Elder and Sister Hamilton Mission Tour - spring 2019

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!!!

Mission Mother's first mothers' day!

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

Cinquo de Mayo in Nova Scotia!

Today is Sunday, April 28, 2019.

Happy Birthday to Caylee this past Friday, 

and 

Happy 11th Birthday to Luke TOMORROW!!!

Our lives in the fast lane are sometimes a blur, and the past two weeks literally are just that - a blur!! I will attempt to rewind and give you a synopsis of where we have been, and what we have done!!

First off I will preface this epistle by testifying of the truthfulness of what we are about, and what we are doing…after the great apostasy and almost two millenia, the Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth by the Prophet Joseph Smith. By following those same teachings Jesus Christ taught, as restored to earth in 1830, we can, and will find the most wonderful peace, joy, and purpose. We KNOW that!! This great Plan of Happiness includes teaching the Doctrine of Christ; faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. As we come to accept these teachings we begin life on the ‘covenant path,’ where although we will have many challenges along our paths, we will find peace, joy and purpose. Helping our missionaries be excited, motivated, and converted to these teachings is our greatest goal. 

We are not seeing great numbers enter the waters of baptism…but our missionaries are being converted themselves, AND we are praying so hard that we will achieve our goal of 64 baptisms before the merger in July. Our missionaries are hard-working, devoted, obedient, and wonderful, and many of them knock 35-40 hours a week without ever being invited in…such rejection, but they have such fortitude, and faith….

Oh how we love our CHM missionaries - and soon our CMM missionaries!!

We LOVE our service here!!! Testimony, positivity and cheerfulness are key, and great tenants for a happy life…we pray ALL our team are learning this!!  And even more we pray for our FAMILY TEAM at home….and that you are learning these tenants too!!

Last week - April 15- 21, was a whirlwind!! Many Meetings, French tutoring,  haircuts, and packing for our Mission Leadership in Washington, DC, etc. etc., and then travel to Washington where we were taught and motivated by our Area Presidency - Elder Bennett, Elder Hamilton, and Elder Haynie. 

As we were getting ready to leave Halifax Thursday morning, it was such a thrill to have a quick rendezvous with Jan (D’Arcey took the escalator downstairs, and couldn’t get back up!) We were so excited to know we had FAMILY waiting for us when we returned Saturday night!!!

Washington training was wonderful!!! Area Presidency did the trainings and we were in great company with the twenty two other Mission Presidents and their companions!! Half of those Mission Presidents finish their three years the end of June and tradition has it that they bare their testimonies at the Spring training. I sure want to grow up like they did…it was thrilling and moving to hear their conviction, and love of the gospel and their missionaries. We love to be together, and revisit with our dear friends…the Vest’s, and the Caplin’s, and again came home motivated and determined to try harder, and be better.  Arrived home late Saturday night.

And now it is Sunday May 5, 2019…and I apologize to anyone who looks at this blog for being deliquent in my reports…

Let me give a quick rundown on our amazing week with D’Arcey and Jan who actually survived just nicely exploring Dartmouth, Halifax, and everywhere all around while we were away!! They joined us for our Office Meeting Monday, enjoyed the drive around the Northern Arm, and loved the Five Fisherman restaurant. 

Tuesday we explored the fertile Annapolis Valley where fields are lush and green. We found the darling woolen shop in Wolfville, where, while Jan and I were ooh'ing and aah’ing over gorgeous skeins of wool, Richard and D’Arcey enjoyed sweet homebaked treats.  As we travelled portions of the ‘Evangeline’ trail, in and around Grand Pre, Richard retold the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow classic tragedy ‘Evangeline,’ based on true events of the Acadien expulsion back in the 1700’s. We love the reconstruction of an old Church on the site of an Acadien village.

Wednesday our sightseeing took us to Mahone Bay and Lunenberg where we were thrilled to discover the Bluenose nicely in dock enshrouded by giant white plastic shrink-wrap. Yearly they totally refinish all the woodwork…deck, railings, bunks etc, and it is all done under wraps..it must be because of unpredictable weather! RDF (rain, drizzle, fog) days are common in these parts and we could see why they need the giant tarps! The first mate who we were chatting with took my phone and took photos of what is happening under the wraps! Our lunch at the Grand Banker was another smorg of seafood at its best!!

I was thrilled to have guest musicians at our Lewis Hall Ukulele performance, and our little club of Ukulele Ladies were thrilled to have D’Arcey and Jan perform;  D’Arcey on the electric keyboard playing bass made us sound so good, and Jan is a pro ukulele-le-est Until I saw the dementia residents of Lewis Hall, I admit I was pretty nervous…jitters left pretty quick. What a fun new hobby!! Who knew I would come on a mission and learn to play the ukulele?!!

Power touristing saw us visit Peggy’s Cove, the Rhubarb Restaurant and the Temple on Thursday. Great day!!

Oxford sink hole, Stanfield underwear factory outlet in Truro, across Confederation Bridge to Prince Edward Island for District Council, Cavendish and Green Gables, red sand beaches, and more sightseeing filled our Friday, and then with wind warnings Saturday morning and the threat of bridge closure, we cut out the rest of our PEI exploring and headed back to New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.  Blustery weather didn’t deter us from exploring…Joggins Fossil cliffs and Cape D’Or where Richard had been anxious to visit since we arrived!! It wasn’t a logging road but the condition of it reminded me of one…the freshly graded red shale had not been packed down at all well, and big chunks of the road were being washed away by the rainstorm…I was never so glad to get off a road!! 

Sunday we enjoyed a lovely drive to New Glasgow.  About 40 folks were in attendance and they were thrilled to have Jan as a guest organist;  and one branch member said it had been years since he had heard the organ…Richard and I were asked to speak…you can imagine what we talked about!!! 

And then Monday our delightful guests had to leave us…what a glorious time we had enjoyed together…Thank you D’Arcey and Jan for sacrificing your Easter break to be with us….it meant so much to have family here!!! You are wonderful!! (And thanks for bringing the wheat grinder!!)

This week April 29- May 4, 2019

This report is getting pretty long..so I’ll quickly review this past week, which included studying French, getting tutored in French, participating in ukulele club, planning and holding our MLC, visiting, and visiting, and visiting with our missionaries, mostly who are doing wonderfully well…(a few challenges), and attending an amazing rug-hooking exhibition honouring the 100th anniversary of the Group of Seven - it was stunning and belongs in the National Art Gallery…These creative Nova Scotians are wool artists, and recreated portions of the art of the Group of Seven - we were so inspired. I think if you look on Halifax CBC archives for Thursday, May 2.. - Fairbanks Centre at Shubenacadie Park you could get a glimpse of what I’m talking about.

Alicia Kerber (Mark, she graduated with you at LCI -  born in 1986) who works with Aaron has been in Halifax since Thursday trying to recruit Doctors to come to Alberta. Her Conference finished yesterday so this morning we picked her up from the Harbourside Marriott, and spent the entire day with her. She attended meetings with us, and loved being at Church. After the two hour block she and I headed to Peggy’s Cove, Mahone Bay and Lunenberg. (Richard was involved in Coordinating Council.)  Her best friend who she occasionally attended Church with was Emily Lacey.  Anyway it was awesome really being a missionary, with a potential ALL day!!! She peppered me with questions pretty much the whole time we were driving around!! Anyone that knows her..keep sharing the JOY of the gospel with her…she is amazing!!!

And now it is time to close this lengthy epistle….

Happy 6th Birthday to Sadey Dawn Low next Sunday May 12, 2019

Thank you for your prayers, for your love and support..

We pray for all of you too!!

Keep Smiling and CTR

with much love,

Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma, Richard and Gayle

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!!!!