We mentioned earlier that the folks here say February is the worst for winter weather.  Mother Nature is trying to live up to that.  In the past two or three weeks we've had three or four major snowstorms, with high winds bringing in the snow.  We always thought Wyoming was the only place where snow never falls - it comes in sideways!  Nova Scotia can match it!  It does make for some exciting and adventuresome travel, though.  And sometimes it is really beautiful.  Just think of what we would be missing if we were on some island in the South Pacific.  Those poor souls out there!

l to r-Elders Wolsey, Johnson, Nielson,
Unger, Fisher, and Moss

l to r-Sisters Rust, Hart, Kowalski,
Broadhead, Tiffany

We had District Meeting this week with the young missionaries.  It is such a treat to meet with them because of their enthusiasm for serving and sharing the gospel.  Their attitude is contagious.  The problem we have with working with them is that we get attached to them, and when transfer time comes, or when they return home at the end of their mission, we feel a real empty spot in our life.  The good thing, though, is that someone takes their spot (not their place), and we learn to love the newbies just as much.  This week we're seeing Elder Fisher transfer to Annapolis Royal (on the Bay of Fundy).  He's been here since just after we arrived last summer.  He's from Saskatchewan and has a great testimony and a very humble and sweet spirit.  He will definitely be missed, but Elder Baskin is coming back from Newfoundland, and we love him dearly.  He was serving here last summer.  Sister Rust is transferring to New Brunswick.  She came down from Newfie land, and has been a lot of fun.  She's very animated and expressive, with a great testimony.  We'll definitely miss her.  Sis. Ott is coming from Newfie land, and Sis. Miehe is here brand new from Cardston, Alberta.  We'll have a threesome in sisters for a few weeks.

Front-Chelsea & Samantha Jong,
back-Todd Smith & Samantha Fielden,
Part of the "Dal" group



Pres. Uchtdorf
2nd Couns. in Presidency,
LDS Church

The Dalhousie classes are going very well.  Last week in our Teachings of the Prophets class, we discussed Pres. Uchtdorf's conference talk: "Of Regrets and Resolutions."  In talking about regrets the dying have, he mentions the three most often quoted as: wishing they had spent more time with those they love, wishing they had lived up to their potential, and wishing they had let themselves be happier.  Sometimes we spend a lot of time climbing the ladder to success only to find out we've had the ladder against the wrong wall.  We shared with the students the challenge Pres. Uchtdorf gave - don't take for granted one single day, and don't wait until they are ready to die before they truly learn to live.  We should be looking less with our eyes and more with our hearts, to enjoy the journey and not spend all of our time wondering what is next.  We have only six weeks of classes there before school is out for the summer.
Our Book of Mormon class is in the middle of Helaman, discussing "secret combinations," the value of listening to "the watchman on the tower" (the prophets), determining if we are striving to be "men (and women) of Christ," and what it takes to be truly "sanctified."  Are we becoming what our Heavenly Father wants us to be, and what we have the potential to become?  It is very rewarding to listen to these young people talk about how they feel about their Savior and the blessings He has showered upon them.

Bro. Greg Lambert and his table set for royalty.  They didn't show up, so we enjoyed the meal for them, with two other couples - Bro. and Sis. Bezanger, and Bro. and Sis. White.

 Looking to the right from Bro. Lambert's, and below is looking to the left from the deck at his home.





Lunch at Sis. O'Connor's

Dinner at JJ & Sheldons

JJ in a Winder Dairy apron

We are definitely enjoying this part of our journey.  In spite of the cold temperatures, the people here are very warm and loving.  We are continually blessed with hugs, handshakes, smiles, and invitations to visit their homes.  This past weekend we were invited to four different homes for meals and visits: Bro. Lambert, Bro. and Sister Choo, Elder and Sister DelaCruz, and Carmelita.  This gives us a chance to get to know the members better and to find those whom we can call on to fellowship some of the new members and less-actives.  The Halifax Ward members have been especially kind to us, even though we generally spend only Sacrament Meeting time with them, as we are assigned to the YSA Branch.  And we feel the young single adults are more and more like our grandchildren.

The YSA had a Valentine's Day dance on Friday evening.  We showed up to watch the crazy gyrations some of them go through and to to get in with them in a dance or two, ourselves.  Of course, we picked the slow numbers to dance to.  We had a good turn out with youth from all over the stake.  We didn't stay as late as they did,

but we had fun while we were there.

Elder & Sis. DelaCruz
in Mahone Bay

Does "Escape from the Usual"
include the town and the people?

We also had a chance to go to Liverpool to visit with some family members.  We spent the day with Elder and Sister DelaCruz, the temple missionaries here from Hawaii.  They love to see the snow, but they're not too crazy about being out in it.  They love being here, but happy their mission is just one year and they'll be back in Hawaii before next winter begins.