Our 4th of July week was wonderful! But of course, anytime you have parades, flags, fireworks, and ice cream it’s a win win!
We actually started our week out with a text from a bishopric member who had seen a request, on the Ward Facebook page, for a Book of Mormon from a man who had just moved to Rome from Utah. Mike chatted with him and found that he was a member, baptized 10 years ago but had been having some struggles! He had been raised in Rome and came back to get his life turned around and he really wanted a Book of Mormon! We took him a Book of Mormon and a Bible. He invited us into his government housing apartment and we couldn’t believe it! He had nothing! Not a chair to sit on, no bed-he was sleeping on the floor with a pillow and blanket! He had no plates, cups, utensils! He had one fry pan and a plastic fork! He would cook in the pan and eat out of the same pan! He’s a really big guy so I’m sure sleeping and sitting on the floor was extremely uncomfortable! We told him that we have a lady in our ward who was maybe looking at getting rid of her son’s used kitchen stuff and that we would check with her! She was thrilled to help and we went to her house right then! She had moved boxes up from her basement and we literally filled the back of our car with the seats laid down! We bought him a shower curtain so he could shower instead of bathe, and we helped him move all the boxes in. He was so excited! He now has a fully stocked kitchen, a sleeping bag, a vacuum, and a big pillow. The state has since bought him a small kitchen table and he has a bed! He is coming to church and to the activities we’ve had. He is getting to know the people and excited to be back at church! Don’t you just love the angels put in our paths to help us? I let our lady who provided so much, know how thankful he is and that she is one of those angels!
The 4th brought us to the little college town of Hamilton! We had been invited to join the Hamilton Branch for a pancake breakfast! It was fun to be with them and then go to the parade! The Sisters joined us for part of the parade but they mostly roamed around talking with people! You gotta love Small Town America!
After the parade we wandered around the Village Green that was packed with vendors and wonderful smells from the food trucks. We bought a little handmade Christmas ornament to remind us of Hamilton. And then we headed out but not without a Stewarts ice cream. Have I told you that we don't know what we will do without Stewarts ice cream.
We also saw some pretty great fireworks-right in our own neighborhood. People here must spend thousands of dollars on their fireworks. The police are not really thrilled about that!
Wednesday was our District Council and we have been dissecting the new Preach My Gospel. What wonderful changes have been made to help our missionaries teach more effectively. The Lord is definitely
in charge of His work and we are so blessed with Prophets who lead us in the right direction. We said goodbye to our cute Hamilton Sisters. We had found out the day before that they were both being ET'd which is emergency transferred. There was a Sister in the mission who needed to go home and so President had to move Sisters around and we lost Hamilton. We are pretty sad about that. We love those Sisters.
Thursday was mixed with Book of Mormon preparation and birthday phone calls to home. We love our Thursdays but when we have a chance to talk with family it's even better. We taught Alma 40 this week and it was a great lesson about death and resurrection. Many of our members and new converts don't really know what happens to our spirits between death and resurrection so it was a great discussion from Alma, a great teacher.
We took Friday as our P-Day because we had wanted to go to Oswego to visit Fort Ontario-a historic Fort from the French and Indian War and the War of 1812- but it is closed on Monday and Tuesday. We drove in a whole lot of rain up to Oswego. We have never been there before! It is such a beautiful city. We went to lunch first at Rudy's On The Lake-it's a diner that is packed all the time. They have picnic tables set up right on Lake Ontario. It was awesome. We had a burger and a chicken sandwich that we shared and we bought Poutine. Poutine is a Canadian dish of French fries, cheese and brown gravy. It is pretty tasty.
After lunch, we headed to the Fort! It is a star shaped fort with high embankments all around. It overlooks Lake Ontario and was a protection from the lake and from land!
One of my favorite things to see is the lighthouse that is right below the fort! I guess lighthouses are another thing I have decided that I love. There are several that sit along the coast of Lake Ontario. I guess seeing and photographing those will be for another P-Day!
That evening we had dinner with the Morgan's and the Joneses and then had games at the Joneses home. We got a text from our Sisters asking for a blessing, and I had agreed to make 60 rolls for pulled pork for Saturday evening. We ran home, stirred up a double batch of French bread for rolls-at 9:00 p.m., had the Sisters come, finished the rolls at 12:30 and fell into bed.
On Saturday, we were up early to take our new convert, Gail, to the temple for baptisms. It was such a fun day with her. She is enthralled with everything about the church. It is the first time I have been in a baptismal font since I was a youth and the first time Mike has ever been baptized for those on the other side of the veil. It was a wonderful experience.
Saturday evening was a "going away" party for our Bishop and his family who are moving to Utah. This was why I did the rolls. I had a crock pot filled with pulled pork and the rolls were a complete hit. There were some people that had three or four rolls- some even with the pork on them. It was a great party. We will miss the Valdez family. I ran home after the party to start on my lesson for Relief Society the next morning. I had read through the lesson several times, and I even had in my head how I wanted to approach the lesson-but I still had put it all together. I know! Why wait until the last minute. But I do have to admit-the lesson turned out great. We had a ton of participation-just like I like it. What a crazy busy week! It was awesome! We hope you are all doing great. We love you! Thank you for your prayers and support. It is much appreciated.
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