We've shown pictures of our neighborhood through summer, fall, and winter.  This is what we see in the spring - middle of May, temperatures in the 40s and low 50s F.  A few trees are starting to get some green color and the tulips are just starting to bloom.  Before we left for our mission Elder Tiff told many the weather in Canada is 9 months of winter and 3 months of bad dog-sledding.  It's not quite that bad, but it does try to hang on to lower temperatures as long as possible (Sister Tiffany is loving it!).

Gloria Richards and her sister Karen Bullock

Last week we attended the funeral services of Brother Edgar Richards of Bridgewater.  His widow is Gloria Tustian Hirtle Richards, whom we've known since the late 1960s.  ET was her home teacher when her first husband David was killed in a tractor accident in 1973.  The funeral was very nice.  We mourn with her in her loss.

 

Over this past weekend we journeyed to Maine and New Brunswick again.  The trip was part of a missionary fireside that travels around the mission performing musical numbers and testimonies in the wards and branches.  Caribou, Maine, probably has the largest ward membership in the mission, and while there we had the opportunity to meet with the seminary teachers again, and we stayed again with Sister Holst, our very gracious hostess of our March visit also.

This trip was with Pres. Leavitt, our mission president.  It was a very enjoyable journey and we reaffirm that Pres. Leavitt is definitely an inspired leader, with a great sense of humor and very knowledgeable in spiritual and secular matters.  We really enjoyed the fifteen+ hours we spent in the car with him.

Sister Tiffany in front of the Caribou, Maine chapel

Elder Call (BYU-Idaho), Elder Hunt (St. George, Utah),
Elder Woodward (Centerville, Utah), Elder Waldie (Alberta, Canada)

Elder Hawkes (Bountiful, Utah) and Sister Lee (LasVegas, Nevada)
Performing a number from Phantom of the Opera

Elder Woodward and Sister Laxton (North Carolina)

Elder Tiffany is way back there in front of the door of the Fredericton, New Brunswick chapel.  When he was a young missionary here in 1964, the part of the building on the right was all there was, with a handful of members.  It is now a ward with a large congregation.

This is the missionary choir in the Fredericton chapel.  Sis. T is front row, middle with the light colored blouse.  Elder T is second from her left.

Here we have Elder Edwards (Magna, Utah), a temple service missionary, and Elder Hendrickson (West Valley City, Utah) who sang a duet as part of our fireside.  Both have magnificent voices.



We were at our apartment for a whole day before we traveled to the eastern tip of Nova Scotia with our CES coordinator, Rick Cartier.  It takes as long to drive to Sydney, Nova Scotia, as it does to Caribou, Maine - 5-6 hours.  Rick is very knowledgeable in the scriptures and well-versed in church doctrine.  He is the same age as our son Joshua, and has the same sense of humor, so he made our travel time seem shorter.  There are some major changes coming in Canada for home-study seminary, and we met with branch leaders and teachers to discuss these changes.  It was a profitable and enjoyable trip.

During oour travels we had the opportunity to see much of Nova Scotia's beautiful scenery, and to visit some people and places that are very memorable.

 

The Sydney home-study seminary class were having a closing social after class.  Here we have Sis. Hay, Logan, Sariah, and Bro. Cartier.

 

This was a bed and breakfast where we stayed in Sydney.  This home, called "The Gathering Place," was built about 1810, and very beautifully decorated in antiques.  The owners are former Royal Canadian Mounted Policemen, and knew Sis. T's brother Milford, who was also a Mountie, from many years ago.

Sister T in our B & B room.

                                                

The northeastern shore of Nova Scotia has a very scenic route called the Cabot Trail, perhaps named after the explorer John Cabot.  It reaches the highest elevations of the province (800 - 1,000 feet above sea-level).  That's not real high compared to Utah and Alberta, but it is every bit as beautiful and grand.

Announcing entrance to Cabot Trail!

 

Looking east from the highest point on the trail.
The next piece of land east is England.

 

Along the trail is the only Gaelic College in Canada.
Above is a sign in English with it's pronunciation in Gaelic below it.
Gaelic is an Irish/Scottish language.

Some more Gaelic.

And some more of the old country!



We were obliged to take a ferry boat ride on a part of the trail.  This ride took all of 5 minutes, with a distance of maybe 200 yards.  Awesome!

                                                 
This is the Keltic Lodge.  Ann Murray and Rita MacNeil have performed at this magnificent and luxurious site, which is set in very beautiful surroundings.

                                        
And here we have the Gaelic College.  We didn't take a picture of the actual college because of the construction machinery there, but it was quite picturesque.

Here we are in front of the store of Mr. John P. Pettipas (petty-paw).  John is probably one of the most dynamic store owners in Nova Scotia.  His property is right next to the Canso Causeway, which connects Cape Breton Island (the eastern tip of Nova Scotia) to the mainland.

Sister T, John Pettipas, and Rick Cartier in front of John's store.  John is very well acquainted with the Mormon Church without actually being a member of the church, probably knows more about Utah than most Utahns, and is one of the most friendly people in Atlantic Canada.

Elder and Sister T, with Rick between, inside John's store.  We're not sure how John does it, but he knows where everything is and can find whatever you want very quickly.

 

John's store is mostly souvenirs, t-shirts, and such, but here you can see that he does have a produce section.  Everyone needs a John P. Pettipas experience.  He is very dynamic, extremely cheerful, immediately friendly, and willing to converse with you on any subject.

Our time is well spent, with a lot of interaction with members of the church, as well as with the general public.  We have some very spiritual moments with many, and are very grateful we can be here at this time doing what we are doing.  Missionary service as a senior couple is very rewarding.  We miss our children, grandchildren, families, and friends a lot, but we're more than rewarded for our time and efforts here.  Heavenly Father takes better care of everyone we've left behind for this short time much better than we can.  And we thank Him continually.

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Tatamagouche, Musquodoboit, Shubenacadie, Kejimkujik, Whycocomaugh, Mi'kmaq - The list goes on of places in the province of Nova Scotia.  You have to speak Canadian to pronounce some of them correctly, ay.  Once you've got them, they will stick with you, ay.  Pictured at the left is what you see as you enter the Shubie Park, an area preserved as the Shubenacadie Canal.  4,000 years ago the Mi'kmaq Indians used this waterway, then in 1794 the governor of the province decided to make it a canal for economic purposes.  This canal stretches from the Atlantic Ocean at Halifax, to the Bay of Fundy.  It's construction began in 1826, with nine locks and two inclined planes to move boats through, and was used only fourteen years.  It isn't functional anymore, as it was replaced by railroad about 1861.

There is a lovely walking path along the stretch of the canal in the Dartmouth area.  We don't usually go for strolls in our Sunday best, but this day we visited with Sis. Roberts and she wanted to go for a walk.  The weather was unusually nice, so we said "Whynot?"

 

Here we have ET standing at the site of one of the locks.  We're sure you're familiar with how a boat lock works, but at this point the boats were raised or lowered about 9 feet, depending on which way the boat was headed.

 

The wildlife in the park is pretty ferocious, so we were really taking a chance getting so close for this picture (this is not a zoom-in).  Luckily, this beast was munching on a peanut, so we were not a temptation for him to make us his meal.

Elder and Sister Tiffany (pictured at right) were photographed for t-shirts given us by Sis. Hart, one of the lady missionaries in the area.  Her father, in Idaho, made these for us.  How sweet is that?!

This is Elder Steed, one of our favorites, with Andrew Lacey (with the Savior approving), right before Andrew was baptized.  Andrew was taught the gospel in Bridgewater then moved to Halifax.  He is a very nice young man who has had a really hard family life.  He loves the gospel and sees it as the most positive thing that has happened to him in his life.  We've had a chance to spend some time with him, in meetings as well as giving him rides to church and activities. 

 

Last Saturday evening we were invited to the Cole Harbour (that's Harbor in American English) Ward chili dinner.  We had a fun time and enjoyed the food as well as the friends.  When we lived in Kentucky a few years ago, our ward there had these dinners, but the chili was generally much hotter!  That was HOT, this was edible.

 Bro. and Sis. Stuart with Sister T, enjoying the evening.  We work with the Stuarts at the temple, and love their humor and very friendly personalities.

 

Here is Sister Tiff doing what she does so well - socializing.  She's visiting with a Brother and Sister we work with sometimes at the temple.  We normally work different nights at the temple, so we don't remember their name.  We  will find out, though. They're both from England and a very nice couple.

 

 

The Elders and a member of the bishopric had the dubious honor of being judges of the chili served at the dinner.  Elder Torrie (middle) and Elder Lybbert and the bishop's counselor munched through small bowls of 12 or 13 different chili's - tough job, but someone had to do it!

This was our home in Mahone Bay when we lived in Nova Scotia, 1972-1975.  It is up for sale again, but we'll pass it up this time.  Many fond memories were made here.  Even our daughter, Kirsten, was born when we lived here.  Her nursery was at the back window, top floor.

The backyard has changed somewhat.  In the back, there used to be a large red barn/garage, and behind the shed is a small stream that wanders through the property.  A beautiful setting.

Meet Andrea and Leilani Marie Pahulu.  Andrea is the daughter of Roger and Anna Davison, very good friends who go way back from before E & S T were married.  Her husband, Sauesi, is in Alberta, and Andrea and children are moving there next week to be with him.  We love them and will miss them.

Sister T and sweet Leilani, enjoying each other's company.  What are grandmothers for?

And, while we're all enjoying the baby and visiting in the living-room, Nanna Anna is in the kitchen cooking up another one of her great meals.

While we were visiting with Anna and family, we all went to Lunenburg to see the sights and walk through some of the gift shops.  At right is a picture of the town as you would see if you came in on one of the many sailboats that dock here during the summer.  Can you pick out the colors of the buildings?

 

This is Wilbur and Jean Frelick. When Elder Tiff was in Nova Scotia as a young missionary, Bro. and Sis. Howard Frelick - Wilbur's father and mother, were like grandma and grandpa to him.  They were the sweetest and kindest and most humble people anywhere.  Wilbur and Jean are of the same mold.  A very loving couple whose family all seem to be following in their footsteps.  Wilbur is 90 years old, and Jean is close behind.  Don't they look like a loving couple of grandparents?!

On Tuesday morning at 6:45, we visited the early-morning seminary class of Sis. Irene Hirtle.  These people are not her seminary students.  These people are way too old!  Irene invited us to stay at her home on Monday night so we wouldn't have to get up too early and drive down from Halifax to get to class on time. These pictures are of family at Family Home Evening. 

Top picture is Brian and Irene Hirtle, Anita and her uncle Patrick Hirtle.  At right is Martha Hirtle Hodginson and Gloria Hirtle Richards.  There were others as well.  We've been close friends with them for many years, and we had a very fun time.

 Finally, we got a picture of the welcome sign to Sister T's hometown.

 

You probably weren't aware that there was such a museum, were you?  Well, here it is - in Liverpool, Nova Scotia.  If you can find the town, you'll be able to find the museum, because the town's not all that big!

In fact, here's what it looks like as you cross the bridge coming into the thriving metropolis of downtown Liverpool, Nova Scotia - "the escape from the usual".

This is our nephew, Dave, hard at work in building some raised garden beds.  Handsome dude, ay?

And here's Nat, Dave's wife, keeping him out of trouble by keeping him busy.  A lovely lady, ay?  And smart, too!

Elder William R. Walker -
First Quorum of the Seventy

This past Sunday evening we had an opportunity to watch a satelite broadcast of Elder William R. Walker of the First Quorum of Seventy.  He talked about how we can become more like the Savior as we become more like the prophets God has placed on earth to guide us.  The Lord gives us patterns to follow, the Savior being the best pattern, then His prophets.  He used Pres. Thomas S. Monson as his example, with his life of service, love for others, and desire to be among the saints.  He testified that Jesus Christ is the head of this church, and has placed prophets here to guide us back to His presence.  We don't need to be an apostle to live and act like one.  He concluded with a list of five things to put into our lives: 1- Be positive and happy; 2- Be kind and loving towards children; 3- Follow the promptings of the Spirit; 4- Love the temple - touch the temple then let the temple touch us; and 5- Be kind, considerate, and encouraging.  We testify that our loving Heavenly Father won't leave us without someone to guide us, that's why He has placed living prophets on the earth in our day.  We need their direction as much, and probably more, as His children of ancient times.