called to serve and we are all enlisted!

Today is Sunday, September 29, 2019

Area Training in Rochester and Palmyra was one of the highlights of September BUT then we started our Zone conference circuit, beginning with New Brunswick Zone in Moncton, which was another highlight, and then last week we had our Mount Royal Zone Conference on Wednesday which we added to the September highlight list. Thursday first thing we were back at our Montreal Airport hopping the plane bound for Halifax for our Nova Scotia Zone Conference, as well as their Stake Conference, and the highlights of the month continue!! With only one more day in the month the list will almost be complete!! Being with our ‘stripling warriors’ always makes us in awe of their diligence, commitment, enthusiasm, knowledge, and testimonies. Our trainings require much participation…so we see and hear their wisdom, and depth of their testimonies.  With so many of our army in the ‘nethermost parts of the vineyard,’ we cherish every minute we get to spend with them at Zone Conferences. 

Two simple, sweet examples of how humble and charitable our missionaries are….Today after Stake Conference we gathered our zone leaders, district leaders, and STL’s for a District Council meeting to process what we had discussed and learned at Zone Conference yesterday. 

One Elder shared the story of an exchange he had had with his sensitive, inspired District leader. This Elder was distraught and concerned about things at home, as well as his abilities as a missionary. He said that all his district leader did was just listen. What a lesson for all of us…don’t hop in and give advice…unless of course you are asked for advice…but learn to be a listener! So often as leaders we think that lecturing, and giving our two cents worth is what we need to do, but really listening is often what is really needed. 

The other example of thoughtful charity was yesterday. Elder and Sister Wilkinson who serve in Sydney, Nova Scotia in Cape Breton prepared an amazing homemade ‘everything’ feast for us..sloppy joes, etc, and scrumptious buffet of squares, and cookies. Elder Wilkinson was being a great waiter trying to get rid of the remaining sloppy joes and one sister took a second, and then realized she was the only one who had taken a second, and immediately broke down into tears…(she is a bit fragile) We were at the table beside, and as quick as she started crying, another sister, who figured out real quickly what had happened…said “I’ll split that with you,’ which stopped the tears, and the negative emotion. Such a simple act of kindness, but a great example to me, as well all the other sisters at her table. 

Dartmouth Stake Conference Saturday night session we got to team speak! Since we shared the same topic of ‘Family Scripture Study’, and ‘Family Prayer,’ it made perfect sense to stand at the pulpit together, with our power point behind, and teach together. We certainly did not preach like we had been experts on the subject, but we told it how it was!! Hopefully the congregation will be motivated to try a little harder to do better. We shared the following President Benson, and President Marion G. Romney’s powerful quotes…ones that we had on our fridge for many years..maybe you remember them:

President Ezra Taft Benson:

“There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and and narrow path.”

President Marion G. Romney:

“I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. ….The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity - the pure love of Christ  - will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy and happiness.”

Stake Conference was amazing…totally all about Missionary Work!! Great talks, but the very best was our entire Nova Scotia Zone singing a gorgeous arrangement of ‘Called to Serve’ and ‘We are all Enlisted.’ I wish our little recording could be added to this blog so you could hear!!

Brother Robert Wilhelm is a musical conducting wizard who created this instant choir; in fact yesterday was their first practise!! We didn’t have dry eyes!!

Last Sunday we had a lovely dinner with Eric and Kathryn Jarvis.  In 1977 and 1978 while living in Edmonton, Eric was one of my Blazer Scouts, and then when he turned 12 he was in Dad’s Deacon’s Quorum!! Kathryn is a GP, and Eric is the head of Psychiatry at the Jewish General Hospital, and they are stalwart kingdom builders in the Mount Royal Ward, and Stake. He served as the previous Stake President, and currently they serve as the North America North East Public Affairs team. We had a great discussion on what we can do to help that. 

After our meal with the Jarvis’s we drove to St. Jean (a French ward) to speak in a fireside.  Dad translated my talk as I spoke, but I bore my testimony en Francaise. Translated, my talk into French was 20 pages long.  My tongue and brain would not work together..so I was grateful for Richard’s brilliant mind, and his gift of tongues!! At the end of the fireside, we were presented with a beautiful hardcover photo book about the Richelieu River Valley. The Vaillaincourt family who Richard helped find and teach 45 years ago, and who are an active, contributing, awesome family attend the St. Jean ward. St. Jean actually is where Richard and his companion found the Vaillaincourt’s!! A wonderful reunion!!

Our year living in Nova Scotia zipped by so fast, leaving in its wake many wonderful memories, and many dear friends. Getting to return every six weeks is lovely, and being there when it is Stake Conference gave us a chance to see so many of our friends…even for just a few minutes!   Choo’s, Melissa O’Conner, Joanne Chatham,  Jim and Vicki Campbell, Green’s, Vienot’s, Smith’s, Glanfield’s, are just a few of our treasured new ‘golden’ friends that we got to visit with!!

Lineup for this week…Sister Mau is finished her mission,  so tomorrow we have her departing supper here at the Mission Home, and then I will drive her to the airport on Tuesday while Richard interviews the Montreal Zone missionaries. Montreal Zone conference is Wednesday, and Thursday we drive to Quebec City for their interviews, with their Zone Conference on Friday. We will drive to Chicoutimi after Zone Conference to visit with Rosiare Martel…another man Richard taught long ago!!

And now it is time to bid you all farewell!

We feel your love and prayers..thank you!!

Have a wonderful week, all of you!

Much love,

Richard and Gayle, Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma

CTR and Keep Smiling!!

testimony

Today is Tuesday,  September 24, 2019

Last week a group of about 50 of us gathered for our North America North East Area Conference just outside Rochester New York; new Mission Presidents, and companions, those of us that have been serving just over a year, and then those that are on the last nine months of their service were all in attendance.  Accommodation was in a snazzy golf course/spa all inclusive hotel nestled in a lush forest just outside Rochester, New York. It was a delightful retreat (of sorts) where we received amazing, motivational trainings for all areas of our Mission Service. We were filled to the brim by Wednesday afternoon when the Conference concluded. 

Our experience last Tuesday afternoon and evening in upstate New York was as profound as any I think we have ever had. Testifying almost daily of the first vision, as we do as missionaries, and then actually being in the Sacred Grove, and being in the log home where Moroni visited Joseph was hallowed, and unforgettable. Truly a sacred, faith-promoting experience, as we visited the sites together. Our smaller group included dear friends, the Caplin’s serving in Washington, DC South, and the Vest’s serving in the New York,Syracuse Mission, the Neilson’s (he was the Assistant Church Historian)serving in Washington, DC North, and the Haynie’s from our Area Presidency. We coaxed President Neilson to act as our tour guide, and as he shared story after story, we could tell he had earned his Church Historian designation!! 

Our highlights included visiting the Hill Cumorah, where we learned that, after the final pageant season next year 2020, they are going to return the hill to its natural beauty..the sweeping lawns will be replaced by a beautiful forest.

Following our Hill Cumorah walk, we had another walk deep into the Sacred Grove, and with each step we took, we knew we were on sacred ground. Walking with Elder Christofferson nearby was sobering. This is actually where Our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith. This is where the Restoration began! Again we speculated which were the 3 Witness trees?! I know this event did happen, and that is where my testimony has its roots. 

The  upstairs attic in the little (mostly) original log home was the very place Moroni visited Joseph. It was an emotional time to recreate in our minds eye that remarkable event. We felt blessed to revisit these sacred sites. We know these amazing events did indeed happen. As missionaries, we teach and testify of these events, and to be there again, and see, and feel,  confirmed the truthfulness of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.     

And with this testimony comes the responsibility to SHARE…and so we serve.

I will end this brief blog with my testimony that I know that all we testify is true. Joseph did see God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, Moroni also appeared to Joseph and told him of plates hidden in a hill. Joseph through the power of God translated these ancient records, and since 1830 when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was organized missionaries have been fulfilling their commission of going to all the world…and sharing the glorious truths of the Gospel. There is no greater JOY. 

Sending this off with much love,

Richard and Gayle, Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma

CTR and Keep Smiling

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Palmyra and Sacred Grove

Today is Sunday, September 15, 2019.

Zone Conferences are upon us again…didn’t we just finish those?! Yes, we are into our zone conference rotation and this week completed both Longueuil Sud as well as Ottawa.  Last year when we arrived in Nova Scotia, zone conferences were so scary for me…I had a detailed script all typed out, and rarely said anything different than what I had written. I think Zone Conference trainings, as well as speaking in Stake Conferences made my body go into Shingles mode!! But now I am thrilled to report that I just LOVE Zone Conferences, and I just LOVE getting to present, and teach. I said to Dad the other day how fun it is to teach and train at these Zone Conferences!!! Our simplified theme ‘Become One in Christ and Go Forth in Faith’ has made our planning, and our Zone Leaders, District Leaders and Sister Training Leaders planning so much easier. (Really it could be a lifetime Mission Statement don’t you think?!) Every subtopic fits nicely into that theme, even the Christlike attribute of Humility which I trained on. Full of wisdom, and with some experience, our missionaries peppered me with thoughtful comments, and before I knew it my hour was up! Zone Conferences while we are in Zone Conference weeks is my favourite time of our transfer cycle. But then when it is MLC….that is my favourite time, and then when week six rolls around, which means transfer week….that is our favourite….we do love it all, and are so grateful for this opportunity to serve.  We have sacred little miracles all the time, and one I’d like to share is how we have been blessed with the gift of learning the names of our missionaries…all 185 of them!! That really was my biggest worry (that and parle-ing in French!!) as we anticipated the merger…but our minds have been quickened and we KNOW their names…without looking at their name tags!!!

Speaking of French, I met Lavender - my new tutor, and I know she will challenge me!! I’ve got to figure how to do my studying while we travel!!

In Ottawa, while Richard was busily interviewing I ventured out to visit with Hicks cousins at Uncle Allen’s Dental Office. Thursday afternoon they close at noon, which I didn’t know. Anyway, I walked in and the 65’ish year old came and greeted me and said ‘can I help you?’ to which I replied…I’m here to visit with my cousin Wayne Hicks!!! (I knew it was Wayne…so he got a chuckle about that!! He said I didn’t recognize you….of course…) We visited for several hours, and I got a full report on our Hicks family…Wayne’s wife Nora, and son Russell, and all the rest of the gang. Tuesday - two days before our visit, his brother David’s son, passed away from aggressive brain cancer.  Oh how I wish they understood, or even knew about the Plan of Happiness….

Richard was so excited to use his birthday money at the Ottawa Brooks Brothers outlet, and purchase two beautiful new suits, some ties and socks. 

Our Fall area training is in Rochester, New York, and since we are really just a hop skip, and a big jump away, we decided a road trip was just what we wanted, so after our Ottawa Zone Conference, we hopped in our car and headed south, staying overnight in Watertown, New York Friday night, and then drove to Palmyra yesterday. We were pretty much the only visitors who climbed the Hill Cumorah, and there were only four of us in the Sacred Grove, so it was quiet, and sobering as we thought about,  and talked about what happened there. Because it is what we are teaching and testifying of every day, it was particularly sweet to be right there….remembering, and in our minds eye imagining! Elder Marlin K. Jensen gave a CES talk back on May 6, 2012 called ‘Stand in the Sacred Grove,’ where he talks about ‘Witness Trees, - there are only 3,’ and we loved quietly walking around pointing out which we think are the witness trees. We could do that yesterday because we were all alone. Wow! Another sacred experience. We feel so blessed.

Palmyra Ward was bursting with saints…local and visitors. We were thrilled to visit with our very Sister Heggie’s grandparents from Taber - Elder and Sister Evanson,  who are serving in the Palmyra temple (and their daughter and her husband visiting from the Lethbridge Henderson Ward), as well as David and Rita Hardy’s son Landon and his wife and their seven children from Raymond. (Might as well sing it…It;s a Small World after all!!)

I know I haven’t barely talked about how beautiful this eastern part of Canada and the USA are..so let me rave about how it actually takes my breath away. Stately, towering sugar maple, heritage oak, massive weeping willows, beech, and hickory are a few of the trees I can identify, but the forests billow with greenery. As we travelled the back roads to Palmyra yesterday, and then today to Rochester, we fell in love with the quaint old towns filled with beautiful century old homes..stone, brick or clapboard sided, and always surrounded by expansive freshly mowed green lawns. Our favourite hydrangea shrubs are everywhere and are heavy ladened with white, dusty rose, or limelight coloured blooms. Seeing the stunning Rose of Sharon shrub bursting with blooms reminded me of the Rose of Sharon quilt block, I made over 30 years ago!! Our afternoon backroad drive  along the south shore of Lake Ontario was gorgeous. 

Our next three nights we are staying in the ‘Woodcliff Hotel and Spa’…it is nestled in a forest close to Rochester, and looks like a golfers dream vacation. It will be a dream vacation for us too!!

Along with Elder Christofferson, Elder Gay, Elder Bennett, Elder Haynie, and several other brethren, are here to help train us.  Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will be filled with motivational trainings, and then we head home to continue the work!! It is fun to come to these Area meetings where we get inspired, and revved to continue serving with all our hearts. Reuniting with our dear friends is also so much fun!! Our dear friends..the Vest’s also moved the end of June as their Utica Mission merged with the Rochester Mission…(and they have five young children with them…oh my!!! ) We were delighted to be travel partners with another couple - the Caplin's (from St. George,) who are serving in Washington DC South Mission.

Here I go again….rambling on…so it goes in our lives…we love the Gospel, we love our missionaries, we love you, AND we are grateful for the incredible, blessings of SERVICE…We know His Kingdom is rolling forth, and we love having the opportunity to do our little part in helping gather scattered Israel.

Much Love, 

Richard and Gayle, Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma…CTR and Keep Smiling!!! XOXOXOXOXOXO…Know how much we pray for you all!!

training week

Today  is Sunday,September 8, 2019

What an exciting week!!! 

Labour Day Monday we told our Office Missionaries, as well as our Senior Missionaries to have a holiday, so our normal office meetings didn’t happen, but, we loved visiting over Zoom with our fresh new batch of thirteen missionaries…arrived just last week!! “Adjusting to Missionary Life” is an excellent companion to Preach My Gospel, and is full of inspired tips, and strategies for new and old missionaries. My training always focuses on some of these tried and true recipes for success. Richard and our Assistants all give wonderful trainings that inspire, motivate, and teach. We learn so much everytime, so we are convinced it does help all of our Mission!! They are all to read from this resource booklet everyday…

Monday afternoon we also have ‘call-ins,’ where zone leaders and STL’s from our eight zones call in, and report on their area book numbers which include number of new friends found, number of friends at Sacrament Meeting, and number of people on date for Baptism. We also get reports on Baptisms, and hear about who our new friends are. Hearing the ‘miracles’ around the mission is one of the highlights of these calls. And of course it is wonderful to ‘see’ our missionaries -even if it is on a computer screen!!

Tuesday was an errand, baking, and getting ready for our visitors who were arriving later in the week. Richard had researched and found an authentic butcher shop and was so excited to get PEI rib eye steaks cut for our Saturday night barbeque…that was his favourite errand!!

Kenneth Boyd Packer -(our MTC trainer), and his trainee David Young arrived in Montreal Tuesday night, and were here at the Mission Home first thing Wednesday Morning to begin training for us, as well as our missionaries. It was pretty intense from 9 till noon, where we zoomed in and watched companionships do their daily, and weekly planning;  and from 1 till 4’ish where we evaluated, and discussed how to improve!! A lot about planning, and prioritizing the Lord’s time, Both men were so very positive, and kind, but we both realized we need to be way better. They encouraged our missionaries to be diligent and devoted, and to ask as we plan ‘if we are having a revelatory experience?’… haven’t done that before, but now will try to do that. We were so grateful to have these great teachers come…both returned Mission Presidents - Brother Packer and his wife served in Kiev, Ukraine, and Brother Young and his wife served in Brazil - Vitorio, both from 2014-2017. We felt very validated…they made us feel like we know what we are doing, and were very complimentary (although we both still feel like we have so much to learn!!)

Going out with the sisters on Wednesday night, was definitely a highlight of the week, and the first time since moving to Montreal.  Sisters Brennan and Chonger are great teachers, and were so sweet to let me join them visiting Nathalie - and Vicky. Nathalie has been to Sacrament once and we invited her to come again today…(I did exactly what Brother Packer suggested, and texted her twice after our visit to say I’ll save a seat for you) but this morning she texted me to say she needed to relax. Sister Brennan is going to deliver the bag of Church DVD’s and fun little pamphlets and we hope that will inspire her. 

Vicky’s visit was ok…she is a pretty new convert, who doesn’t really find her patriarchal blessing inspiring. That was a bit of a challenging appointment. 

Remember Katya that we met at the airport last week …well I have been wanting to have another contact with her, so put some fresh caramel buns on a plate, and with the sisters, we delivered them. Because we were late getting there we gave them to her husband…because she had gone to bed…I’m not sure what my next move should be…

Wednesday we had more zooming watching missionary planning, and more training with Brothers Packer and Young. Together we planned our New Missionary Training for Friday, which was great. Brand new recruits, as well as any newish missionaries joined us at the Mission Office for trainings on Goal setting, planning, processing, and seeking and receiving revelation - we were all saturated by the end of the afternoon, but came away inspired and motivated!! Such keen, wonderful missionaries. 

We dropped Brother Packer off at his hotel (Brother Young had left after lunch), and headed to the Airport to pick up Elder Haynie who came for our MLC on Saturday, and for Coordinating Council today. It was delightful to have him here..last fall he and Sister Haynie came for a Canada Halifax Mission tour so it was great to spend time with him again. He is an enthusiastic effective motivational teacher, and missionaries love to hear him speak!!! It was coincidental that we had planned a Barbeque with all our Stake Presidents and their companions for last night so it was fun for they, and our Office team to get to visit and rub shoulders with Elder Haynie! (New Brunswick Stake President Sprage drove ten hours to be here and also spent the night with us.) Richard’s fancy PEI rib eye steaks were yummy!!

Many mission miracles occur every week, and we are so grateful to be cheerleaders in this great work of gathering. We still are overwhelmed at the magnitude of the Canada Montreal Mission, but daily feel the blessings of our service here. What I feel most is a real change of heart…it’s almost imperceptible, but nevertheless…a change - and I know it is for the better.  

Your examples, your love, support, and prayers do sustain us so thank you all.  

Oh, we are happy and grateful to report that everyone is safe and accounted for in our Canada Montreal Mission….and that includes all our missionaries in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI and Newfoundland….you probably saw or heard on the news that Hurricane Dorian hit right there…the eye of the storm was in Halifax,  Richard flippantly said yesterday…'we just missed getting to be in a hurricane!’ Sounds like there are lots of damaged trees, and kind of a mess to be cleaned up but it could have been way worse!! 

Have a wonderful week all of you!

with much love ….Richard and Gayle, Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma

xoxoxoxoxoxoo  and Keep Smiling!!!! 

saying goodbye to family and hello to missionaries!

Today is Sunday, September 1, 2019

Exactly two months (plus 3 days!!) ago, we transferred to this beautiful ‘other side of heaven!’ Elder Groberg’s mission to Tonga has nothing on us here in our newly expanded Canada Montreal Mission!!! When we are here in Quebec, we refer to the former Canada Halifax Mission as ‘The Other Side of Heaven,’ and, when we are in Atlantic Canada, we refer to Quebec, and Ontario, as ‘The Other Side of Heaven!’ Serving a mission is truly a heavenly experience!!!

I think the most wonderful miracle for us has been how easy it has been to LOVE ALL these folks…Newfoundlanders, New Brunswicker’s, PEI’ers, Nova Scotians, Ontarians, a few Mainers, (is that what they are called?), and yes, Quebecois!! Serving with our army of 185 young missionaries and our  25 Senior missionaries has given us a jump start on loving these ‘locals.’

Aaron, Jennie, Isabelle, Luke, Maxwell, Charlotte, Jane, and Peter arrived on the 19th and spent 10 delightful days with us. We were thrilled to have them travel to Quebec City with us for our Zone Conference there, and loved to have the oldest four, as well as Aaron and Jennie participate, sharing favourite scriptures,  gospel messages, and testimonies.  Trips to Oka beach and to Upper Canada Village, and pulling out our watercolours and painting together were highlights. Really the highlight, just like when anyone visits, is just being together with ones we love!!  

Next to having a reunion with loved ones at the airport, ‘watching’ happy reunions at the airport is the next best thing!! Anticipating and then witnessing families being reunited after weeks, months, or years is just amazing. Such profound parallels in life, and you can be sure my next sermon will begin with my experiences ‘waiting’ at the airport!!

Isabelle, Charlotte, Jane and I met a Lebanese lady who was waiting for her husband and son to return from Lebanon. I found a pen on the floor, and simply asked her if it was hers (not knowing if she understood English) and she said it was not hers, but asked what my name tag was about.she noticed that is said ‘Jesus Christ’… That began our great conversation about why we are here, and what we believe. She lives in a subdivision next to ours, and said we should get together for coffee!! I explained that we have a code of health, and don’t drink coffee, but that I would love to get together. She said she and her husband go to a Lebanese church across from where they live…just because it is convenient. Anyway….tomorrow we are going to take treats to her!!! Pray for Katya Lyane!!! She loved seeing our family together and asked a lot of questions. 

We also met our other next door neighbours…Michel and Jennifer and two month old baby Zoe who are Lebanese as well. We are excited to have them as friends…time to bake a bunch of cookies!!

Waiting at the airport for our thirteen new missionaries was a three hour marathon adventure, where we got to see many happy reunions, and visit with several folks. Although their flight was actually early, customs delays, and visa checks delayed meeting our new group. Aaron, Jennie and family were patiently, and anxiously hoping they could meet our new missionaries, but their flight home was calling them so they had to go…

New missionaries include Sisters Moosman - from Idaho,  Murray - from Utah,  and Wight -  from Washington,  and Elders Barnjak - from France,  Calabuig - from Texas,  Christensen - from Utah,  Craven - from Okotoks,  Hawk - from Massachusetts,  Mengolli - from France, Pinkney - from Virginia,  Rigby - from Utah and Rodriguez - from Utah. We are so excited to have this great new group!!!

Taco soup, hot buns, and great orientation by our Office missionaries filled their tummies, warmed their hearts, and helped them feel welcome to the Canada Montreal Mission

Transfer Week is logistically challenging with our little army being transferred all over this massive area!!!… Assistants,  Elder Holman and Elder Newman, teamed up with Sister Boyle,  are champs, and miraculously everyone arrived where they were supposed to…by car, bus, train and plane…(no one travels by water!)

Only eight returning home missionaries: Sisters Anand, Advincula, Garcia, and Humphreys, and Elders Olaveson, Petit, Gomez, and Hadden. I spend the day preparing the feast, which is usually yummy but the highlight is always the Temple Session on Thursday night. Temple workers are so accommodating and welcoming when we show up, knowing it is such a spiritual high, and wonderful sendoff for our missionaries. Testimony meeting and singing was lovely too.   It is an emotional, bittersweet time for us making this farewell trip to the airport, of course wondering if we will ever see these friends again.

Talking to people everywhere is what we do…and like I have mentioned before, Richard is a pro…at the airport, at Costco, at the park, at the subway, in the lineup at the Nike shop, etc… he normally and naturally brings up the Church, has a pocket full of Book of Mormon cards, and his contact card, and passes them out everywhere to everyone. People are usually so attentive and interested in what we say..We encourage our missionaries to talk to everyone, so we do it too!!

Exciting week ahead…our MTC trainer Ken Packer arrives Tuesday and will be here till Friday doing training, and also Elder Haney from our Area Presidency will be here Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, also doing training.  And Saturday we host all 8 Stake Presidents (and wives) in our Mission, for a getting to know you barbeque. 

And now this report comes to an end sending love to all

Richard and Gayle, Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma

Keep Smiling, Sourit toujours, and CTR!!!