Hi Everybody,
So
the only redeeming thing about this last week's weather is that just 5
minutes ago the sun came out for about 10 minutes before it went behind
our "mountains/hills." We're officially tired of snow, cold, road salt,
wind, boots, winter coats and gloves, etc. etc.etc.!! But we're also
officially grateful for boots, winter coats, gloves, a warm car and road
salt that keep the roads passable, and a warm house....even if we have
to crank up the furnace to 80 degrees to keep it at 70 degrees. And the
snow on all these tons of trees we have is beautiful. The other
morning when we were driving to zone training meeting, every tree and
bush was covered with a coating of frost and it was amazing. It was
just too dang cold to get out and take a photograph! This morning as we
were driving to the Trumansburg Branch to speak, our car thermometer
said -2 degrees and the weatherman said with the 30 mph winds, the
actual temperature was -27 degrees.
Cold
weather outside, warm hearts inside! We got to Trumansburg, and
missionaries and members were out shoveling 3 or even 4 foot drifts that
had covered the sidewalks. Then we went in and there was a table full
of wonderful valentines treats that some sisters of the branch had made
for the after-meeting Linger Longer. There was beautiful music playing
and as part of the service, they gave an update on members that were
sick and afflicted and a beautiful opening prayer was given in their
behalf. They treat us as though we were important people, and we
reassure them that we're as ordinary as anybody else and that we love to
be with them. It's true! There's something about these little
branches that rejuvenates our spirits and refreshes our faith. Since
the wind was howling and the snow blowing in the parking lot, the Branch
President decided to send all home after Sacrament Meeting and yet they
all stayed for a half hour or so to "linger longer" and make plans to
check on neighbors and friends and branch members who might need
assistance. And Dad/Grandpa gave his boots to one of the Elders who is
here waiting for his visa to come and doesn't have anything to wear in
this weather besides sneakers and Sunday shoes.
It's
winter break here in Ithaca besides being President's Weekend. We
don't actually get a break because not many students leave for this
break and school is only out for a couple of days....and some of our
students who were leaving had to change plans because of the weather and
difficulty of getting anywhere, especially on the east coast. And
we're also officially glad we don't live in New England, specifically
Boston. We have a couple of feet or three of snow but it could be
worse. When we see pics on Facebook of flowers blooming in Utah and
Idaho, we realize that some day Spring will come here too.
But
it was a very, very busy week. We had a good zone leader training
meeting and a great message of encouragement from President Wirthlin.
Our new mission president will have BIG shoes to fill in July. One of
the best parts of the whole meeting was listening to the Elders and
Sisters sing the closing song with great gusto. It was "In Our Lovely
Deseret" and we don't think they'd ever sung it before. If you go read
the words to all the verses, you'll know why they had so much fun
singing it, and why we and the Wirthlins, who were the only people over
25 years old there, got lumps in our throats as we sang about our
"multitude of children all around."
We
didn't expect large groups at either of our Institutes because of the
weather, but they still came in normal numbers...maybe it's the hot
chocolate we bring! Friday Forum still had 36 hungry students there.
Speaking of food.....we prepared a breakfast for Angela and some of her
friends as she was leaving the next morning to move to Salt Lake. She's
a bit nervous about this new step in her life but has strong faith and
is so excited to be so close to so many temples. If we're repeating
ourselves, forgive us....but she is our newest member here and is an
amazing young woman with such strong dedication to Gospel Principles.
Her husband helped drive her out but then he's coming back
here....there's much to work on in their relationship, and we pray for
whatever needs to happen that's good for Angela So back to the food.
We discovered a knock-off Kneaders french toast with homemade caramel
syrup and whipped cream and strawberries recipe and it REALLY was good.
I may cook once when we get home (despite my resolution to never cook
again the rest of my life) and make Kneaders french toast!
So
for Valentines Day we did our regular Red Cross blood donation on
Saturday , went to dinner at Applebees, and while watching a movie, we
ate the Hersheys Kisses off the tops of half a dozen cupcakes we
overturned (in their container) in the car on the way to FF lunch. What
a good excuse to just eat the top of a cupcake! A good end to a good
week! We put in lots of long hours this week with "stuff" that really
mattered and studied much the last 4 chapters of 3rd Nephi for our
Institutes and learned so much about the Doctrine of Christ. And
besides that we loved and appreciated more than ever chapter 27: 27. It
ends with a great question: "What manner of men (and women) ought ye
to be?' The answer is the answer to all the times we wonder if we're
doing what we should be doing or if we're working hard enough and being
good missionaries. The answer: "Even as I am." That's a good plan to
follow!
Well,
when we write to you all next week, we hope to tell you that we've had a
February thaw and that all our snow has melted. HAH! We love you all
so much and pray for you all diligently and often because when you're
missionaries, you find yourselves praying multiple times a day. And we
hope you don't get too accustomed to spring because the other shoe's
going to drop one of these days!
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