One Week on mission

This is the ward house in Watertown, it is across the street from a golf course.  We went to church there last Sunday.  It was a great ward lots of good people, I told Mom we lucked out.  It doesn't appear to be very needy.  It is about 50% military, some 600 members in all with about 40% activity.

There are two sets of missionaries in town.  One set of Sister and one of Elders.  Both appear hard working and dedicated.  Our calenders are filling up with volunteer work at Ft Drum, visiting troops, military members, less actives, we will be kept. busy.  On Wed. we drove to Utica to have our entrance interview with the Mission President, stayed over night at the mission home, then had our first Zone conference.  To me things haven't changed much but Mom really enjoyed the hip.  I can say this, the mission President runs a real tight ship here.  No horse play at all, very serious.  There are about 104 missionaries here now.  The President has 3 assistants, who do most the mission stuff.  There are no missionaries in the office at all only volunteers or couples. Our mission President is a serious person, very goal oriented and focused.  He has the missionaries working very hard.  We have been here just over one week and getting into the grove of it.  We get a lot of double takes on our badges, which is a good thing.  We visit the other church in Carthage this Sunday.  Most of the military members go there.  It will be interesting to see the difference.  I'm telling you the country side is absolutely breathtaking.  On our drive to Utica, some 85 miles we couldn't believe how green and wooded the terrain was.  No overcrowding here at all.  Hey, Mike and Jen, that boy sounds super, think of all the coaching you get to do.  I like the name Lincoln too.         Love Mom and Dad