A Good Sabbath

Sunday there was a special teleconference for the North America Northeast Region.  Speakers were Elder Oaks, Elder Anthony Perkins, President Bonnie Cordon, counselor in the Primary, and Elder Gerrit Gong, one of the Presidents of the Seventy.  In the evening was a missionary fireside for the Pittsford and Fairport Wards.  President Evans was the main speaker.  It was a day for spiritual feasting.

Sister Jones's Meat Loaf back by Popular Demand

Sister Spencer and Sister Jones were asking for suggestions for the lunch at the monthly Mission Leadership Conference. There was great enthusiasm for Sister Jones's Cracker Barrel Meat Loaf. It was consumed with gusto.  Sister Spencer made chocolate cake for dessert as well as the dinner rolls.  Sister Jefferies added a healthy fruit salad.  

Their souls were equally nourished by President and Sister Evans and the Assistants to the President, Elders Larson and Peters. 

The great and noble spirits who currently give leadership to the mission. 

Visiting the Sites

Elders Judy and Falter have involved us in giving discussions with Pam and we drove them to the Smith Farm, Sacred Grove, and Hill Cumorah Visitor Center.  Sister Nielsen was our guide at the Farm.  Although the weather was damp, Pam felt the spirit and is committed to baptism on June 3rd. 

I Love to See the Temple

One of the great blessing on our mission has been the opportunity to attend the temple nearly every week.  We go in the evening after the office closes.  For what seemed like a long time, it was dark when we arrived, then about the first of March, we arrived while light, but often overcast.  So it is a joy to enjoy the sunset and beautiful flowers as we leave the temple after a session.  

Palmyra's Got History

The Palmyra Historical Society runs 5 museums and held a steak dinner fundraiser to help  support them..  I thought we should attend in part to show support by church members of the community.  It turned out that nearly half of the attendees were senior missionary couples and the servers were the proselyting missionaries in the area.  

The steak dinner was very good, but a lot more meat than even I wanted.  There were door prizes,(Susan won 3 post cards) a live auction and a silent auction. Susan bid on a purse in the silent auction, but didn't win it. There was an entertainer who played about 6 different instruments and sang songs from long ago. All in all, it was a good evening. 

With our fellow missionaries, the Jefferies,

The young missionaries:  Elder Astle, Sisters Braunberger, Murdock, Nielsen, Embley, and Elder Smith.

Part of the crowd.

Before the dinner, I gave the Young Farm tour to the Colorado Ericksons who are site missionaries. So that and the dinner and some shopping made for a pretty full day. (Plus our Saturday house cleaning).

Fayette's Got Talent

The missionaries from the Fayette Ward invited us over to their ward talent show.  We had a good time seeing them and the ward talent. (They have a portable stage! When is Marquette going to get one asks Sister Jones!!!)

Elder Arteaga performed a song in sign language. 

I did not ask any questions about this one as it may have been learned at a Scout Camp.  Elder Pugh puts a spaghetti noodle up his nose and it comes out his mouth. 

Sisters Redden and Fuhrman and Elder Hawkins lip synced to "Children Go Where I Send Thee."

Elder Russell mastered twirling a flaming baton after learning the art from a member in his first area.  

Friday was a busy day as Sister Jones and I helped Elders Judy and Falter teach Pam another lesson as well as doing our office work.

Keeping at it.

Guess I was just out of the picture taking mood over the weekend.  On Friday afternoon, I accompanied Elders Judy and Falter to teach a lesson to a lady named Pam.  We have a follow-up lesson on Tuesday,

Then, I met the Rowleys, who are site missionaries. We toured the historic sites  at the Young Farm with friends they had visiting from Utah.  It was a bit wet on the walk to the Waters of Brigham.

Then I met Sister Jones and the Spencers at the Palmyra Temple.

Saturday, we attended a baptism for a 10 year old boy.  He is in the Batavia Branch but the baptism was in Brockport since most of his relatives live there. After the baptism, we went to the Jefferies for dinner and played a version of Monopoly that is much quicker and merciless.

Sunday we enjoyed beautiful weather and had the Utah Ericksons (as opposed to the Colorado Ericksons) over for lunch after church..They are site missionaries who have been here since late March.  They are also assigned to attend the Batavia Branch.