October 12th through October 19th, 2024 - Can You Say, "Busy, busy week?!"

Fall is beautiful here in Michigan.  It did not disappoint.  It was a glorious time to be putting all those miles on the car.  

On Saturday, October 12th we drove the Nixon's down to Lansing for the annual Senior Missionary get together (pictures above.)  It was held at the Mission Secretary's home, Sister Steed.  It was the first real subdivision we had seen in Lansing and it was a very nice one.  As we waited for the Senior Missionaries to all gather, they invited us to go downstairs where their basement was full of games.  This is as close to playing that Elder Gibbons got...  

There was a potluck dinner with tables set up in various rooms of the home.  We participated in some silly games that helped us get to know one another.  We don't know most of the other senior couples, because they serve around Lansing.  So that was nice.

You can barely see us in the back left of the photo.  Picture doesn't include President and Sister Peckham.  That is unfortunate.  They are amazing people.  They spoke with us for a bit and expressed their love and gratitude for us all in a way that you just believe they mean it.

Left and around the table to the right:  The Sawyers (work in records preservation.)  The Nixon's who serve in our District up north from Holden, Utah.  The Jensen's (the vehicle coordinators and boy they keep busy).  The Kesler's (the housing coordinators, and yep, they keep really busy too!)  Then us.

Two days later the Peckham's hosted all of the young Sister Missionaries in the mission home.  Just wanted to add this picture for the record, even if I didn't go.

Can't say enough about how capable and wonderful these young missionaries are.  The fact that they choose to serve a mission instead all the other things they could be doing tells you all you need to know.

Gotta post updated pictures of our District.  The District changes almost every time there is a transfer and we get to meet more amazing missionaries.  The Nixon's and we are "eternal."  Meaning we will never be transferred for the year we are out.  We meet every Wednesday, except the week of transfers.

Left to right:  Elder Sines (now our Zone Leader) joined us. Yay!  Miss having him here in Cheboygan.  Elder Azevedo, Elder Hom (the other ZL,) Elder Haws, Elder Dahl, Elder Senecal (our District Leader), Sister Richards and Sister Wehrmeister, who had been to the thrift store and found her Halloween robe?!

Friday of this week, we traveled again to the Detroit Temple.  This time we were with a group that included the Woollards (their third trip to do baptisms for the dead) and Ashley who was baptized in August and this was her first trip.  She loved it as was evident in her little giggle when she was coming up out of the water in the font.

Left to right:  Arthur Woollard, Scott Hill, Joshua Hetrick, Sheree Woollard, Elder Gibbons, Chris Amundson, Sister Gibbons, Cindy Pugh and Ashley

This was the view from the back seat as Elder Gibbons drove and Arthur has "shotgun."

The next day was the Branch RS monthly birthday get together at the Karen and Mike McDonald's house in Onaway, which a town actually 30 minutes "out of the way." Only got one picture sitting on their back porch.  Most of the women were inside.

Left to right:  Cindy Pugh, me, Karen McDonald and her granddaughter, Emma