Ice Cream x 3

You know that we like ice cream.  We have told you that the ice cream here in Central New York is pretty much some of the best we have ever tasted.  Everyone here likes ice cream.

Monday was our last P Day that we would be able to see the missionaries in our District.  Wednesday morning would bring transfers.  We knew that we would be changing districts and that we might not see these young missionaries again. We had texted them and asked if we could treat them to ice cream to say goodbye.  Of course, they agreed!  Who could ever pass up ice cream?

We headed to Norwich to have lunch and ice cream with our Sisters there.  One of the things we love so much about the Norwich Sisters is that they love us so much.  They call us just to check on us or to tell us about a miracle they experienced.  Sometimes just to talk.  We met them at a little place called Gilligan's Island. We had burgers and fries and ice cream.  We bought the ice cream and they bought their lunch. Sister Mathews is leaving for the Albany area and Sister McCourt is staying with a new companion and has been called as a Senior Training Leader (which is like a zone leader for the Sisters).

L-R Mike, Marjean, Sister Carissa Mathews, Sister Tamzin McCourt

 

We jumped in the car and headed up the road to Hamilton.  The Hamilton Sisters met us in the village green and we walked over to Maxwell's Chocolate and Ice Cream.  We love their ice cream too because they serve Gilligan's and it's one of our favorites.  The Hamilton Sisters are staying together because Sister Fisher is being trained.  Sister Gillette has been called as a Senior Training Leader-with Sister McCourt so they have lots of new responsibilities.  They will be great!

L-R Sister Azlyn Gillette, Mike, Marjean, Sister Julia Fisher

Because the Elders in Oneida had a busy day and we were meeting them that evening to teach our friend, we decided we would go for ice cream later that evening.  We climbed in our car and headed back to Rome.  We actually had an appointment set up to meet the Bishop of the Rome Ward.  They had invited us to come to dinner.  We ran to their home and had such a nice visit and a really yummy dinner.  He had made what is called Chicken Riggies.  It is a dish native to Central New York.  It is rigatoni in a creamy red sauce with chicken, onions and some peppers that give it a little kick.  We so enjoyed our time with them and their little boy.

We left their place and headed back home for a pit stop and then to Canastota for our appointment with the Elders and the Rome Sisters with Tracie.  It was so she could meet the Sisters and it was kind of a hand off meeting.  We had such a great time.  Tracie is so funny.  She just had us all rolling with laughter.  We invited all of them to go for ice cream.  We wanted to take them to Zem's-one of our favorite places but they close at 8:00 and it was 8:30.  We ended up at a place called Byrne Dairy and bought soft ice cream for all of us.  So-like the title of this post- ice cream times three.  What a way to go! 

We had a mission wide zoom call Tuesday morning as the other half of our missionaries going home bore their testimonies.  It is always so tender. 

The missionaries aren't allowed to have meals with members unless there is a friend that they can teach but we have been given permission to have them once in awhile when we are discussing our teaching plans.  We had our Oneida Elders and our Rome Sisters come for lunch so that the Elders could brief the Rome Sisters of the people in the area that they would be taking over.  We made baked sweet and sour chicken and bacon fried rice.  They were so excited and they ate and ate and ate.  It's amazing how much food they can put away.  We loved having them in our home.  They bring such a spirit.  We love these Elders and it tugs at our hearts to say goodbye. 

L-R Elder Weston Crow, Elder Adam Begleman, Mike, Marjean

Elder Crow went to an area in Buffalo and Elder Begleman went to an area in Rochester.  (We won't even see them at Zone Conferences because their Zones will meet on a different day than ours) I'm having a bit of withdrawals.

We had bought a bag of "salt potatoes" while we were shopping a couple of weeks ago. Salt potatoes, or Syracuse potatoes is another Central New York dish that we have wanted to try.  History says that Irish workers in the salt mines would bring their little potatoes to work with them and cook them in salt water.  There is a science to adding lots of salt to the water-the boiling point changes and it tenderizes the potatoes. They are small yellow potatoes and you cook them in 4 cups of water with 1 cup of salt.  After you take them out of the water, they form a little salt crust on them.  They are so tender-and not too salty, at all.  You serve them with lots of butter.  Oh my goodness! They were so good.

We had a most wonderful Book of Mormon class on Thursday evening.  We taught Alma 34 on the Infinite and Eternal Atoning Sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  We had several people there and it was such a great discussion.  There were several "aha" moments with some of our members. How thankful we are for the Book of Mormon and the truths it teaches us.  Our lives are already different from leading these lessons-for deep diving into the pages.  We invite you to deep dive into the Book of Mormon.  It is amazing. 

Friday, as we were getting ready for the day and our mission wide training, we got a phone call from Elder Boone who is in charge of moving the missionaries in and out of their apartments.  He and his wife were going to be cleaning/moving out our Oneida Elders who had left on Wednesday.  They asked if we could come and help.  We jumped in the car, watched the zoom training on our way, and headed to Canastota to clean out the apartment.  These boys were actually pretty clean.  Mike helped move furniture and I pulled everything out of the drawers and cupboards in the kitchen.  There is so much stuff that gets left behind when they vacate their places.  We had "donate" bags, "collections" totes and "garbage" bags.  We would decide if we needed it at the central storage place or not. A lot of things get donated to good will.  All the spices, baking supplies, etc. get packed up and then they put out all of the extra stuff at Zone conference and anyone can take what they think they can use.  We actually brought home another window air conditioner, Christmas lights, a painting for our wall,  and a bag full of chocolate chips, spices, foil, freezer bags- a bunch of stuff.  We have found some treasures at Zone Conference that we bring home because no one wants it. (Those things become ours to keep) My favorite is a really nice paper cutter. Anyway, sorry about the ramble.  It was a good experience and we will be helping again this week with another apartment. Who knows, we might find more treasures that the mission doesn't want.

We ran home, cleaned up and then we headed to New Hartford to have dinner with our Branch President, his wife, and the Jones's.  We, of course, went to an Italian Restaurant-well, because what other kind of restaurant is there?  We think 90% of the restaurants here are Italian.  

When we got home I made peanut butter bars for the baptism we were helping with on Saturday night.

Saturday took us to Palmyra to the temple.  We were so excited to be there.  As it turned out, we had our Mission President's family there because their missionary son was there to receive his endowments.  It was so fun to be in the same session with them, with another senior missionary couple that we hang out with sometimes, and the Jones's from our Branch.  We had lunch and ran to a couple of stores in Palmyra. It was the best way to spend the day.  The grounds at the temple were absolutely beautiful so of course, I had to take a few pictures.

We went to a baptism in the evening.  It was a really wonderful experience.  Mike and I talked for just a few minutes on baptism.  How thankful we are for the gift of the Holy Ghost.  He helps us every day- helps us stay on the covenant path that our Prophet teaches us about all the time.  We are thankful for that covenant path. We love you all!  Stay happy!  Stay Safe!  We pray for you! We love you!