A short note

We met with an inactive couple last week and spent time in their home.  They watched the "Meet the Mormons" video and she came to our "resiliency" class with us.  They have both agreed that they will come to church this Sunday and sit with us.  They have been here for a year but nobody knew they were here until a ward member just happened to meet him on post.  They are from Idaho and will be heading back there in the Spring.  He was injured in Iraq and has lost most of the use of his arm.  Great young couple.

The Reverend has continued to email us and for sure wants us to speak to his Sunday School Class.

The work here is great.
love ya all.

New York Update

About two months ago we were walking in Thompson Park for our morning exercise and we saw a group of older folks doing Tai Chi.  Diane visited with the instructor he said that they meet every Thursday morning and we would be welcome to join them next week.  The next week came and it was raining really hard so no one showed up.  We went again the next Thursday and met Rev Michael Phoenix, the instructor. After spending about 45 minutes with him that day he said he wouldn't be holding any more classes until late Sep and he would send us an email to let us know when.  We got an email yesterday (Sep 14th) stating that the classes would be at the First Presbyterian Church after a luncheon.  Then came the surprise. He said "I would like you and Diane to have the opportunity to present a couple of Sunday morning classes to our adult learners on "Who are the Mormons and What do we believe and Why?" This would be something you might consider to bring about better understanding of each other in the spirit of ecumenism???  Peace and Prayers"

PRAY FOR US   Let us know what you think we should teach.

Fairy and Earth Festivaliiiii

Thompson Park is located near us and that is where we go to walk in the mornings.  We were surprised to see this sign one morning as we went in to the park to walk.

 We were more surprised to see these dancers.

 We were shocked to see a grown man in a skirt supporting  fairy wings while moving to the beat with the dancers.

 This guy with the bat wings visiting with a pirate was another surprise.  Not certain how he gets into his car!!!!!  

 These lovely ladies were prancing around in their fairy costumes and loved getting their picture taken.

 Some of the costumes were very elaborate and must have taken a lot of time to build and it is not even Halloween! 

 There were lots and lots of tents set up.  Some people were selling stuff like food, fairy wings, wooden swords, potions, lotions, hair pieces, some doing palm readings and fortune reading with cards. We have never seen anything like it.  There was also renaissance group in chain mail.  It was quite a collection. 

Pirates enjoying a drink

Here the devil and an angel fairy were having a conversation.  While in the devils tent.

Picture update

Thought we would post a few pictures from the last months activities.

One stormy night we heard a loud crash in the back. A 40 ft branch had broken off  a tree and fell in the neighbors patio.  You can see our cucumber plant, tomato, squash, and lemon tree.

Senior couple outing to Bolt Castle.  It was our turn to host the outing. Pres and Sister Rogers are upper left.

We had lunch at Bishop Buettenmuller's house after touring the castle.

Old grist mill on 100 acre Church owned girls camp at Seneca Lake.  We were chaperons for a over night Stake YSA activity. 

Inside one of the 13 cabins (each sleep 16) on the site.

Nice idea to keep animals out or kids busting through the screen doors.

One of our weekly District Meetings.  We have 3 sets of Elders and 2 sets of Sisters in the District plus us!

We prepare lunch once a month for District Meetings.  Grandma busily mending pants and skirts for the missionaries.

Mom's 1950's portable featherweight that she uses to mend clothes of the missionaries and a few members.

We attended a wedding of our neighbors.  They had been together for a while and finally got married.  This was held at the park where we go to walk.  The preacher was entertaining.

Their daughter.

September Update

Haven't posted anything for a while.  We are doing well and having lots of normal missionary experiences.  We now teach a weekly "Resiliency" class for spouses that have deployed husbands.  A very sweet experience.  Institute starts Thursday night.  Life is good and we are grateful to be here.

Five senior couples leave before the end of the year and only one new one coming in.  Church is in need of 100s of couples.