Mission News 5/24/09

Hi Gang, We had a rather unusual week this week. We began the week with visits and making packets and volleyball at FHE. Tuesday was my surgery day. We drove to Liverpool. I took a sleeping pill on the way and with the gas he gave me I don't remember anything. He cut off the root, cleaned out the infection and filled in the root of the tooth. I still have some pretty big stitches. I slept most of the day while dad went to district meeting. On Wednesday we went to watch two of our members perform at a cultural event on post. They had a whole group of Samoans do the Haka dance and other groups performed. They fed everyone lunch (of which I couldn't eat much) and it was a great party! On Thursday the Mission Pres. and his wife came up to interview for a baptism and they took us out to lunch. They leave the mission at the end of June. On Friday we took food for a baptism over to the Sisters because we would not be there. We met our Young Adults at the church at 4:00 and went to Palmyra for a weekend activity called "Gathering at the Grove". They had registration and a dance on Friday night at the Stake Center (right across from the temple). Most of the kids camped at Zions Camp at the foot of Hill Cumorah. On Saturday they had breakfast, service projects or tours of the church sites, lunch, Elder Cook of the 70's spoke, workshops, dinner, a no talent talent show and a dance in the evening. Over 300 young adults attended from Canada and parts of New York State. Dad and I were able to get a temple session in on Saturday. Our favorite part of the day was Sat. morning dad took his run through the Grove and I went and spent an hour by myself in the Grove. It is so beautiful in the spring with a carpet of green everywhere (note the picture). On Sunday they had breakfast and then a Sacrament meeting at 11:00. They had a chorus of Young Adults with violin sing "How Lovely Was the Morning". It was so beautiful and they only had a short time to practice as anyone could sign up. We watched the new Joseph Smith movie at the Hill Cumorah visitor's center and then drove home. We feel so blessed to do these things. We have had such great experiences here and we love the young adults! We hope to settle into a more normal week with lots of visits, meetings, etc. We send our love to all!

Mpm & Dad