He commented on the sacred nature of a child’s blessing in the church and pronounced his own blessing on Craig’s life.

The power of the gospel in the lives of this young family extended beyond the walls of the church they attended. By the time he was two years old Craig was taking his turn offering the family prayer. He didn’t always understand what he was told to repeat, but with the exception of the f and s sounds, he had beautiful pronunciation.

In the prayers he would offer at mealtime he would say, bless the sood instead of bless the food, and he would always pray for the soldier boys that were fighting in the war.

His brother Bruce offered his nightly prayers at his bedside. Craig was eager to follow his example. John and Ann felt blessed when they reverently watched Bruce help his little brother say his own prayers.

From an early age, Craig enjoyed attending his own Sunday School Class and loved being left alone with his teacher and his classmates. There was never a fuss when his parents dropped him off.

As he grew older, he enjoyed attending his weekly primary class which was held on Tuesday afternoons. He made lots of friends, and they were not just his friends at church but also at school. These boys got into some mischief from time to time and his mother said that she knew when he had misbehaved at primary by the twinkle in his eye when he returned.

Craig thought his primary teacher Crystal Brown, the mother of one of his friends, walked on water. He was infatuated with her gentle smile and kind disposition, and the way she made his Primary experience come to life. She was very effective at teaching me and my rambunctious friends the stories of Jesus, he said. It was in her class that I felt the spirit for the first time.

One surprising note of his early church experiences is that he didn’t enjoy singing in Primary. In fact, he thought that singing Primary songs was stupid. He didn’t like to sing at all, but he especially disliked singing those songs. His love for music wouldn’t develop until he began his High School years and discovered the beauty of his deep baritone voice.

Craig was baptized by his father on Monday January 29, 1951 at the Tabernacle baptistry on Temple Square. Bishop Ed Koelliker interviewed him and taught him about repentance and the meaning of baptism. These were lessons he had already learned at home, and he knew the answers well.

When the Bishop pronounced him worthy and ready to be baptized, his parents took him to the tabernacle. Then, after he and his father dressed in white, they entered the font together. I have never forgotten, he said, the extraordinary feeling that I felt when my dad baptized me.

At the time, the Tabernacle font was used for the baptisms of all those who were living in Northern Utah. It was a very big deal, Craig said, for me to walk into that building and be baptized. It became a landmark of my faith, he continued, and it was very instrumental in my upbringing in the church. I still feel the spirit whenever I see it.

Some of his closest friends were baptized on the same day. His extended family were delighted to witness the covenant moment, but none were more excited than his brother Bruce.

Nearly a week later on Sunday, February 4, 1951, Craig received the Holy Ghost and was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Once again, he found himself being blessed by his father. To hear him pronounce those words, he said, and tell me that I would have the Holy Ghost as a constant companion, gave me an amazing feeling.

It was difficult for an 8 year old boy to comprehend exactly what was going on, and what it meant to receive the Holy Ghost, but the feelings and promptings that he has now felt over a lifetime have taught him this simple truth; the comforting power of the Holy Ghost helps us in our darkest and loneliest moments. The light and love of the spirit buoyed him up and enlightened him. He would never deny the reality of those magnificent moments.

Over the course of the next four years he would prepare to receive the Aaronic Priesthood. That progression was less formal than it is today as there was not an official preparatory process or program led by the church. Primary was focused on simple gospel principles. The instruction was basic and didn’t reach deeply into doctrinal concepts.

Priesthood Preparation happened in the home, and even then, it was somewhat mysterious as to what a young man needed to do in order to be prepared. The real indicator of your readiness was your age. When you turned 12, if you were attending church, you were ordained a deacon.

The one thing Craig did to prepare to receive the Aaronic Priesthood was to wear a white shirt and tie. From the time he was young, he only wore white shirts and ties to church. It was just the way it was. His parents were strict in their adherence to this standard and they were not alone as every young man came dressed in this fashion. Many of the young men even wore suits as it was often seen as a requirement for passing and blessing the sacrament. Today you might be free to come as you are, but it was the standard then to wear the uniform of the priesthood. Nothing else was acceptable.

Craig received the Aaronic Priesthood shortly after his 12th birthday and was ordained a Deacon by his father. At the time, his ward met in an old, white, wood frame chapel that was across the street from VaLora’s Candy and Ice Cream. The owner, Allie Schanz, kept the store open on Sundays and the members of the Deacon’s quorum often ended up skipping Sunday school to have a scone. When their leaders caught them in the act, serious consequences would follow at home and at church.

The trips to the ice cream parlor, Craig said, are evidence that I was not always the saint that I should have been. In fact, there was quite a bit of mischief that ran through my bones. When asked if the mischief streak still exists, he smiled and said, I sure hope so.

Attitudes about the Sabbath Day were different during those days. It was not uncommon for people to go out to lunch after church. While the behavior was frowned upon, nobody came down with a hammer and said, if you do this, you’re going to Hell.

Craig’s mischievous moments must not be interpreted as a lack of faith or testimony. His testimony blossomed at an early age, because his family was active in the church. Both of his parents served on General Church Boards, and his dad served in the Bishopric and the Stake Presidency. Being a member of the church was a way of life for the Larson family.

As an ordained a deacon, Craig never missed a meeting. In fact, he never missed a meeting as a Teacher or a Priest either. The motivation behind his perfect attendance was his desire to earn his Duty to God award. Today, you might as well Climb Mt Everest before earning success in the youth programs, he said, but it was a simple set of requirements then, with attendance being the main issue.

Bishop Frank Allen presented Craig his Duty to God Award on January 14, 1959. Though the honor was bestowed upon him in the Ward, it was authorized by the Presiding Bishop of the Church – Joseph L. Wirthlin, who later became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

In a letter he received from Bishop Wirthlin, we read: we feel sure that in earning this award you have grown and developed personally, and many things have occurred to strengthen your individual testimony. Our Earnest desire is that you continue in your effort to serve the Lord.

Bishop Wirthlin believed that earning the Duty to God Award was a sign of loyalty to the church and an indication that Craig was willing to do his part in building up the Kingdom of God on the earth.

Young men often drift and become less active when they turn 14. It is a time period when they start to sour on the rules and requirements of church attendance and feel old enough to do something about it. In a sense, this is a time for testing their faith and exploring and developing their ability to make choices for themselves.

Craig was lucky enough to never experience a moment of thinking, what if this isn’t true? He received his own testimony at an early age, and he credits that to the fact that he didn’t spend his energy questioning the doctrines of the church. I didn’t understand it all, he admits, but I just took it as a matter of fact that Joseph Smith was a Prophet and that God the Father, and His son Jesus Christ had in fact appeared to him. He went on from there developing his testimony by doing what he was supposed to do and living the Gospel as best as he could.

Craig freely admits that he could have been a better member, and he is fond of saying that he would have skipped his missionary experience if Toni had not been so insistent on him going. Nevertheless, he understood the value of his church membership when he was growing up and recognized how important the opportunities to exercise priesthood power were in helping him become a successful man.

On Saturday, December 15, 1956, Craig was ordained a Teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood by his dad. This brought new opportunities to serve the members of his ward. Sadly, he and his friends weren’t quite ready for the new responsibilities and caused a stir late one afternoon during sacrament meeting.

In an irreverent moment, his little band of sacrilegious bandits thought it would be funny to put salt in the sacrament cups. It only took a moment for the congregants to realize that something was wrong, and the boys knew they were in trouble.

After the meeting Bishop Allen chastised the boys in a most severe way. He told us, Craig said, that we were no better than dirt, and it was a long time before we regained his trust and were able to prepare the sacrament without close supervision.

Dale Brown, Craig’s best friend from school, was one of the guys who helped prepare the salted Sacrament. Together, they spent their time playing sports and wandering around the neighborhood looking for other young men to participate in their pranks. Most of Craig’s friends were obedient to the principles of the Gospel, even his non-member friends. They each made decisions that represented the faith of their fathers.

For some reason, only a few of them went on to serve missions. Not because they were out doing the wrong things, but because they moved on with life without taking that step. Though the Church’s missionary force was growing, it was still uncommon for young men to serve, so no one faced judgement for staying home.

Dale Brown did not serve a mission. Instead, he got a nice job and decided it was more important to marry his High School sweetheart. They were sealed in the temple and quickly started their own family. His decision seemed like a good one to Craig, and he wasn’t planning on serving either. Gratefully, Toni stepped in and focused his energy on becoming a missionary.

When he became a priest, Craig began a close association with his young men leaders. These men inspired him in different ways and helped him deal with the normal traumas of growing up.

One of his priesthood leaders, Brother Bagley, was the team physician for the Salt Lake Bees, a local Minor League baseball affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Occasionally Dr. Bagley would bring guest speakers to priesthood meeting that were not LDS. One speaker that stands out is Baseball Hall of Famer Billy Martin.

During the 1959 season, Billy played for the Cleveland Indians. Known for being tough, he refused to wear a batting helmet, even though the league insisted on it. Midway through the season Tex Clevenger, of the Washington Senators, hit Billy in the face with a wild pitch. The ball broke his cheekbone. The injury was both physical and psychological and kept him out of the lineup for many games.

When he was ready to return, he needed to sharpen his skills and was assigned to play a couple of tune-up games in Salt Lake City before returning to the Major Leagues. This provided the opportunity for Dr. Bagley to invite Billy to Priesthood.

Billy was not known for his Christian values. He was a hothead major leaguer known for carousing, boozing, fighting, and womanizing. To see him in church was something that Craig never forgot. Billy focused his sermon on the importance of being a good citizen. His message inspired the young men. It was a big deal to have one of the most talented players in all of baseball show up at our Priesthood meeting, Craig said. He wasn’t just some guy. Everybody knew who he was, and I listened carefully. I vividly remember how excited I was to be in that meeting. Needless to say, nobody visited VaLora’s that day.

Dick Colette was Craig’s Young Men President. Craig looked up to him and saw him as someone who had all of life’s answers. Dick was a young man and he made the youth in the ward feel good about themselves. Craig enjoyed being around him.

In his Sophomore year, Craig was cut from the Highland High School football team. This was not a big surprise, Craig said, because I only weighed 145 pounds soaking wet. Still, he continued, it was a traumatic experience. Disaster had struck and I felt as if my life was over.

Craig’s mom called Brother Colette and let him know about his disappointment. That same day, Brother Colette invited Craig over for a soda and spent time counseling with him about how to recover from the big letdown. His message was simple: this is not the end of the world, everything will work out, other opportunities will present themselves, things will be ok. Craig left the house feeling better about himself and about his life. The sage advice from a young priesthood leader proved to be a life changing moment and fostered an admiration in Craig that exists to this day.

Craig left Brother Colette’s house understanding that he simply didn’t weigh enough to play football, and that this didn’t make him a bad or lesser person. It gave him the courage to get involved in other activities and eventually, he found things at which he could excel. The counsel he received proved to be influential, and the memory of that day helped him when he struggled as a missionary and as a military man.

Craig’s father, John Farr Larson was another important Priesthood Leader during his Aaronic Priesthood years. Though he never served as one of his formal leaders, he was an important model of accepting and magnifying priesthood assignments.

Together they served as Block Teachers. I can no longer remember the families we visited, he said, or the messages we taught, but I vividly remember my dad’s commitment to magnify this assignment. He made it clear that we were entrusted with a sacred duty, and that we must diligently love and care for our assigned families.

Craig received many assignments to serve in his priesthood quorums. Sometimes he served as the President, and other times as a counselor or secretary. All of those experiences prepared him for a lifetime of priesthood service and fostered a willingness to serve the Lord.

Over the course of his life, and especially in his youth, he was acquainted with those who were unwilling to make and keep sacred covenants. These individuals eventually left the church to walk down forbidden paths. Craig learned from their experiences, without judging them or pushing them away. Gratefully, their examples did not make him want to leave the covenant path, it only made him hold tighter to what he knew to be true.

He did his best to apply the doctrines and principles of the Gospel. He acted in faith, developed discipline, and practiced being obedient. This early learning helped him become a lifetime disciple of Christ.

In October of 1961, Craig submitted his application to serve as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This was a huge step, because it meant that he was committed. Naturally, Toni was a big influencer in this decision, but his folks also played a prominent role. Both of them had served a mission in their youth, and they regularly prayed that their children would embrace the opportunity to serve the Lord. They knew it would be a soul stretching experience and they knew it would be good for their sons.

When Craig opened the envelope from Church Headquarters, he knew immediately that he was called to serve where his parents had served 25 years earlier. The assignment felt right. Sharing the same mission field connected him to his parents in a new and meaningful way. He felt grateful to receive