Every Thing Has A Purpose

It's true! Every thing we do, every thing we say, every place we go, all has a purpose. Our lives our meant to have purpose. Sometimes the 'purpose' comes with sacrifice, hardships, and joy beyond measure.

Serving this mission to Iceland does have a purpose, a very important purpose. A purpose that will bring some sacrifice, some hardships, and a GREAT BUNDLE of joy beyond measure.

Our biggest sacrifice and hardship is leaving behind these people for an entire year:

Our 23 precious grandchildren

Our first darling great grandchild

Terry's 87 year-old Mother

Our five children who have given their support

100% to care for their Grandma and love all those

babies while we're gone (even though their eyes

are filled with tears and hearts are aching).

Our greatest joy is to pay forward the great sacrifice, hardships, and love beyond measure for our parents, our great grandparents, and beyond:

 Terry's wonderful parents, Lee Alma and Geraldine McArthur Shepherd

They both became deaf as very young children, yet

never felt they were handicapped in any way. They

showed the wonderful example of being productive,

successful, and happy people. (On a side note, Lee and my

father (Art) were great friends when they were young boys. 

This friendship lasted througout their lifetime. )

Lil's wonderful parents, Arthur Sigurdur, Jr. and Marian Irene Brown Johnson

Even they are both deceased, not a day goes by that

something good they taught their posterity makes a

positive difference in the world.

My father is of Icelandic descent. When the mission call

came and it was set in stone we were headed to Iceland, one

of his great grandchildren said, "If there are buttons on clothes

in heaven, then all of Grandpa J's buttons just popped off"!

Arthur Sigurdur, Sr. and Lily Jameson Johnson

These are Lil's grandparents, on her father's side.

Grandpa is 50% Icelandic descent

Grandma is 100% Icelandic descent

When Lil was a young child, she believed EVERY

SINGLE PERSON in the world was from Iceland.

No kidding. Grandma Lily was so proud of her Icelandic

heritage and even though Grandpa had passed on before

Lil was ever born, the roots were planted deep and held

strong for generation, after generation, after generation.

Grandpa Arthur Sigurdur Johnson, Sr's. Four Generation Chart

Grandma Lily Jameson Johnson's Four Generation Chart

Take a look at all those ancestors who truly know

what sacrifice, hardships, pure joy is all about.

This is a picture of Arthur Sigurdur Johnson, Sr.,

as a young boy with his Grandmother Vilborg Thordasdottir

and Grandfather Sigurdur Arnason

The purpose of our mission is great; to connect the most important treasure on earth, FAMILIES. We will have the opportunity of working in the historic archives in Iceland, recovering, restoring, and preserving ancient histories of people. Every single person has a family. Every single person is important. Every single person deserves to be connected to their very own family.

How blessed we are to assist with this project and thank those who have gone on before us, who made sacrifices, lived through hardships, and paved the way.  

We know in the end our joy will be beyond measure by serving His children, leaving behind our treasures, and connecting the dots so others can find their roots.