The Week of Celebrations and Good-byes.

 Our family celebrates birthdays and an anniversary all within days of each other. Our granddaughter, Rebeca's birthday is on the 19th, our son Tavan's is on the 20th, our grandson Nigel's is the 21st, Cedric (son) and Sarah's wedding anniversary is on the 22nd, my birthday is on the 24th (somehow we missed the 23rd). It is easy for me to remember the founding year for the Salt Lake valley, and by extension, the State of Utah, because I was born on the centennial in 1947. That makes me old, I guess. 

Nigel, the first of the fabulous five grandchildren
all born within seven months of each other.

Tavan is now 50. He is the first to break the decade
barrier for our kids, every 10 years.

Rebeca, our newest high school
student

We shared a birthday pie with Elder and Sister
Barnes. They gave me the Pound + Belgian 
Chocolate Bar. What could be better?

Cedric and Sarah celebrated 17 years married.

 

This was an emotional week in many ways. With 32 young missionaries going home, all of whom came shortly after President and Sister Holmes arrived to begin serving as our Mission Leaders, so the Holmes were teary-eyed. Our district had 8 missionaries (4 companionships) that went to 7 when Elder Fairchild left, now 4 of them went home, and one was transferred out, leaving 2 who received new companions, so we were a bit emotional, as well. We are back down to two companionships, which means fewer cookies for Olivia to prepare for District Council meetings for the next six weeks.

Elders Asay, Winters, Reese, Wilkins, Tanner, Larsen, and Hyatt

Elder Tipps our former District Leader going home.

Elders Asay and Huerta on their final transfer,
as they refer to it, here.

Elder Larsen going back to the Univ. of Utah,
wherever that is.

We spent a good deal of our days tending to Employment Services, training and meeting with candidates. We are getting more people coming around the established protocol and contacting us directly, perhaps because calling the appointment number gets them to one of the professionals in Utah, who are just directing them to the website. We haven't started teaching at the Consulate, yet, so we have been able to handle it.

Soul has let his hair grow a little fuller.
He is a very good money manager, so
he gets by comfortably on disability.

Subashini is still looking for work, but
had good experiences to share this week.

We took a little time off for a quick visit to Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island. Olivia's Egbert family line settled there in the 17th century, so we were curious. In the summer, the docents dress in period costumes for the most part. Not all of it is open, but much of it is and it was fun to see all that was presented. We drove instead of taking the public transportation; supposedly it was to save us an hour. It saved us less than half an hour because of traffic. We will take the subway and ferry next time, when we have guests and too few seats in the car.

One of the more amazing bridges, the
Verrazano. It is how we get to Staten Island
by car.

For many decades this school was thought to have
been built in 1669. It was later discovered to have
been built 100 years later. Still standing, however.

The general store.

The broom making shop burned a couple of years
ago, but rebuilt in the same fashion as the original.
They still make brooms here - all different kinds.

The basket maker's brother is a bishop in the Church.
She was so pleased to see and talk to us, because
her brother is such a good example.

In the home of a very wealthy family. This young
woman was exceptionally knowledgeable. 

This woodworker is skilled in the manner of the
ancient methods. It was so fun to talk to him.

The museum has an entire room called "Bringing
up Baby." Furniture, baby bottles like we've 
never seen, baby carriages, etc.

This week, our good friends, Elder and Sister Shiley also had their last Sunday before going home, so we went to church in their ward, to hear them speak. In the mission devotional, the mission president was especially effusive in his appreciation of their work. We will miss them.

Elder Shiley on the far right, with three men
who had joined the Church a year + ago
(those without ties, and the blue suit -
he was also sealed to his wife). With 
them are President Lindquist (1st C Stake 
Presidency) and Brother Hill, who baptized
a couple of them and came back for this
special day.

Sister Shiley in the back corner. Just a glimpse of
the diversity in this ward. Elder Shiley has been a
ward clerk and he decided to survey the membership.
He went through the records and discovered that
there are members from 36 different countries.

With the Shileys (right) and the Hunsakers at
the Woodside Employment Center on the Shileys
last day there.

With all the young missionaries going home, I thought I would share this story that came on the mission Messenger site.

Sister Chen was an amazing,
Mandarin-speaking missionary.
Flushing 2nd Ward is now huge!
How inspiring is this?

We are challenged every day and sometimes wondering if our efforts are making any kind of difference. We are, but the adversary is real and discouragement is his favorite tool. I look back and marvel at all we have learned and with all we have been involved. We do our best and look for ways to constantly improve.

We love you all and appreciate your prayers for this work. We hope you have a blessed week.