It's Autumn Time

It's fall already!  This is my favorite time of the year.

We haven't been out of the city to see the autumn leaves yet, but the city has some pretty ones.  Hopefully we will get out and see some in the countryside soon.  This is the view from our bedroom balcony.

We had a good month in October.  Here are our totals for the month: 

                Books scanned – 118

                Images scanned  – 16,546

                Average book – 140 pages

                Largest book – 1179 pages

                Smallest book – 1 page

To date since we have been here:

            Books scanned – 284

                Images scanned  – 38,679

This is the BIG ONE!   1179 pages!

This one barely fit the depth of the scanner.  If we find another one thicker, it will have to wait for a flat bed scanner.

Names are so interesting.  I have collected some from the books we have scanned.  I wonder if the people back in the 1700 and 1800's would be as curious about our unusual names as we are of theirs.  Perhaps some of these names will make a comeback.        

Novatus

Halleck

Riveruis

Zalmon

Ozias

Tristram

Amzi

Ercle

Morilla

Philomeda

Onesiphorus

Dench

Cutting  (yes that's a name)

Eulogius
Sophonisba
Albartes
Steptimus
Gouverneur
Bion
Lethe
Lorentine
Haakon
Tassie

The following are full names:

Mincher Littler

Fannie Bloomer

Idido Butts

Dorr Butts

Mifflin Passmore Brosius

Submit Loomis
Issa Desha

Ethel Garlick

Lucius Foote Brace

Bannister Brace

Manly Brace
Mayo Cabell

Petrus Borgardus  (That name sounds like it's from Harry Potter)
Susperious de Baises  (b. 1205)
Henricus de Bakows (b. 1297)

We had a wonderful evening with the other Senior Missionaries a few weeks ago.  We had a nice pot luck dinner at the home of the mission president.  His wife, Sister Anderson, is the one in the middle.

They took a group picture that is supposed to be emailed to us, but we haven't got it yet.  Maybe by the next blog I'll have it and you can see what a great group of Seniors we get to hang out with.   In the meantime, here are a couple of pictures.

After dinner we went to the church and watched the movie Meet the Mormons.  I was looking forward to seeing it and I wasn't disappointed.  I loved it!  It made me cry.  

A couple of weeks ago we were invited to speak at a group at the Old St. Joseph's Church in downtown Philadelphia.  This group invites people of various religions to tell them about their church.  This is the first time they have had Mormons come.  Parking was an issue, so we took a taxi. (Our first time)  We got there 15 minutes early, so we were able to visit with a few of the group ahead of time. They were very friendly and made us feel welcome and comfortable.  We told them about the origins and some history of the Church, some statistics, then briefly reviewed the Articles of Faith.  They asked fair and sincere questions.  It went quit well and we left feeling like we had made some friends and one possible investigator.  He was the gentleman who had invited us and was pleased when we told him he could keep the copy of the Book of Mormon.  He wanted to know the address of the church so he could attend and see what it was like.  It was a very pleasant evening and I should not have been nervous.

I am loving my calling in the ward.  I play the piano in Primary.  There are about 15 children and they are so fun!  And I like being able to play the piano so I don't forget how while I'm away from home.  I am getting to know the ward members better and feeling more at home.  It could be hard to leave.  

We said goodbye to Sister Foote this past week.  She went home to California.  I only knew her for a short time, but I was so sad to see her go.  We have had 3 opportunities to meet with her and Sister Bennett to teach discussions to investigators.  What wonderful experiences!  It really is amazing to see someone learn and accept the truths of the gospel.

The first time I ever had this opportunity, we met a fellow with the sister missionaries at the temple visitor center.  He was a man in his 40's who spoke with an accent but I'm not sure where he came from.  He still lives with his parents who are Buddhist.  The missionaries taught him about the restoration and a little about the Book of Mormon.  He seemed impressed.

A week later they invited us to meet with  another investigator, but they couldn't get into the visitor center, so we invited them to come here to our apartment since we are just across the street.   I was really impressed with his willingness to learn.  He kept saying he wants to keep learning, but is not ready to make any commitments yet.  He  said what he is being taught makes sense to him.  They told him about the Spirit and how Heavenly Father speaks to us through our feelings and our mind.  I felt impressed to share my own experience when I was in high school and received a spiritual witness and felt the reality and love of Christ.   They taught him about baptism and challenged him to work on being ready for baptism in December.  He thought for a few moments, then he said he thought he could do that.  It was a very spiritual lesson.  He was very receptive to what they were teaching him and he came to church last Sunday.  The Sisters actually had 3 investigators come to church that day.  They are doing awesome work.  They live just a couple of blocks from us and I'm glad they live close by so can work with them.

Sister Manson from Mesa, Arizona is Sister Bennett's new companion.  

There are 5 missionaries here from Arizona!  

One of them, Elder Elmer, is from Clint's parents' ward in Gilbert. (Clint is our son-in-law)

Last week we met with the Sisters to teach a man named Michael here in our apartment.  He is so eager to learn and when they taught him about the Word of Wisdom and not drinking coffee, at first wasn't too sure about it, but after thinking for a moment, said, "Okay, no more coffee."  Just like that, he was so willing to do whatever the Lord wants him to do.  They have set a date for his baptism the end of this month.  I love the Spirit that is with the missionaries when they teach.

It is humbling to watch someone ponder and accept the gospel teachings.  I have taken so much for granted my whole life.

We were asked to help the mission office do missionary apartment inspections to see if they are keeping them clean or if they have things that need fixing, etc.  We decided that when we do the inspections we would take them out to dinner.  This may be one of the highlights of our mission.  We get to spend time visiting with some amazing young men and women.  They are so dedicated.  I am in awe of them.

Brother Carr is the Church representative over-seeing the building of the Philadelphia Temple, which is a 4 year assignment. (The temple will be finished the summer of 2016.)  He is retired now, but was the contractor for the building of the Las Vegas Temple.  Brother and Sister Carr served a Thanksgiving lunch at the mission's Zone Conference.  They asked us and Elder and Sister Armstrong, another senior couple to help.  They served a great turkey dinner and then played a couple of games: guess how many M&Ms in the jar, then had a little test on Thanksgiving trivia.  Elder Syme and I didn't know as much about Thanksgiving as we thought we did.  The prizes were socks and gloves.  

Brother Carr is in the brown sweater at the end of the table and Sister Carr is in the blue              shirt and has dark hair.  Brother and Sister Armstrong are nearest the camera.  

There was a new Sister missionary there, Sister Holt (on the left).  She just came from the MTC this week.  They don't call new missionaries 'green' here.  They are 'golden.'  Her companion, Sister Cox is from Manti and Elder Syme knew her grandfather.  Small world.

 Don't ya just love missionaries!

Sister Carr made these adorable turkeys.

 And these are adorable Sisters!

Sister Bennett, Sister Manson, Sister Holt, Sister Cox.

They are planning another luncheon for another zone at the Pennypack chapel at Christmas time.  We will be helping then too.  Sister Carr wants me to make baked beans.  That's what I get for telling her about our Christmas dinner traditions.  It will be a great experience too.  

I am learning so much more than I expected this past year.  I have been way out of my comfort zone and doing things I never thought I could do.  I couldn't be doing any of it without the help of the Lord.  I am learning to really trust Him.  I know now that He has been right there with me my whole life.  I feel even more that He is working with me, teaching me, helping me as much as I will let Him.  He doesn't give all the answers, all the details of what we want to know right away.  We are expected to step out into the unknown with faith and and trust.  And when we need it, He lets us know He is there.  His Spirit brings me peace, joy and encouragement which is fulfilling, rich, and calming.  I like the phrase: 'peace like a river.'  He loves me, so I love Him.  He is my Teacher, by Tutor, my Friend, my Savior, my Lord. my God.

"Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for His arm to be revealed."