November 4th through November 10, 2024

 Monday, November 4th, PDay:

Our PDays have settled into a routine of sorts.  We get up, do our laundry and head to the "Lord's Kitchen" to cook the lunch meal served to those in need of a free, hot meal.  While we are gone our younger missionaries come to the house to do their own laundry.  When we get home, we usually hang out with them for a bit.  Here is a picture that Elder Gibbons took of me and the sisters watching an old church video, "The Phone Call."  (I don't know why we are so serious because it is a silly story about a young man who is socially awkward and can't even talk to a girl on the phone.)

Wednesday, November 6th, District Council Day:

Left to right, back row:  Elder Senecal (our District Leader) Elder Dahl, Elder Osborne (a new Zone Leader), Elder Nixon, Sister Nixon, Elder Gibbons, Sister Gibbons.

Left to right, front row:  Elder Sines (our favorite Zone Leader, LOL), Sister Newman, Sister Thompson (who usually has a big smile on her face), Sister Wehrmeister, and Sister Richards.

Zone Leaders come two hours from Traverse City.  District Leaders come an hour from Kalkaska.    Nixon's and Sister Wehrmeister and Richards serve in Petoskey.

Thursday, November 7th, evidence that the weather is changing as the windshield begins to thaw.

Friday, November 8th, Cheboygan Branch Game Night:

Once a month we alternate between a Friday movie night or game night.  The missionaries pretty much make it happen.  Unfortunately, the Branch Presidency doesn't join us, missing out on an opportunity for fun and fellowship.  This time we had a game night.

Dominoes

Left to right:

Libby Whitener

Libby's friend, Sharon

Sheree Woollard

Ann Harris (our RS President)

Mary Rybarczyk

It was fun to hear these ladies giggle and banter back and forth.

  

"Spicy"Uno ~ a crazier way to play the game

Elder and Sister Gibbons hanging out, and loosing to:

Hunter Woollard (grandson of Sheree and not yet baptized)

Sister Thompson

Sister Newman

 

Saturday, November 9th:

We three Sisters headed for Onaway and Pat Bendel's house.  Some of the sisters living in that town invited us for lunch.  Its a beautiful drive and piece of property.  Why didn't I take more pictures?!  The goats were pretty rude!  They were making a ruckus when we drove by.

                                                                              

We took a couple of pictures on the way home.  

The Sisters talked me into taking this silly one.  I can't believe I let them talk me into it.

While we were gone, Elder Gibbons went next door to help our new friends, James Jeter.  He's been putting on new siding on his house for weeks now.  

His three year old son, John was right there with them helping.  At one point, he decided he wanted to fix his "car" so he climbed under it and tinkered with it.  Eventually he got it working again...sorta.  The battery was dying and it had just enough charge to go for a bit.  He was so excited he had to tell his dad. 

Sunday, November 10th:

Sunday dinner here at the house.  Typically the  Sisters don't have a dinner appointment with a Branch member so we have them come here.  They are so obedient.  As much as they want to stay longer and have fun, they will leave and head back out into the dark and cold now to knock on doors and try to share the gospel.  We are not sure we would be that brave!

October 27th through November 3rd, 2024

This week's highlight was TRANSFERS...

First, I have printed pictures of the Elders and Sisters that we have been serving with in the last nine months and they are on our refrigerator, and ever-changing.  

We have had an atypical amount of missionaries coming and going in the last couple transfers due to various reasons.  It actually has slowed the work down here in the Cheboygan Branch.  When missionaries come and go, the next set coming in seem to make and teach completely different friends.  

We said goodbye to both Elder Azevedo (Spanish Fork, Utah) and Elder Haws (St. George).  We didn't really expect that, but hey, it's not our call.  We had them over one last morning for breakfast before they took off for the "transfer van" in Mt. Pleasant.  They were each headed to different areas.

Elder Azevedo really wanted, and thought, he was going to be staying here.  We were all three sad.

Elder Haws (right) kinda felt he was going to be transferred even though he had only been here three weeks.  He was actually returning to the mission after working hard for a year to come back out.  It was kinda of a challenging companionship for them, but that is how it is sometimes.

But, we now have two Sisters serving with us now!  A first for us.  

Meet Sister Thompson, from Utah, but then from Georgia (left) and Sister Newman (right) from St. George, Utah.  We've had a lot of missionaries here from St. George!  Sister Thompson has been out for six months and Sister Newman just finished her training.  They are really cute, young missionaries and have hit it off quickly.  They are out and about working hard at finding new friends in spite of the cooler temperatures and rain that have hit here.  They have been teaching us some of the slang words the missionaries use.  They ask us to guess what they mean and then have the nerve to laugh at us when we say something so far off!  We have them for at least a transfer which is six weeks. 

One thing to say for the week of October 20th through October 26th... "That deer is D-E-A-D"

 We had our once-a-transfer District PDay on Monday, October 21st, but we did not attend this one.  We were helping at the Kitchen longer than normal.  That was alright, because we didn't really want to travel to Petoskey to look for Petoskey stones again.  LOL.

Wednesday, October 23rd was a day to remember.  We picked up Elder Azevedo and Haws from their apartment and headed to Petoskey for District Council.  It was just beginning to get light at about 7:45 a.m.  We were following behind another vehicle, but not too close I promise.  It's a good thing Elder Gibbons doesn't hardly drive the speed limit, because out of no where I looked up just in time to see deer eyes staring at me just outside where Elder Gibbons sat driving.  We did NOT hit the deer.  The deer hit US!

Poor thing.  It was a doe and a fairly young one at that.  You can't even tell it's hurt, but when the insurance representative jokingly asked if we got the license plate of the other person, I quipped, "Yep.   D-E-A-D."  Aren't I clever?  The good news was none of us were hurt and our car was still drivable, but...

We actually made it to our District Council on time and called insurance right away.  I am writing this 13 days later and we just took our car two days ago into the Toyota dealer here in Cheboygan to be fixed.  They say it will take about two weeks.  We feel very blessed because we have heard horror stories about how long it takes to get parts up here.  No kidding we know a man at the Kitchen that hit a deer and the body shop was three months getting the parts in.  I think since the car is a Toyota it made a big difference.  We feel very blessed, really.  The insurance company has been amazing.  They say it won't affect our insurance record because it was a no-fault accident.  I guess deer don't count.

Here is the picture of our missionaries at District Council that day.

We still like the deer in our backyard.  We just prefer not to have them meeting us on the road and because hunting season has started, "they" say the deer are moving around and this is the time of year deer run ins increase.  Here is a buck we saw "rubbing" one of the trees.  It was cool to watch him.

During this week we began to see the weather change.  One day it was 75 degrees.

A couple of days later it was cold and misty.

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

October 5th through October 11th, 2024

Wednesday, October 2nd:  (didn't have the pictures last week)

Mt Pleasant here we come...again.  You can tell when the days and weeks are flying by when it feels like we just had Zone Conference.  Transfers and Zone Conference happen every six weeks, but not on the same week.  So even though it looks like it, the groups at Zone Conference change somewhat.  Its always sad when one of "our" missionaries gets transferred to a zone that isn't attending the conference we go to because there are two different ones held.  But, here is the picture of this one with some familiar faces and some we are yet to know...

We are serving in the same District as the Nixon's who arrived a month after we did.  So we see them quite often.  They are from Holden, Utah and Sister Nixon can go from silly and laughing to serious and crying in a heartbeat.  And her emotions are genuine.

Saturday and Sunday, October 5th and 6th:

We love, love General Conference twice a year.  So many amazing talks, stories and counsel given by prophets and apostles.  It's hard to pick a favorite talk.  But, when President Nelson spoke at the end of Conference he announced 17 new temples to be built and one will be in Queen Creek, Arizona!  Yay!!  The title of his talk is, "The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again." There was something very different this time when he said more than once to prepare for the 2nd Coming of the Savior.  He encouraged us to rededicate our lives to the Savior, study His Atonement everyday and prepare.  I think we certainly should!

We invite friends and Branch members to join us at the Church building for all sessions.  We didn't get more than a couple of people to join us this time in addition to us four missionaries, but that is alright.  We hope others watched from home or will watch them from the Gospel Library soon.  Its too important to learn from what they say and then apply what they say.

Elder Gibbons, Azevedo, Potter and Haws, and Chris Amundson on Saturday

On Saturday nights, the Zone Leaders invite the missionaries to hop onto a short Zoom meeting at 8 PM to have Zone Prayer, but first they do a "bingo" game with challenges listed for them to complete.  The one who gets the most done in an hour wins.  This picture shows the Elders at our house "pretending" to be unified as companions.  

They actually won the bingo challenge

Monday, October 7, 2024:

We learned late Wednesday night that Elder Potter was going to be transferred...again...because one new Elder was arriving at the mission.  We thought we would taking him down the next day to Lansing, but because of General Conference the church travel department wasn't able to get him here until Monday.  So we headed to Lansing on that day instead.  Boy is it hard to watch these young missionaries come and go.

Elder Potter was going to Manistee once he picked up his companion at the airport with President and Sister Peckham and the Assistant to the Presidents.  He was also told he would be the District Leader, the Designated Driver and given one of the new Ford Maverick (trucks--although we are told not to call them trucks for insurance purposes, LOL).  

This is a picture of Elder Gibbons with Elder Jenkins.  

They have become good buddies as we help them inspect vehicles each zone conference.  Elder Jenkins suggested we extend our mission and become the office housing people and stay until he and his wife go home in July.  We appreciate the vote of confidence, but not feeling the desire to delay going home.

NOTE:  The second day Elder Potter and Elder Brinkerhoff were in Manistee, they hit a deer and did some  minor damage to the vehicle.  Deer are everywhere here and he isn't the only missionary to do so recently.  But the Maverick had 40 whole miles on it.  

Wednesday, October 9th:

Every Wednesday is District Council Day, except for the week of transfers.  We headed to Petoskey.  When we got into the car this is what the windshield looked like.

Wait, what?!  Was that ice?  Yep.  Took this picture after the heat was going for a couple of minutes.  Here comes winter...

Our District changed again because our District Leader, Elder Potter left.  So they had to add another companionship with us so one could be the District Leader.  They had to drive an hour to join us.

Back Row Left to right:  Sister Richards (new as well from Oregon), Sister Wehrmeister, Elder Azevedo, Elder Dahl (recently returned to the mission), Elder Senecal (the new DL) and Elder Haws (recently returned to the mission.)  Front row:  The Nixons and the Gibbons

On the way home we stopped to take a picture just because it was so pretty.

Thursday, October 10th:

The Sister Trainer Leader, Sister Cox, and her companion, Sister Christensen, asked to come and be on exchanges with me.  It is so much fun to be out with them.  Sister Cox served here in Cheboygan prior to our being here.  In fact, she lived in the house we are in with her companion.   But she was Emergency Transferred out after only being here for a short time.  We visited some of the Branch Members she remembered, did a little bit of service for one.  

The best part of the day was that after we knocked on one members door, Sister Cox, asked if we could go knock on a different door.  She said she had seen a woman with two little children drive back into the apartment parking lot and enter an apartment.  President Peckham had challenged each companionship to find at least one family to bring into the Church during the month of October.  He said as he'd been praying and asking what our mission needed, the Spirit prompted that "we need families."  So here was Sister Cox on exchanges with me and she was prompted to knock.  The woman was very nice, but said she was kinda busy, but being the experienced missionary she was Sister Cox followed up with a question of when would be a good time.  I interjected that we were having a free movie night the next evening with free concessions and invited her to come.  She actually said she would.  The next day when Elder Gibbons and I were at the store buying the concessions, she came up to me at the check out stand with a big smile on her face.  I gave her a hug and she talked with here kids in the cart and she said again she was coming.  And she did!  She only stayed for half of it because her kids got antsy, but she told Elder Gibbons she would be at church on Sunday.  Well as it turned out she didn't come because she was moving her family to a larger apartment and she had to work to raise money to do so.  But, when the Elders called her Sunday afternoon she said she would be there this coming week.  We are praying and hoping she will indeed.  She is a sweetheart.  Can't wait to see where this goes!

When we were done for the day, we picked up Ashley (who was baptized in August) and we came back to our house and the Elders were here.  I had food in the crockpot, but hadn't had time to do anything else.  Elder Azevedo had set the table and made a green salad.  Love that guy!  After eating dinner we all talked with Ashley about doing baptisms for the dead in the Temple. We are hoping she can go this Friday.

About the time the Sisters were going to head back to their home in Gaylord, south about 45 minutes, we learned the Northern Lights were visible from here.  Actually they were visible in many places in the US that they normally aren't.  First time Elder Gibbons and I have seen them!  

This is the view from our entrance of the house to the north

Before going home, the Elders went to Lake Huron about 1 mile north of us and took this cool picture showing the lighthouse and the Northern Lights.  Elder Haws brought a very expensive camera and he took this one.  He has a videographer business back home.

October 1st through October 4th, 2024

 And then there were three...

We got a phone call late one evening from Elders Potter and Acevedo.  They had just received a phone call from President Peckham asking them to come to Lansing to pick up a third Elder.  Elder Haws was returnng to the mission after being home to take care of some things for a year.  We told him we were so proud, and impressed, of him that he stayed focused and chose to return.  He
is from St. George, Utah like Elder Potter.  Funny thing is they didn't know each other, but the counted 20 mutual friends.

Tuesday, October 1st:

We had to feed them breakfast then next morning, of course!

Wednesday, October 2nd we headed to Mt. Pleasant for Zone Conference.  Two hour drive south.  A chance to see many of the missionaries we have come to know.  So fun and boy do they love to be around each other.  And man are these young missionaries so articulate.  They know the Gospel too.  So impressive.  The last training segment by President Peckham he invited 12 missionaries to come to the front of the chapel and share why they chose to serve a mission and second why obedience is such an important principle.  To my surprise, he asked me to come forward.  I was the second from the last to speak.  Not really remembering what came into my heart I just know that I touched on the fact that Elder Gibbons and I love the Lord and have made covenants that as His disciples we are striving to keep them. We also chose to serve for blessings promised to our families.  Lastly that we love to learn and continue to learn as we serve.  I just referred back to our Temple Covenants as to why obedience is so important. 

The Traverse City Zone (ours), the Lansing Zone and the Midland Zone

Thursday, October 3rd:

Sister Chris Amundson invited all of us missionaries (5) to dinner at their property in her "fort" that she had finished building.  It was so much fun!  We roasted our own hot dogs and s'mores.  We had great conversations and it just felt relaxing to be there...even if we did come home smelling like campfire.  LOL.

Friday, October 4th:

The five of us missionaries invited Joan and Roy over to our home and fed them dinner this time.  Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, apple pecan salad, green salad and a really yummy orange juice bundt cake.  I have picked up some really good recipes from Facebook while we have been here.  I only took a couple of pictures.  One was during the meal.  We looked out the dining room window and realized the deer were in the backyard eating too.  If you look closely, you can see one through the window screen.

After sharing a video with Joan and Roy, "The Church at a Glance," answering their questions, sharing our testimonies and inviting them to watch General Conference, we chatted for a while.  Elder Haws plays the violin and Roy brought his mandolin at our invitation. While they played together, the other three Elders played Uno Flip while Joan and I had a sweet conversation.  I absolutely adore her.

Just a couple of days after arriving with Elder Haws, the evening after Zone Conference actually, President Peckham called Elder Potter to tell him that he was going to be transferred to a town called Manistee with a new companion coming out to the mission.  What?!  He's only been here a couple of weeks.  We've learned that is how it happens.  You go where the Lord wants you to go.  So this next Monday afternoon we will be driving Elder Potter down to the mission home where he will pick up his new companion.  Manistee is still in the southern most tip of our Zone, the Traverse City Zone) and to the west by Lake Michigan.  We are so grateful to get to know so many wonderful young missionaries.  But its heart-hard to say goodbye.