Week # 7

On Tuesday, we moved the Gowanda Elders out of their temporary home.   While their new apartment was in the finishing stages of being remodeled, the owner has graciously let them stay in one of his homes, which we nicknamed "the Mansion." Mark S. is probably the wealthiest man in town, and owns the local funeral home. He is very happy to be renting to the Church and his rent is very reasonable and well within the allotted budget.

 

The" Mansion" sits high on a hill overlooking Gowanda.

 

This fellow lives in one of the rooms in the other part of the mansion. The owner is remodeling that part. Our newest senior missionary couple moved into the Mansion this week, after the Elders moved out.

Standing up: Carl, Sir Lancelot, Elder Bevan, Elder Cashmore.

Kneeling: Elder Hadley and Elder Ivy.

 

The new apartment, a small apartment in an old house, is beautifully remodeled by the owner, who runs the funeral home next door. Elder Ivy and Elder Cashmore are living there now. (the other two Elders live down the road in Cattauragus, on the edge of the Seneca Indian reservation.

The counter tops are stainless steel! That red glow comes from a light strip that is constantly changing colors -- a fancy night light invented by the owner.

 

Our replacements, Elder and Sister Ray (Sister Ray is the sister the apostle Elder Anderson), have arrived in the Mission! We started training them on Wednesday, taking them down to Canandaigua with us, where we found another new missionary apartment. After that we headed further south, down past Lake Seneca, for a little outing at Watkins Glen, a very scenic site with 19 waterfalls and 200 feet cliffs. It was cold, but the steep hike warmed us up.

 On the way there, Carl stopped for gas in the small town of PennYan and here's what we saw coming down the street-- an Amish buggy!

 

Notice how we look  a bit haggard and  worn out, and the Rays look brand new.

 

 

 

 

 

On Thursday, the missionaries came over to our place for a Halloween district meeting and lunch.

It took me a while to realized the things on top of the Sisters' heads were supposed to be frogs' eyes.

 From left to right: Elder Fierros (band new missionary), Elder Barnes, Elder Johnston, Elder Kelly

Sister Sumsion and Sister Butters -- our current Brockport "sons" and "daughters". We sure do love them.

 

On Friday, a mini hurricane blew through our part of  upstate New York. All the leaves in our part of the apartment complex got blown onto our front door entry way.

 

Even a trip to the local grocery store is scenic around here. These flaming red Maple leaves won't be on the trees for too much longer.

 

Yesterday afternoon, we had our Ward's fall social.  The weather was quite cold and rainy. We had it inside the barn of one of the ward members. Homemade hot soups and hot spiced apple cider warmed us up. It was so pretty with the view of corn fields out the open barn doors. We were glad we went, and we had a fun time fellowshipping.

Today, ended up a busy week, with me fixing dinner for 10 -- us, the 6 missionaries in our district, and a wonderful young couple who are investigating the Church and have set a baptism date for Nov. 23.  Carl cut up one of our Halloween pumpkins, and we enjoyed fresh pumpkin pie for dessert.