May 27-30, 2016

It has been a very nice last few days.  We have spent the 27, 28 ,29 at Palmyra with a Northeast Area YSA conference called "Gathering in the Grove."  We had 6 from our area attend.  We spent a lot of our time preparing and serving meals to over 250 Young Single Adults.  The Keynote speaker was the original rugby coach that was portrayed in the DVD "Standing Strong".  He was also a Mission President and a very good speaker. 
Everyone seemed to have had a lot of fun and were given Testimony building opportunities.  We would start at 6:00 am and get back to the Motel at 11:30 pm.  It was busy, lots of work and just awesomely wonderful.  This was our second time helping at the "Gathering".

Today 30 May we took one sister, who has been here awaiting her visa to Australia, to the airport for her 37 hour flight.  We also picked up a sister missionary from Brazil who is serving a Temple Square Mission and she will be here for two transfers.

Elder Brown taught over 160 visitors in 6 hours while we were at Alvin Smith's grave site in Palmyra.   Sister Brown helped and stamped their papers.  It was a great activity.  We had 50 or more come to see the grave site that were not participants.
 The Grave Site is really a sacred place and it was humbling to know that the Smith family had been where we were when they buried and mourned the death of their oldest son.  How grateful they were when Joseph received the revelation in section 137 of the D & C that Alvin was saved and that they would see him again.  This Gospel is wonderful and answers so many questions that so many only wonder about.

One of the groups that came through was our institute class from Fort Drum.  Two were the Anderson sisters, Victor a soldier and  recent convert, Jared a soldier and a member, Amy a doctor on  Ft. Drum a recent convert and one young non member soldier.

Speed dating opportunity at "The Gathering"  They seemed to really enjoy this activity.

Several of our Stake participants. Some of our soldiers had to leave early. that Sunday Morning.

A small ice cream cone.  The medium cones had a foot of ice cream above the cone.  We did not get to see what a large ice cream cone looked like.  

May 16, 2016 Update

 Here we are at the North Riva Ridge Chapel on Fort Drum.  It is Thursday night Institute.

Teaching--So much fun.  He does such a great job.  You can really feel the Spirit of the Holy Ghost attend our classes.

We took a trip to Palmyra with some of our Institute class.  Most of them are soldiers and had never been to the Sacred Grove, the Printing Press, Hill Cumorah, Alvin's grave and the Temple.  Picture taken from Smith Farm looking towards the Temple.

Mom/Grandma made this landscape from a picture we took.  You can see the Temple from the Joseph Smith Farm.

In the Sacred Grove From left to right
Jordan, Diana, Victor, Abby, Jared (Chris was a way off).  It has been such a thrill to see Testimonies really grow and become stronger.  This Church is truly awesome and it changes lives!

Flowers from Bishop Buettenmuller's garden.  Given to Mom after we spoke in Sacrament Meeting May 15, 2016.  He always has beautiful flowers in his flower gardens.

We spoke with Elder and Sister Jenkins from Payson, AZ.  They will be taking our place in July.  They sound like a great couple and they are very excited to be coming to Ft Drum Etc.  They sound like really sweet people.