Visiting a toy & knick knack museum

Sister Jones and I have been visiting Adrian for nearly 4 months now.  She has been an investigator for about 8 years.  It is a delight to spend time with her and gaze at her wondrous collections. Most of her things are valuable antiques. These pictures don't really do them justice.

FHE with Bob Parrott, Caretaker of the Sacred Grove

Our Family Home Evening with senior couples last night featured Bob Parrott, the caretaker of the Sacred Grove and other forested property the Church owns in the area. It was very interesting.   Much of his presentation is summarized in this Deseret News article:  http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705352063/Caretaker-watches-over-Sacred-Grove.html

Happy New Year

On New Years Eve, we joined 5 other couples and the Zone Leaders at the Spencers across the street for a fun evening of great food (Sister Jones made cranberry meatballs over rice) and games.  We played a true/false get to know you game, slap happy, Pterodactyl, and Left - Right - Center, a game using 3 dice.  I won all the little Andes candies stacked in from of me!   Welcome 2017.

On the way up

The number of baptisms in creased 7% in 2016 after a downward trend for 7 years!  Sister Jones enters the baptism records and tracks the progress.  She also does a bit of cheerleading. 

Happy New Year!

Christmas Day

After being pretty much exhausted by the Christmas Eve Conference, it was enjoyable to drive to Batavia for Christmas Sunday.  The music was excellent and there was fellowship afterward where Elders Self, Gwilliam, and Moon opened Christmas presents.  They got wash cloths, towels, and deodorant among other items...hmmmmm. We put (our traditional) mini cereal packages into each of their Christmas boxes.

Then we drove to Jefferies' apartment in Brockport and joined the Spencers for a Christmas dinner of  ham and the traditional sides.  We played a variation of Monopoly that awards the merciless.  Then we headed home to phone calls and Skype to end a wonderful day.  We had picturesque snow cover for Christmas that disappeared the next day with rain. 

We are missing our friend Toney whom we visited for several months and has been transferred from the Rochester Psychiatric Forensic Unit to another facility. 

Light the World

Christmas Conference

The Christmas Conference is the only time all year that the entire mission is together.  There is so much energy, enthusiasm, and love abounding.  

Sister Jones made the table center pieces. 

Sorry for the poor picture.  The ladies on the office staff take the lead on meal preparation for 140 people and are assisted my MLS and FM missionaries and spouses.  Sister Spencer planned a Mexican menu with pulled pork as the meat and all was delicious.

Here is the group in the Cultural Hall doing the white elephant gift exchange. 

There was a talent show of live talent and humorous videos. 

Elder Larson, an AP as MC for the show. 

The day concluded in the chapel with some unparalleled musical renditions and memorable talks by President Spencer. 

On the way home, the Missionaries picked up the many, many packages and letters that Sister Jones had sorted.