Arrival at Dartmouth

We spent Friday night at Fredricton after driving into the night. Towns here are far and few between and gas is about $3/gal U.S., so we are sure glad we don't have a gas guzzler! The price is set by the government, so there isn't much sense shopping around.

You can also tell you have arrived in Canada by the MacDonalds signs - notice they have a little oak leaf in the center of the 'M'!









The day was beautiful and the warmest of the year so far. As you can see, it was blue skies and smooth sailing as we entered Nova Scotia.



Here was our first glimps of the temple through the traffic! We found it!




We arrived at the temple and found the couple we will be replacing, the Alder's, and began training right away.

Saturday evening we went to President & Sister Blake's home to stay until the Alder's leave and we are able to move into the apartment.
Also that evening we were invited over to the Stewart's home for a farewell/welcome party with many of the people in the ward and even the Stake President and his wife showed up there. We played a fund game until around 9PM and then headed back to the Blake's. in intermittant rain.
The Blake's are at Fredricton at a Stake Conference and will return Sunday night. More pictures to follow as time permits. Love You ALL!

WE MADE IT

We finally found a place to cross the border (we tried once and couldn't because they didn't process visa's there) and spent our first night in Canada. We then headed out early the next morning and arrived at the Temple in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia about 12:15 PM on the 25th of April. We met Elder & Sister Alder there and received our first half-day of training. The weather was beautiful most of the way and nice and balmy in Nova Scotia - we drove under blue skies all day.
I hope to be able to load some pictures of our drive over in the next year . So I'm not promising anything immediately, and we have to decide which of the 500 'red barn' pictures that Sister Muhn took to put on the blog. We are in HEAVEN here.

On The Road - Day 2

On our second day we traveled from Cheyenne, WY to about 45 minutes past Omaha, NE. It was rather windy but clear and a good trip today. We stopped at the Winter Quarters temple and attended an endowment session, then took some pictures (later I hope) and got a good night's rest at a Motel 6. Nothing fancy, but it was quiet, clean, and comfortable. We appreciate all your prayers and interest in our safe journey.

On The Road - Day 1

Day-1 Salt Lake City to Cheyenne, Wyoming

Packed to the roof!

. Goodby Salt Lake

Meeting Katie (our niece) at Little America - we were heading east, she was heading west!

Cheyenne welcoming committee (vultures). Well, seems like they are migrating just like us...

Wyoming Capitol Building - Cheyenne.

We stayed with Janet's cousin, Dewey Long, in Cheyenne.

Wait a day or two. . . . and the weather will change. And it did! We received snow the middle of the week. We headed home from the Provo Temple about 4 PM on Thursday 16 April 09, to pack and head out Friday morning for Nova Scotia. We arrived home OK, but it was folly to head East only to get clobbered by yet another winter storm. So we will wait until it clears and try Monday morning.
At least the car is packed - opps no room for the driver! We may have to pack again....

Temple Training Week

This week we are receiveing our temple training at the Provo, Utah Temple.

Monday was a beautiful sunny warm day, as you can see by the pictures. Tomorrow is supposed to be rainy and overcast followed by snow flurries on Wednesday and Thursday!

Today we were taught by Elder Rex D. Pinegar (emmeritis Pres. of 1st Quroum of the Seventy)and his wife, Bonnie (far right, back row in the picture below). We were also taught by Bro Eddinger, the Temple Dept. Area Director. We will be receiving instruction from them periodically throughout this week. It was another wonderful day. At the end of the day we all shared a little about ourselves, where we are from, which temple we are going to. Each was a story of trials and miracles, joys, experience, dedication and a willingness to go wherever the Lord sends them.

It is True - He Is Risen

On this Easter Sunday, I would like to share this message given by one of the Lord's apostles, a member of the Quorum Of The Twelve Apostles: EASTER

Also available here in Spanish: EASTER

1st Week In The MTC

There were about 50 senoir missionaries in our 'class'. For part of the day we would separate into smaller groups for instruction and workshops. This is our group. One of the instructors, Sister Pinegar, in the grey sweater, is one of our teachers. She volunteers at the MTC and also works as an elementary school teacher. She served her mission in Italy.

This is the MTC dinning room. Usually the tables are pretty full. The food is great, but its hard to get small portions and its hard to thow away uneaten food - so I probably have gained a little weight.

Janet at one of the Call Centers answering requests for Church information. There are several call centers; others cover requests in multiple other languages. This was a great experience!

The world map in the MTC hallway. Sister Muhn is pointing to our previous mission in Africa, Elder Muhn to our current mission location - Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

This picture is from a window in one of the classroom buildings. Although there is snow on the mountains, it is still pleasant outside (when the sun is shining). It looks like these pictures take a little time getting them into the blog. Please be patient. . .

Some of you have asked for some detail about what we are doing so I've included the ‘cut & dried’ outline below. This has been a wonderful experience. We are instructed mostly by return missionaries in their early to mid 20’s; both men and women from all over the world. As we work together the spirit is often strong, a feeling of love and support pervades, and we get to meet and talk to people going all over the world serving in all different capacities. We like to break away from the senior missionaries and eat with the young missionaries and hear about their lives and how they are doing; I think it invigorates us all. The Preach My Gospel is quite a guide and we spend many hours in the evenings with that book and studying the referenced scriptures as well as those brought up in class. It sure beats TV!

As senior couples and sisters, our training is greatly condensed due to our many years of experience in the Church. We get in 1 week what the younger missionaries get in 6 weeks or so. Longer for both if a foreign lanquage must be learned.

Monday
11:30: Arrived at MTC, check in, get room key, and meal/building card, pay for room/board.
11:30-12:45: Lunch, go to mail room & get mailbox, go to bookstore purchase needed materials.
1:00-2:00: Senior missionary welcome by MTC Presidency
Break
2:10-2:45: Health/Medical Presentation (wash your hands)
Break
3:00-4:00: General overview of training schedule and activities for the week
4:30-6:00: Dinner
Assignment: Read P 1-15 of Preach My Gospel (PMG); What is My Purpose as a Missionary.
Read P 29-46 of PMG ; The Message of the Restoration.

Tuesday
6:30: Get up, shave, shower, etc. – Dress.
7:00-8:00: Breakfast
8:00-9:00: Large Group Instruction: The Message of the Restoration and practice.
Break
9:15-10-15: Continued
Break
10:30-12:00: Small Group Study, practice, share experiences, etc.
Lunch
1:30-2:30: Small Group Study, continued
Break
2:45-3:30: Appointment: Teach Lesson 1 to Church Service Volunteer
3:30-4:15: Large Group Summary and Conclusion: Evaluate, conclude for the day.
4:15-5:00: Immunizations if needed.
5:00-6:00: Dinner
6:45-8:00: Devotional with emeritus general authority, Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone
Assignment: Read P 47-59 PMG; The Plan of Salvation.
Read P 71-81 of PMG ; The Commandments.

Wednesday
Same as Tuesday, except working with The Plan of Salvation
4:45-5:45: Dinner. This is the day the young missionaries arrive.
No Devotional – that is only on Tuesday.
Assignment: P 213-217 PMG; How Do I Work with Stake and Ward Leaders?
P 103-114, What is the Role of the Book of Mormon?

Thursday
Similar schedule but today we focus on working with the less active member in the morning.
In the afternoon we receive orientation to the Referral Center, the work in the Center from 2:45-4:00.
4:15-4:45: Evaluate the days activities, conclude.
Assignment: P 60-70 PMG The Gospel of Jesus Christ
P 138-145 PMG Key Indicators, Area Book planning & reporting
P 217-223 PMG How Do I Work With Stake and Ward Leaders?

Friday
Morning: Instruction and practice The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Then appointment is with less active members and applying the Gospel of Jesus Christ; followed by evaluation and discussion.
Afternoon: Instruction and discussion on working with stake and ward leaders to strengthen new and less active members. Work with case studies with focus on councils and counseling together. Summary & conclusion.

Saturday & Sunday: We will head back home to Salt Lake City and return on Monday.

This second week, those of us that will be serving in temples will be receiving our training specific to the temple in the Provo Temple just east of the MTC.

Zimbabwe Mission Reunion, Etc.

Friday night we drove to Orem, Ut for the Zimbabwe Mission reunion. We so enjoyed seeing many friends there and the planned activities. There was a great slide show that brought back many memories; it included a movie President Bester and his wife sent - what a wonderful way to close the evening. He is being replaced by President Eddie Dube of Zimbabwe - another wonderful and spiritual man! One of the great experiences of a mission is being able to serve with such spiritual giants.

We very much enjoyed the messages and spirit of General Conference Saturday and Sunday - especially the counsel and instruction on the temple: it set a special tone for our setting apart by our stake president and our entrance into the MTC tomorrow morning.

Also at our setting apart were Jeff & Megan Muhn, and Nina Austin. President McConkie set us apart assisted by President Barker.

NP3rd Ward Farewell

We had a wonderful farewell at our church (Northpoint 3rd Ward) on the 29th of March. We thank all those who braved the winter weather to come and show their support. Here is a picture of some of those we served with in the Zimbabwe Africa mission who came.

A special thanks to Jeff & Megan Muhn and Becky & Travis Holman for all their help with the refreshments, as well as others who helped.

Picture (L to R): Gil Naisbitt, Nick & Jamie Hansen, Jean Naisbitt, Lyn Swan, Jarica Newitt, Dale Swan, Brett Hanson (Jarica's fiance), Juelee (Vander Meyden) with husban Nick Grundvig and baby Abbie, Janet & Scott Muhn.