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
What a wonderful experience you are having in your travels. Gayle I don’t know how you can wear your cute jacket in all that heat. I think you need to find a cute cotton dress to wear. Surely that would be appropriate for the Mission President’s wife in 35’ weather. KEEP SMILING AND LOOKING AT THE VIEW! Love Mom ,sorry I missed your call today! 😢❤️👵
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