May 22, 2016

Our week began with our normal weekly meeting and then exploded into craziness!  We had Zone conferences in Canandaigua, Batavia, and Westfall (West Rochester).  Each day began at 8:30 with car checks and then the meetings began.  We each had about 20—25 minutes after lunch and Elder Merrill talked about intersection safety and I talked about the Family and the Temple.  We have a new pamphlet from the church for lesson 5 and this pamphlet is really great.  I thought about how to introduce the pamphlet to them and got the idea of copying all the pictures from the pamphlet and having them explain each one for 1.5 -2 minutes and see how close they came to what the pamphlet said.  It was amazing!  They came up with such great explanations for why the family is important and what the temple can do for us.  It was especially great when one of the elders got up to explain what happens in the sealing room of the temple.  He explained that as a child he was taken to one of the temples and to a sealing room just like the one on the picture and was sealed to his adopted parents and other brothers and sisters.  He said that it was so wonderful to be wanted and loved by a good family.  He is an Indian and the family is white.  He loves them so much!  Each day there were stories about families that were really touching.

Sister Francis gave a talk that I really liked and I took a few notes.  I am going to try to condense her talk into a few suggestions for a good life with an attached scripture references:

1. Be obedient.  Don’t do dumb things!  Jacob 6:12
2. Study and learn continuously, lean on the scriptures.  D&C 130: 18-19
3. Believe in yourself, we are all God’s children.  Proverbs 23:7
4. Be worthy, be strong, keep your testimony and be worthy of a Temple recommend.  D&C 38:30
5. Learn to love work, work brings success!  Galatians 6:7
6. Serve others, forget yourself.  Be positive!
7. Be grateful, recognize His hand.
8. Have faith!  Alma 32:21
9. Pray often, talk with the Lord!  Alma 37:37
10. Love one another!  John 13:34  Be open to new ideas, have patience.
11. See miracles—look closely for tender mercies!  Anyone can find dirt, find gold!
12. Follow the Savior, learn, talk, show!  He Lives!  2 Nephi 25:26

It’s hard to believe that this is our last Zone conference.  President Francis had us bare our testimonies in Batavia (which is our Zone).  We still have 8 weeks left, but we will be done with conferences next Thursday.  We are going to Buffalo twice next week and Palmyra once for 3 more conferences. One of the sister missionaries bore her testimony and it was sad because she said that she is from Thailand and some of her friends are serving there and they have several baptisms each week.  She hasn’t had one and will be leaving June 21.  I think that she has learned a lot!  We are planting seeds here, but there isn’t much fruit yet.  The people are so warm and welcoming, but they are so complacent and happy with what they have.  If they only knew what more they could learn and know.  Saying Goodbye to missionaries we have worked with is hard!

Sister Merrill, Elder Peters, Elder Stokes, Elder Merrill

Elder Housghton, Elder & Sister Merrill (grandson of Jerry Browning)

Took Elder Gibby (from Meridian) and his companion Elder Gubler to dinner after Zone Conference

We celebrated Elder Merrill’s birthday yesterday.  We went to a few yard sales (they were a bust) and then had a nice lunch at Longhorn Steakhouse.  It has nice meals, and is much quieter than Texas Roadhouse.  We had a great day and he received many calls and birthday wishes.  Thank you!  

We had a funny thing happen in church.  The counselor conducting announced that the intermediate hymn would be “Now let us Retire” (not Now Let us Rejoice)  I looked at Dennis and said, “did he say let us retire?”  He giggled and said, ‘yes’.  The high council man visiting our ward got up and made a few wise cracks about all of us retiring; either from work or going to sleep.  Our sweet counselor didn’t flinch one bit.  He is very hard of hearing and doesn’t hear what is being said.  Anyway, it was a funny!

After church we drove out to Albion (on the edge of the earth) and made a home teaching visit.  We stopped at the Mt. Albion cemetery and took some pictures.  It is huge and so beautiful.  I’m sure the pictures won’t do it justice, but it is very lovely!

We are very proud of Sara and Brad!  They won Best of State (Utah) for Vacation Rentals for their Paradise Village in St. George.  It has turned out to be so beautiful and such a nice place for a vacation!  They were honored last Wednesday night at the Salt Palace.  Good job!

This is what 67 looks like!  

May 15, 2016

We began our week on Monday by taking the local young sisters (myself and Sister Spencer) out to lunch.  We then took them to visit the Brigham Young baptismal spot and other things in Mendon that couple of hours with them.  However, on the way to our home they mentioned that they both had very itchy scalps and that they were worried that they had lice.  EIICKK!  Just the mention of lice, makes me itch!  We talked about the scenarios accompanying lice and them transferring.  We were able to get the mission nurse to look at their heads and she felt that they only had very dry scalps.  Thank heavens!  Everyone thinks that we have lots of humidity, but it is very dry to me.  Lotion is a must!

We prepared meals for the outgoing missionaries and the incoming ones on Monday and Tuesday evenings.  I had asked Elder Longhurst what he wanted to eat for his last meal at the mission home and he asked for Chicken Waikiki. We will really miss that Elder!  I made it for both nights and only the President’s family had to have it twice.  He said he didn’t mind.  We had 9 missionaries leave and 9 come in the same day.  It is such a blessing to get these new missionaries.  It’s funny to see their pictures on our mission program (IMOS) and then see them in person.  One of the elders looked like a regular sized 18 year old and he is a very big 6’ 4” man.  It really is surprising!  I asked him if he felt he had quit growing or not and he said he sure hoped not.  He wants to get taller.

We had Sister McConkie, 1^st counselor in the Young Women’s General Presidency, come to the church where the mission office is on Friday and deliver a talk to all the sisters that could congregate for a 2 hour meeting at 10:00 in the morning.  She and others from the Presidency are visiting the northeast and did stopped over for our meeting and then went onto Boston and other places.  She talked with our area 70, S. Marc Clay, they did a great job.  She talked about the word REMEMBER  and how we need to remember the covenants we’ve made and the blessings we have been given.  We need to remember our legacy, endowment, and the gift of our inheritance.  She quoted President Uckdorft as saying that ‘no life is so shattered that it cannot be restored.’  Remembrance brings gratitude.  She also talked about those that are dammed.  She talked about how a dam that holds back water is like the dammed mentioned in the scriptures; those that are dammed cannot move forward but are kept from progressing.

Sister Merrill, Sister McConkie, Sister Spencer

Before the meeting began I spoke with President Francis about training someone for our callings and he said that he hadn’t seen the application for the new people that would be coming to the office.  We wondered how they might be trained as their arrival date is July 15.  (which is a Friday) The 16^th and 17^th is a weekend and we are leaving on the afternoon of the 18^th.  That doesn’t allow much time.  After the meeting with Sister McConkie I looked at my email and I had a nice letter from the Jones’s.  They will be coming and have asked that they drive over from Michigan and then fly to Utah to the MTC and then they could be here a few days earlier.  I couldn’t believe it and President Francis and I felt that so many tender mercies had been given to us.  I said, “all I had to do was ask, and I was answered by email.”  That was so wonderful!  I’m not sure who will do what jobs in the office, but now the President can make a decision and we can prepare.  I have been working on a manual for what I do. 

We went to Seneca Lake yesterday for a service project of tree planting.  They planted over 2,000 trees last year and wanted to plant about that many yesterday.  The Spencer’s came with us and we were asked to be the leaders for our group of volunteers from 6 stakes.  We were given an area to plant and about 60 trees.  Well, we decided to just start and it was a good thing, because we didn’t get anyone to come help us.  I don’t know who didn’t get the memo out to everyone, but we were the only 4 from the Rochester Stake to participate.  Oh, well—it was a nice day and we were outside in a beautiful place!  In about 20 years someone may like what we did there yesterday.

We came home and cleaned up and made chicken noodle soup and went to Batavia for the memorial service for Sister Pierce.  It was very well attended and was a nice celebration of her life.  She was 59.  She had suffered so much that her family was at peace with her passing.  We had so much food left over last night that we served it for munch and mingle at noon today. 

It is nice and getting greener every day here.  We had a few snow flurries as we were driving into Batavia this morning, but they didn’t amount to anything.  We are happy and busy.  It is such a blessing to see the hand of the Lord in so many things here.  He really does love each and every one.  He wants to have us back again.  We talked in Sunday School about having faith in Christ.  I thought about it quite a bit and thought how we had to have faith in Him in the pre-existence.  He had to know that he would carry out the plan and that we would be able to return to Heavenly Father because of his gift for us.  We had to KNOW that he would do that for us!  Because of that faith then, I have additional faith now.  He can do all things!  I am so grateful for Him and love Him so much!

We had supper at the Spencer’s tonight and they invited Elder Spencer’s cousin, who is serving in the Temple here.  He brought a new video call ‘Infinite Gift’.  It was very moving!  It really drove home what He does for each of us. 

Happy birthday this Saturday to my wonderful sweetheart, Dennis Merrill!  I love that guy!

May 8, 2016

Spring is officially here!  The weather is nice and trees are getting their leaves.  When I was getting ready for church this morning I asked Elder Merrill what the temperature was outside.  He looked at his phone (of course that is the best way to know what the temperature is) and told me that it was 70 degrees.  Then he said it would be 48 by 5:00 p.m.  That seemed odd and I questioned his findings.  Then he said, “I’m not sure where it will be 70, but it isn’t 70 here at this time.”  I had already began putting on spring clothes, and so it became a spring day.  It is nice outside!

We visited 'Highfalls' last week.  Here is a picture

We had our sacrament meeting/mother’s day program today.  The 2^nd counselor in the branch presidency is very hard of hearing and had forgotten that it was Mother’s day.  He had asked his wife to talk with him and their subject was forgiveness.  When he got up to speak had began by explaining that the battery for his hearing aid on the ear that he could hear out of had died and that he hadn’t heard anything his wife had said and that he hoped that he didn’t repeat anything she had talked about.  He is a very nice man.

Our Branch President asked me last week if I would help his wife at the Temple on Friday night.  I had thanked him for the opportunity to help them.  She loved going to the Temple and he was going to get a room at the Palmyra Inn (close to the Temple) so it didn’t wear her out.  We went to the Temple, but they didn’t show up.  After we got home I looked on Facebook and found out that she had passed away on Thursday night.  We took some things over to their home after church to make sandwiches, etc. 

We will be sending home 10 missionaries on Tuesday and receiving 9.  I asked Elder Longhurst what he would like for his ‘last supper’ at the mission home.  He asked for Chicken Waikiki (Sweet and sour) and so we are making it for Monday and Tuesday night.  Dennis is getting the chicken ready to fry.  He thinks that he needs a slicer next. 

We went to a few yard sales yesterday and I thought they were a bust.  Then we went to one that had a bunch of fabric and the man was telling me that his mother had passed away and that she loved to sew.  I saw a container that had a few sewing notions in it and saw a rotary cutter.  I asked him how much he needed for the entire container.  He said $3.00 and I told him I would give him $5.00.  I picked it up and he began putting other stuff into the container to bring it up to $3.00.  There were 3 rotary cutters (all different sizes) a pair of Ginger scissors, and other great items.  I didn’t feel good about $5 and gave him $10.  What a bargain!  Sister Spencer had a ball and got quite a few things too!  

Happy Birthday to Janet Stucki,and Jill Harris this week!  Happy Mother's day to our dear mothers and the wonderful mothers to our grandchildren.  We love you all so much!

Britton's birthday and baptismal day--congratulations!

May 4, 2016

We had a great week.  We went out with our home teaching family, the Long’s, on Tuesday night and ate in Greece at their favorite restaurant.  We had a good time. 

We drove over to Buffalo after work on Wednesday and picked up Ray and Myrlann Clement.  We had a great week with them.  We went to the Sacred Grove, the Hill Cumorah, Brigham Young’s baptism site, the Tomlinson Inn and cemetery, the Grandin Press, the Temple,  the Whitmer farm, Seneca Lake Camp, Sauders, the Windmill at Penn Yan,  the beach at Lake Ontario, Niagara Falls, Lamb Dairy, Batavia church, and many other little side trips during the day.   The trees are just beginning to put on leaves, so we kept trying to explain how beautiful it is here with all the foliage and verdant green.  We enjoyed every minute of their visit and were really sad to see them leave yesterday. (May 3^rd; they stayed in Buffalo to catch the plane on Wednesday morning) 

Sister Merrill, Myrlann & Ray Clement at the Sacred Grove

The Sacred Grove with the Temple Spire showing through the tops of the trees

The Sacred Grove

The Merrill's and Clement's in front of the Mission Office

Ray & Mrylann Clement, President & Sister Francis, Sister & Elder Merrill

Myrlann and Ray at the Hill Cumorah

Eating at Nima's in Palmyra

We had some interesting calls from missionaries while they were here and we had a few laughs.  One set of sisters called and said that their car tire was hissing, then said, “never mind, it quit.”  Elder Merrill called them the next morning, expecting to hear that they had a flat tire, but they said it was fine.  By evening they had a flat tire and so Elder Merrill asked the nearby elders to go by and change it for them.  (however, I think the girls probably could have changed it themselves—but the young elders did have trouble getting it pried off the wheel—RUST)

We are getting ready for MLC*, transfers, and Zone conferences in the next 2 weeks.  It should be really busy!  Elder Merrill and I both have training segments at the Zone conferences.  There will be 6 days of conference and so we will be ready for the end (May 26)  We will be driving all over the mission for the conferences. 

It appears that our replacements will arrive on July 15^th.  I am a little concerned about training them because the 15^th is a Friday and we will be leaving on the evening of the 18^th.  I guess I will try to have a very descriptive manual made for whoever takes my places.  We are going to fly to New York City and meet Chris, Cindy, Tessa, and Summer.  We will stay there until the morning of the 22^nd and fly back to Rochester and begin the long drive home.  We will put our belongings in a trailer so we will have room in the car for 6.  It sounds like an adventure.  This trip will be Summer’s graduation gift and I think we will have a very good time.  Chris wants to take Tessa to Lion King in NYC and see the other sites.  (a few of them)  We are hoping to be able to stop in Kirtland and Nauvoo for a few hours and see a few things on the way home.

On the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls 

We saw this tom turkey with about 6 hens on the way to Lake Ontario

The Clement's and Merrill's at the Whitmer Farm in Fayette, New York

Blessing:  Having friends and family members that we love so much and feel of their love.  What would we do without the support of others that care so much!  We are blessed! 

Happy birthday Britton!  We love you!

*MLC-mission leadership council              

April 26, 2016

The week went by so quickly and now I have to think hard to remember what we did last week.  On Monday we took a drive over to Webster after work and ate at a Mexican restaurant that we had tried before and liked.  We ordered the ‘Hungry man platter’ (which they said had one of everything on it; but I thought of things that were missing; tamales, fajitas, etc.).  Elder Merrill and I shared it, and it was alright.  The Mexican food we have in Idaho is SOO much better; real Tex-Mex. 

We were busy last week taking and receiving cars and I was able to help again.  Elder Merrill has 7 cars for sale at this time and now the church has decided to have a trial period for a company that offers to take care of the sale of the vehicles.  People have to bid on them online and then they take care of the paperwork for the sale.  I don’t know if this will be better or not.  I know that Elder Merrill didn’t have trouble selling the cars and people are anxious to get them because they are in good condition and the price is right. 

We had our ‘MLS retreat’ last Friday and Saturday at the Seneca camp.  We had good meetings, food, and friends.  Who could ask for more?  One of the Sisters told of teaching on the reservation (yes, we have an Indian reservation here) and trying to get the attention of the husband.  She showed them the picture of the tree of life and how there were people eating and enjoying themselves around the tree, those in the filthy water, those holding onto the rod, those letting go of the rod, and those in the great and spacious building that were mocking and scorning.  She explained all of these people and asked that they take a good look at the picture.  Then she asked, ‘Where are you?’  The husband was riveted to the picture and very interested after that.  He asked them to please come back 4 times. 

We were asked to say something at the end as it was our last retreat of our mission.  I confessed that I had been a poor member missionary at home and didn’t seek opportunities of time to share the gospel to people around us.  I also mentioned that one of the top things I had learned on my mission is the importance of home teaching and visiting teaching.  I didn’t have that testimony or felt that importance at home.  I always did my teaching, but I didn’t feel the need for visits or making visits.  Here in New York they are so vital.  They can change people’s lives and bring them back to church.  It does make a difference for someone to care and that is our charge.  If we had members that were committed to those 2 programs of the church, Batavia would be a ward. 

We went to the Grandin Print Shop last night and they had a special open house/tour.  They dressed up in period clothing and gave abbreviated narrative of what had happened there at the shop.  I love that place and it was fun to see the missionaries dressed up.

The lady we pick up every Sunday for church will be moving this week and will live out of town on the other side of Batavia.  She has a friend that lives out that way and she is counting on her picking her up for church.  I hope it works out for her.  She is a long way out of town to be able to shop for groceries or anything else.  She doesn’t have a car and will be at the mercy of other people.  I know her friend will be happy to take her to church, but she still works and has just remarried and her new husband is planning to travel as soon as she retires.  I think she is planning on retiring this summer.  I worry about how she will get to church because there aren’t many willing to give rides. 

Our friends, the Dieu’s, are leaving this week and they will really be missed.  They have been living in Warsaw and have made many friends and helped bring several back to church and helped them get to the Temple.  They are leaving early because of a family problem and they felt sad to leave, but had no choice.

One thing has really bothered me here (and everywhere); the taking of the Lord's name in vain.  So many people don't realize that they even do it.  We are told not to do this in the 10 commandments and in the Temple we commit not to do this.  But--even in our church buildings I have heard it and it has made me cringe.  I know I need to bring this to their attention, but I really don't want to offend them.  It is a life-style word that has become WAY too common on television and it makes me sad!

We have been reading an awesome book.  It is called 'The Power of Everyday Missionaries'.  It is so good and has helped me realize how much more we should be doing.  Our stake president has a mission plan of having the members do the finding for the missionaries.  I believe that he has a great idea.  If the members find others for the missionaries to teach and are involved with the process the convert will have someone to help them fit in and continue on the path.  Our new stake president is really a neat guy, Pres. Howell, and he grew up in Logan.  He is pretty young and is a professor.

Happy Birthday this week to Hayden Merrill and Cindy Merrill!  We love you both so much!

April 17, 2016

Another week gone!  We have 13 weeks left, but who’s counting? The weather is getting warmer and the trees and bushes are starting to have a hint of green.  It’s SPRING!
We made the ice cream and it was GREAT!

  

We had a good week in the office and were able to deliver all of the new cars to the missionaries and take care of what we needed to do at the office.  On Thursday we drove over to Buffalo and exchanged cars with 2 sets of missionaries.  We each drove a car back to Pittsford.  I am getting more comfortable driving here (as long as I have Elder Merrill in sight).

We went to Dansville and Bath with cars yesterday (Saturday) and went a little further and went to the Corning Glass Museum.  It was a nice day and we enjoyed it!  

Glass replica of the Liberty Bell

Small depiction of the glass factory at work

Glass evening gown, reminds me of Cinderella

We talked to a lady in Dansville that said she was anxious to go camping.  She said that she goes about 12 miles from her home and camps.  It’s weird to think about going camping here—because all of trees and area make you feel that you are already out in nature and camping.

We had high council Sunday today and we also had munch and mingle afterward.  We had a baptism following munch and mingle and so the day was longer than usual, by 2 hours.  The high council member that spoke had to release himself before his talk.  It was unique!  His talk was odd and the first time that I have heard ‘Brokeback Mountain’ quoted in a talk.  He did have good points in his talk, but there were a few things that made me cringe a little.

We went to a missionary fireside tonight at the Palmyra Stake Center.  John Ward, a recent convert, spoke of his conversion and the things he has gone through in his life.  He is lucky to be alive and is trying to do what he needs to do to have an eternal family.  His wife passed away when his youngest child was 5.  She had cancer and had to endure many things.

I have been reading a book that records the missionary efforts of George Cannon to Hawaii.  There were so many people there that listened to the missionaries and were baptized.  It seems that we have some success here, but not that many people compared to the percentage of people that live here.
We were asked this morning to pick up an investigator for church.  The young missionaries can’t take people in their cars.  We take Sister Guy with us each week to church and the Elders said to pick up ‘a sister’.  Well, we had Sister Guy and the investigator came out with 2 little girls and 2 car seats.  She was a good sport and we set up one seat and put the other in back and she held the older child.  On the way home we took her without Sister Guy and set up both car seats.  This is a case of needing more information.

We are excited to have Ray and Myrlann Clement come see us the end of this month.  We are looking forward to their visit and showing them the sites here.  Each time we see the sites with someone it helps our own testimonies.

Blessing:  having a strong enough testimony that I am not easily offended and can come to church without a grudge or disdain for someone else.  That is a huge blessing!  People are NOT perfect, but some think that members of the church should be and are disappointed when they find out that they are not.  Everyone needs to grow and progress!

Another season at the Sacred Grove

Greg and Jackie, Happy anniversary April 17^th!

April 10, 2016

Last week was totally exhausting!  We had our office meeting on Monday and then Elder Merrill and I took a new car to the Elders in Buffalo.  The weather was a little stormy but the roads were clear and I followed Elder Merrill without any problem.  We met the Aldrich’s after the car trade off and had a burger.  It was good to visit with them for a short time.

We had ‘specialized training’ on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the Whitmer farm in Fayette. (the 5th, 6th, and 7th of April) The days were special to us because Grandma Ranae Merrill's birthday is April 6th.  She was born on the 100th birthday of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints.   It is about an hour drive from our home and we had to leave early each morning and prepare for the day.  Elder Merrill had a car and bicycle safety training and Sister Spencer and I had cooking classes.  We had 4 classes each day.  We made brownies, éclair dessert, and pasta salad each day to go with our lunch.  One of the missionaries came by the class and said, “Wow, Sister Merrill and Sister Spencer, you are so organized!”  We laughed hard! (we didn’t feel organized)

The meals turned out great and so did the salad and desserts.  We had plenty of food.  We made meatball sandwiches on Tuesday and Wednesday and pulled pork sandwiches on Thursday.  On Friday we went into work and worked hard all day to catch up on what we had missed during the week.  We went to the Temple on Friday night and got a sandwich after.

Tire changing for the class

Elder Leon, Elder Longhurst, Sister Graham, Sister Tucker

Saturday morning the Aldrich’s came for breakfast and then we went to the Brigham Young baptismal site, the Tomlinson Inn, the Tomlinson Cemetery, the Bishop’s storehouse, the Martin Harris home, the Chill n Grill (for ice cream of course—we shared one kiddie cone between the 4 of us and it was just right) and then we went to Seneca camp, the Whitmer farm, and Sauder’s.  We always find unique things to buy at Sauder’s (the Mennonite store).  We had a great time with the Aldrich’s.

Elder Aldrich, Elder Merrill, Sister Aldrich on the lawn by the barn at the John Young home

Sister Aldrich, Elder Aldrich, Sister Merrill 

Today Elder Merrill talked in Sacrament meeting.  His topic was being a disciple of Christ.  He did a good job even though he didn’t have much time to prepare. We were invited over to lunch at the Lehman’s and they made chicken and vegetables over rice.  It was really good and we always have good gospel discussions at their home.  Brother Lehman is a deep thinker and reads a lot.  We discussed how much the Lord helped Joseph (sold into Egypt) and how it seems that the Lord blessed him so much because he was so obedient and faithful.  We began bringing up others that had prospered because of obedience.

Sister Grefrath was sad at church today because he 58 year old nephew had committed suicide last week.  He was a quiet man and had tried hard to find happiness.  I told her that no one knows the state of someone’s mind when they decide that is the only way they can have peace. 

We went to Highland Hospital after dinner to see Susan (a sister we home teach).  She has been to the hospital many times in the 15 months we have been here.  She now has staff infection on her bones of her leg and they are seriously talking about amputation above the knee.  I think that she is about 37 or so and I really hate to see that happen, but she is resigned to the fact that she won’t recover without have it removed.  She blames her problems on the fact that she wasn’t able to get help in a timely manner because she was on Medicaid/Medicare and they wouldn’t admit her after her accident and treat her for over 6 months.  I think that she has a valid complaint.  We had the Assistants to the President meet us and Elder Merrill gave her a blessing with their help.  

We saw this group (above) out jousting with nerf swords and having mid evil  games.  The Assistants said they were doing a LARP or larping (who knows??)  We stopped and watched, it was funny!