The Last Departure

Every 6 weeks, we helped with the departure meal for the missionaries going home.  This time we were part of it and shared it with great and noble missionaries whom we had gotten to know during our year of service.  In the front row in front of the mission home are Elders Earl and Peterson (we had our first and last meal in the mission with him) and Sisters Barrett and Holzer; middle row: Elders Page and Bell, Sisters Spencer and Jones, and Elder Jones; back row: Elders Pedersen, Spencer, President Evans, Elder Russell, Sister Evans, and Elder and Sister Roth.  

Office Farewell

Sisters Spencer and Jeffries put together a luncheon to bid us farewell and to welcome our replacements, the Roths.   Sister Spencer outdid herself and fixed ribs for this meal.

The wonderful Evans Family.  Elsie and Tyler are at home with the Evans.  Three older daughters are here for the summer or were visiting at this time.  We were blessed by the leadership of President and Sister Evans and love them and their family. 

In the foreground are our dear friends and fellow servants, the Spencers from Mesa, AZ and the Jefferies from Star, ID.  Our replacements to the left rear, the Roths are from Idaho Falls, ID.

Elder Marks was picked up by his parents a bit early and came by the office for a picture. 

  

With the Spencers and Roths.

A beautiful ending to our time at the John Young Farm.

 Our last Sunday, the weather was a pattern of cloudy, rain, sunshine.  About 4 pm, it was clear and I decided to take a walk along Cheese Factory Road. On my return in 30 minutes, the clouds had rolled back in and the rain came.  I thought as I was soaking, "I should at least get a rainbow out of this."  I was magnificently rewarded.  These pictures do not do justice to the brilliant colors of the rainbow.

The Spencers came out and joined us in admiring the beauty of His creation.
We spent two more nights at the farm, but this is our concluding memory.

Last time at Batavia Branch as Missionaries

We spoke our last Sunday in Batavia as missionaries. They designated the monthly post-church munch and mingle as a farewell to us.  We appreciated the kind words and thoughts. It was a privilege to serve in Batavia with so many dedicated Saints. 

The current Elders, Wilson and Mills. 

The amazing Grover kids who are exemplary young LDS youth.

President Weiler, Branch President

Aboard the Canandaigua Lady

With the end of  end of our mission fast approaching, we spent our last P (preparation) Day cleaning the farmhouse  and getting ready to move to a transition apartment on Saturday morning.  In the afternoon, we cruised on the Canandaigua Lady, a paddlewheel boat with the Spencers.  It was a very relaxing hour and a half.  

The Canandaigua Lady

Waiting on the leevee. 

According to the Captain, the west shore of Lake Canandaigua is the second most expensive shoreline property in the USA next to Lake Tahoe. 

With the Captain. 

Storage Site Clean Up

The mission rents 4 storage units for excess furniture.  With the openings and closings this spring, they were a bit disorganized.  Elder Jefferies got them organized by taking everything out, sorting it and inventorying them.  There was good support from the missionaries.  I'm glad we got this done before I went home. 

Elder Hallstrom takes a selfie with Elder Jefferies. 

Last District Visit to the Waters of Mormon

Our last group of missionaries from the Pittsford District visited the sites around the John Young Farm

Elders Marks, Gold, Clemens, Hallstrom, and Cummard at the Waters of Brigham. 

Elder Clemens takes the Walther Challenge while Elder Hallstrom pictures it. 

Sister Jones earned a backscratch from Sister Jefferies after making chicken salad sandwiches for the missionaries.