November 23, 2018 December 2, 2018 We've been here 5 months!!!!
Another whirlwind Week 6 is behind us and I am pleased to report everyone survived!!
With five new missionaries arriving, and eight departing, grocery shopping seemed like it was on my to do list everyday!! Elder Ben Strong from Edmonton (formerly Lethbridge - and in Michael's Young Men's) Elder Fife from Arkansas/Logan, Utah, Elder Albertson from Vanderhoof BC, Elder Lee from Alaska, and Elder Jorgensen from Mesa, Arizona, are our new Elders and are a keen, enthusiastic bunch. Hot taco soup with fresh buns is my welcome to the Canada Halifax Mission go-to supper, and these new missionaries are appreciative customers happy to eat at 10pm or 3am...whenever they arrive!!
Richard talked to missionary travel and had the travel route changed to go through Boston rather than Toronto which is working much better! I must admit it was challenging to go to bed at ten, set the alarm for midnight, and then head to the airport for a one or two am arrival, and feed the new missionaries when we arrived home!
After a quick muffin, fresh fruit, and yogurt breakfast, Richard and the new elders head to the office for orientation, and I begin preparations for the 'Welcome to the Canada Halifax Mission' supper, which this week included spiral ham, baked potatoes, carrots, spinach salad, jello, and turtles cheesecake. Capping the evening, after Richard has shared with them their new area of assignment, and who their new companion is, we have a lovely testimony meeting where these youngsters bear such simple faithful witnesses, Sleep for us comes easily, but I wonder how many hours these 'new recruits' actually sleep?!
5:30 am comes really quickly, breakfast menu is repeated, and with our assistants assistance driving the loaded truck and cargo trailer we make the five minute jaunt to the office for rendez-vous with new companions! You can imagine the excitement in the air!!
American Thanksgiving on Thursday was 'celebrated' with our eight departing missionaries (Elders Boardman, Weston, Day, Jones, Ball, along with Sisters Anderson, Bond, and Youngberg) had mixed emotions about leaving their home away from home, and we sure had mixed emotions letting them go!! Turkey dinner with all the trimmings was yummy, especially Dad's gravy!!
Friday morning we are up before dawn and our departing group are so excited to return to their homes. What a great group of our favorite missionaries we had to bid farewell to... We know they all leave a part of their hearts here, and a chunk of our hearts go with them...Tears are the norm for us...
Saturday we travelled via ferry over to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island for District Council Meeting, and then to the Elder and Sister Dallings darling Montague cottage in the country. I don't know if I mentioned that this is their fourth mission! We are sad to report that because Elder Dalling needs a hip replacement they will be returning to Rexburg right after Christmas.
I must rave again about how incredible all our senior couples are.... The Dallings have woven themselves into the hearts of the entire Montague Branch, and Sunday the cute little eight year old Sadielynn who they have ministered to since arriving was baptized.. The Dallings had even bought a darling cream-coloured baptism dress and sweater for Sadielynn. This is only the second baptism in four years for the Montague Branch, but they were sooo thrilled!
Week 7
Tuesday our drive from Dartmouth to Fredericton was a nail-biting experience...the snow flurries forecast was really an out and out blizzard!! Now we know what the definition of a snow flurry is! Roads were not good, but we are Albertans and know how to deal with snow and ice on the roads...we just slow down!! A great district council ...fun to be taught by Sister Bailey Nelson from Mountain View. With all our overnight out and backs, you can imagine the number of hotel beds we get to sample! Our votes for best bed, best linens, mildest Neutrogena bar soaps and shampoo, and creamiest oatmeal goes to the Hampton Inn! Anytime we can stay at a Hampton Inn, that is where we head!!
On to Saint John, New Brunswick, Thursday,for another District Council, and home again Friday night, with Elder Jorgensen, one of our brand new missionaries who is heading home today. Hopefully he will be back within six months!
Back to the airport Saturday to deliver Elder Jorgensen who flew home to Mesa, Arizona, and we were off flying to Sydney, Cape Breton, NovaScotia to visit our awesome missionaries Elder and Sister Wilkinson, and Elders Anderberg and Scott.
A less active branch member named Josh Demeers just had major surgery and we were happy to head to the Hospital to meet and visit with he and his Mom.
Lucky for us it was the Sydney Branch Christmas party last night complete with full turkey dinner...and they even served turnips! Sister Donovan made nine apple pies.
The Silverstein's brought friends who are not yet members, but seem interested, and there were many less active folks in attendance as well, so the Elders were pumped!
While Sister Oliver, a gifted pianist softly played Christmas carols, three wise men from the East shuffled in bearing loaded gift bags for each of the children in attendance, (as well as for our Elders!) We loved the variation from the typical Santa visit!
Elder and Sister Wilkinson were the ultimate in hosting guests, and tricked us into sleeping in their room, which was even more comfortable than our Hampton Inn! They are the amazing couple from Pleasant Grove, Utah who are determined to serve missions for ten years. Over the past few years, there have been some very challenging issues in Sydney, and the Wilkinson's are determined to help create unity back in the Branch. We know they can do it. Wonderful testimonies in Testimony Meeting. Relief Society Council meeting was amazing where they talked about challenges sisters in the branch are having, and how they could help; there is a real problem with anxiety, and bipolar depression in Atlantic Canada, and it seems like everywhere we visit they are dealing with that challenge. I loved hearing how sincere, and concerned all the sisters were for those not in attendance. I must rave about the two gorgeous sesquicentennial quilts hanging on the walls in the Relief Society Room...quilts like you would see in the General Relief Society Building in Salt Lake City with beautiful piecing, and embroidery! I'll try and have Dad include the photos of these masterpieces!
The Wilkinson's took us on a lovely Sabbath drive all around Cape Breton with an amazing stop at the Rob and Norma Silverstein's home. Now, Norma is an incredible rug-hooking Queen...the best I have ever seen..even better than Deanne Fitzpatrick. These folks are so crafty and wool wizards!
I will wind this little report down, send it with much love
Richard and Gayle, Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma
No comments:
Post a Comment