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