Week two is history today and now for the quick review. We worked in the mission office on Monday, getting more instruction on our duties. Tuesday through Friday was filled with Zone Conferences. We first held conference for the Rochester Zone at the Westfall church location. Two of us senior couples inspected missionary cars in the parking lot. We started in a light drizzle, but it soon got heavier. Sister Servoss would sit in the car with a checklist of items, while I would check tire pressure, fluids, lights, etc. I tried to hold an umbrella over my shoulder while I checked the oil dip stick. By the time we finished, I had the back of my shirt soaked. Elder Jensen was drenched to the bone. He and his wife soon left so he could change clothes. We helped provide snacks for the missionaries, then assisted with the luncheon (provided by members). In the afternoon we were introduced to the Zone and then had the pleasure of sitting in the class to hear the wonderful, inspired instruction from President Jack R. Christianson.
On Wednesday we went to Canandaigua (can an day gwa) for the Palmyra South Zone Conference. Once again we inspected cars, this time it was sunny. It was so interesting seeing all of the young missionaries. This city is located on the edge of a large lake of the same name. It was about 35 miles southwest of Rochester. This Zone has only one senior couple and 12 young sisters, and 14 Elders. These sisters are half of the sister missionary staff at the Historical Sites. In the evening we returned to our apartment, ate and decided to drive to Lake Ontario, since we knew it was 4 miles away and we had not yet seen it. We arrived at the beach and walked down onto the sand. The sun was about to set and the sky was so amazing. We asked another couple some questions about the lake and soon had become friends. The husband, Don, was born in Palmyra, and knows a little about the LDS Church. His wife is from Dutch ancestors. They did not have a camera, so I took a number of pictures and said that we would share them via email. When we started for the car to get a notebook, they suggested that we just follow them home. Cathy wanted to show us her flower garden. We had a wonderful tour of their beautiful yard and started a nice friendship.
Thursday was the Zone Conference for the Palmyra North Zone. It was held in the large beautiful chapel in Palmyra, near the temple. The church has put extra care and money into this building (and how appropriate due to its location). We helped with the car inspections again, once again in sunny weather. The cars are all new or maybe 3 years old. The Zone Leaders (ZL’s) and Assistants to the President (AP’s) have pick-ups. There is going to be a lot of snow here and they need good vehicles. The other half of the site sisters are in this zone. They all work about 4 days a week at the sites, and then the rest of the time in some neighboring city. Some cousins of ours from California, Robin Moody Harper, husband Jim, and children Amber, and Johnathan met us at the church. Elder Servoss went with them to see the temple and the small visitor’s center at the Sacred Grove. Later we met them back at the Palmyra Inn and chatted.
Friday was the long drive of 75 miles to Buffalo. We had the Buffalo Zone Conference there. We met another senior couple from Salt Lake, the Gibbys. I knew Elder Gibby back when I worked with traffic controllers and he was with the Utah Dept. of Transportation. He and his wife have a handicapped daughter here with them. It is wonderful that they are still able to serve here.
After the conference we decided that Niagara Falls was just too close to miss (about 17 miles). We drove there and had a picnic on a bench near the rapids. We then made the walk across a bridge and over the rapids. They lead to the nearby falls. We were soon viewing the amazing falls of Niagara. The American Falls are first, and plummet to the river far below. From the observation deck we could see the people below, near the base of the falls. They were on the ‘Cave of the Winds’ tour. Kae and I did that a number of years ago. Your admission gives you a yellow rain poncho and a pair of plastic sandals that you wear to keep mostly dry. There is an elevator that takes you to the river’s edge below and then a board walk that takes you near the base of the falls. We next walked over to the larger, Horseshoe falls. We offered to take a picture for a family and soon had a conversation going with the 20 year old son. He walked with us to the falls, while Elder Servoss found out that he was interested in what our church believed. He gave a quick synopsis of the restored church and how it differs from other Christian churches. We told him about the Book of Mormon and its testimony of Christ and recommended that he check out the church websites. It was an amazing 10 minute experience. Opportunities are all around us, we just need to open our mouths.
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