Evan Bingham Bingham

Elder DaRosa, Elder Fronk, Elder Griffin, Elder Juliatti, Elder Bangerter, Elder Humphreys, Elder Cozuic, Elder Amorim, Elder MacKnight, Elder Cadieux, Elder Hammerland, Elder Sartori, and lots of others during splits and short-term waiting times:)

Lisboa 2, Lisboa 1, Coimbra, Almada

I returned home and Elder Layne Bangerter invited me to live with his family and go to BYU. There I met my wife, Amy, and we were married and moved to my father's ranch by a small town on the Utah/Idaho border called Portage, Utah. While living there and working on the ranch I was called to serve in the teacher's quorum. I loved it and it brought back memories of teaching on my mission. During the winter I went to Utah State University and while there taking an institute class I found a pamphlet that said "What about teaching Seminary?" I couldn't get it out of my mind. To make a long story short, we packed up our newborn baby and went back to school full time at BYU. I was hired to teach seminary near Snowflake, Arizona and we were there for 13 years. I was then asked to come teach Institute at Snow college in Ephraim, Utah. After a few years they asked me to be the principal at Manti seminary which I have been doing for 5 years. I have a small farm and lots of animals and I look back on my mission as one of the greatest times of my life. It was one of those choosing moments of my life and it was then that my heart was given to the Lord entirely. Thanks for everything you all did to make me a better person. I hope God has blessed you with a multitude of blessings like He has me.

Stake Young Men's President & High Council

My mission was one of the greatest times of my life. I became a product of so many experiences including Elder Bangerter telling me if I didn't change my attitude I was going to have a "hell" of a time there. Also Elder Juliatti saying "bom dia" to a billion people and not one responding. Then he turned to me and said something to the effect that he had about 1 million more Bom Dias left to say and he would continue to say them no matter the response. Elder Cadieux and I as jr. companions teaming up when it seemed like nothing was going right. Sisters Day and Asvitt who made birthdays and other special occasions still feel like home. Elders Romney and Texeira who inspired us to do better by baptizing a whole village. Elder Hammerland who didn't know the meaning of the word "quit." Elder DaRosa who taught me how to work even through terrible jet lag. The Portuguese people for loving us, yelling at us, teaching us and allowing us to have an incredible time serving the Lord. All the investigators and those who eventually joined the Church and inspired us. Sr. Manuel Cunhao Fernandes, who at 86 joined the church and turned the freezing water warm because of his faith when he entered the waters of baptism. The tons of seeming "sacrifices" that ended up being incredible opportunities and were just God's hand directing us to find the treasures. President and Sister Hilliam who led by example and taught us to think positive. "Things are great and getting better." Elder Fronk and I leaving the mission Christmas party early because I had scheduled a discussion. Then that night when a family of 9 accepted the baptismal challenge and made life an incredible joy. Watching the procession of the Rainha Santa and the Quema das Fitas. How about Elder Hibbert and the times we were chased by a great dane and Hibbert stuck his projector in the open mouth of the dog to keep from getting bit. (by the way, he has long legs but when being chased by a dog, I could easily outrun him!) There were stinky open sewers and there were breathtaking sunsets. Elder Cozuic getting up at 5 in the morning to do exercises. Mercy! Cold days, Cold nights, mail strikes, transportation strikes, etc. Baptizing the former president of Moszambique and having those who were trying to kill him blow his front door off the apartment where he lived. Going into places in Lisboa that no wise person would travel and yet doing it with total confidence that we were on the Lord's errand and that there was nothing to fear. The Castles and the statues. The Caravella and the cobblestone streets. Thank God for all the memories and for all the growing He allowed us to have.

I joined the church before 1981