We mentioned last week that we had taken a trip to Liverpool to visit family then to Bridgewater to inspect the missionaries apartment and car.  We took Sister T's brother Milford with us.  That's the first time we've been able to get him to go with us to visit his siblings.  He's very quiet and somewhat shy, so he hasn't been to visit for quite some time.

 

On our return to Halifax, we stopped in Bridgewater to inspect the missionaries living quarters and auto.  The missionaries have a very nice little cottage on the farm of Bro. Brian And Sis. Irene Hirtle.  The living area and car were clean and everything looked very good, so we rewarded them with some cookies.  They were happy for that and promised to keep it up.

           

Here we have Sister T preparing to make her world-class dinner rolls. 

 

Elder T is staying out of the way!

 

 

On Wednesday, Sister T began a service project she volunteered for - baking 200 rolls for the wedding reception of Heidi Lane and Chris Largesse.  They are two of our favorites from the YSA Branch, and we wanted to be of as much help as possible.  The wedding was on Friday at the Halifax Temple, with the reception that evening.  They are students on a very small budget, but everything about the wedding and reception was very well done and everyone was very pleased.  They loved the rolls made by Sister T! 

 

 

Brother Christopher and Sister Heidi Lane Largesse

Cutting the cake was really quite civilized!

 

Since arriving in the Canada Halifax Mission, we have been visited and trained by at least a half-dozen General Authorities of the Church.  In the last week we've had the privilege of visits by two members of the First Quorum of 70, and an Area Authority 70.  Following the teachings of the Bible, these men are traveling the world, preaching and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is so great to be tutored by men who have been sent by the Savior to share His gospel.

 

Elder and Sister William R. Walker, First Quorum of 70.




Missionaries in Nova Scotia zones.

During his visit and tour of the mission, Elder Walker presided in our Zone Conference last Thursday.  We listened to both Elder and Sister Walker, and of course Pres. Leavitt, our mission president.  A couple of points to share were: "When we finally find out who we are, we'll be sorry we didn't try harder." (Sis. Walker). 

 

 

 

 

Using the scriptures, Elder Walker said we must search for the truth, pray always, and be believing.  Comparing Laman and Lemuel with Nephi and Sam - he said our attitude makes all the difference.  If the weather gets you down think of it as always good! (good and hot, good and cold, good and humid, etc.)  He also said, "If you're almost obedient, you'll almost get the blessings."  He emphasized this with Doctrine and Covenants 39 and 40 - James Covill was taught by Joseph Smith, he accepted the gospel, then rejected it, and lost many blessings.

A really great meal was served to us at noon by
the Halifax Ward Relief Society sisters.

 

We also had visiting with us Elder David Archuleta and his twin brother!  Actually this Elder Widdup and Elder Amaya, but don't they look famous!?

 

On Saturday and Sunday we had Stake Conference, with Elder and Sister Paul V. Johnson, of the First Quorum of the 70, plus Elder Grant Bennett, our Area Authority 70.  Saturday was the usual leadership training meeting, then the evening session of conference.  Sunday brought us the main session of conference, then a short meeting afterward for seminary students, parents, and teachers.  Elder Johnson is Church Commissioner of Education (CES), so we were particularly excited to have him here, since CES is our assignment.  We're sorry we didn't get a picture of his lovely wife nor Elder Bennett.

 

Elder Bennett is from Boston, and told us about his experiences with the building of the Boston Temple, and with Mitt Romney as his Bishop and Stake President.  He mentioned that international news reporters were impressed to tell him that the church is a lifelong training ground for leadership.  He also said a Unitarian Minister visited an early morning seminary class and mentioned that we not only teach the gospel of Christ, but that we also teach how to apply the gospel to our lives.

 

Elder Johnson was also very inspiring to listen to.  He spent time in Saturday's meeting to discuss "real growth" in the church - being converted and not just baptized.  Then on Sunday he emphasized Temple and Family History.  "What can we learn from our ancestors?  If we could talk to our grandchildren of 3 or 4 generations from now, what would we like to tell them or teach them?  We must preserve meaningful things in our lives for our descendants.  We can make a difference to future generations."  He ended his talk by talking about the courage of various heroes through the ages, but the most courageous had to be the Savior - knowing what He was facing all His life, especially going into the Garden of Gethsemane and then to the cross.  That was the greatest show of courage in the history of the world, deserving much more than the Congressional Medal of Honor, as prestigious as that award is!  Needless to say, it was a week of great spiritual rejuvenation!

 

 Sunday evening birthday celebration dinner for Pres. and Sis. Leavitt.

 We finished off Sunday evening with a dinner for the senior missionaries at the mission home.  Sunday was Sister Leavitt's birthday, and the previous Sunday was Pres. Leavitt's birthday.  Because they were both in town at the same time, we decided to celebrate with them.  It was a potluck dinner with lots of great food, including Sister Tiff's famous fish chowder and rolls.  After dinner we gave the Leavitt's each a bag of gag gifts for "over the hill" people.  It was very enjoyable and great to get together again.

 Sis. Leavitt is just overwhelmed by our lovely rendition of the birthday song!

Pres. Leavitt can't wait to dive into his bag of Cheetos!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sisters Lee, Hart Ott, and Drew at
Peggy's Cove

On Monday we took the four sister missionaries to Peggy's Cove.  This is probably the most photographed place in Atlantic Canada.  The weather was perfect - 62 degrees, slight breeze, sun shining, blue skies, waves crashing on the shore.  A lot of pictures were taken, and it was a fun outing for the ladies and a nice break from the city.

Anonymous senior citizens sent to keep
the young ones safe.

Sisters Drew and Hart are the real thing!  Fishermen never looked so good!!

The sisters had a great time at Peggy's Cove!!

 

During the past week we had the opportunity to visit an early-morning seminary class in Berwick, Nova Scotia.  Berwick is a very small settlement about 80 miles from Halifax, in an area called "the valley."  Brother Doug and Sister Sue Williams hosted us in their home overnight so we wouldn't have to get up at 4 a.m., to make the drive there.  Usually Sis. Williams has four young students every weekday morning come into her home at 6:20 a.m., for instruction from the New Testament.  She is a great teacher and a wonderful hostess.  Doug is a very hard worker and spiritual leader, who also happens to be a very talented handy-man.

 

On the morning we were there, she invited Elder Tiffany to take part in teaching a lesson from Ephesians 1-2, written by the Apostle Paul.  He chose "agency," perhaps the greatest gift God has given to His children.  This is an eternal gift that He will never take from us.  The prophets have always taught that we have a choice in everything we do, and that we must live with the consequences of our choices - good or bad.  As we read in the Gospels of the Savior's sacrifice in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the Cross of Calvary, even He had a choice to make in those agonizing moments.  We might never be able to fully thank Him for the choices He made, but we can try by being obedient to His commandments and trying to become like Him in our words, thoughts, and actions.

 

Meet Sue Williams and three of her four students.  We have John Morrison and the Campbell sisters, who were very attentive for teenagers at 6:20 a.m.

This is Doug Williams in his basement with a canoe he is building.  He is a very talented, hard working, and spiritual man.

 

This should have been a close-up of Sister T, but we wanted to get a good shot of her and the church.  This church is found at Grand Pre, where the French-speaking Acadians lived, beginning in 1604, before they were forced out of the country by the British in 1755, because they would not take allegiance to the British against the French.  Most of the Acadians went to Louisiana.  Many of them inter-married with the African-Americans and Native Americans, and we know their descendants as the Cajuns. 

 

Elder Tiff is standing in front of the church and next to the statue of Evangeline.  In 1845, Longfellow wrote a poem about her: "Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie."    It was taken from a tale about her being separated from her husband on their wedding day when he was deported.  It was told she wandered for years, trying to find her fiance'.

Here we have Sister Tiffany in Annapolis Royal, a small community on the Bay of Fundy, established in 1605 by the British.  It was a strategic military location, heavily guarded by their navy.

The original fortress is, of course, long gone, but this building is a reconstruction of an administration area of the old fort in Annapolis Royal.

 

While we were in "the valley," we inspected missionaries apartments.  Elder Horner (Alberta) and Elder Edmond (California) had cleaned up their area in Greenwood (close to Berwick) very well, so we left some home-made cookies with them.  A pre-arranged appointment and a bribery helps every time.

Elder Jensen (Alberta) and Elder Fisher (Saskatchewan) are serving in Annapolis Royal.  They also had spic-and-span living quarters.  We assisted them in their missionary efforts by giving them a referral of a restaurant owner from Germany who lives in their town.  We had just met Heidi at lunch, and she was full of questions.  Oh, yes, they got some home-made cookies, also.  We also inspected the zone leader's apartment in Kentville,  but forgot to get a picture of Elders Sloan and Evanson.  And they got cookies too, because we love them.

 

Before we went into a very busy weekend, we went to Fisherman's Wharf with Melissa and her granddaughter, Mila, for lunch.  Mila is 4 years old and reminds us very much of a couple of 4 year-old grandchildren we have waiting for our return home next winter.

On Friday and Saturday, we had a seminary activity with kids from all over Nova Scotia.  Friday evening was a fireside with some devotional speakers and music.  Then we stayed at the mission home to be with Sis. Leavitt while she was recovering from having her gall-bladder removed while her husband (Pres. Leavitt) was in Washington, D.C., for mission president's training.  We had 13 young people and chaperones staying with us.  Saturday morning Elder Tiff showed up at the stake center at 7 a.m., to help prepare breakfast for about 150 people, while Sister Tiffany stayed with Sis. Leavitt.  Tamara and JJ (Mila's mom) were the head cheftesses (?).  We've been friends with both their families for many years.  Notice the Winder Dairy apron from West Valley City, Utah.

Pancakes, fruit and whipped cream toppings/maple syrup, cereal, chocolate milk.  It was all very yummy.  After breakfast they had a speaker or two, then we went with a group of them to the temple for baptisms.

Following the temple, we went to the Halifax chapel to witness the baptism of Don Tian.  He was baptized by Dan Schow (far left), our Elder's Quorum President, and taught by Sister Drew, Sister Hart, and Sister Ott.

 

Saturday evening we had a musical talent show at the YSA Branch.  It was excellent, with a lot of really great talent - vocal and instrumental.

This is Zac Hicks singing "If I Were a Rich Man" from Fiddler On the Roof.  He was very entertaining.

 Zac Hicks, Rick Cartier, Dan Frelick, and Dan Schow as a Barber Shop Quartet, singing "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot."

Even the sister missionaries showed off their talents.  Sis. Hart sings and plays the flute, Sis. Lee and Sis. Drew each have amazing voices, singing a medley of songs from "The Sound of Music."

Connie Hicks (barely seen behind the piano) is an amazing pianist - self-taught!  She accompanied just about everyone.  Here she is with Dan Frelick on the guitar, and Jenn Smith on the fiddle.  They played a number of pieces for fiddle, and they were great.

Randi Greene, Samantha Fielden, Alissa Harker, and Connie Hicks singing a number of doo-wop songs.  They got our feet tapping and our hands clapping.

Sister and brother Connie and Zac Hicks in action with "Dirty Paws" from Of Mice and Men.

Randi Greene sang "I Know the Truth" from Aida, beautifully.  Wow!  We have so much talent!!

We don't know who the bald head belongs to, but the group on the stage are YSA that completed our evening.  It was well attended by visitors, as well as many members from around the stake.

 

This is Sister T's Primary class - 9-10 year olds

On Monday we talked Sister Tiffany's brother Milford (on right) into going with us to visit the remaining Roy family children.  Here we have Sylvia (a sister-in-law), Albert (oldest brother), and Sister T.  Our baby brother passed away 3 years ago and we lost another brother in 1999.

This is a view from the front of Albert and Sylvia's home.  But for the power lines and the pine tree, it's a beautiful view of the bay and ocean at Hunt's Point.

Brother-in-law John has Parkinson's Disease, so his muscles get really cramped.  He loves to have Sister T visit, because she gives him a good massage, both head and shoulders.  And you can see, she enjoys it too.  

Dave, our nephew, got in on the free rubs while we were there.

 

.Here we have baby sister Joni, brother Milford, and big sister Lil.  Just four (including Albert) left of the six children of Mom and Dad Roy.

Having this opportunity to visit Sister Tiff's family has been one of the tender mercies of the Lord in sending us to Nova Scotia as missionaries.  Considering the distance from Utah to eastern Canada, and the ages of these old folks, who knows how much more we'll get to see them.  As I mentioned in a previous post, this is a very rare occurrence to be able to spend time with family while away from home on a mission.  And they have become very supportive of our service to the Lord.  We love them!

 

While we were in the area, we inspected the apartment of Elder Steed (Alberta) and Elder Urick (Montana).  I didn't get their pictures either, but they are handsome young men with big smiles!  Very clean, and yes, they got cookies also!      

 

 

 "There is no need for you or for me, in this enlightened age when the fulness of the gospel has been restored, to sail uncharted seas or to travel unmarked roads in search of truth. A loving Heavenly Father has plotted our course and provided an unfailing guide—even obedience. A knowledge of truth and the answers to our greatest questions come to us as we are obedient to the commandments of God." Thus have we heard from a modern, living Prophet of God, even Pres. Thomas S. Monson.

In Jeremiah 6:17, the prophet tells us that the Lord has placed watchmen upon towers to watch for the coming of enemies, to sound their trumpets to alert His people so they may not be surprised by a sudden attack of the enemy.  In our own day there are watchmen set to give us warnings of impending danger from our greatest enemy, even Satan and his angels.  Last week those watchmen sounded the trumpet once again.  Did we hear?  Were we listening?  Our call to the world is to listen to the watchmen, to be obedient to their calls from our Father in Heaven, so that we're not overrun by evil and temptations.  We pray that all may listen intently and sincerely to their messages of love and sincere desires to help us be obedient to the commandments of God.

The First Presidency and
The Quorum of Twelve Apostles -
Our "Watchmen on the Tower"

 

 

We are in the process of visiting seminary and institute classes around the mission.  During the first week of April we attended class in Truro, Nova Scotia.  This is the chapel in Truro, where we also took part last night (4/14) in a musical fireside. 

Anyway, this is the Truro seminary class, with Sis. Mahoney teaching a great lesson on Paul's writings in the New Testament.  We are not saved by grace alone, but also by our works, and faith in the Redeemer; obedience to His commandments are an absolute must.

Too often, people are misled to believe in one or two scriptures taken out of context, and base their entire salvation on that one thought.  Like a home, it is not complete until ALL things are in place and properly fit together.

Two Elders and two Sister Missionaries came to our apartment to have their planning day meeting.  We have here Elder Henderson (back left), Elder Gibbs, Sister T, Sister Drew (back right), and Sister Hart.  It was interesting watching them put together their plans for the coming week.  An absolute must for success.  If we fail to plan, we plan to fail.

And, of course, since they're here, we might as well feed them.

Elder Gibbs is one of our favorites.  We've known him since his first day in the mission, last summer, and he attended our institute classes in Bridgewater last fall.  He's now in the Halifax North area where we live, and is a great young man.  Here he is with Dan Pringle.  I didn't get a picture of them in their baptismal clothes, but Dan is the newest member of the Church and the YSA Branch.

We had an opportunity to watch the Sunday morning session of General Conference in the Bridgewater chapel.  This couple is one of our favorites - Bro. and Sister Laurie and Althea Wentzell.  Laurie was one of Elder Tiff's counselors when he was Branch President there 40 years ago.

This couple also ranks as one of our favorites.  Maynard and Delma Dorey took care of Elder Tiff when he was a young missionary in Nova Scotia 50 years ago!  At that time, Maynard was in the Branch Presidency, and Delma kept the young missionaries shirts looking nice.

Between sessions of conference we blessed a very special baby.  Here we have the missionaries.  Then Sauesi, Andrea, and Leilani Marie Pahulu, then Papa(?) and Nanny Roger and Anna Davison.  Sauesi was home from Alberta oilfields for about five days, Andrea came straight from the hospital to the church for the blessing.  Don't they look great!

     And doesn't Roger look pleased!?!

Meet Brother and Sister Peter and Linda Ripple.  Sister Ripple is the early morning seminary teacher in Liverpool.  Brother Ripple is a former branch president of the Liverpool Branch.  They are a very lovely couple who serve diligently in the church.  They currently serve at the temple in Dartmouth, and are returned missionaries from a temple mission in South America.  He is a retired shop teacher and built his own beautiful home.

While we were in Liverpool to visit the seminary class, we decided to spend the day with family.  This a luxury that missionaries rarely have.  It is missionary work, however, because none of Sister T's family belong to the church, but have become very supportive of us and the work we're engaged in.  Here we have everyone trying to make a choice for lunch at White Point Lodge.  Nat, our niece-in-law, is taking advantage of the photo shoot. 

 

Sister Tiff, sister-in-law Sylvia, and brother-in-law John are enjoying really great fish and chips, a favorite dish in the Canada Maritimes.

Sister Tiff on the balcony outside the dining room of White Point Lodge.

Elder Tiff obviously enjoying his time at White Point.  This Lodge is one of the most popular tourist sites in Nova Scotia, just a short drive from Liverpool.

Our final stop on this trip was at the home of Bro. and Sis. Wayne and Diane Hunt.  She is an amazing cook and they are very close friends.  Wayne was a member of the first Canada Halifax Temple Presidency and Diane was our Relief Society President when we lived in Mahone Bay, attending the Bridgewater Branch.  They were recently released as Family History Missionaries.

JJ Choo is our daughter from a different mother.  Being a hair stylist, she does really great work with Sister T's hair.  We had a better shot of Sister T while her hair was being done, but she insisted it be deleted.  But the finished product sure looks great!

Elder Tiff is obsessed with the Halifax/Dartmouth Bay and the shipping traffic that passes through it.  This shot is looking out to sea from the McKay Bridge, the MacDonald Bridge in the distance.

Canada Coast Guard keeping our coasts and shores safe.

Taken at 70 kilometers/hr (about 45 mph) - a photo of a freight ship filled with shipping containers being pushed out to sea.

Another freight ship of containers coming in from the sea with more containers.  We're continually on the lookout for the container carrying our possessions from home, hoping we'll never see it here.

 

We were given the assignment to feed a crowd of about 75 institute students and guests at the Institute Closing Social.  Here we have Sisters Drew and Hart, and Amber Jewers (back left) giving us a hand in the kitchen.  Sister Tiffany is a genius in the kitchen and came up with a menu that was loved by everyone.  ET just followed directions and tried to keep up or stay out of the way.  We spent a good part of the week planning, purchasing, and preparing for what was consumed in less than 30 minutes.

Banquet Prep!

Elder Tiff did get to prepare the dessert. And there was still some left for others to enjoy.

Two tables ready to serve.

Just a part of the crowd that enjoyed the evening.

Last night (4/14) we participated in a musical fireside in Truro with some missionaries from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.  It was very entertaining and a spiritual feast.   It was identical to the Easter fireside we did at the stake center in Dartmouth, with instrumental and vocal solo numbers by the younger missionaries, combined with testimonies of the divinity of the Savior and his love for us.

 

As you can see, our missionary assignments take us a lot of places, doing a lot of things that not every missionary couple gets to do.  We were given an opportunity to change our assignment, at one point earlier in our mission, but we chose to continue in the calling given us by the prophet, and we don't regret it.  Heavenly Father blesses us continually, and we pray constantly that we may be sharp instruments in His hands to accomplish what He has sent us here to do.  We believe the end of our mission here will be a bittersweet moment - leaving one family to go home to another.  But we knew that would be our lot when we received our call to this mission, and we gladly accepted the challenge.