Hi Everybody....
Literally (talking about the subject line of
this e-mail)! We just got back a little while ago from a "Sunday walk
(does that sound like an old person thing?)" at a beautiful park on the
shores of Cayuga Lake which is the name of our lake I think. Of course
we left our phones, camera etc. in the car so no pictures. So we got
home about 7:30 and it was still 85 degrees. Lest you think spring has
sprung, on Wednesday the high is supposed to be 36 degrees. Ugh!!
Again
can we say how fast the time is flying by....another week gone and
we're trying to keep journals because we can't remember what we did on
what day! Here's some highlights: On Wednesday we had our first
meeting with the Chaplains at Cornell and they were so kind to us (and
they have the best breakfast goodies to eat while we solve the problems
of the world!). We REALLY want to be involved in some of the things
they're doing and are going next week to a special seminar by a
world-renowned religious person about something (sorry....I'm to lazy to
go find my binder to tell you his name and what he's talking about).
Will report on that next week. This week is Passover and the Jewish
community has a strong presence here at Cornell. We taught at Owego
again. For some reason this has been one of my favorite parts of the
mission so far.....they are such faithful people. We're going to search
to boost our numbers there. When we teach at Cornell, we have to
remember that "where one or two (or a few more) are gathered together in
my name, there will I be also." There's MUCHO work to be done here in
finding the lost and we fully plan on wearing ourselves out in the
work. But they definately come for food!! Friday forum is is when they
come together in this beautiful "founders room" in Anabel Taylor Hall
and eat lunch that we prepare and have a discussion. It almost seems
sacreligious to be eating enchiladas in such an old, historic room! And
WE passed the taste test!! I say "we" because Dad shopped and cooked
just like me! I need to take a picture of him in his apron. I need to
take a lot of pictures don't I! They ate everything we brought and you
know how I tend to overdo on amounts. While shopping for groceries for
Friday Forum, we were checking out and our checkout person was one of
the "lost" who recognized our tags and told us she was a less active
YSA. She wanted to talk even though the people in line behind us
glared. We'll work on her. What are the chances of choosing a checkout
lane of about 10 staffed lanes that had "one of ours" in it! Our
Chinese family came to a ward activity "Ithaca's Got Talent" last
night.....a ward talent show that they invited us in the branch to come
to. They loved it! Today was normal Sunday meetings.....the branch was
about twice the size it usually is because there was a baby blessing
and at least 2 rows of family members from all parts of Utah were there
for the blessing. We were able to bring the downtown Elders and a mom
and her son they're teaching to Sac. Mtg. and they felt the Spirit
strongly. And they're both from Mexico and Isaac speaks English without
even an accent but his mom, Marta, who speaks English well, was excited
to talk to Dad in Spanish. We went with the Sister Missionaries to our
Chinese family today who said they don't want to talk about religion
but they want to do service if the Church ever needs it and they invited
the 4 of us to an authentic Chinese dinner this coming Saturday.
Pretty soon they will realize that true "religion" is what they're
practicing. They love the Church building. As we sat in meetings today
and throughout the week, we feel strongly that this area is on the edge
of doing some pretty important things in making the Gospel a part of
peoples' lives and we'll be blessed to be part of it. There are some
really impressive Saints here!!
On the lighter side.....
1. We've now accepted the fact that you can have ice water with ice cubes from a tray and not the door on the fridge.
2.
Thrift store stuff is just as decorative as anywhere else. Oh ...and
the last "before and after" picture of our house that Dad sent was a
before....not an after. We've got our little humble abode looking
pretty good now....and our memory foam bed that was here when we got
here is awesome!
3. When it rains here it ruins our $200 detailing job on the car.....oh well. What's a little mud!
4. If you don't feed pet squirrels they go away. Haven't seen our squirrel for a few days. Miss him/her!
5.
There's LOTS of really old Church books in our office at Cornell. They
must have been in the office for 50 some odd years. We need to find
somewhere to read about the history of institute at Cornell. Some of
them might even be collector's items.
6..Everywhere we walk is uphill
both ways....especially on the Cornell campus. The campus is
absolutely wonderful. It's huge and right in the middle of it is
something called Cornell Plantation which is acres of gardens and ponds
and waterfalls and trails with every plant and tree imaginable. It is a
beautiful place and people tell us that it's beyond beautiful when the
flowers bloom. Speaking of waterfalls, they are all over the place and
one of the most impressive is right in the middle of campus. I will
take a picture of that one but we'll wait until the trees get green.
Well........enough
stuff for us to write for one night and way more than you ever wanted
to read. We miss and love you all. We know we're where we're supposed
to be! Our hearts are sad to not be home for Mary's mother's funeral
and are devastated at Coach Stoke's tragic accidental drowning. How
grateful we were were to be able to celebrate that last hurrah with him
and Betty and the basketball team of 1964 in Boise just a week before
we came here. The Plan of Salvation gives us all much peace and
comfort!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO Mom and Dad/Grandpa and Grandma/Elder and Sister Jolley
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