The first two weeks of May in the New York Rochester Mission

A great way to start a month off is by meeting new missionaries, who come in every 6 weeks from the Missionary Training Center (MTC). They leave Provo, Utah at 4:00 a.m and end the long day with dinner at the mission home, followed by an orienation meeting with the Mission President, his wife, and the office staff (of which we are part-- handling missionary housing).  At this point,  they have to prop their eyelids open with toothpicks to stay awake.

This is part of the group of  8 who came in (2 were sister missionaries).  Elder Olsson, 3rd from the left, is from Sweden.

The next morning, at transfer meeting, the new missionaries were teamed up with their trainers and several new companionships were formed.

After transfer meeting, Elder Ellis and I enjoyed some time at the Palmyra Temple.

Beyond the fence, you can see the Sacred Grove

We love taking a stroll through the Sacred Grove after going to the Temple.

Every other Wednesday, District meeting is held at our apartment.  After the meeting, they have "missionary mom" muffins.  Here they are enjoying lemon poppy seed muffins along with viewing something off the church website.

Another day was spent setting up the apartment in an old school house in Cattaraugus that was built in 1850. A new senior couple moved in the next day. As I was setting up the kitchen, I imagined little childrens' laughter on the lush green lawn that used to be their playground. Just hope that couple doesn't hear  childrens' laughter in the middle of the night. (I'd be out of there faster than you could say "haunted".)

This was probably the principal's office.

Another day, we headed to Canandaigua to check out a mold/mushroom problem in the elders' apartment. Mushrooms were growing through the carpet due to a major plumbing leak. All the landlord did was to cut a hole in the wall, and place the elders' box fan in front of it. It took him way too long to order and install the part, and he wasn't doing anything about the wet carpet and all the wet insulation behind the walls. We found a new place for them right away.

On a lovely day, we opened up a new missionary apartment in Lewiston, near Niagra Falls. After the missionaries got all their stuff moved in, we went for an awesome hike along the Niagra River.

Canada is on the other side of the river.

This is the Gorge -- the point at which the waters from Niagra Falls enter the Niagra River.

It was it a very steep hike going up and down.

A big "Hello" from Niagra Falls to all the folks back home (and especially those sweet grandkids!)

After that nice  break, it was off to work again. We discovered this little gem while doing part of our monthly apartment checks. The five sister missionaries who live here each painted part of an old beat up chest of drawers and turned it into a work of art.

This week, at the mission home, 10 of us senior missionary couples gathered for a lovely dinner which was followed by an hour of  training by our awesome mission president.

The sister missionary on the far left is the twin sister of the Primary General President of the Church.

The week ended with another big move -- setting up an apartment in Batavia for a new senior couple. We couldn't do it without the help of the young elders who are Assistants to the President. Here they are chillin' for a few minutes before loading some items from "the shed" into the moving van.

Two of the local elders dropped by to help and to test out the new furniture.

After our moving helpers left, there was still lots to do,such as hanging blinds and curtains,etc. etc. We didn't get home til 11:30 that  night. Next morning, we were too tired to get up early for the Palmyra 5K run. Guess we're getting a little old. There's always next year.

So, we have been a bit busy, but love every day being out here (except for missing those grandkids!). We take time to smell the "roses".  I was so excited to see my first lilac in bloom -- takes me back in time  to my childhood home in Rhode Island where my mother had planted lots of lilac bushes. The smell is Heavenly. Lilac Festival in Rochester starts this week. Hope to make it there.