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!!