Thursday, March 21, 2019

 

 Finally!!  A beautiful sunny day!

I am not sure but I think spring might be trying to come to Nova Scotia--maybe a little sooner to those of us on the coast rather than those inland who have bigger snow banks.  We think it is a good day if the sun is shining, it is above freezing, and there is no wind.  I am anxiously watching for all the trees to start budding out. 

This has been kind of a quiet week.  Things are slowing down as we get closer to the Mission merging in July.  Missionaries aren't getting called to the Canada Halifax Mission any more.  They are getting called to the Canada Montreal Mission and I don't have access to IMOS for that Mission.  We have 3 more transfers before we move.


Today is MLC-Mission Leadership Council.  I didn't go and stayed in the office to wait to see if the new insurance cards for the vehicles got delivered.  Usually I go with Elder Boyle and we just lock up the office but he wanted to make sure we didn't miss the delivery of those cards.  It was a good thing that I waited because a couple of the Elders, who are "bus contacting" Elders came to the office to be able to use the WiFi to do some digital finding.  We have two companionships that are "bus contacting" Elders.  They don't have cars and ride the buses around town and talk to other bus riders trying to find those who might be interested in learning about Jesus Christ.  So they rode the bus from downtown Dartmouth to the office and it would have been sad for them to come all this way and then the office be closed and locked.  Elder Boyle hadn't left for the meeting yet so he took them to Costco to get a hot dog and they brought them back to the office to eat so they could have some of Elder Boyle's special J-dog sauce that we brought from Utah.  Elder Boyle likes to do that and quite often takes any missionaries who happen to be in the office to Costco for a hot dog.  The word gets out and Elder Hardy and Elder Madsen were glad that it was finally their turn.  

Elder Madsen and Elder Hardy

We really haven't done much lately in the way of sight-seeing.  We are kind of getting antsy to do things as the weather gets warmer.  This past Saturday we went shopping and I was able to get a couple of pairs of pants and tops in a store called Reitmans.  They carry long or tall clothing in the store and I like what I have found there.  At first it felt very strange trying to go shopping here because I didn't recognize any of my go- to stores like Penney's, Dress Barn, or even Target.  Even to order from them on-line would involve hefty shipping charges.  I don't really plan on shopping very much because I kind of like this minimalist life style of just having what I really need, but when the guidelines for Sister missionaries was changed so that we could wear slacks as well as our skirts, I decided to look for a couple more pairs because I only brought a couple  and they were pretty casual.  Unfortunately, I have also gained weight and my jeans have become pretty tight.

Sunday we attended our regular meetings in the Halifax YSA Branch and then hosted the Clayton Park Elders for dinner.  Elder Boyle made roast and potatoes and carrots in the crock-pot because they requested meat and potatoes.  These Elders in the metro area-Dartmouth and Halifax-don't get fed very often by members because there are three companionships in their Ward and not enough members who can afford to feed more than their families.  So we are glad to either take them to dinner or provide food for them in our apartment.  We had a nice time with Elder McArthur from Idaho and Elder Bluth from Arizona.  They are the Zone leaders and work hard.  Elder McArthur is an IT guy who we all call when we have computer or phone problems.

Elder McArthur and Elder Bluth 

Elder Boyle with Elder McArthur and Elder Bluth

         A year ago we had just sold our home and moved into a new apartment in Cedar Hills, Utah.  At the time we had no idea where we would be in a year.  Things worked out well for us.  We wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now-even with the cold temps.  We love being missionaries.  I feel like I am finally getting this office thing down and can take an extra breath or two.  I know it is going to get really busy again in July when we make the move to Montreal.  We look forward to the challenge.  We miss our family and friends but have made so many new ones.  Our lives will never be the same.  Until next time.

Robyn

PS--I forgot the part about Elder Boyle learning to knit and crochet.  Sister Moyes and Sister Vollmer are teaching him.

Sunset view from our apartment over Lake Bannook.

Sunday, March 3, 2019

Sunday, March 3, 2019

It's been kind of a strange day today and an emotional couple of weeks.  We had a big (kind of ) snow storm over night and several of the Wards meeting earlier in the day cancelled.  We debated about attending our 11:00 meeting and decided not to because we not too confident in the condition of our tires and the temps were below freezing-both Celsius and Farenheit--😉. We decided not to go after a member of the Branch Presidency texted and said that they weren't coming in either.  Then about noon the sun came out and we probably would have been fine.  More snow is expected tonight and tomorrow.  President and Sister Low are in Fredericton, New Brunswick for Stake Conference and about 2 weeks ago sent a text to me asking me to book 7 rooms in a hotel there because he wanted the Missionaries in that zone to come to Conference and some of them live too far away to come to a Saturday meeting and then again the next morning.  Elder Bennett from the Area Authority was presiding over the Conference.  Then yesterday when word of the big snowstorm came the President decided to change the New Brunswick Zone Conference from Tuesday in Moncton-about an hour away--to today in Fredericton after the Stake Conference.  Because of him deciding to bring all the missionaries to Fredericton they were all there, including the Senior Couples, even though some had driven 5-6 hours to get there.  We let the Relief Society Sisters in Moncton who were planning on feeding 40 people on Tuesday that that meal was now cancelled and President and Sister Low were able to get something organized at the last minute in Fredericton, I'm sure with the help of the Sisters there.  After Zone Conference today then the missionaries can all get back home hopefully before the snowstorm hits tonight.  The Lord works in mysterious ways.

We still have Zone Conference this week in Dartmouth on Thursday and Newfoundland on Friday.  We don't usually go to Newfoundland because we have to fly to get there and that can cost up to $1000 round trip.

A couple of weeks ago we had to let our favorite dog named Baxter go.  He moved in with Cameron and Tiffany when we left for our Mission but he got old all of a sudden and he needed too much care.  After a visit to the veterinarian for an extensive check-up we had to acknowledge that his quality of life just wasn't what it used to be.  A BIG thank you to Cameron and Tiffany and their family and Ashley and her kids for loving him and doing all they could to take care of him.  Many tears were shed and our hearts hurt but we knew this time was going to come and it was necessary.  As we looked back in pictures we remembered all the good times we had with him.  He was in the lives of most of our grandchildren from the time that they were born and they all loved him-especially Kenny, Tenley, Tucker, and Mason. 

He loved the Elders who lived with us from 2009 - 2011.  Here he is studying scriptures with Elder Becerra.

with Makennly

With Charley and Tenley

 

Little Joseph isn't too sure but is trying to be brave.

A boy and his dog watching out the window together.

This is what you wear when you walk the dog--Mason

Tucker reading to Baxter and Grandpa the morning we left for the Mission.

Time to say good-bye for Cameron and his family

One more kiss

This is how he used to wait and watch for Cary to come home every day.  That is probably what he is doing in Heaven--waiting and watching for his family to come home.

But that wasn't the end of our eventful day.  A couple of hours later we got a tearful phone call from Ashley telling us that she was leaving the Riverton Hospital and taking Charley up to Primary Childrens Hospital because she had fallen down the stairs at Cameron's house and his her face.  She couldn't stop crying and was now throwing up.  Jonny was out of town. She left her twins with McKennah. Suddenly our focus changed.  We were sad about our Baxter but our prayers quickly changed in earnest for Charley's health and courage and comfort for her Mom.    Luckily her brothers live close by and Cameron was heading to the hospital to be with her and Tiffany hurried to Ashley's house to help with Tenley and Tucker.  By the time they made the 45 minute drive to the hospital Charley was able to calm down and was acting like her normal self.  They were able to give her a CAT SKAN and decided that she most likely had a concussion and the CAT SKAN showed that there wasn't anything else wrong.  I for one felt very lucky to once again be reminded of our Savior's love for each one of us individually.  Even if the news hadn't turned out the way we wanted for Charley-I knew that there was a God in Heaven who could help us cope with the pain and sorrow we were feeling.  I am so thankful for my testimony of faith.

We do have some other news that some of you might not now.  On July 1st our Mission, the Canada Halifax Mission, is going to merge with the Canada Montreal Mission.  Our President is going to be the President of that Mission and will be moving to Montreal.  So the office here will be closing and we will also be moving to Montreal to serve in the office there.  We love Nova Scotia and hate to leave here but know there will be great adventures waiting for us there--most of them in French!!😏

In the meantime we look forward to another week in the Mission.  Hopefully the snow won't keep us away from the office in the morning.  I am about done with the cold!!!  Unfortunately I understand that Montreal is even colder.  Bring it on!!

Robyn