One Month Rambles

This speeding train seems to go faster and faster, and if you can believe it, we have already been serving in the wonderful Canada Halifax Mission for one month!! Our learning curve is steep, and daily we realize how much we don’t know!! Gratefully we have amazing, obedient missionaries BUT we do have some challenges that keep us on our knees, and Dad on one of his phones!! 

I forgot to mention the cute birthday surprise that came about 10:00pm on July 25. Delivered to our door by a ‘skip the dishes’ courier was an A&W root beer float along with a bag of A&W suckers…thank you Megan, Brendan and Macie!!! Such a cute idea, and Dad loved the fun remembrance!!

7:15 Saturday morning  we were so excited to pick Jonathan and Jordan up from our airport…our first visitors from home (sort of from home!!) After unloading their travel bags at home we headed the seven minutes to our Temple do attend the 9am session. Dad and I served as the witness couple, and were grateful we were able to keep our eyes open. My body is starting to get conditioned that when I sit down, my eyes close,  which is not good in the Temple or in Sacrament Meeting, or in District Meeting, or in MLC or in our Office Meeting, or in Meetings with our Assistants and our Sister Training Leader Trainers.  Bedtime might have to be moved up an hour!!

Following our session, we were thrilled to start a bit of tour-guiding, and Peggy’s Cove of world fame was our first destination. The dense fog made it tricky to see much, but we were thrilled to walk on the massive rocks, and imagine the ocean crashing the shoreline. Dee-Dee’s the guru’s of Nova Scotia ice cream shops called to us, and with at least a dozen creative flavours we each found our new favourite!!

Backroads led us to Mahone Bay and Lunenberg where we couldn’t get enough big, old restored homes, and ocean views down by the bay. If we could move you all here; we would!! It’s like going back 100 years in these charming old towns, and really the only thing out of place are Tim Horton’s and Irving Gas Stations. Suttle and Seawinds, a fabric/quilting shop which started in the 1970’s is in Mahone Bay, and when we arrived at 5:45, we were so excited that they didn’t close until 6pm. Two years ago the beautiful quilting and fabric arm of the shop closed, so now although it is still located in the lovely 200 year old home, the shop has been totally transformed into a high end women’s dress shop. I found a cute wraparound fake black pearl bracelet, and a ‘Suttles and Seawinds’ paper bag for Grandma H. but was disappointed the fabric shop was no more.  

Our Sunday drive to Kempville Church in the Annapolis Valley was picturesque and beautiful, and we loved showing off Jonathan and Jordan!  Unbeknownst to us Elders McArthur and Bringhurst were speaking in Sacrament Meeting so we were thrilled to be there.  They said it was the first time they had been in Church with their Mission President, so we were especially glad we were there. Kempville Ward is filled with dedicated, devoted saints, and we loved meeting many of them including our FM friend Charles Spinney, (who was happy to report to us that our new Office loveseat and chair will be delivered Wednesday!!) We love these Maritimers!!  I dream of remembering all our new friends names, and sometimes wish everyone wore a name tag just like us!! 

Travelling on the Harvest Highway to Wolfville, the tiny town of Acadia University fame, we  wondered where Alissa Harker Nelson lived while she was studying Nutrition and even suggested that Jonathan might want to do his PhD here!! 

We continued our Sunday zigzagging drive on the western edge of Nova Scotia and drove to where the Digby rips are - between Cape Split and Cape D’Or…look it up, and we will too because it was so foggy we couldn’t see a thing!!! Apparently it is spectacular…so we will return!! 

We thought the biggest tides were  at Hopewell Rocks, in New Brunswick, but found out that really the Digby rips are the biggest in the world!

Last week I got to go knocking with Sister Wood and Sister Cartwright, and we met and visited with a young high school student named Tim who after we had visited with him for fifteen minutes told us his uncle is a Church member!! He was happy to take a passalong card, and I bet he will look up mormon.org.  The rest of the evening we attended Mutual where Sister Cartwright taught us about hair and hairstyles.  I got to do French braids on a 12 year old investigator girl, who was so sweet and appreciative of me doing her hair. She and her 8 year old brother, her Dad and Mom moved from India just 3 months ago, and actually are interested in the Church!!! Gurude(I can’t actually remember her name) is even going to go to Dartmouth Ward Girls Camp!! Exciting!!

After visiting with my new Irish urologist Dr. O’Malley, we headed with Jonathan and Jordan over to PEI where tomorrow the good President has six interviews with our missionaries, and then we will head back to New Brunswick for ten more interviews, and a District meeting. We will spend the night in Moncton. Maybe I haven’t raved about the beauty of PEI enough?! Definitely heaven on earth!!!

Thursday we have a farewell dinner and testimony with Elder DeBry who heads home on Friday. Main course will be Parmesan chicken with all the trimmings. Sister Priest is bringing dessert. 

Our 23 Brookdale Crescent home has such a great crew of helpers: Joanne who scrubs and cleans, changes sheets, and helps me prepare for the hosts of guests we have, Anna keeps the annuals and perennials in shipshape, Brother Walker is in charge of keeping the sidewalks, and the exterior of our home power washed (we have spiders, and all manner of stuff that sticks to the home), Brother Smith is our handyman who hangs hooks in the garage and will take care of anything else I need fixed, Roger is the shrub, and tree trimmer, and I have no idea who the lawn care folks are! And of course there is Charles Spinney who coordinates all of the above!

We feel very pampered, but know there is no way we could take care of any of these things without our crew! (I do think I could carve out time to prune the few flowers we have!!)

We have a group of Newfoundland saints that are coming to the Temple on Friday night, and we think our beds will be full again! This Mission Home is a busy place!! I’m waiting to hear what meals they need!!

Well I will sign out for the night and send love to all!

Happy Birthday Richard!

Happy 64th Birthday Richard!! We get to celebrate by travelling to the Annapolis Valley and visit(interview) with five Elders and four Sisters, and to participate in their District Meeting. It seems like every place we travel becomes my favourite, and I will say that about the fertile Annapolis Valley. The Annapolis Valley is not just like the Salt Lake City Valley, or the Old Man River Valley - it extends about 100 km, and is some of the most fertile and picturesque part of Nova Scotia.  Apple orchards, vineyards, corn fields, and picture perfect vegetable patches abound. And of course charming old farm homes with big wrap around verandahs surrounded with dreamy creamy, or ultramarine blue, or pink coloured mophead hydrangea and lush daylily beds surround the homesteads. I know we would never arrive on time for any of our meetings if we stopped at every photo corner!! Suffice it to say I am constantly looking at the view!!!!

I loved my first ever District Meeting with Sisters Moyes, Davies, Green, and Clark and Elders Bringhurst, Williams, Gessel, McArthur, and Willoughby in the Phase two Greenwood Chapel. We are so blessed with wonderful missionaries who are obedient and hard-working. Elder and Sister Priest, one of our stalwart local Senior missionary couples who serve in the office live in Greenwood, and shared this faith-promoting story.  In the 1990’s, to qualify for having a building built in their tiny commmunity an hour an a half from Halifax; meeting attendance had to be at least 40. Elder Priest told us the beautiful story of when they made their goal! The little group  found this lovely parcel of land nestled in the woods, and approached the owner who basically laughed in their face when they offered $15,000 for the 3 acre chunk of land. As a branch they fasted and prayed and about two weeks later the owner approached them and said ‘I feel like I need to sell you the land,’ and countered with $21,000. To secure the purchase the fledgling little branch would have to come up with a downpayment of $4500. How were they to raise that? Elder Priest (then the Branch President) continued…They asked the owner if they cleared the land and sold the lumber, could that $ go towards the downpayment, which he agreed to!  Exactly $4500 was raised by the sale of that lumber, and they proceeded with the building. 

If only all our sacred buildings were loved and appreciated as is this little Greenwood Chapel It is kept in pristine shape, groomed flower beds, spitspot chapel, lovely bulletin boards, immaculate kitchen, and even help yourself jars of mints on the table in the Relief Society room!!

Tuesday,  while Dad spent the day interviewing in our home office, I ventured out on my own in a CHM office loaner car (since ours was getting an oil change), and headed downtown to visit Melanie, at the Hydrosone Spirit Salon.  Both Sister Pratt and Sister Leavitt (previous MP wives) recommended the salon. I was very pleased with the stylist, and both the colour and cut are wonderful, but when I paid the $188.00 I thought I’ve got to find somewhere cheaper!!! Mostly I was grateful my phone ‘Siri’ directed me right to the spot across the harbour, and I did not get lost!!  And whats more it is one of the neighbourhoods flattened 100 years ago in the ‘Great Halifax Explosion’ and in the tiny green strip across from the salon was a lovely memorial. I’m trying to carve out time to reread the fascinating book ‘The Great Halifax Explosion’ - an account of the true story of the 1917 explosion and a wonderful read. 

We gathered at the Temple this morning at 7:30 to attend a special 8am session with our group of 38 who came together for our all day Mission Leadership Council. Assistants, Zone leaders, STLT’s, STL’s, and Tech elders as well as our dedicated office missionaries attended, and we had such an outpouring of the spirit. One of the highlights was our harpist Sister King playing ‘Joseph Smith’s First Prayer.’ Wow!!  The Dartmouth Building which is actually in Cole Harbour adjoins the temple which was so handy for our marathon day. The long tables were in a giant U formation which made it perfect for powerpoint presentations, chalkboard discussions, and for enjoying our snack and lunch times. Our other office missionaries, Elder and Sister Boyle, and Sister Arnold are incredible, and plan, purchase, and prepare all the food for these events so I never have to worry about any of the things I used to help plan!! We are inspired by their cheerful, tireless service. Truly they are workhorses, and we are grateful to be yoked with them!! The other day Elder Boyle even detailed our vehicle! 

Elder and Sister Schow from Cardston, who serve in St. John’s NFLD,  our Sister Training Leader Trainers (STLT), our AP’s and Dad all did a great job presenting and leading discussions. We discussed our Mission Culture, and Standards of Excellence, and felt like we could have been in a stake counsel meeting back home!! Such mature insights and such strong testimonies!!

An incredible day…doesn’t get any better!!!

We were sad to send our friends the Datwilers our senior couple who had been serving in CornerBrook, home to Smithfield, Utah. Elder Datwiler had cancer of the eye five years ago, and last week they discovered some suspicious growths in his liver. They spent the night with us enroute to Boston where they hopped on a plane. Their two sons met them in Boston and drove their vehicle home. We held a mission fast last week and are praying for them.

Last night just after 7:30, our wonderful senior office missionaries came over and surprised Dad with a birthday cake, and while Dad went to a meeting with our Dartmouth Stake President, the five of them along with the Schow’s (who stayed overnight) stayed and laughed and visited and enjoyed the birthday cake that they had brought. His Birthday Rhubarb pie was breakfast this morning! We loved visiting with so many family members yesterday, and today….thank you all for your love!! We miss you….

I’ll send this off with much love from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia!!!

Richard and Gayle, Grandpa and Grandma, Dad and Mom XOXOXOXOXO

Life in the Fast Lane

Someone described our service like this: we are dropped from a helicopter onto the roof of a  speeding bullet train, and have to make our way to the engineers control room at the front of the train so we can take over.  We truly feel like we are still scrambling on the top of the train!!

And are still overwhelmed with the magnitude of our call!! Until this Mission tour we had no idea how very big Atlantic Canada is…we drove for over two weeks and only covered a tiny area. The scenery was varied, and spectacular; ocean views, rivers, lakes, wild flowers, trees, Canadian Shield rockery, and boggy moose habitat. Raccoon remains lay scrambled on many roadsides; and I wished I had the nerve to chop off tails to use for Davy Crocket coon hats!!  In Cape Breton I was excited to coax my way into the closed Rita’s Tea House where I purchased several folksy CD’s that Rita McNeil recorded before she passed. - even met her son!! (it seems like everything around here closes on the nose of five, even if tourists are on their way in - except at Rita’s!)

We concluded our trip last Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the Rock (in Newfoundland), and it was especially wonderful since we got to visit and stay with Jonathan and Jordan. Highlights with them including attending their branch social, watching the capelin roll (capelin are a slithery silver fish) that spawn on the banks of Middle Cove, and are the whales delicacy, as well as hundreds of human Newfoundlanders!! We didn’t see any whales but we did scoop up nets full of the capelin - sort of catch and release, which was a bit of a rush…except when the capelin were swimming around my bare feet!! Jonathan and Jordan were so wonderful to chauffeur us to all our visits, and interviews..even driving us out to Bay Roberts! Hearing Jonathan pull out all the stops out on ‘his’ new ward organ was so fun!! AND Jordan’s homemade bread was a real treat!  These newlyweds are such an integral part of this branch, and everyone loves them!! It seemed like we had just barely arrived when Sunday afternoon rolled around and we were back on a plane heading to Halifax. Having a packed suitcase ready to go is a must in this mission!! Dad totally reorganized the Branch Presidency, as well as the Elder’s Quorum which was a lot of interviewing and calling. He did such a wonderful job validating the outgoing presidencies, and building up the new. He had me share my testimony. The Schows from Cardston are serving a member leadership support mission and doing an amazing job helping strengthen the St. John’s branch. She has helped organize the Relief Society into eight ministering teams, and not only do they minister to all the sisters as teams, but that same group of sisters organize the monthly Relief Society activity nights. Brilliant!! We will be so sad when they head home.

We have had many opportunities in our forty years of marriage to experience life in the fast lane, but this Mission experience has take fast lane to an entire new level!!! I should share another one of the miracles I have experienced every day. We have tried to get to bed on time which is 10:30pm, but the week of Transfers (which we have just finished); it is impossible to get to bed on time. The miracle has been…even getting to bed at midnight, we still are able to arise at 5am, and not feel absolutely exhausted! We feel rested and invigorated!! This has happend day after day. We know the Lord is blessing us with the energy and enthusiasm for this great work. (Yesterday we did get to have our first afternoon nap, and it felt wonderful!!)

Our six new missionaries were supposed to arrive Tuesday evening but because Elder Robinson’s luggage got lost, and they missed their flight in Boston, they did not arrive in Halifax until 2am Wednesday morning. Our little 2 hour catnap from 10pm till midnight when we headed off to the airport actually was ok. They all seemed to enjoy the 3am bowl of taco soup, and were grateful President Low suggested they sleep in until 9am!! I was grateful too!!

It was a whirlwind of activity feeding, bedding, teaching, and sending them off to serve, and no sooner had we done that than we had to face our fourteen departing missionaries who had been faithfully serving for either 18 months or two years. Being together with them in the Temple, especially in the Celestial Room was an emotional time for us, and we realized another miracle - the capacity to truly love those that we had just known for less than two weeks!!  

And now even though this little report is not complete I need to close my eyes, and dream of all of you dear loved ones.

Sending love to all 

Grandma xoxoxox Keep Smiling and CTR

Churros in Truro

Yesterday we enjoyed another lovely day zigzagging through our beautiful Canada Halifax Mission. Let me see if I can remember where we were??!!! It is a good thing I am recording our tour because it has all started melding together, and in only a day it is a challenge to remember exactly where we were, and with whom we visited!! You know our Mission Tour is nearing an end when…!!

Visited with Sister Ceron (Park Meadows Ward, Lethbridge) and Sister Moyes (Bountiful)serving in Truro.  Both are obedient, hard working and genuine and love their missions. I don’t think I have shared how very hard and challenging it is for our missionaries to even find one person to teach. Last night one of our new sisters called to talk to Dad because she was so discouraged with all the rejection they were having…she couldn’t even bear to get out of the car to go knock on a door, knowing they would be probably be turned away again.. Some of our missionaries spend over 40 hours every week knocking on doors, without finding anyone that will listen (I know some of you have been in that very situation when you were serving years ago)…that motivates me to open my mouth!! We all need to look around, and simply ask…We find it interesting to watch people look at us wearing a nametags - they are either curious, and ask, or simply look the other way. We love it when they ask, because it gives us an opportunity to share and invite! Dad is still the champion of asking…and it is getting easier for me.

Elders Weston(Calgary) and Phillips(Clinton, Utah) are a great team and love serving in New Glasgow. Elder Phillips goes home with the group of 14 next week. I think they have one solid investigator, and are giving it their all - what more can we ask? We keep reminding them that their wonderful habits of planning, scripture study, prayer and hard work will bless their lives as they return home and continue on the covenant path. I tell some of them that Dad has read his scriptures every day since he has returned from his Mission 43 years ago! That explains why he is so good!!

Getting to meet and spend time with Sister Nelson (Mountain View) and Sister Crowley (Twin Falls, Idaho) also in New Glasgow, was another highlight for us. They were MTC companions, and just love serving together! Our favourite part of each of our visits is when President Low (Dad!!) invites us to share our testimonies. To hear our dedicated missionaries testify of the truthfulness of the gospel strengthens ours. Another favourite part of our visit, which the missionaries love, is when we have them show us their family photos!  It is especially fun when we actually recognize faces in the photos, like we did in Sister Nelson’s! Can you believe that Sister Crowley’s parents names are Richard and Gayle -  even spelled the very same!! 

Mary-Pat, our lovely elderly hostess (78 years!!) runs her yellow farmhouse  ‘Azelia’ bed and breakfast four months of the year’, and claims it is just a hobby!! Actually I think she just loves people, and its like inviting friends for a sleepover! This was her husband Al’s childhood home, and they raised their two sons here. She discussed her breakfast menu with us last night, and all I wanted was a nice bowl of oatmeal with raisins, and she made it! Bed and breakfasts are fun, but we have eaten toooooo much!!n A Mom and Daughter from Germany were the other guests, and we loved to visit with them. They wanted to see our family photo so I pulled out my laptop, and showed our new Kinsey portfolio - they were amazed!!

Today our three and a half our drive took us along the Coalminers highway, as well as along the Mabel and Alexander Graham Bell Highway, up to Sydney, on Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, where we met our missionaries, Elder Burgraff (Washington State then Utah) and Elder Harris (Vernal, Utah, who both head home next week!! What an amazing companionship those two have had!!

We were impressed with stories of faithful members who travel two hours one way to attend their meetings, and then of course they travel two hours back home!! Think of that sacrifice!  Never have reason to complain about a little drive across the Old Man to attend Westminster Ward, or any other little drive to Church!! Sydney Branch President Boutilier is doing his best to deal with some major unity challenges, and we brainstormed with him ideas to hopefully help. Not too many years ago they had a district with a bustling ward, and a branch with about 500 hundred members!! What happened?We will send some of our best up there to replace Elder Burgraff, and Elder Harris. 

We travelled a different route back to Truro, and visited Big Pond of Rita McNeil fame (for those of you who remember my days of listening to her!) Rita’s tea house closed at five, and we arrived about 5:10; but..my peering through the glass and gently knocking paid off when a sweet lady came and let me in….she was happy to let me buy ‘iconic Rita’ Cape Breton music, right in Cape Breton!! I even got to meet Rita’s son Wade who told me his Mom passed five years ago at the age of 68. 

And, tonight we are back to Truro after another big day of driving - (about six hours), and plan to leave by six in the morning to make the quick hour drive back to Halifax where we will do some grocery shopping, get laundry done, more unpacking and organizing, four more companionship interviews, and meeting with our Assistants and STLT’s to talk about our transfers next week, and then repacking to make the weekend getaway to Newfoundland. We have been anticipating our reunion with Jonathan and Jordan, and are so excited to be with them on the ROCK!!

What an incredible experience we are having!!

Love you all!!

PEI - Bay of Fundy

Maybe Prince Edward Island IS heaven on earth?!! Seriously it is stunning..really stunning!!!Gently rolling hills with lovely big groves of mixed forests, fertile pink soil, fields of corn and beautiful fields and fields of perfectly hilled potatoes. We arrived at our Beach House Bed and Breakfast about nine thirty last night just a stones throw from the Cavendish beach and this morning after toiling over transfers, we went for a lovely run along that very beach. Tide was receding, so the sand was damp and hard which makes for easier running than the dry, loose sand. It was beautiful!! 

We haven’t been to Green Gables yet, but you can be sure everywhere we look I am craning to see places we saw in both Anne of Green Gables and Road to Avonlea!! I know I have raved about the flora around here, and I know I probably will our entire mission!! Anne’s wedding bouquet, if I had created it, would have been picked from the meadow down the road, and would have been brimming with pink, lavender, deep purple and white lupine, with mounds of lobulari, and garnished with delicate white daisies, all tied with ribbon and lace.

I keep saying to myself…we are not tourists, we are not tourists!!! Sorry if I sound like we are!!

Transfers are next week - we lose 14 missionaries, and only get 6 new - 2 sisters and 4 elders, which makes for a real challenge!! We are having to close three areas, and early this morning while working on our transfers which happen next week, we realized that that is our biggest challenge - being so in tune with the Spirit that we know where each missionary needs to serve.  Touring the mission, and meeting our missionaries has made the task of reassigning a little easier, but we are far from finished. There is this incredible program called imos on lds.org , for us that is actually a transfer board so it is very transportable and we can access it on a phone, iPad or a laptop. 

Visits today with Sister Youngberg (Idaho Falls) and Sister Anderson(Vernal, Utah)in Charlottetown were wonderful. We tried to explore ‘Relatives Near You’  in Family Search, because I’m sure Sister Anderson is some long lost relative!! (my Grandma Anna Leah Anderson Hamilton was born in Vernal, Utah). Unfortunately my family Search account was locked so we will have to try next time.

Montague senior couple Elder and Sister Dalling, from Rexburg, Idaho  serving  their fourth mission invited us for a delicious lobster salad lunch. Now that was a treat! FOUR missions…can you believe it? Sister Dalling said she would share her recipe so I think we will serve it at our farewell supper next week. They are working so hard to help reactivate members and are trying so hard with a totally less-active family that their deceased son-in-law had loved serving 25 years ago(when they were active). And every week they bring two little primary age children to Church hoping that their parents will eventually come back. They also hold family history classes, and have posted signs up all over town promoting their classes. Brother Dalling, a retired school teacher who coached sports for years loved when Dad suggested he go volunteer to help coach High School football or basketball! 

Visited with Elders Browning (Pocatello) and Elder Oler (Red Deer)  chatting and sharing testimonies. Montague has not had a baptism for over four years, but they are determined to change that! People in the Maritimes are so kind, and very friendly, but they aren’t excited to change their ways.

There are beautiful old churches in every city,  and all over the countryside, so maybe a generation ago, we think they were a God-fearing people. We chuckled at this cute magnetic billboard sign displayed in front of an old Baptist Church with this play on words: 

‘This Church has Prayer Conditioning’

Our Saturday, July 7, was a marathon day; visiting Miramishi Elders Anderberg (Babb), and Elder Hamblin(Sugar City, Idaho) who has a shrunken version of his family tree that goes back to Adam!!

Enjoyed a happy to drive to Moncton, a bustling city at the ‘crossroads of the Maritimes,’ and met our Dieppe Elders: Sawa Sawa (Congo - Calgary),Smith( Holladay ) Day (Edmonton) and Marsh (Holladay ). We have been so blessed to have such obedient missionaries -our Elders and our Sisters, and we are so excited to serve with all of them!

The Bay of Fundy is fascinating;  did you know that the force of the tide churns up the river turning the tongue of the river a pinky brown colour, and that the tip of the Bay of Fundy has the highest tides in the world?

Sleeping in an old hotel in the Historical Acadian Village near Miramichi, New Brunswick Saturday night was magical, too bad we arrived just as the rest of the village was closing. The old hotel was almost vacant, so marching down the hall to our private bathroom wasn’t bad at all!

Yesterday, Sunday, July 8, we attended our meetings in the lovely Moncton Ward with a tiny congregation of about forty saints, and our missionaries had five investigators there. Dad and I got to speak. I didn’t use a single piece of paper…(just used my iPad!!) 

Our Senior couple in Summerside, the Bremner’s from Minnesota, also serving their fourth mission invited us for a very yummy pork roast supper. They had their daughter Lisa and her husband David visiting.  Sister Bremner served heavenly baked apples for dessert. 

We calculated we have been wearing Sunday clothes for 18 days, and we are enjoying it..sometimes though we have to can’t remember what day of the week it is!!

Life doesn’t get better than this!! 

Pete's Dragon & Missionary Work

Nightly we are in awe of this amazing experience being together all day everyday serving as missionaries!! We LOVE it! I am not tired of being with Richard, and he claims he hasn’t tired of being with me…so we are off to a great start!!! And today we celebrate one week being in the Canada Halifax Mission.

Our Mission tour began on Saturday morning, June 30, 2018, and we will complete it next Sunday, July 15th, 2018. Travelling all through Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and northern and eastern Maine visiting our wonderful missionaries has been incredible. 

We had no idea the size of these Maritime provinces and travelling through the Appalachians along the Acadian route to Bathurst, reminded us of the vastness of this great land. Pine, maple, oak, aspen forests are spectacular, and the lush fern beds, light and dark pink, lavender, white, and burgundy lupine and mounds of daisy undergrowth is stunning!! Occasionally along the meadows by the roadsides we see small stop or yield signs and finally we realized they are roadsigns for snowmobilers!!

Several massive pulp and paper mills were on our route today, and we thought of Mark and Brittney’s oak cradle when we even saw a pallet making factory!!

Speaking of green reminds me I did get to do a bit of gardening Saturday night before we left and added some trailing licorice and creeping jenny to the lovely begonia that were already planted; and in my cute Michelle Orthner ‘Welcome planter’ I planted more begonia, and german ivy. (I was limited to what was still left at Super Store, and there were no bacopa, or lobelia plants.) When the backyard pruning is complete I’m excited to find a spot to create a pink hydrangea hedge!!

For those Pete’s Dragon fans…I forgot to mention to you on Tuesday that when we  were at St. Andrews by the sea we were right by the real Passamaquoddy Bay!!! Who knew?!

After a beautiful, and rainy three hour drive from Edmundston to Bathurst we met Elder Pierson (Gordon Galbraith’s daughter Julie’s, son from Edmonton) and Elder Cahoon (Sherwood Park) at the phase one Chapel. Kit their investigator had a few issues so Dad got to interview her for her July 15th baptism. And then we spent our hour or so interviewing and visiting in their spitspot clean apartment. Elder Cahoon served his yummy homemade buns.

Sister Rodriguez told us her amazing conversion story…and I will try to retell it accurately. She is going home mid December - (a little early) to go with her Mom to Hong Kong to attend the sealing of her sister Lauren who is marrying a fellow she met on her mission to Hong Kong. Did you follow that? Here is her story:

When Sister Rodriguez was only six her Dad left, and her Mom struggled to eke out a living for her twins, who were born in Florida. They moved to Virginia to California to Georgia where her Mom moved in with a guy who wasn’t kind. Anyway her Mom felt prompted to go back to Church and the deadbeat boyfriend would not approve the twins getting baptized, Eventually he did give  permission and so when they were 13 they were baptized. They attended Church for only a year and then stopped attending. Her Mom wanted to be active; she knew the gospel was true, and felt prompted to move to Arizona, which they did. They were totally enveloped by their Ward Family who loved them. She testified that because of the ward’s ministering to their little family all three of them are totally active in the Church. Sister Rodriguez said it was the best thing they had ever done, and she said she knew she would not be active in the Church except for the fellowship and ministering of that wonderful ward in Mesa. Her story certainly inspired us to be better at loving, embracing, and reaching out. 

What an incredible experience being a missionary is!! It doesn’t get better than this!!!

On Being Family History Junkies

Exploring the backwoods of New Brunswick near the banks of the St.John River is where our  adventure began today. Dad’s Great Great Grandpa, John Grant Bagley joined the Church in Southhampton in 1853, and we felt like real explorers trying to find the Kirk cemetery in Northhampton where his brother David who didn’t get to join the Church was buried. His Grandmother Grant when the rest of the family were leaving for Utah actually kidnapped him, and hid him away till after his family was gone. He ended up dying in a logging accident when he was only 26 years  It was fun looking at some of the 200 year old farm houses and barns and think….maybe that was their home or I bet that was their barn, and it was fun hunting through the cemetery through historical, worn headstones for David’s. Next time we pass this way we will stop at the cemetery down the road and find David’s ‘Grant’ grandparents resting places.

Visiting with Elder Olavason,(near Rexburg) and Elder Ibson (Centreville) in Woodstock was great. The missionaries always love to report on who they are working with, and we love to hear how hard they are trying to teach! We have a great little routine where first we visit all four of us (or 5), and then Richard takes one missionary into a study to interview, while I get to visit about anything  with his or her companion. I chat about their companionship, about their families, about future plans, about favourite experiences on their mission. If they have photos I get to meet their families, and then, I get to show our family photo. Somehow showing our family photo helps my missing you disappear for a few minutes!! Then we trade missionaries, and do it again. When Dad has finished interviewing we gather and go around and share our testimonies, and have a prayer!! Maybe someday I won’t be overcome with emotion for this experience…I love to testify of the power of the Book of Mormon in changing our hearts…and I love to talk about covenants. I tell them this is why we are on a mission…because of our covenants. I also love to tell them that we have been praying for them since we received our call. 

The cute sisters - Sister Rodriguez (from Mesa, Arizona) and Sister Neuman (from Wyoming)serve in Presque Isle,  were lovely sisters and get along really well. They even had refreshments ready for us. We are in awe of the obedience and dedication of our missionaries. There are a few little issues, and a few companionships struggle so there will be changes at transfer week which is a few days after we return from this big trip. 

Elder Ellis(Vancouver Island) and Elder Giebel(Pleasant View) serving in Caribou served us barbecued roasted shish kabobs that were so yummy! 

I don’t think either of us knew how big of a trip this would be…but we have found out!!!And we just finished Day 6 (of 16)  We are so grateful we are getting to know our Mission and know our Missionaries!! Our weather has been amazing…perhaps hotter than we would have ordered, but our lovely vehicle keeps us cool, and very comfortable!! ‘Look at the view’ is one of our lines….many times a day; sometimes we just point! Green everywhere we look, and when we are on the coast, lots of blue - actually there are hundreds of lakes, and the St. John River snakes hundreds of miles.  The scenery is fabulous. Great fields of crops…potatoes, hay and we think cabbage. Many churches - mostly Baptist and Catholic dot the countryside, and they look so beautiful all freshly white-washed.  We think these are church going folks, but we haven’t seen the buildings on Sunday!!

You will not believe what we found in northwestern New Brunswick, right before we crossed the border into Maine. I was wishing we would find a sign with a horse and buggy on it and we did!!! The first strawberry stand we zipped right by, but when we were approaching the second we were ready to slam on the brakes!! Richard snapped a photo before Tina and her Dad said it would be better to not take a photo. who knew we would find an Amish community in New Brunswick?!..our lucky day!!

Love to you all…

Dad and Mom, Richard and Gayle, Grandpa and Grandma XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX…

CTR and Keep Smiling

RAT-atoullie

Our Amherst bed and breakfast was hohum; the exterior was charming with a cute miniature white picket fence, and the breakfast was delicious..fresh fruit and cheese, but I am not a big fan of sharing a ‘down the hall bathroom’ with other guests, and have you ever heard of a rocking bed? Nancy the hostess is a deacon in the local Baptist Church, and was very hospitable and knowledgable about the area, and she told us that rug hooking is a big craft around there. Her little rug-hooked coasters were darling ….you can be sure we will be back to check out the local artisans!! 

Driving to Saint John through beautiful green mixed forests, with  rocky embankments was lovely, and the roadside meadows brimming with daisies, tiny yellow flowers, pink clover, and lupine took our breaths away…We even saw our first covered bridge!! I wonder how old it was?

Ok I guess I have to report on the only potentially bad thing we might encounter…and when an Orkin (pest control) car passed us on the highway, it reminded me. When we arrived at the Mission Home at 1:00 am Friday we did a quick walk through, and noticed in one of our storage rooms a MOUSE TRAP. Luckily there was nothing in it, but of course it set an alarm in my brain. Then Saturday afternoon when Joanne was helping me get ready for our dinner I questioned her about the mouse trap, and since she pretty much is a fixture around here, I knew she would know the history…I guess several years ago they did have a problem in the mission home but she reassured me that they haven’t seen one for several years…BUT, she did say they are having problems with RATS…(I think I saw a rat once down in the NYC subway, but never want to see another.)  On a quick tour of the backyard I picked up what I thought was a plastic bedding out container, and to my horror was an actual rat trap. I think it was empty!! When we return to Halifax from our travels you can be sure I will be calling Charles to get the shrub pruning done. I guess my lovely lush shrub beds are favourite rat habitat!! On the subject of rats,  Dad just reminded me that a few years ago one of the grandkids asked him why Grandma always said ‘rats,’ maybe thinking I saw a rat or something.!? That little slang curse has come back to haunt me…. oh brother!!!

Our Hampton Elders, Benson and Hoole live in Nauwigewauk, a charming village along the Hammond River which saw flooding earlier this year. They are wonderful, obedient missionaries, who had a baptism last month and have another scheduled for this month. For any of you cleaning gurus…you might wonder if Daryl Hoole is any relative of our Elder Hoole, and yes she is his grandmother!! Elder Hoole hales from Holloday, Utah. Elder Benson, from Providence, Utah, is a distant relative of President Benson. By the way the apartment was spitspot and even smelled clean!!!

We walked across the 1914 Darlings Island covered bridge…who knows why they built bridges and covered them?? We aren’t sure why!!

Drove through more beautiful forests to Saint John, New Brunswick where we met with a trio of wonderful Elders:  Elder Ball from Raymond, Elder Ablett from Cambridge, England, and red-headed Elder Haslam from Centreville, Utah. Great missionaries who are here for the right reason, and work hard to show their devotion. I taught them how to organize the door of their fridge so Elder Ablett’s water bottle would fit. I told them my brothers used to work for the grocery store called Safeway, and they taught me to face off labels, showing the English side. I also taught them about combining their mustard so they only had one bottle in the fridge, and how nice it is to have all salad dressings together etc. I know you are groaning, and thinking she is so OCD….but they genuinely appreciated the tutorial!! I told them their future wives would be happy!! I have so much fun visiting and teaching the missionaries…I love this work!! 

I should tell you that our favourite part of getting ready in the morning is putting on our nametags. What a privilege.

We couldn’t resist visiting the reversing river which actually is the Saint John River meeting the Bay of Fundy at high tide. The force of the ocean meeting the fresh water river causes these huge whirlpools, and rapids. At low tide the situation reverses and the river rushes through. 

Dad is sending a little video clip.

Do you know that Elder Ballard challenged his missionaries in Toronto to talk to at least  10 people everyday about the gospel? That is 20 per companionship.  We have taken that challenge, and so far Dad is the best at it!! Last night at our restaurant even before we had ordered, he had Kenna our waitress committed to talk to the missionaries, and had her phone number texted to the missionaries in about two minutes!! SO BOLD! Quite the amazing missionary and President he is!! And I get to be his companion!!! Today he got the tour guide for the reversing river’s name and texted that to the Saint John Elders!! Impressive eh?!

Tonight we are staying in another lovely B&B, and we have the luxury of having our own bathroom!! (thank goodness!!) We will visit with Sister Vollmer and Sister Johnson in a half an hour, and then will take them to buy popsicles at Super Store!! To celebrate the fourth of July, they are setting up a Book of Mormon booth tomorrow in Eastport, Maine, and are going to pass out the popsicles - what a cute idea!!

And now I will sign off for the day.      Love to you all!!    Gayle