What a fantastic weekend of General Conference and listening to prophets and apostles teach us. It is... I can't think of the right word... amazing doesn't suffice, to think that all over the world there could have been 17 million members of the Church (and hopefully some of our friends) listening and learning what we are counseled to do to prepare ourselves for the day the Savior will return and to one day live with God again. There were talks about Temples, about making covenants that connect us to Christ, about love and unity, about the impact of our words and The Word, about being valiant in our testimonies of Christ, integrity, having clear spiritual vision and spiritual momentum. And so much more. It all centers on our relationship with Christ. The very thing we are striving to do here in Michigan--invite everyone to Christ. He is the only real solution to the problems our world is facing.
We watched all five sessions of General Conference at our small church building. We spent a couple hours one day last week sending an individual invitation to all the Branch Members we had emails for, inviting them to watch or join us to watch. We sent out emails to people who have asked questions about the Church that we had emails for. If our emails encouraged one person who chose to listen, whether at home or at the building, it was worth the effort. Here is a picture of those few who gathered at the building.
Last speaker President Russell M. Nelson
This week we had our last District Facebook Chat with Elder and Sister Rollins. They left today to return home to Canada. Every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday each District starts the day together on Facebook Chat with a spiritual thought and a prayer together.
Our new Senior Missionaries arrived in Petoskey to take their place about an hour ago. We will meet the Nixon's on Wednesday at our weekly District Council. And we got some exciting news this week too. One that we have been praying for. We got a call from the Mission Housing Coordinator asking us to do some scouting for an available apartment or house here in Cheboygan because in the middle of May (the next "transfer") we will be getting a set of young Elders here to help us in finding and teaching people. Housing here is very scarce, but the Lord is truly in the work. Just so happened that our RS President gave us the number of a woman who has a couple of apartments here and she had just got notice from one of her tenants that he is moving out on May 1st. No coincidences. Can't wait to find out who is going to be assigned here.
We found a place to do some service here. It is called "The Lord's Kitchen." They get funding in connection with Compassionate Ministries and the Nazarene Church here has a building where they provide showers, laundry facilities and serve lunch each day. We had a great time helping and making new friends. We told them we would be back every Friday from 11 AM to 1:30 PM to help and they were so grateful. We got to serve the food to those who came and it was heart-warming to feel their gratitude and kindness. Not one of them didn't say please and thank you. There is such a need for help all over the world. My brother and sister-in-law, Dennis and Karen, do a lot of work in Modesto, California helping with such kinds of ministries. I would like to think our dad and mom are smiling from heaven seeing this.
Meet Joan, Dennis, Wynne (the Pastor's Wife), Lisa and Pam
Meet Dishwasher Duane, a.k.a. Elder Gibbons
We have started to make such wonderful friends here. Mary has a little dog named Tilley that we walk. Elder Gibbons loves to tease Mary-- who is a self-proclaimed former Hippie from Berkeley. She kept threatening to beat him with a pool noodle so we bought her one and put his name on it.
Lastly, today we were able to witness the Eclipse. Mary bought us, and some others, glasses to watch with. It didn't ever become complete, but it was pretty darn close. It was supposed to be cloudy, but Mary insisted she prayed for sun and she got it.
The Glasses Gang - Elder Gibbons, Sister Gibbons, Mary, Shauna, Camille
Mary's first reaction was priceless!
Wonder Women - in awe.
Through the special glasses in front of the lens of the camera. It didn't really look like this. It was never completely covered, but it was crescent shaped. Ahh the wonders of the world.
So, the Cheboygan County Fairgrounds is nearby. Anyone in need of a hatchet?
The fair happens in August. We understand that summers draw lots of people and there are lots of activities. Can't wait!
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