May 21, 2025 • 26 mins
Brandon Lewis Barber was the first of 6 children born to David and Shari Barber. Shari, a dedicated homemaker, and David, a design engineer in the aerospace industry, worked very hard to create a home centered on Jesus Christ, emphasizing the importance of the gospel, family, hard work, and music.
Brandon was born in Provo, Utah and raised in St. Louis and Wichita. He moved to Wichita in the 7th grade and graduated from Maize High School. In his youth in St. Louis, he liked to play in the woods next to the Missouri river, play games on an Apple 2E, and enjoyed extended family nearby. Once in Wichita, church, scouting activities, friends, and work became the focus before leaving home.
He took everything he learned at home to serve in the Germany Frankfurt mission and cherished every moment with the German people. His grandfather was a WWII bomber pilot who said, “I went over to kill the Germans, now you go and save them”. Following the mission, he returned to BYU. While there, he was given an invitation from his grandparents to go on a date with one of their MTC teachers. Nine months later, Allison Probst married Brandon in the Salt Lake temple. They started their family right away and are blessed to have 7 children, 5 daughters and 2 sons.
At BYU, Brandon received a Bachelors degree in Business with an emphasis in Global Supply Chain Management, along with a minor in German. Graduating during a recession he was glad to have a job, starting at Schneider National Inc., working for them in Salt Lake City, Memphis, and Green Bay as a Manager of truck drivers and area regional planner. In 2011, he found a job with Koch Industries, Inc. and has managed domestic and international barge, rail, vessel, pipe, and truck logistics. Today he is a Logistics Manager overseeing the movement of millions of tons of fertilizer each year, throughout North America.
Brandon’s church service has mostly been in Young Men organizations; scoutmaster, cub scout leader, YM President, and bishopric counselor. Today he serves as a Stake High Counselor with the assignment of Stake Young Men’s President.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hi friends, welcome to the Wichita KS State podcast.
I'm your host, Paul Kitchen, a state history specialist.
This podcast is intended to. Help bring followers of Christ.
Closer to him. And to promote unity.
Within the body. Of Christ by listening to our
state. Leaders share their.
Personal stories of. Faith by.
Reflecting on faith promoting experiences.
We can strengthen our individualfaith in Jesus Christ together.
(00:22):
Welcome to our next episode. I'm here with President Brandon
Lewis Barber, who's the first ofsix children born to David and
Sherry Barber. Sherry, a dedicated homemaker,
and David, a design engineer in the aerospace industry, worked
very hard to create a home centered on Jesus Christ,
emphasizing the importance of the gospel family, hard work,
(00:46):
and music. Brandon was born in Provo, UT
and raised in Saint Louis and Wichita.
He moved to Wichita in the 7th grade and graduated from Mays
High School. In his youth.
In Saint Louis, he liked to playin the woods next to the
Missouri River, play games on anApple 2 E, and enjoyed extended
(01:06):
family nearby. Once in Wichita church, scouting
activities, friends and work came the focus before leaving
home. He took everything he learned at
home to serve in the Germany Frankfurt Mission and cherished
every moment with the German people.
His grandfather was a World War 2 bomber pilot who said I went
(01:27):
over to kill the Germans, now you go and save them.
Following the mission, he returned to BYU.
While there, he was given an invitation from his grandparents
to go on a date with one of their MTC teachers.
Nine months later, Allison Probst married Brandon in the
Salt Lake Temple. They started their family right
(01:47):
away and are blessed to have seven children, five daughters
and two sons. At BYU, Brandon received a
bachelor's degree in business with an emphasis in global
supply chain management, along with a minor in German.
Graduating during a recession, he was glad to have a job
starting at Schneider National Incorporated, working for them
(02:09):
in Salt Lake City, Memphis and Green Bay as a manager of truck
drivers and area regional planner.
In 2011, he found a job with Koch Industries, Inc and has
managed domestic and international barge, rail,
vessel, pipe and truck logistics.
Today he is a logistics manager overseeing the movement of
(02:30):
millions of tons of fertilizer each year throughout North
America. Brennan's church service has
mostly been in the Young Men's organization, Scout Master, Cub
Scout leader, Young Men president and bishopric
counselor. Today he serves as a stake high
counselor with the assignment ofstake Young Men's president.
(02:52):
Awesome welcome. Thank you.
Let's start with your early lifeand what is an important lesson
you learned from your parents. I I was blessed to be born to
goodly parents for the kitchen. I think you know it was their of
(03:17):
course, testimony of Savior Jesus Christ, not just in the
end, not just in their diligenceof having regular gospel
discussions but and family home evening, but in everyday life.
Their examples as they served inthe church, when asked to serve
in a calling, they did it. When asked to, you know, to go
(03:40):
to the temple with the youth to do, you know, to help someone
mow to sing in the choir, they did it.
My mom was big in music. Didn't seem like it didn't
matter how big of a piano piece it was.
She was diligent and in wanting to do it and get it done.
So I think those those examples that I had of a kind of that
(04:02):
willingness to serve and and open to doing, doing anything
they could to help in the work of the Lord really greatly
influenced me. I think you know what, not only
in their example, but even how they spoke.
I think, you know, when there was never a question of whether
I would go to seminary in the morning or early morning
seminary or if I, you know, had a choice to go to church.
(04:26):
It was just what are you talkingabout?
That's what we do. And I think that and the same
existed as you talk about a a mission or serving a mission.
They, it was, that was somethingyou were always going to do,
even even not just even gospel related, but I think even just
the getting, just in scouting and becoming Eagle Scout, My mom
(04:48):
was a big part of that. You mentioned in the intro.
My mom was very diligent and, and, and focused and passionate
on, on family and us as children.
And she was a great example of that and, and helped me to, you
know, you'd like to say she, yeah, she helped me get that
(05:09):
Eagle Scout. But yeah, so going back to the
question, I think they taught meto focus on, on the Savior and,
and you know, the things that you you hear about that we're
supposed to do that we've been asked to do within the church,
we do it. And, and I think I think that
(05:31):
was a good base for for me and, and at least one example as that
that I feel is important that they work to me.
So yeah, I like that that it sounds like parents taught and
lived the importance of making and living covenants, and it
(05:54):
wasn't just a matter checking itoff the list.
Eagle Scout was important, but the things that you were
learning and person you're becoming.
Yes. Very important there.
Right. So what?
What role has missionary serviceor ministering efforts played in
your life? Yeah, they were.
(06:20):
I was a pretty shy kid, but you know, I, I think when, though,
when you the even as a, even as a youth, the first missionary
opportunity I remember was beingable to share his testimony even
in in the lunchroom at school atMays High.
(06:44):
But one of the, I think one of the most memorable was, was
being able to share the gospel with one of my best friends and
have him come into our home and to and to hear hear the gospel
from missionaries. That kind of started my my
desire and I to to want to shareand, and an introduction to the
(07:09):
importance of missionary work. I think those early experiences
helped kind of propel my desire to want to serve a mission, you
know, and that's, and that's kind of on the missionary side
and really missionary work and ministering, you know, I gosh,
(07:32):
there's so one in the same in many respects.
I think as adults now we, we have the opportunity to just in
everyday life try to be ministers to those around us,
whether Co workers or not. And 1, I think of one example or
(07:54):
one experience I had moving hereback to Wichita in 2011.
We had wonderful neighbors and, and, and Mark and Emily Everett
actually, they're fantastic people.
Mark, we got to know them well as neighbors and we're next door
(08:17):
to them for two years. I had a lot of wonderful
conversations with them about about the gospel.
And then it was years later thatas they, we had moved, but they
had lived in the, they were living in the same place that
still within our war boundaries too.
(08:39):
They, they were visited by the missionaries and and Mark ended
up joining the church and I think that was one of
experience. Being able to be a part of and
see him come closer to our Savior really had a big impact
(09:00):
on me. Not to say or not to diminish in
any way many experiences that I had on my mission or or in other
ways, but this one Mark specifically helped was a great
example to me of someone who once he had committed to being
(09:21):
baptized, he was all in and evenhave the chance to sorry, get a
little emotional here, escort him and in the temple to as he
(09:43):
received his temple endowments and so be able to be a part of
that to see him come closer to our Savior only brought me
closer and brought me so much joy.
(10:05):
You know, I, I remember just even sitting with, I believe it
was the temple president, Oklahoma City, having a
conversation with him and being with Mark and being there in the
temple with him was, was just a great experience.
And to be able to, yeah, to really, to see him in white and,
(10:32):
and to picture he and I even just together and, and, and, you
know, you think about the eternities, right?
Being able to think about that eternal step that he had made
that day. And I think that's that's that's
the effect that missionary work and ministry has that I think
(10:57):
I'll be honest, for me, it it influenced me more to more
spiritually, I feel like more than it did him.
And in many way, in many examples of my life, I feel
that's the case where we have the, the opportunity to bear
testimony and gosh, it person onthe other end might not even be
listening, but you feel that, you feel that spirit and you
(11:21):
feel, you feel closer to our heavenly Father.
And and so those, those moment, I those moments, I think have
have strengthened me to become much more of who I am today and
and who hopefully I can continueto become for for my children.
(11:44):
You know, you think about ministering and missionary work
that's that's also best done in the home.
And I Allison and I have found that, gosh, it's hard to find,
you know, dedicated, specific time to study.
But when we when we force it andto a time that we just even and
(12:08):
I say force when we make time and we we say hey, all we need
is 5 minutes and we testify that's that is that's remarkable
the spirit it can bring and to come and hit reset button before
before bed or even before going off to school.
And so those kind of missionary and ministering efforts within
(12:29):
the home play a vital role as well.
And yeah, I'd, you know, we justgot done hearing why we continue
to hear the brother and talk about ministering and how
important it is. And I think, I think the same
(12:49):
exists that that's really one ofour our most important things is
to help him bring about his work.
It's a lot longer answer than I'm sure you were looking for.
That was great. I love the way that you're
thinking about your family also with that, and we know that
(13:10):
that's true. That the the.
Best missionary work, the most important ministering that we do
is going to be in our own homes.And it may be just one-on-one.
It may be that it's not a sit down with the scriptures.
It's going to be a child watching you live the gospel
(13:31):
that you've been teaching them. There's so many ways that that
we know that ministering is important.
Sometimes we, we help people move and we help people clean
their homes or rake their yards.And sometimes we we listen to
our children and then that's ministering too.
Yeah, right. So Speaking of your children,
(13:55):
what are what are some things that your family enjoys doing
together? We, yeah, we enjoy a good meal,
like to barbecue. We enjoy just spending some time
together. I think one of our fairly recent
experiences was, was actually traveling to the, the Northeast.
(14:20):
It's always great to be able to,to travel as a family and we, we
love to visit family, whether it's in Saint Louis or, or in
the West. But we 11 experience, I think
really was was very memorable for our family.
And I was traveling to the church history sites up to the
(14:40):
north, up to the northeast and you know, Kirtland and Palmyra,
gosh, and everything in between.But it was we had the
opportunity to go up as a familyto just take the the family van
and we invited my parents. They went along with us and I
think it'll, it'll be something I'll remember for the attorneys
(15:02):
of just sitting in the, the Kirtland Temple, which actually
at the time wasn't ours yet. And it wasn't part of our that
wasn't the churches yet. But we had just been there and,
and had a actually we had a personal tour there that I just
as a family and had the opportunity to sing, sing some
hymns in that temple and to think about what the Saints did.
(15:24):
You know, just little things like that I think bring us so
much closer together than tryingto go to to do, you know, maybe
something that that is maybe a little more commercialized and
things. I think we we just had a a great
experience doing that. And I think we found a lot of
joy in trying to fit to to fit those types of things in.
Hopefully we'll be able to go toNauvoo here this summer.
(15:47):
So yeah, I think those are some of the things we like to do.
Travelling together, that's great.
Yeah. Those locations can matter also,
we know the spirit can be in ourhomes and we want them to to
recognize the spirit in other places too in their own lives.
(16:08):
So let's, let's talk a little bit about your job.
We, we mentioned earlier that you are a logistics manager.
What's what's that like? What's your profession like?
What does that mean? Logistics Manager?
Yeah. So I today I manage a group of
people who you mentioned, yeah, that we move millions of tons of
(16:34):
fertilizer out of our several fertilizer locations here in the
United States. And those are just as you might
expect, it's all product going in rail cars and trucks to, to
farmers and co-ops and places all throughout the country.
My profession, my professional life has, has been great.
(16:56):
I, I think one of the best decisions I, I made was and
having graduated just so you mentioned, was a kind of a
downturn in the economy. I had a job and I had a choice
whether we, we, we want, we could stay in Salt Lake or move
to Memphis. We decided to move to Memphis
(17:17):
and I think that opened up some doors for us to be able to move
to Memphis and Green Bay and then had the opportunity to, to,
and I never thought I'd be back to Wichita actually, but there
was a great opportunity at Koch Industries and, and so came back
here and, and before doing fertilizer, I did manage some
(17:40):
marine traffic. So vessels and barges, barges on
the Mississippi, but also bargesin Europe and vessels, vessels
going near South America and outof Europe.
And and then also, you know, some pipe trade, some tank trade
(18:02):
in Europe and here in the UnitedStates.
And those, yeah, those were great opportunities and those
kind of then LED into more of the demand and it actually
worked out great. It's amazing how Heavenly Father
continues to get can can guide your life into what works best
for your family as well. It seemed like those
(18:22):
opportunities required a little bit more travel and then, and
then, and then dirt right when Ineeded to be home a little bit
more. I, I was able to get into
fertilizer and, and the furthestI travel is maybe Iowa or, or
Oklahoma. So it's it's been good, but just
(18:43):
kind of the daily life is, is really just actually just
dealing with the issues and problems that arise from rail
car moving rail cars and trucks.Whether it's whether it's a rail
car that's was overloaded and inroute and the railroad catches
or, or truck driver that that didn't close his truck all the
(19:07):
way and his and might be dragon fertilizer on the road or
whatever it might be. But yeah, it's makes for kind of
exciting time at work and and there's never a dull moment.
Lots of I guess it won't be the same every day in day.
(19:28):
No, right now it's different every day.
Lots of choices to be made. Yeah, and it I would argue too.
And many ways as I've kind of stepped more into managerial
role, it's been a great opportunity to, to even just
apply some of the things I've learned in church service to, to
(19:49):
that, to my work workplace and even vice versa.
I've, I've learned a lot and having difficult conversations
to, to apply to even my home, family life and, and and the
church, church service as well. So it's amazing how that works.
Right. Yeah, I guess people are always
(20:10):
people. Yeah, right.
And we learn how to communicate together, how to treat each
other, and that's the same everywhere.
Train. So, is there a recent experience
you'd like to share with us thathelped bring you closer to
Christ? I so my son.
(20:32):
He recently left on his mission in August of last year and that
was that was a that was obviously a change for our
family just like this for everyone that that goes through
that experience. But but with his decision to go,
(20:52):
you know, I, I guess even just to share it, it might seem not
to downplay the scripture or downplay and any respect.
But I feel like I remember dropping Weston off Allison and
I at the MTC in in Provo. And as as I was, as I was
(21:13):
leaving, just having the thoughtthat, you know, here I was
giving my son to to the people of Washington to service in, in
the Lord's church. And, and in a way, right.
(21:34):
I, I think I got a very, very small glimpse as to what
Scripture means. When, when, when, when, yeah,
when that Christ's beloved son, Abraham and father was, was that
he gave his son to us. And that I really, I really had
(21:58):
a small sense of that. And I think though that since
then be able to see him continueto come closer to our Heavenly
Father in many different ways and to mature and grow and gosh,
in eight months has been absolutely remarkable.
(22:19):
And I think I think that experience continues to help me
come closer to Christ. Just his experience out there,
the experiences he needs to share every week and shoot the
the opportunity we have to talk to him every week is remarkable.
(22:40):
I think that that grateful for that change that that was
inspired that we have the opportunity to talk to our
missionaries and to to be able to share for him to be able to
share experiences with us and for us to to also learn how to
support him and build him up hasbeen I, I would say that's yeah,
(23:04):
that's those are the kind of therecent experiences and, and the
some of the the biggest ones recently anyways.
So wonderful. Yeah, Thank you.
Will you please share your testimony with us of Jesus
Christ enough as your store church?
Yes, I I'm grateful every day for my heavenly Father for, for
(23:34):
being born to goodly parents forfor finding where as you
mentioned, actually the being ofthe intro having the opportunity
to the and my grandparents set up Allison and I And it's almost
like I needed someone to tell mewho I should be directed to and,
(23:58):
and to find Allison and, and andthat he would direct me to her
and, and for us to be able to create a family.
And yeah, to come back to Wichita and to now be here for
coming up on on 14 years is, is just remarkable.
(24:20):
Obviously it's amazing, as I'm sure we all do, just thinking
about the direction that our lives take are not typically
what we might have been expected, but how they are, how
our Heavenly Father. Yeah, as we're striving to do
(24:41):
what's right, hopefully they arethe lives that Heavenly Father
would have us be and where we need to be.
I'm grateful. I know that and He is directed,
will direct any of us and has directed me when I listen.
I have a testimony of my Savior that as I started to come closer
(25:06):
to Him every day to to do my best to find opportunities to
minister within my home, hopefully finding time to do it
outside my home that I can come closer.
(25:27):
To. To my heavenly Father, I have a
testimony that he that Christ lives that that he guides this
church and continues to guide usthrough a prophet that a prophet
who continues to remind us of his coming that is is soon and
(25:50):
and I only hope that I can prepare myself and my family and
and those around me for that day.
And this I say in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Amen. I hope.
That this episode of The Witch Took is a Stick podcast helped
(26:10):
bring you closer to Christ. I invite you to take some time
today to write about or record one of your own faith promoting
experiences.
Hi friends, welcome to the Wichita KS State podcast.
I'm your host, Paul Kitchen, a state history specialist.
This podcast is intended to. Help bring followers of Christ.
Closer to him. And to promote unity.
Within the body. Of Christ by listening to our
state. Leaders share their.
Personal stories of. Faith by.
Reflecting on faith promoting experiences.
We can strengthen our individualfaith in Jesus Christ together.
(00:22):
Welcome to our next episode. I'm here with President Brandon
Lewis Barber, who's the first ofsix children born to David and
Sherry Barber. Sherry, a dedicated homemaker,
and David, a design engineer in the aerospace industry, worked
very hard to create a home centered on Jesus Christ,
emphasizing the importance of the gospel family, hard work,
(00:46):
and music. Brandon was born in Provo, UT
and raised in Saint Louis and Wichita.
He moved to Wichita in the 7th grade and graduated from Mays
High School. In his youth.
In Saint Louis, he liked to playin the woods next to the
Missouri River, play games on anApple 2 E, and enjoyed extended
(01:06):
family nearby. Once in Wichita church, scouting
activities, friends and work came the focus before leaving
home. He took everything he learned at
home to serve in the Germany Frankfurt Mission and cherished
every moment with the German people.
His grandfather was a World War 2 bomber pilot who said I went
(01:27):
over to kill the Germans, now you go and save them.
Following the mission, he returned to BYU.
While there, he was given an invitation from his grandparents
to go on a date with one of their MTC teachers.
Nine months later, Allison Probst married Brandon in the
Salt Lake Temple. They started their family right
(01:47):
away and are blessed to have seven children, five daughters
and two sons. At BYU, Brandon received a
bachelor's degree in business with an emphasis in global
supply chain management, along with a minor in German.
Graduating during a recession, he was glad to have a job
starting at Schneider National Incorporated, working for them
(02:09):
in Salt Lake City, Memphis and Green Bay as a manager of truck
drivers and area regional planner.
In 2011, he found a job with Koch Industries, Inc and has
managed domestic and international barge, rail,
vessel, pipe and truck logistics.
Today he is a logistics manager overseeing the movement of
(02:30):
millions of tons of fertilizer each year throughout North
America. Brennan's church service has
mostly been in the Young Men's organization, Scout Master, Cub
Scout leader, Young Men president and bishopric
counselor. Today he serves as a stake high
counselor with the assignment ofstake Young Men's president.
(02:52):
Awesome welcome. Thank you.
Let's start with your early lifeand what is an important lesson
you learned from your parents. I I was blessed to be born to
goodly parents for the kitchen. I think you know it was their of
(03:17):
course, testimony of Savior Jesus Christ, not just in the
end, not just in their diligenceof having regular gospel
discussions but and family home evening, but in everyday life.
Their examples as they served inthe church, when asked to serve
in a calling, they did it. When asked to, you know, to go
(03:40):
to the temple with the youth to do, you know, to help someone
mow to sing in the choir, they did it.
My mom was big in music. Didn't seem like it didn't
matter how big of a piano piece it was.
She was diligent and in wanting to do it and get it done.
So I think those those examples that I had of a kind of that
(04:02):
willingness to serve and and open to doing, doing anything
they could to help in the work of the Lord really greatly
influenced me. I think you know what, not only
in their example, but even how they spoke.
I think, you know, when there was never a question of whether
I would go to seminary in the morning or early morning
seminary or if I, you know, had a choice to go to church.
(04:26):
It was just what are you talkingabout?
That's what we do. And I think that and the same
existed as you talk about a a mission or serving a mission.
They, it was, that was somethingyou were always going to do,
even even not just even gospel related, but I think even just
the getting, just in scouting and becoming Eagle Scout, My mom
(04:48):
was a big part of that. You mentioned in the intro.
My mom was very diligent and, and, and focused and passionate
on, on family and us as children.
And she was a great example of that and, and helped me to, you
know, you'd like to say she, yeah, she helped me get that
(05:09):
Eagle Scout. But yeah, so going back to the
question, I think they taught meto focus on, on the Savior and,
and you know, the things that you you hear about that we're
supposed to do that we've been asked to do within the church,
we do it. And, and I think I think that
(05:31):
was a good base for for me and, and at least one example as that
that I feel is important that they work to me.
So yeah, I like that that it sounds like parents taught and
lived the importance of making and living covenants, and it
(05:54):
wasn't just a matter checking itoff the list.
Eagle Scout was important, but the things that you were
learning and person you're becoming.
Yes. Very important there.
Right. So what?
What role has missionary serviceor ministering efforts played in
your life? Yeah, they were.
(06:20):
I was a pretty shy kid, but you know, I, I think when, though,
when you the even as a, even as a youth, the first missionary
opportunity I remember was beingable to share his testimony even
in in the lunchroom at school atMays High.
(06:44):
But one of the, I think one of the most memorable was, was
being able to share the gospel with one of my best friends and
have him come into our home and to and to hear hear the gospel
from missionaries. That kind of started my my
desire and I to to want to shareand, and an introduction to the
(07:09):
importance of missionary work. I think those early experiences
helped kind of propel my desire to want to serve a mission, you
know, and that's, and that's kind of on the missionary side
and really missionary work and ministering, you know, I gosh,
(07:32):
there's so one in the same in many respects.
I think as adults now we, we have the opportunity to just in
everyday life try to be ministers to those around us,
whether Co workers or not. And 1, I think of one example or
(07:54):
one experience I had moving hereback to Wichita in 2011.
We had wonderful neighbors and, and, and Mark and Emily Everett
actually, they're fantastic people.
Mark, we got to know them well as neighbors and we're next door
(08:17):
to them for two years. I had a lot of wonderful
conversations with them about about the gospel.
And then it was years later thatas they, we had moved, but they
had lived in the, they were living in the same place that
still within our war boundaries too.
(08:39):
They, they were visited by the missionaries and and Mark ended
up joining the church and I think that was one of
experience. Being able to be a part of and
see him come closer to our Savior really had a big impact
(09:00):
on me. Not to say or not to diminish in
any way many experiences that I had on my mission or or in other
ways, but this one Mark specifically helped was a great
example to me of someone who once he had committed to being
(09:21):
baptized, he was all in and evenhave the chance to sorry, get a
little emotional here, escort him and in the temple to as he
(09:43):
received his temple endowments and so be able to be a part of
that to see him come closer to our Savior only brought me
closer and brought me so much joy.
(10:05):
You know, I, I remember just even sitting with, I believe it
was the temple president, Oklahoma City, having a
conversation with him and being with Mark and being there in the
temple with him was, was just a great experience.
And to be able to, yeah, to really, to see him in white and,
(10:32):
and to picture he and I even just together and, and, and, you
know, you think about the eternities, right?
Being able to think about that eternal step that he had made
that day. And I think that's that's that's
the effect that missionary work and ministry has that I think
(10:57):
I'll be honest, for me, it it influenced me more to more
spiritually, I feel like more than it did him.
And in many way, in many examples of my life, I feel
that's the case where we have the, the opportunity to bear
testimony and gosh, it person onthe other end might not even be
listening, but you feel that, you feel that spirit and you
(11:21):
feel, you feel closer to our heavenly Father.
And and so those, those moment, I those moments, I think have
have strengthened me to become much more of who I am today and
and who hopefully I can continueto become for for my children.
(11:44):
You know, you think about ministering and missionary work
that's that's also best done in the home.
And I Allison and I have found that, gosh, it's hard to find,
you know, dedicated, specific time to study.
But when we when we force it andto a time that we just even and
(12:08):
I say force when we make time and we we say hey, all we need
is 5 minutes and we testify that's that is that's remarkable
the spirit it can bring and to come and hit reset button before
before bed or even before going off to school.
And so those kind of missionary and ministering efforts within
(12:29):
the home play a vital role as well.
And yeah, I'd, you know, we justgot done hearing why we continue
to hear the brother and talk about ministering and how
important it is. And I think, I think the same
(12:49):
exists that that's really one ofour our most important things is
to help him bring about his work.
It's a lot longer answer than I'm sure you were looking for.
That was great. I love the way that you're
thinking about your family also with that, and we know that
(13:10):
that's true. That the the.
Best missionary work, the most important ministering that we do
is going to be in our own homes.And it may be just one-on-one.
It may be that it's not a sit down with the scriptures.
It's going to be a child watching you live the gospel
(13:31):
that you've been teaching them. There's so many ways that that
we know that ministering is important.
Sometimes we, we help people move and we help people clean
their homes or rake their yards.And sometimes we we listen to
our children and then that's ministering too.
Yeah, right. So Speaking of your children,
(13:55):
what are what are some things that your family enjoys doing
together? We, yeah, we enjoy a good meal,
like to barbecue. We enjoy just spending some time
together. I think one of our fairly recent
experiences was, was actually traveling to the, the Northeast.
(14:20):
It's always great to be able to,to travel as a family and we, we
love to visit family, whether it's in Saint Louis or, or in
the West. But we 11 experience, I think
really was was very memorable for our family.
And I was traveling to the church history sites up to the
(14:40):
north, up to the northeast and you know, Kirtland and Palmyra,
gosh, and everything in between.But it was we had the
opportunity to go up as a familyto just take the the family van
and we invited my parents. They went along with us and I
think it'll, it'll be something I'll remember for the attorneys
(15:02):
of just sitting in the, the Kirtland Temple, which actually
at the time wasn't ours yet. And it wasn't part of our that
wasn't the churches yet. But we had just been there and,
and had a actually we had a personal tour there that I just
as a family and had the opportunity to sing, sing some
hymns in that temple and to think about what the Saints did.
(15:24):
You know, just little things like that I think bring us so
much closer together than tryingto go to to do, you know, maybe
something that that is maybe a little more commercialized and
things. I think we we just had a a great
experience doing that. And I think we found a lot of
joy in trying to fit to to fit those types of things in.
Hopefully we'll be able to go toNauvoo here this summer.
(15:47):
So yeah, I think those are some of the things we like to do.
Travelling together, that's great.
Yeah. Those locations can matter also,
we know the spirit can be in ourhomes and we want them to to
recognize the spirit in other places too in their own lives.
(16:08):
So let's, let's talk a little bit about your job.
We, we mentioned earlier that you are a logistics manager.
What's what's that like? What's your profession like?
What does that mean? Logistics Manager?
Yeah. So I today I manage a group of
people who you mentioned, yeah, that we move millions of tons of
(16:34):
fertilizer out of our several fertilizer locations here in the
United States. And those are just as you might
expect, it's all product going in rail cars and trucks to, to
farmers and co-ops and places all throughout the country.
My profession, my professional life has, has been great.
(16:56):
I, I think one of the best decisions I, I made was and
having graduated just so you mentioned, was a kind of a
downturn in the economy. I had a job and I had a choice
whether we, we, we want, we could stay in Salt Lake or move
to Memphis. We decided to move to Memphis
(17:17):
and I think that opened up some doors for us to be able to move
to Memphis and Green Bay and then had the opportunity to, to,
and I never thought I'd be back to Wichita actually, but there
was a great opportunity at Koch Industries and, and so came back
here and, and before doing fertilizer, I did manage some
(17:40):
marine traffic. So vessels and barges, barges on
the Mississippi, but also bargesin Europe and vessels, vessels
going near South America and outof Europe.
And and then also, you know, some pipe trade, some tank trade
(18:02):
in Europe and here in the UnitedStates.
And those, yeah, those were great opportunities and those
kind of then LED into more of the demand and it actually
worked out great. It's amazing how Heavenly Father
continues to get can can guide your life into what works best
for your family as well. It seemed like those
(18:22):
opportunities required a little bit more travel and then, and
then, and then dirt right when Ineeded to be home a little bit
more. I, I was able to get into
fertilizer and, and the furthestI travel is maybe Iowa or, or
Oklahoma. So it's it's been good, but just
(18:43):
kind of the daily life is, is really just actually just
dealing with the issues and problems that arise from rail
car moving rail cars and trucks.Whether it's whether it's a rail
car that's was overloaded and inroute and the railroad catches
or, or truck driver that that didn't close his truck all the
(19:07):
way and his and might be dragon fertilizer on the road or
whatever it might be. But yeah, it's makes for kind of
exciting time at work and and there's never a dull moment.
Lots of I guess it won't be the same every day in day.
(19:28):
No, right now it's different every day.
Lots of choices to be made. Yeah, and it I would argue too.
And many ways as I've kind of stepped more into managerial
role, it's been a great opportunity to, to even just
apply some of the things I've learned in church service to, to
(19:49):
that, to my work workplace and even vice versa.
I've, I've learned a lot and having difficult conversations
to, to apply to even my home, family life and, and and the
church, church service as well. So it's amazing how that works.
Right. Yeah, I guess people are always
(20:10):
people. Yeah, right.
And we learn how to communicate together, how to treat each
other, and that's the same everywhere.
Train. So, is there a recent experience
you'd like to share with us thathelped bring you closer to
Christ? I so my son.
(20:32):
He recently left on his mission in August of last year and that
was that was a that was obviously a change for our
family just like this for everyone that that goes through
that experience. But but with his decision to go,
(20:52):
you know, I, I guess even just to share it, it might seem not
to downplay the scripture or downplay and any respect.
But I feel like I remember dropping Weston off Allison and
I at the MTC in in Provo. And as as I was, as I was
(21:13):
leaving, just having the thoughtthat, you know, here I was
giving my son to to the people of Washington to service in, in
the Lord's church. And, and in a way, right.
(21:34):
I, I think I got a very, very small glimpse as to what
Scripture means. When, when, when, when, yeah,
when that Christ's beloved son, Abraham and father was, was that
he gave his son to us. And that I really, I really had
(21:58):
a small sense of that. And I think though that since
then be able to see him continueto come closer to our Heavenly
Father in many different ways and to mature and grow and gosh,
in eight months has been absolutely remarkable.
(22:19):
And I think I think that experience continues to help me
come closer to Christ. Just his experience out there,
the experiences he needs to share every week and shoot the
the opportunity we have to talk to him every week is remarkable.
(22:40):
I think that that grateful for that change that that was
inspired that we have the opportunity to talk to our
missionaries and to to be able to share for him to be able to
share experiences with us and for us to to also learn how to
support him and build him up hasbeen I, I would say that's yeah,
(23:04):
that's those are the kind of therecent experiences and, and the
some of the the biggest ones recently anyways.
So wonderful. Yeah, Thank you.
Will you please share your testimony with us of Jesus
Christ enough as your store church?
Yes, I I'm grateful every day for my heavenly Father for, for
(23:34):
being born to goodly parents forfor finding where as you
mentioned, actually the being ofthe intro having the opportunity
to the and my grandparents set up Allison and I And it's almost
like I needed someone to tell mewho I should be directed to and,
(23:58):
and to find Allison and, and andthat he would direct me to her
and, and for us to be able to create a family.
And yeah, to come back to Wichita and to now be here for
coming up on on 14 years is, is just remarkable.
(24:20):
Obviously it's amazing, as I'm sure we all do, just thinking
about the direction that our lives take are not typically
what we might have been expected, but how they are, how
our Heavenly Father. Yeah, as we're striving to do
(24:41):
what's right, hopefully they arethe lives that Heavenly Father
would have us be and where we need to be.
I'm grateful. I know that and He is directed,
will direct any of us and has directed me when I listen.
I have a testimony of my Savior that as I started to come closer
(25:06):
to Him every day to to do my best to find opportunities to
minister within my home, hopefully finding time to do it
outside my home that I can come closer.
(25:27):
To. To my heavenly Father, I have a
testimony that he that Christ lives that that he guides this
church and continues to guide usthrough a prophet that a prophet
who continues to remind us of his coming that is is soon and
(25:50):
and I only hope that I can prepare myself and my family and
and those around me for that day.
And this I say in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Amen. I hope.
That this episode of The Witch Took is a Stick podcast helped
(26:10):
bring you closer to Christ. I invite you to take some time
today to write about or record one of your own faith promoting
experiences.
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