2nd week of mission-- busy every minute, and awesome!

We went from one end of the mission to the other, from Palmyra to Niagra Falls, learning our duties as part of President Christianson's staff. We will be in charge of missionary housing (along with our member/leader support duties in the Brockport Ward).  We traveled through beautiful upperstate New York -- very scenic views, rolling hills, farmland, lovely old homes, lots of red barns.

We stopped at Yoder's Country Cupboard, an Amish store that sells the best knives (made by the Amish) in the world. I got an awesome grapefruit knive and a paring knife, along with a few goodies.

Our very first District Meeting! Our elders are so awesome. We love them and Elder and Sister Jensen (from Provo, Utah) who so patiently have trained us this week.

We were busy all week, inspecting so many apartments.  The missionaries were so happy to show us their clean apartments.

Saturday morning, we joined President Christianson, his wife and a few of the senior couples (and Bob, who has been caring for the property) for a special little ceremony, where we placed a new sign on the banks of the old mill stream where Brigham Young and many members of the early Mendon, NY branch were baptized.  We sang "Come, Come Ye Saints", and the mission president offered a prayer. A very special occasion!

Next, we visited the Tomlinson Inn, a 185 year old home which has an important place in our church history.

It was in this room at the Tomlinson Inn, that a young missionary named Samuel Smith, strode in boldly.  He walked across the room directly to a local preacher named Phineas Young.  Holding out a Book of Mormon to him, Samuel said simply,"There is a book, sir, I wish you to read."  Surprised by the young man's direct approach, Phineas hestitated a moment, then asked, "Pray, sir, what book have you?" "The Book of Mormon", said Samuel," or as it is called by some, the Golden Bible". Samuel then testified that the book was a revelation from God, and added,"If you will read this book with a prayerful heart, and ask God to give you a witness, you will know the truth of this work".  Phineas read the book twice within a two week period, hoping to prove the book false. The following Sunday, before his congregation, he found himself quoting scripture from the Book of Mormon and, under inspiration of the Spirit, he bore powerful testimony of its truth. He then shared the book with many members of his family, including his brother, Brigham Young, all of whom later joined the church.

After lunch, we joined President Christianson, his wife, and a recent convert for a 2 1/2 hour walk through the Sacred Grove. It is getting late, and we have to be up early, so I'll post about that special time in the grove next week. To be continued........