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.