Today is Monday, May 13, 2019
Week Six’s seem to pop up so fast…but I checked on my calendar and it really is only every six weeks!! With our merger looming in the very soon future we have it figured that most of our new missionaries are heading to Quebec, and so Tuesday night in Dartmouth, we only welcomed two - Elder Duncan, and Sister Campbell (from Taber - and she is Dennis and Carol Bullock’s granddaughter!!) Both are well-prepared, and excited to serve!! Happily, their flight was right on time so they got to enjoy taco soup with fresh buns around 10:30pm! Orientation at the Office the next morning was a snap…with Elder Boyle teaching lots about driving one of our snazzy fleet - 2017 Rav 4’s or 2017 Nissan Rogue’s. Once a vehicle reaches 60,000km they are sold. Apparently 18 of our vehicles have odometers that read more than that and so soon we will receive a shipment to replace those ‘old’ vehicles. We are grateful to know our missionaries are driving very safe cars. We watch safety videos, with wonderful advice and counsel from Elder Uchtdorf, Elder Holland and Elder Ballard.
Elder Boyle’s wife - Sister Boyle is our receptionist answering the phone, organizing travel, keeping track of driving records, licenses, etc. She is indispensable. About a month and a half ago she injured her ankle or leg on a little hike, went to the Dr. who diagnosed her with shinsplints. She has been crutching around that whole time…finally had it x-rayed on Friday, and found out she has a tibia fracture…so now is wearing a boot, and will visit the orthopaedic Dr. later this week.
Goldie Vey our mission nurse gives our new missionaries an overview on how to stay healthy, and what to do if they aren’t, she also alerts them to the presence of ticks in Atlantic Canada…we use a spray called Permethrin. I don’t think I mentioned that several weeks ago I caught a live tick right in our laundry basket. He is entombed with scotch tape on a piece of paper, to show everyone what the nasty little critters look like!! Sister Vey also distributes vitamin D to every missionary. It is so great for me to have Goldie…she actually will be having surgery this week so my nursing duties (I am the designated back up nurse!) are going to be tested again!! Elder Cloyde Gatrell, our Area Medical Advisor is a phone call away, so any queries I have, he will be getting a call.
Elder and Sister Majeran (Darren’s uncle and aunt) are responsible for apartments and phones and pay attention to every detail…you need a toaster or a frying pan, or a snow shovel, or a bed, the Majerans are amazing in outfitting every apartment! They encourage organization and cleanliness, and for the most part our missionaries are doing pretty well. We are trying to coax them into coming to Montreal next year, after they have a year at home. They are incredible!
6:30 Thursday morning we are at the Office for Transfers to begin…new missionaries meet their trainers, and many companionships are changed so it is a very exciting day!!
It is also the day that our departing group of three came to the Mission Home for Farewell interview and a roast beef feast, (including three favourite pies - strawberry, blueberry, and peanut butter), a last Temple Session and a testimony meeting. Departing were Sister Katje Johnson (San Antonio, Texas), Sister Sarah Behlke (Kirtland, Ohio), and Elder Tyler Call (Idaho Falls). Hearing their final testimonies is always a highlight for us.
Friday morning we made the trip out to Stanfield International Airport where our emotions are tested as we bid farewell to some of our finest. Oh how we love our missionaries. We wonder when we will see them again…that is why tears flow easily.
P-day Saturday we loved doing our watercoloring, and find it such a fun creative outlet…Dad painting his seascapes, and me of course painting flowers!! We sit for hours, and don’t tire of blending our pigment with water, and using our Winsor Newton brushes on 140 pound paper…(we have become very fussy about our painting supplies!! )
Around five we pulled ourselves away from our painting, packed up and headed the two hours up to the Valley - to Annapolis Royal where yesterday we attended Meetings with our sweet Sisters Mavy and Humphries. A united branch who love each other, as well as our sisters. Richard spoke in Sacrament Meeting and I got to give a message in Relief Society. The members were so happy to have us there, and said they couldn’t remember the last time the Mission President had been there. We are invited back to speak sometime in August.
Office Meetings this morning were good…our Senior Missionary Conference is next week, and we are thrilled with all the organizing and planning Elder and Sister Wilkinson have done in preparing this event. I will report on this next week!
And now for my little report on spring time in Atlantic Canada!! Dartmouth is Zone 5, and we have been enjoying spring bulbs - crocus, tulips, daffodils, and hyacinth are in full bloom, along with lovely lavender coloured rhododendron, oh and I cannot forget to rave about the bright yellow forsythia shrubs and hedges which pop up everywhere we drive…(note to self…plant a forsythia and rhododendron when we return to Alberta!!)
After church yesterday, we visited the Annapolis Royal Gardens ( which are Canadian renowned). It was free $ day and, we were very worshipful as we wandered around stunning creations of our Heavenly Father. We admired spring flowers, and spring trees in full splendour….huge pink and white mangolia, and gorgeous yellow rhododendron. Perennials, roses, shrubs, and trees were pruned ready to burst forth. Paths meander all over the 17 acres where there are over 1800 species and cultivars of plants. A thatch-roofed reconstructed Acadian House is nestled under the towering oak and maple trees and adds to the ambiance of the beautiful gardens which overlook the tidal river valley. It was fascinating to learn that this corner of the province boasts Zone 6B with even a few Zone 7 microclimates!!!
A beautiful Sabbath afternoon, and the Tide was out, so we were thrilled to find a huge Bay of Fundy beach to go sea-glassing, and are happy to report some success!!
French is coming along…I can bear my testimony, and pray without a paper, (although I still like to look at my notes), so I feel like I am slowly improving!!
Thanks for all the Mother’s Day well wishes…and Happy Mother’s Day to you too!!
Mission merger packing, and preparing has begun…oh my!!!!
I’ll post this on my Glad Tidings page, and wish you glad tidings, along with sending much love
Keep Smiling, and CTR
Dad and Mom, Richard and Gayle, Grandpa and GrandmaXOXOXOXOXOXO
No comments:
Post a Comment