energized, focussed joyful finding !

Today is Sunday,  April 14, 2019, 

And on Saturday,  April 20, 2019 we get to wish Happy 9th Birthday to 

Hudson Marshall Low!!!

Zone Conference weeks are our favourite of the six week cycle, but oh man how they fly by!! We are home to Dartmouth now and catching our breath,  but let me give you a quick report on how it all went!!

The three hour drive to Moncton had us arrive just in time for President to begin his three hour slate of interviews beginning at four o’clock Monday afternoon, and while he interviewed I reviewed our Zone conference plans for Tuesday.  Zone Conference plans worked well, and we felt everyone went home motivated, and positive especially about ‘Focused, Energetic, Joyful Finding,’ We will include this topic in every zone conference from now on, because it is vital in our callings as missionaries. 

Elder Boyle inspected vehicles, and the New Brunswick Zone was the best in the Mission. 

Wednesday President’s interview docket included 38 missionaries, and had him at the Office for 9 hours!! While he was on interview/pep talk duty, I was preparing the meal for departing Sisters Green, and Davies. 

And then Halifax Zone Conference on Thursday was a repeat of our day in Moncton. Unfortunately the Halifax Zone received only one award for a clean car, the other two awards were given to the walking/bus elders…!!!

Apartment and vehicle cleaning training at Zone conference was timely, so hopefully next month or even at district meetings our Senior couples will have a chance to do another inspection, and award Tim Horton's gift cards!! We will see. 

Apartment cleanliness training was fun, and it was effective to show the ‘before and after’ photos. The most impressive being the transformation in the sisters tub/shower…Sister Rhodes in St. John’s had spent an hour and a half scrubbing….(with steel wool) the filthy tub floor, and had it gleaming!!! Having cleaned the outside of our old fibreglass Ski Nautique with Lysol toilet bowl cleaner…I suggested using that!! Already we have had reports of great success!! 

Thursday supper with our departing sisters was yummy, and the seven o’clock full Temple session was great…followed by a sweet testimony meeting, and bed…on time!

Friday we had a farewell morning run, muffin, fruit and yogurt breakfast, weighed their 22 kg suitcases,  and headed to the Airport.  Departing Sisters (heading to Calgary) gate was next to our departing gate to St. John’s Newfoundland, so that worked out perfectly, and we were able to prolong our goodbyes for a few minutes….

Senior couple named the Andrus’s from Idaho Falls are Mission Family History missionaries,  and joined us for all three zone conferences, and taught how we can use family history in our finding. Enthusiastic, and wonderful teachers!  50 years ago young Elder Andrus served right here so he is keen and ‘deja vu’ing everywhere he goes!! While Dad did his interviewing, I loved being the Andrus' tour guide - (me with all my St. John’s driving experience!!! - hahaha!!) We did not get lost. Sightseeing stops included Cape Spear, Petty Harbour, Chafe’s Landing, Quidi Vidi Village, Signal Hill, and Nonia, so we felt with the little bit of time we had, we were ‘power tourists.’

We loved the beautiful hour drive from St. John’s to Bay Roberts this morning.  Robbie Morgan the new Elder’s Quorum President was set apart during Priesthood Meeting.  Probably about twenty people attended today, and almost everyone shared their testimony in Testimony Meeting. Oh my…you cannot believe the challenges and heartaches these folks are dealing with…I think I cried in every testimony…If only you could hear these faithful saints…The Jagoda’s from Orville, California, near Paradise have been serving almost 18 months - the last 10 in Bay Roberts, and we are so sad to know they will be leaving in a few weeks…what wonderful friends they have become.  We are praying for more new couples to replace Jagoda’s, Smith’s, Bremner’s and Majeran’s who will all leave in the next few months. Any of you, or any one you know….please suggest Canada Halifax or Canada Montreal as the perfect place to serve a senior mission….wonderful blessings are promised to all who serve!!  

I will conclude this little epistle with an experience I had on the plane home from St. John’s. I sat by a cute gal probably about my very age.  She had been in St. John’s tending her sisters cat, and we struck up such a great conversation - I don’t think she was planning on chatting because she prefaced our chat telling me that she had some virus…but…. we kept talking about everything…raspberries, perennials, gardening, her 200 year old home (which used to be the court house and jail in Sydney!), antiques, the ocean, her growing up in Toronto, her husband who is a child psychologist specializing in Autistic children, dancing, piano, etc, etc… Kathryn and I talked about everything…and after about an hour she started asking about the Church…she peppered me with so many questions, and it was easy to share…I had last months Ensign in my bag as well as some pass along cards which I gave her.  I know she is going to read, and check out the Church website. Being a missionary is easy…we just have to open our mouths!!! DO IT!! Who knows if Kathryn will ever have the desire to be taught…but she will have a good feeling when she reads the Ensign, and when she looks at theChurchofJesusChrist.org….!!!

Again, another wonderful week here in Atlantic Canada.

Sending this off with love and blessings..

Much Love 

Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma, Richard and Gayle

Keep Smiling!!!and CTR  

This week we are so excited to welcome D’Arcey and Jan…right after we return from our three day  - Thursday, Friday, Saturday Mission Leadership Seminar in Washington DC!! Can’t wait!!!!