"The family is ordained of God.  Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan.  Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity.  Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. . .the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets" (The Family - A Proclamation to the World, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Sept. 23, 1995).

The family of Katherine Evans (on the right), one of our wonderful YSA, had a social to wish her luck as she prepares to leave for the British Columbia Vancouver Mission. Here she visits with Paul and Amanda Hatt, two of our former YSA.  Sister Evans will make a great missionary! 

We had another opportunity to listen to and see the Dartmouth Senior Citizen choir last week.  This was for Veteran's Day, a provincial holiday taken very seriously here.  Melissa O'Connor is the pianist and Karen Morrison the conductor, both very good friends of ours.

We've posted pictures of very large auto transport vessels in the harbor.  This is a view of many hundreds of acres of many hundreds of vehicles either coming or going on those ships.  These lots stretch farther than we can see. 

Althea and Laurie Wentzell and their daughter Shirley.  This couple is among the most favorite of our friends from Bridgewater.  Shirley was visiting from Alberta and got stuck at the airport.  We made sure she made it to her parents' home for her short visit.

A week on our mission without feeding the missionaries would be very incomplete.  You've already met Sisters Laxton, Lee, and Jungheim (from left).  Sis. Aslett is new and coming from England.  A very gracious young lady.

During these last few weeks we've been invited out to a number of homes for dinner.  Catherine and Andrew Connell and their children are a great young couple whom we shared a very enjoyable evening with.  We've known Catherine since she visited us in Utah as a teenager.  She is among the fourth generation of our favorites from Liverpool and Bridgewater.

Tom and Leila White are members of the Halifax Ward.  We think Sis. White was probably Sister Tiffany's sister from another mother, both with similar personalities.

One of our favorite assignments as senior missionaries is to inspect younger missionaries apartments.  We did our final tour last week and found everyone in clean and orderly habitats.  Here we have Sis. Pizzey (Alberta) and Sis. Aslett (England), in Wolfville.

The zone leaders, Elders Prince and Beckert, welcomed us with a banner to their apartment (it says: Welcome Tiffanys).  It was probably the best we've ever seen it, and certainly better than the mission president found (but that's another story).

Elders Beckert and Prince, in Kentville.

Elder Johnson, who begged us to bring some of Sister T's home-made rolls, and Elder Clark, in Kingston.

Elders Horner and Mounteer, in Annapolis Royal.

We spent this past weekend in the Bridgewater/Lunenburg area visiting friends and family, and attending church there.  Two of our very favorite couples are Wayne and Patricia Jewers (left) and Wayne and Diane Hunt (right and front seated), whom we've shared many fun and spiritual times with. 

Our sister-in-law, Sylvia, loves to keep her home in display order.  The dining room table is set most beautifully for whomever may come for a visit.

On Sunday evening we all enjoyed fresh fish chowder and home-made bread.

We were invited, along with Pres. and Sis. Leavitt, to dinner at the home of Bro. and Sis. Aubrey and Thelma Fielden.  They are very, very dear friends of ours from way back in the 1960s.  Bro. and Sis. Fielden are close to 90, but probably more alert than many people half their age.  They are among the pioneers of the church in Nova Scotia, and we enjoyed listening to their accounts of church activity and growth in Atlantic Canada.

 

As our mission draws to a close, we have come to realize more than ever the importance of family and friends.  Far more precious than any material possession is the bond we should have with our loved ones.  When we left home to come here, we were concerned for our children and their families.  The Lord has taken better care of them than we could have, so we owe it to Him to be our very best selves, and to share the message of His gospel with others, that they may have the blessings we have.  Our desire is to recognize and show to others that we are not physical beings having spiritual experiences, but spiritual beings having a physical experience.  We hope we can rise above our temporal surroundings and live more in tune with the Spirit of God to be the sons and daughters of a Heavenly King, whom we actually are.  If anyone has been converted to His gospel by our activities and time here, we pray that we are personally.

 

To be continued. . . . .

 

 

 

The Quorum of Twelve Apostles of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-12).

In our recent institute class we discussed what it is we can do to be more effective as our brother's keeper.  The discussion turned to what the Apostles have asked us to do.  If you could have one of the Savior's Apostles as a personal friend, your "keeper," of all the Savior has chosen - both in His time and in this last dispensation, who would you choose?  Why would you choose that one person?  Some responses of young single adults were: "What he says hits me," "He tells it straight," "I hear it from him like it is," "There is honesty directed by kindness."  If we are listening to or reading and enjoying what the Apostles have to tell us about how life is, we're not getting the message.  Hopefully we will see their messages as signs of hope for a better future and where we can be of greater service and showing greater compassion.  Let us not compare ourselves to others.  If we're putting the Savior first, we're doing well.  Determine which direction we're looking in life and that will help determine which direction we're heading.





One of our young single adults, Katherine Evans invited us to be with her at her home when she opened her mission call to British Columbia Vancouver.  it was quite exciting and a bit humorous, also.  She has only one month to prepare and make her way to the MTC in Provo, Utah.

Sister T always tries to make sure the missionaries are fed, and she does it with great food, seldom with any leftovers.

Sisters Lee (Las Vegas, Nevada)  and Jungheim (Colombia via British Columbia) serve in the Halifax Ward, and Sisters Laxton (North Carolina) and Renda (Payson, Utah) in the YSA Branch.

The Dartmouth Ward held a going away party for the temple president and his wife, Brother and Sister Robinson (Tory, Utah) and us.

Sisters Robinson and Tiffany are a matching set, both with fun and bubbling personalities.

We appreciated all those who came to say their good-byes and a short visit.

Two of our very favorite people in Atlantic Canada are Bro. and Sis. Fielden.  They are some of the earliest members of the church in Nova Scotia.  He attended Sister Tiffany's baptism 50 years ago, and was District President when we lived here in the '70s.  At almost 90 years old, they attend the temple every day it's open, often during every hour.

During the evening Bro. Bill Green, our local Newfie, favored us with a few songs.  Sis. Robinson even joined in with him on one of her favorites. 

The following day we attended Zone Conference with all of the missionaries assigned presently to Nova Scotia.  This is just a few of them before the meeting began.

We were served a wonderful lunch by the members.  It appears Sister Lee is about to be "baptized".

One day, when the wind was howling and the rain was pouring, we took a drive to Peggy's Cove to see the crashing of the waves on the rocks. 

 The rain stopped and the temperatures were quite nice, but the pictures don't show the majesty of the ocean as it breaks on the shore.

We've been told, on average, about every twentieth wave is a "rogue" wave which will sweep very far up on the shore.  The best place to watch is from afar.

 

No fast Sunday in the YSA Branch is complete without a "Break the Fast" potluck dinner after church.  Because the preparers are young and single, we're not always sure what we're getting, but there are seldom any leftovers.

Tomas, Daniel, Micael, and Maja Opuhac are a family we've lived across the hall from for 18 months.  We are at the airport with them as they return to Croatia, being sent home to renew their visas.  We've learned to love them and will definitely miss them.  They are hard-working, kind, and heart-broken to sell everything to leave, only to return next fall to start all over.

Elder and Sister Harvey, close friends of Pres. and Sis. Leavitt in British Columbia, stopped to visit them on the way home from their mission in Zambia, Africa.  They told of their mission and showed us pictures, and made us all very thankful we are in Canada Halifax Mission.

We visited our stake president and his wife, David and Linda Evans, at their beautiful home in Chester Grant, down the south shore near Mahone Bay.  We've been friends with them for many years.

Elders Bullock (Alberta) and Henderson (Twin Falls, Idaho) are enjoying some of Sister T's marvelous cooking.  We love to feed the missionaries!

Bro. Greg Lambert is a marvelous cook and host, and we've been in his home a few times to enjoy his talents.  He is a wonderful friend with a great sense of humor.  We were served a very tasty going away meal.

At the dinner with us was Sis. Wiebe, Bro. Bezanger, Elder Thatcher, Sis. Bezanger, Elder Wiebe, and Sis. Thatcher (not pictured).  All are very dear friends.

Sister Tiffany wanted the first taste of Bro. Lambert's amazing "Trifle," but decided to share with the rest of us.

 

As we head down the home stretch, during this last month as missionaries in the Canada Halifax Mission, we definitely look forward to returning to family and friends, but are already feeling a loss at leaving family and friends.  Our Heavenly Father has been very merciful toward us in allowing this time to be "back home."  It has been a wonderfully spiritual high to serve as His representatives in Atlantic Canada, to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, to teach and serve with wonderful young single adults in the mission area, and to serve in various positions, including the temple.  A time and experience that will certainly not be forgotten, but that will be a base to build upon.

Some questions that men and women have been seeking answers to for centuries are: Where did I come from before this life? Why am I here on earth? Where am I going after I leave this life?  Is there something I need to be doing or learning while I'm here in mortality?  As missionaries and representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are often asked these questions.  Our responses to the second question narrow to what the Lord has revealed through His prophets in latter days, as well as in times of old: We are here to gain a physical body and to be tested to see if we can be faithful to Him through trials and challenges we face here on earth (Abraham 3:24-26).

 

Our mission has been our opportunity to invite others to come unto Christ and to share what we know to be true concerning the resurrected Lord, His restored gospel and priesthood, the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, the importance of keeping His commandments, and how all of these things can lead us back to Him.  Not all at once, but a little at a time, as we are able to grasp and instill within our lives.

 

 One of the couples we have a chance to share in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ is Elder and Sister Davis (Logan, Utah) who have been in Newfoundland for most of their mission and are now assigned to the mission office.  Sister Davis was one of Elder Tiffany's students the first year he taught school at Logan High School.

Our son Brad and his fiancée Nancy were here to visit us two weeks ago.  Brad was born here and hasn't been back since we visited here in the '80s.  He and Nancy are going numb while they get their picture taken standing in the freezing North Atlantic.

 

Sis. Tiff's brother Milford, his wife Ruby, her sister Dot, and our friend Melissa were at our place for dinner while Brad and Nancy were here.

Ruby, Nancy, Brad, Milford after a great dinner!

The Kitchen Wizard in her small but very convenient food preparation area.  EVERYBODY loves it when she performs here.

Canadian Thanksgiving occurs on the second Monday of October.  Brad and Nancy happened to be here at that time and we spent the weekend with family in Liverpool.  This dinner was actually on the day before.

Sylvia and Albert (Sis. T's brother) were very excited to have a visit with Brad and Nancy after so many years away.

It was a beautiful day at Summerville Beach, one of our favorite spots when we lived and visited here.

Kevin (with his wife Sherry) is Albert's son.  If we want to know what Brad will look like in ten years we look at Kevin.

As we travel around the province we keep seeing this guy, or one of his family.  His name is F. I. ReHydrant, and most of his family look just like him, all dressed exactly the same.

A Roy family pastime is being observed here.  Don't interrupt!  We had dinner on Thanksgiving day at Clayton and Karen's (our niece) home.  With her is Nora and her dad David (our nephew).

Aunt Helen is one of Brad's biggest fans.  She hasn't seen Brad since he was about 8 years old, and she was overjoyed to have this reunion with him.

Eric Weed is the seminary teacher for the Halifax Ward while attending dental school at Dalhousie University.  Eric is actually from Utah, attending school here for 4 years, with his wife and children to keep him company.

This is Eric's seminary class, and they're all pretty good participants.  He meets with them once a week and they do online work with him the other days.

In Nova Scotia lobster season is year-round, somewhere along the coast.  It's quite inexpensive here, compared to Utah prices, but very fresh and tasty.  This was part of a thank-you meal Brad and Nancy prepared for us.

Megan Coish joined the church about 4 months ago, and about 10 days before this picture brought Lillian into the world.  She's a wonderful young woman who has been attending the YSA Branch with us and we've spent a lot of time with her.

Bro. Bill and Sis. Alice Green serve at the temple with us and are a very fun and delightful couple.  There home is in Newfoundland but they're living in Dartmouth. we have fun trying to translate what he says in his Newfunese language.

Sisters Laxton (No. Carolina) and Renda (Herriman, Utah) have been assigned to the YSA branch and are really spiritual and energetic young ladies.  Sis. Renda was in the MTC in Provo, Utah, just four days ago!

Elders Clark and Nzojibwami (both from Alberta) are newly assigned to the YSA branch also, as well as being the assistants to the mission president.  They are real fireballs and very spiritual giants.  We love working with them and the sisters.

The colors are just beginning to fade.  These pictures were taken two weeks ago, and the whole province looks just like this - taken along the river towards Sis. Tiffany's family's home.

This is the scene behind Lil and John's home (Sis. T's sister and brother-in-law).

What we see from our apartment window in Halifax.

Brad and Nancy at Summerville Beach.  We really loved having them visit and to give Nancy a taste of where Brad used to live.

Brad had a special attachment to Nannie and Bompie Roy, as he spent his first three and a-half years with them.  This was his first opportunity to visit their gravesite and to pay his respects and love to them.

 

As we sojourn through this life, let us focus more on what we can do for and with others, and less on ourselves.  If we want to get to Heaven, let us make sure we do what we can to help others to get there, through our loving acts of kindness and compassion.  Family is so much more important than things.  We'll probably never see a U-Haul trailer on the back of a hearse.  As a latter-day prophet has said: "Man's earthly existence is but a test as to whether he will concentrate his efforts, his mind, his soul upon things which contribute to the comfort and gratification of his physical instincts and passions, or whether he will make as his life's end and purpose the acquisition of spiritual qualities" (David O. McKay).