Today is June 16, 2019
Birthdays we have celebrated…Preese turned 3 on June 7, Michael celebrated his 36th on Thursday, Peter will turn 2 on Monday, and Bradley will be blowing 38 candles out June 26!!!
The image of the speeding bullet train with us on the top hanging on for dear life, is becoming more real every week, especially as we anticipate our move to Montreal in less than two weeks!!
Where has the past month flown? And for that matter…where has the past year flown?! June 23, 2018 we entered the MTC, which means next week we will have been serving for a whole year!! Oh my land….
Highlights of the past month include:
* a week long visit from Megan, and Macie with Brendan joining us for
four of those days. It was such a delight to have family here, and it
was so very fun to reacquaint ourselves with Macie!!
* visits/interviews with every missionary, Zone conferences, many
meetings
* 3 day Senior Missionary Conference
* Several trips to Newfoundland, Annapolis Valley, Peggy’s Cove,
Fredericton, and PEI.
* Arrival of three new missionaries - Sister Campbell, Elder Duncan, and Elder Morell and departure of three - Sister Behlke, Sister Johnson, and Elder Call.
* 10 day visit from our niece Mandy West…such an adventurous soul
who pretty much gave herself a guided tour of the Maritimes!! She
even found all our favourite ice cream parlours!!
* 5 day visit with Elder and Sister Hamilton, where we were taught at
Zone Conferences and MLC, mostly on how to be more effective at
finding people to teach. He suggested twenty different finding methods - everything from knocking to family history meetings, to
service opportunities!! All were inspired and motivated to find
better, AND one key for all of us is to TALK to EVERYONE!!
Elder Hamilton is a counsellor to our Area President - Elder Bennett
for one more week when he will take on his new call as Executive
Director of Family History, and also serving as CEO of Family Search
International.
* Great 12 km hike called Cape Split
It was inspiring to interact with Elder and Sister Hamilton…but..we were unsuccessful in finding any common ancestors…in fact when I mentioned that whenever we do ‘Find a Relative Near Me,’ I’m only ever related to Richard!!!!…he took all my info, and sent it to one of his, I think he said 900
family history employees to see if there was a glitch!! It will be exciting to see what comes back!!
Our opportunities to speak in Sacrament Meetings happen almost every week, and I think I am over the ‘shingle-causing jitters!!’ If we ever attend
Dartmouth Ward, we slip in like we belong, but anywhere else the little branches are excited to have guest speakers, and we love to inspire and motivate the saints to be ‘in our finding army!’ Recently we’ve spoken at two firesides - one in Charlottetown , and last week’s fireside was for our Congolese investigators, and it was all in French!!! Richard’s French is progressing famously, and he actually gave a talk totally in French!! I shared my testimony, and the Congolese actually said they understood!!
And now we are on our last flight(before moving to Montreal) returning home to Dartmouth, from St. John’s, Newfoundland, where the Newfoundland and Labrador District was created!! Richard submitted a proposal several months ago, and as soon as the First Presidency approved it, we booked our flights!! Actually, thirty years ago there was a district in Newfoundland, but as church members moved, and numbers decreased, the district was disbanded. You can imagine the thrill it was for everyone in St. John’s, - as well as those in Gander, CornerBrook, and Bay Roberts!! Carl Sheppard from Corner Brook is the President, with Gary Young from St. John’s as his counsellor. So very exciting for these saints to have ‘their own’ lead their District…(not CFA”S - which refers to Come From Away - referring to missionaries - or anyone not from Newfoundland!!)
Springtime is in magnificent splendour…tulips are still blooming in both PEI, and Newfoundland, our small leaf lavender-coloured rhododendron has finished, and now our large leaf deep red one is bursting forth. Forsythia are finished, and now lilac, apple trees, flowering plums, potentilla, hosta, and a gazillion more are truly showing their colours!! We would love for the hydrangea to begin blooming before we move!!! Lupine were the first to greet us when we arrived last year have begun to blossom just in time to bid us farewell!!
Movers arrive next Monday to box our Mission Home up, and the moving truck will be loaded on Tuesday, and we fly to Montreal Thursday….excited to begin the next leg of this wonderful adventure!!
Love to all
Richard and Gayle, Grandpa and Grandma, Dad and Mom xoxoxo
Keep Smiling!!!
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