In Acts 5:34-42, we find what the attitude and response was to any "new" and seemingly different religious movement was at the time of the Savior, as well as now.  It could be called  The Doctrine of Gamaliel: "38 - And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to naught:  39 - But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God." 


And so we go into all the world with the authority given to us by the Savior, to"teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."  (Matt. 28:19-20)


Elders Jarvis & Harding
Kingston, N. S.

Elders Lassier-Houle & Gibbs
Bridgewater

We took a few days to inspect missionary apartments and vehicles.  Most of them are not bad - livable.  One of them we had to challenge to take a day or more to clean up.  We guess the two of us were taught quite well to keep a clean living space.  We're sure the mothers of the young missionaries taught them also, but when you get two 19-20 year-old boys together, they sometimes forget some of these things.  We challenged all of them to be clean and organized "in every needful thing."  A couple of teams weren't aware they should wash dishcloths or pillowcases and sheets occasionally.  And if it's crawling around in the fridge, don't eat it - throw it out!

Jim Aulenbach
Very good friend

Our inspection tour took us to Bridgewater, where we lived back in the '70s.  We had a chance to reunite with many dear friends at their ward BBQ on Saturday.  We stayed overnight with Bro. and Sis. Seymour, two very dear friends we love and appreciate, then went to church on Sunday.  They have a beautiful chapel, quite different from when we lived there. Afterwards we visited with Bro. and Sis. Laurie and Althea Wentzell.  They've had some health problems so we went to their home - just like we'd never been away.  We think Laurie was a counselor to Elder Tiffany when he was Branch President there.


Bro. & Sis. Frelick
Stalwart friends in the gospel

Laurie & Althea Wentzell

Maynard & Delma Dorey-
Friends from way back in the '60s



Sauesi Pahulu
Husband of Andrea Davison.
An excellent young man!
 














Dave, Nat, and Karen -
Chowin' down.

We stayed with family in Liverpool during the Labor Day break and had a wonderful visit - Lil and John, Dave and Nat, Karen and Clayton, Albert and Sylvia, Kevin and Sherry - they're all so good to us and we love them dearly.  Joni's old home is being totally remodeled, which is great to see.













Relaxin' in an Adirondack!
We may appear small in stature here,
but we're big in spirit!

Then on to Yarmouth, the southernmost tip of Nova Scotia, for another inspection and a canoe trip with the Primary.  Elder Tiff even got to paddle this time!  We saw Cape Forchu, a well-known lighthouse area there.  It was really quite an awesome sight that pictures can't relay in magnificence.


Sis. Anne Moses -
A welsh convert

You can see why Elder Tiff
was allowed to paddle this time!

Sis. Anne Moses invited us to stay with her.  She's a very lovely lady from Wales and we love to listen to her accent.  She taught us a new word that Elder Tiff's trying to learn (it's the name of a place):  Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychchwyndrobwllllandysiliogogogoch (bet you can't say that three times fast!)


A French Catholic
Cathedral

From there we made our way up the Bay of Fundy coast through some totally French villages, for three more inspections, and finally back to Halifax.  It was great to see that half of the province, but even better to get back home!







Feeding the masses!
(New missionaries and mission transfer day)

Barely enough left for
Elder & Sister Foley

 

This week was transfer week for the young Elders, and we saw Elders Deem, Parsons, and Marks leave the area and will be greatly missed here.  We were at the mission home for a luncheon for 14 new missionaries and all those being transferred.  Boy, can they put the food away!  What a spirit of dedication they all have to the work of spreading the gospel.  We felt humbled just being in their presence.



Some of the YSA

weeding a community garden

Even Bro. Cartier (on right) is a gardener -
of sorts

The Institute opening social was this weekend.  Bro. Cartier gave a fantastic lesson to begin our study of the New Testament.  His method is not to teach a lesson, but to get students to study and internalize the gospel.  He is an excellent instructor!  After his class, the YSA had a dance (which we didn't stay for), then this morning we had a breakfast, some workshops (one of which we led - "Being Unique While Being United in the Gospel"), then a service project weeding a community garden in downtown Halifax.  They went on to an archery activity, but we didn't have any spring left, so we came back to our apartment.  What a great group of youth we have!


Griselda found out she is leaving to return to her home in El Salvador in mid-October.  We'll definitely miss her and her beautiful spirit.  She bore a beautiful testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel the other night. 

We spent a few minutes on Friday visiting Elisha's daughter, Anisa, in the hospital.  She has been there since Tuesday with a bad case of pneumonia.  She's on the mend but may be there another day or two.  Elisha was invited to share her testimony with the missionaries at their luncheon at the mission home.  She's doing very well and has a good spirit about her.

Next week we start our own teaching session in Bridgewater on the Book of Mormon.  We're a little nervous but excited about getting them into the gospel and not lecturing them.  We want them to know and internalize the "why", because most of them already know the "how".

Senior missionaries are called to serve in many different lands to fill many different assignments.  We are all needed, to do whatever and wherever we're called to do to the very best of our abilities.  Our Heavenly Father knows our strengths and weaknesses, and he doesn't necessarily call us because we may be "really good" at one thing or another, but that He will accomplish with and through us His work.  He will make us equal to our tasks.  We love our call as missionaries, and are thankful to everyone who has made it possible for us to be here.  Our priesthood leaders, those we serve with, and the young missionaries are real inspirations to us, and our family, friends, and ward members are greatly appreciated and loved.  We hope we represent them, and most importantly Him, well.  Our Lord will judge us by what we have done and not by what we have got.