Mission 8/25/08

Hi gang,  This is an Amish couple stocking up at the local grocery store, kind a strange site to see in the parking lot. I didn't dare get any closer, the women  has a black coat and hat and the man has a  beard.  It's been a very exciting week, we had 19 visits and a trip to Utica for transfers. We are getting better acquainted all the time and can find our way around without the GPS, imagine that.  We have been teaching B of M Class in Watertown and Institute at Carthage for the past two weeks.  Both teachers are in Salt Lake with family.  Our volunteering keeps us busy on top of everything else.  We are really loving the work, there are so many times, almost on a daily basis, that we feel the spirit in the work.  Sunday was a great example of it.  The gospel doctrine class was being taught by Col. Haight the 3rd Brigade commander.  He has served in Somalia, Mogadishu (Black Hawk Down fame), Afghanistan, Iraq and now back to Afghanistan again in Nov. He was talking about Alma 43 and the purpose of war (verses 8, 9).  Capt. Moroni's character and his feeling on fighting (verse 30). He discussed the work of death (verse 37) concept to a soldier and then Verse 45-46.  It was very interesting to hear his belief and experience.  There were 6 to 8 of his soldiers who participated in the discussion, is was a very serious, yet spiritual time, one I will not soon forget.  Several of the soldiers were new and had not been deployed yet.  You can imagine, what it was like for them, hearing their commander talk about sacred things in this king of setting.  We have things like that happen all the time here, we call them our special moments.  We love and miss you all, take care of each other and hang in there.   Mom and Dad 

Mission 8/17/08

This was the first baptism we were part of.  This young soldier is going to Iraq in Oct. and was baptized by the Carthage Elders.  Weren't sure he was going through with it until Sat. morning.  We furnished some refreshment for after.  The two Elders on the ends are going home next week.  We are loving the work.  One of the most amazing things we experience is all the conversion stories and how military people met and married as they travel all over.  Every person was drawn to the gospel for a different reason.  It is a great testimony of how the Lord knows the needs of each person.  We keep busy visiting and meet great people.  This week will  be spending much of our time at homes with Dad fixing things for the spouses of deployed soldiers.  We taught institute last week and we a subbing for the Book of Mormon class for the next two weeks while the teacher, the bishop's wife, takes their son out to BYU.  We love our Young Adults, we're planning a trip down to the Palmyra temple with them.  We love and miss you all thanks for remembering my birthday I enjoyed all the cards, letter and stuff.  

Mission 8/17/08

There are many old homes here that they have kept.  Some are run down, but many are beautiful.  This is the street we go down to pick up the Sisters.  It is beautiful.  The homes even still have the old carriage houses out in back.  Everything here is so much older than out west.  The homes are all victorian style.

Hi Gang, This is some of our Institute class along with two area CES supervisors who were visiting for the evening.  One out going and the other incoming (suit).  The one kneeling with the teacher has already left for Iraq.  The teacher is from Wellesley Island and has been teaching Institute for over 14 years.  She travels 45 minutes one way each week to teach. She is great and really loves the soldiers.  She is an old Army nurse who still has lots of the spirit.  Her husband is a retired army oral surgeon, who is in private practice now. As usual we have been kept really busy, I guess this is the way things will be.  I started working in the pharmacy finally. It is very high tech with lots of support.  They fill over 800 rx's daily (8 hrs).  It didn't seem that bad. I just work two hours and spent the whole time checking filled orders.  It was kind of fun seeing HCTZ again.  This will be a good PR spot, because there are lots of people there.  Still lots of rumors about deployments this fall.  We will be losing at least 3 brigades (BCT) some 10,000 soldiers, but one BCT will return so that will help some. You can imagine the impact on the wards with the loss of priesthood, not to mention the emotion drain.  Mom and I are really getting into the visiting routine. We enjoy the conversion stories especially, they are simply amazing. These Army families are the greatest, so inspiring.  It is uplifting just being around them. We drove down to Utica again on Sat. and met with the Stake Pres., Mission Pres. and the Bishops we work with, to plan for all the loses.  It was a very concerned priesthood counsel.  They even let Mom speak, the church is so far ahead on things on things like this.  We feel overwhelmed at times but are throughly enjoying this experience.  We pray for you all and miss you.  Take care and be good.  Love Mom and Dad

Wagon 8/08

This is the best shot of the wagon we could get.  They all look the same, box like and black.  They are horse drawn, and the horses are beautiful.  I was parked across the street, as soon a the lady saw me she ran in front of the wagon to hide.  Kind of quaint though, don't you think.  They were selling baked goods and quilts.    Dad

mission 8/2/08

Hi Gang,  This is Sister Larsen behind the dark glasses in case you didn't recognize her. This is one of her favorite road signs, they are all over up here because of all the Amish or Mennonites.  They don't like their pictures taken, so you have to be real quick to get a picture of the wagons.  The wagons travel on the roads, all horse drawn, Mom thinks it's so cute. The women wear white caps or black bonnets.  The men all have beards and straight straw hats.  We always seem to find plenty to do way out here.  The missionaries were on a split and it was also the end of the month so they were out of miles.  We were involved in transporting them around for two of the days.  People are so spread out that it is almost impossible to walk. I talked to an old farmer at the Carthage ward who has been farming for over 71 years, this is the wettest summer he can remember.  Here we thought all this rain was normal.  I hope this doesn't mean the winter is going to be real hard.  I'm getting the feeling that all you have to do is hang out and the Lord will give you plenty to do.  Four opportunities to give blessing just came out of no ware this week.  We were just kind of there.  Lots of rumors going around on Post about deployment.  It's very possible that 4 Brigades (12,000 soldiers) could be gone this fall.  When the dust would settle, there would be a whole lot of families with deployed spouses needing help.  Imagine the effect on the two wards, with all that priesthood gone.  All we can do is hope for the best. I'm sure the Lord knows what's going on.  We love and miss you all take care and stay out of trouble.   Mom and Dad