On this past Sunday evening there was a broadcast concerning our missionary efforts throughout the world.  God is definitely hastening His work and giving new revelation about how to reach all of His children with His pleasing word.  Basically, the plan is to Pray, Look, Speak, and Invite, and it is the members of the church who should be doing that.  It was a very inspiring meeting.

Much of last week was spent traveling some of the mission.  Whenever we're traveling we try to make contact with priesthood leaders, CES teachers, and missionaries.  It is part of our assignment to be there for whomever we can give a boost to.  All other senior missionaries are assigned to a specific area, whereas we're assigned to the entire mission, under the direction of our CES Coordinator, Rick Cartier, and our mission president, President Leavitt.

Our son and his wife, Nathan and Marcie, came to visit us last week.  What a pleasure that was to have them here - again!  They drove out with us last summer at this same time, as we began our missionary assignment.

The day Nate and Marcie arrived, Albert, Sister T's brother, had surgery to remove cancerous tissue from his liver.  I was asked to give him a blessing by the power of the priesthood.  This picture was taken the next morning, and he went home that afternoon.  How great is our calling!

After we left the hospital, we went to the Halifax Harbor Boardwalk.  It was just a little cool that morning, but we welcomed the sunshine we hadn't seen for a couple of weeks.  These two must have brought it with them from the west.

On Father's Day, Nate prepared a really great dinner, which we enjoyed after church with Milford, another of Sister Tiff's brother, and his family.

This group is Milford's family - Dot (a sister-in-law), Ruby (his wife), Oxana (a daughter-in-law), and Jeff (his son).  They were filled to the brim and loved it.  We were really happy to share the meal and day with them.

We took a couple of days to go to Prince Edward Island.  Marcie prepped for this part of her trip by viewing and reading as much of "Anne of Green Gables" as she could.  This shot was taken on the ferryboat ride to the island.  While crossing, we watched fishermen coming in with their boats laden with lobster.  We also saw a couple of pods of Dolphins, but didn't get pictures of them.

Sister T with a P. E. I. lighthouse in the background.

Not a great picture, but you can see Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, close to where our boat docked.

These are "lupines", mixed with "lilies of the valley."  These grow wild and abundantly around the Maritimes and, mixed with the many shades of green countryside, are another example of God's artwork at it's best.

We have the north Atlantic Ocean in the background at Brackley Beach, on the north side of P.E.I.  It is a little cool here, but note Marcie's winter parka.

Sister T was the only one of us who dared step into the north Atlantic ice waters!  She did it again, later in the week at another site.  Wow, she's brave!

While traveling around the mission we have the opportunity to visit with other missionaries, old and young.  While in P.E.I., we stayed overnight with Elder and Sister Tibbits and had a chance to converse about what was going on missionary-wise in their area.  It helps to have these visits so we can return to our own area with some new, fresh ideas to push the work forward.

Okay, here we are!

Elder and Sister Tiffany and Marcie at Anne's home.  To our left was "Lover's Lane," and to our right was the "Haunted Woods."  While here we met a couple of families from Utah.  Their son/daughter were married in the Halifax Temple, and it was good to talk to them of their spiritual experiences there.
 
We always carry "pass along" cards to hand out to the non-members we meet and introduce ourselves as missionaries (always with our name tag showing).  The card has web sites they can go to to learn more about the Church.  It's actually quite fun to introduce the church to them.

Returning home from P.E.I., we crossed Confederation Bridge.  This connection to the mainland is eight miles long and is the longest bridge over ice covered water in the world.  It is high enough in the middle that ships can go under it.

Brother Greg Lambert (Sister T's left) is a delightful and amazing chef and host.  We enjoyed dinner with him and brother and sister Bezanger, and brother Chris Palmer (not pictured) all members of the Halifax First Ward.

This is Brother Lambert's home on an inlet from the ocean.

Here we are looking down the inlet from the opposite end toward Brother Lambert's.

This is a Pilot boat returning from a ship coming into harbor.  When large vessels enter or leave the Halifax Harbor, they must have a local "pilot" steer or guide the boat.  The ship's captain or crew may not.  This boat takes and retrieves the pilots.  The same rule applies to all large harbors.

This is an ore freighter entering the harbor, as seen from Brother Lambert's home.

This and the next picture are utility boxes.  Almost all utility boxes in the Halifax/Dartmouth area have varying scenes painted on them.  We have yet to see any graffiti on any of them.

Not all of our time is spent traveling, though there are a lot of teachers we like to spend time with around the mission.  Here, at the temple, we have an opportunity to spend a couple of hours with missionaries preparing to leave for home.  As missionaries are released to return home, the mission president takes them to the temple then to the mission home for a dinner and testimony meeting.  Elder Baskin (next to Sister Tiffany) and Sister Ott went home last week.  Elders Nzojibwamie and Clarke, the Assistants to the President, joined us.

At the dinner we were joined by Elder Morin (in the back) and Elder Loussier-Houle, who also went home.  We were very close to these missionaries and were invited to share this final evening with them in the mission field.  A very special treat.

Elder and Sister Thatcher and Elder and Sister Wiebe, mission office staff, and Sister Leavitt join with us in our testimony meeting.  It was a very spiritual affair, and we felt honored to be there.

We're enjoying lobster - after the mussels and before the crab and shrimp.  Sound extravagant?  It's really not, but very delicious, very fresh, and cooked and served by Chef Nate.

His recipe was superb and his dining instructions easy to follow, which everyone did.

DIG IN AND ENJOY!!  It was a very nice evening spent with Sister T's family.  They seem to have overcome their apprehensions and false ideas about our church and our voluntary service as missionaries while we have been here.  We try to share our testimonies as often as we can about the church and the things we believe, and they are more receptive than ever.

The flowers here are in bloom everywhere.  Lilacs are just fading, Irises are still in bloom, and here we have Rhododendrons - they are everywhere in large bushes!

Another fascinating and picturesque fishing village on Bush Island, close to Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.

On Saturday afternoon we attended a devotional for all temple workers.  A spiritual feast, after which we mingled among the snack trays.  Serving in the temple is a spiritual boost for us on a weekly basis.  Everyone is very loving and kind, and their testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the need for the work performed in the temple for our eternal salvation is inspiring.

Sister T, trying to make sure Sister Anita DelaCruz is getting enough to eat.  We love this lady and her husband, Rudy.  They are temple missionaries from Hawaii, and go home in a couple of months. 

President and Sister Robinson, temple president and Matron.  Really wonderful, down home people from Tory, Utah.  They will be leaving here in November.

Brother and Sister Fox, both retired physicians and a very loving and spiritual couple from Dartmouth, will be replacing the Robinsons as temple president and matron.

We've made another trip to Peggy's Cove, with Sisters Dougherty (brand new), Drew, Echols, and Lee.  The sisters are a boost to our spiritual side and we really love working with them.  They are a real strength to the members and others here.

A piper at the Cove!












As we mentioned, we do travel around the mission a lot, but it is part of our assignment, and we are constantly in the missionary mode and meet with the missionaries as often as possible - the young to get a boost of enthusiasm, and the seniors to get more ideas of how we can improve our own service, even though we are the only CES couple in the mission.  Whatever we can learn from others, we try to put into our own area of service.  And of course, we meet with the teachers and priesthood leaders, if possible, to teach and learn.

"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."  (Matt. 19:14)

 

In our Heavenly Father's church, children are given an opportunity to be taught and to teach others from the scriptures.  Jesus showed the way, as a twelve-year-old, in teaching in the temple.  In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints there is a program for children called Primary.  Young people, ages 3 to 11, are taught from the scriptures and are given opportunity to teach their peers, through talks, thoughts, and music.

 

Sister Tiffany and one of her Primary children, Kaylee Wentzell.  Don't they look great together.  Kaylee just walked up to Sister Tiff and wrapped her arms around her.

Jacob Moses and Samantha Jong Moses immediately following their marriage for time and all eternity, performed by a man holding the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood, with the authority from God to seal them together as eternal partners. 

Here we have the Branch Presidency of the Young Single Adult Branch of the Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Stake - 1st Counselor Paul Aalders, President Richard Moses (father of the groom), and 2nd Counselor Elder Richard L. Tiffany.

 Elder T, enough said!

 

Pres. Moses' birthday was the same day as his son's wedding, so we had some cake to share with him on Sunday following church meetings.

Sister Tiffany's serving up some birthday cake for everyone to enjoy.

 

We feed a lot of youth and missionaries, often.  Here we have Sisters Echols and Drew, David Barrett - our new branch mission leader, and Elders Campbell and Hadley.  They love to eat at the Tiffany's!

From out our window.  It's not the South Pacific, but it is still beautiful!

Can you see Ricky Raccoon?  We found him scooting around on top of the church and we're happy to finally get a picture of some wildlife on our blog.

Some more feeding time at the Tiffany's.  Meet Sisters Laxton, Lee, Broadhead, Tiffany, and Ott.

 Newfie Fries!!  Have you tried them?  Sister Edwards, a temple missionary told us we needed to experience them, sold at a shop close to the temple.  French fries, hamburger gravy, and melted cheese - no calories there!  Can you hear your heart valves slamming shut!!  (But it was very tasty!)

 

 

 

Joseph Smith, a prophet of God in these latter days, said: "Have the Presbyterians any truth?  Yes.  Have the Baptists, Methodists, etc., any truth?  Yes.  ...We should gather all the good and true principles in the world and treasure them up.  We don't ask any people to throw away any good they have...; we only ask them to come and get more.  What if all the world should embrace this gospel?  They would then see eye to eye, and the blessings of God would be poured out upon the people, which is the desire of my whole soul."

 

Today, at the Canada Halifax Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the YSA Branch Mission Leader is getting married, which means he will no longer be in the YSA Branch.  Because one of the assignments of Elder Tiffany as a counselor in the Branch Presidency is the missionary activities of the branch, he automatically assumes that position also, at least until another young single adult is called to fill that position.  Our Branch President, Richard Moses, is on fire with the missionary zeal.  He is looking for "real growth" in the branch; that is a convert to the church, and not just a baptism.  Our branch missionaries are very enthusiastic about their callings and make it easy for "real growth" to happen.  We recognize that part of our calling as full-time missionaries assigned to the YSA Branch, is to set the example and teach these youth how important it is to show love and fellowship to everyone.  Sister Tiffany is loved very dearly by the youth and they are very willing to follow her example.  She is definitely a "people person," and loves and fellowships everyone she comes in contact with.  She's like a magnet to others, in a very loving and friendly way.  How great is our calling!

 

Samantha Hoskins and Katie MacAuley, two of our branch missionaries came to dinner.  Sam has been a member of the church for about a year and a-half and is very loving and very giving of her time and talents.  Katie has been active for about a year and is of the same mold in loving and giving.  Very enthusiastic in their assignments.

Sister Drew (left) and Sister Echols (right) are assigned to the YSA Branch and both arrived in the mission at the ripe old age of 19.  Sisters Lee and Ott share an apartment with them, but are assigned to the Halifax family ward.  We have these fine young ladies in for dinner as often as possible.  Sisters Drew and Lee have amazing singing talents and are often on the road on weekends to other areas to sing in firesides and Sacrament Meetings.  Sister Echols plays the violin and Sister Ott plays the piano.

Elders Campbell and Gibbs come as often as we can get them.  Andrew Lacey is the young man on the right.  He's just 19 and has been a member for about 2 or 3 months. 

The sisters came again last night for dinner, but we didn't get a good picture of the other two.  We love them!

 

Our sunsets may not be as spectacular as those of the South Pacific, but, hey, we're on the east coast of Canada, and we think they're beautiful.  These were taken recently from our apartment window.  Elder Tiff is still not convinced of the directions here.  He's sure these sunsets are in the east and Canada is just turned around from the rest of the world

 Most of the pictures of Halifax harbor are from the east (? maybe the south), but one day after an appointment we found this view at the other end, looking toward the west(? maybe the north).  This is from the farthest point of the harbor inland.

On another day, going to another appointment, we drove through the Sir Sanford Fleming Park.  Sir Fleming was an industrialist in eastern Canada in the 1700s, and did much for the economy of the maritimes.  This park was part of his estate.

Here is Elder T in Fleming Park with the Dingle Tower in the background.  This was actually the site of Fleming's summer home, and he called it the Dingle.

There is a bay that comes in around Fleming Park where the Halifax Yacht Club is found.  There are a lot of very "large and spacious" homes here with a lot of sailboats and other vessels.

A few days later, Elder and Sister Wiebe called to ask if we would like to go for a walk in this park.  Elder Tiff is standing in front of the Dingle Tower.

Elder and Sister Wiebe are from Alberta and spend a lot of time working at the mission office.  They live in the apartment building next to us and are assigned to the Halifax family ward.  He is an accountant by profession.

Elders Tiffany and Wiebe took a hike up the stairs inside the tower to see what we could see.  In about the middle of this picture, by the railing, are Sisters Tiffany and Wiebe, the best sight from this altitude.

From the top of Dingle Tower we could see the mouth of the Halifax Harbor and on out over the Atlantic Ocean.  A beautiful view.

Welcome to Centreville (Nova Scotia, that is).  We had to get a picture of this for our friends in Utah.  Along the Bay of Fundy, there is an area of Nova Scotia called "the valley."  It is a beautiful area with a lot of French settlements and many apple orchards and farming.  Centreville, not one of the French villages, is in the valley.  We went to visit the sister missionaries who are new in the area to check out their apartment and see if they had everything they needed.  They didn't, and were happy we were there to see what was left wanting new apartment-wise.



Elder and Sister DelaCruz, from Hawaii, are temple missionaries, and Sister Calvert, from British Columbia, serves in the mission office.  The DelaCruz's had not been to the valley and will be going home in three months, so we asked them if they would like to take the trip with us.  Here we are on the shore of the Bay, outside Grand Pre where the Acadians were from.

Elders Cahoon and Sloan, zone leaders for the area, with Sisters Laxton and Broadhead.

This is only one of many apple trees still in blossom during the first week of June!  Just one week ago the Apple Blossom Festival took place in the valley.

While in the valley, we ventured to Hall's Harbor, a very small and picturesque fishing village.

The tide is out, but when it is in the water level is higher than the tops of these fishing dory's (boats).  The Bay of Fundy has one of the highest and lowest tide levels in the world.

Elder Tiff is out near the end of the dock where the water line is showing on the timbers.

Behind Sister Tiff is the Bay with a lot of dry ground.  That's all covered with about 10-12 feet of water when the tide is in.

Looking down the coastline at Hall's Harbor.  The water will go all the way to the bottom of the cliffs, and then some, at high tide.

Dave Oickle, our nephew from Liverpool, Nova Scotia, came to dinner at our apartment, with Nat, Norah (she doesn't like her picture taken and is hiding behind Nat), and Keegan.  Dave is a Fisheries Warden who patrols along the shores, checking for illegal moves by the fishermen, and was in town with family to attend a training seminar.  We love having family visit us.  It gives us a chance to enjoy their company that we otherwise wouldn't have.  We hope we're good examples to them.

Last week we spent most of our time in service to others.  Actually, Sister Tiffany did most of the work.  We spent one day at Sis. Roberts, washing walls and woodwork in her sunroom.  On Sunday we had Sam and Katie to dinner, Monday was dinner for the lady missionaries, Tuesday was dinner with Dave and Nat, Wednesday was dinner with the Elders and Andrew, Thursday was our temple assignment, and Friday we took the day off and went to dinner at Bro. and Sis. Learmont's, some members of the Halifax Ward.  All of the great meals were cooked by Sister T, of course.