Service and Snow!

This week was full of so many different things.

We started off the week teaching a Marriage Relationship class to a newly married couple.  It's one thing to work through your own marriage and another thing to teach someone else.  This is where relying on the Spirit is so crucial.  The couple is very enthusiastic and willing to work on each element.  We encouraged them this week to pray as a couple every night.  There is just something so touching to hear your spouse pray on your behalf.  That is one thing, we have learned that is most helpful in our marriage.

We found a thrift shop and got all this for $6.00!

That same evening was a really fun one.  Two couples and us got together for dinner and game night.  One of the couples had not been to church in about a year.  It was great having them get together and share some fun and strengthen friendships.

We did some service this week.  I think it was our favorite parts.  We took a family with 5 children dinner.  She was so grateful because she doesn't usually get home till nearly 5 pm.  We got a last minute text from the Elders on Wednesday, that a family was moving into the ward that day and needed help.  The best part was the 11 inches of snow we'd gotten the night before.  Weather doesn't always accommodate moving.  It was very cold and still snowing when we got there.  Luckily, some of the family's relatives also came, and so the move went quickly.  The grandpa in the family asked, "Where'd you get those foreigners?" (referring to us and the Elders - we have that PA license plate).  I introduced myself and told them about our mission.  He replied, "Boy, you come a long way to help someone move!"  So happy to have a new family in the ward!!

These are real birds at the Senior Home - The Manor

We see a sister in one of the Senior homes every Tuesday.  I don't think she really has any other visitors.  She always like the cookies we bring, and every other time, we bring a spiritual message.  She is really into BINGO and does fairly well.  She told us how there is no Bingo caller for Monday and Thursday evenings.  On our way out, we stopped by the office and told them we would be glad to volunteer on Thursday evenings for Bingo.  They are so excited for us to help out.  That was a really fun time.  There are about 15 people.  They are a lively group and we did a great job at learning their names.  We let them vote at the end, if they wanted us to come every week.  It was a unanimous - Yes!

Real birds at the Manor

We look great in our hairnets!

We also signed up to help with lunches at the Senior Center.  The center provides lunch each week day for $4 for any elderly person that comes and live in the community.  We will help them out as many days that we are able.  The staff were so grateful for our help.  All we did was serve salad and  cake; then sweep and mop. When it was time to clean up, I asked them what jobs they hated the most - sweeping and mopping.  I said, that's what we'll do.  Talk about making someone smile.  They also provide us with some of the lunch at the end.  We enjoyed getting to know some of the seniors while we ate.  I'm not sure who is making out better with this deal.

All that snow makes our car look huge!

Our winter wonderland from our front porch

We finally got a big snow here.  I was actually quite excited about it.  It seems to snow a little almost every day so now snow doesn't seem like such a big deal.  But Tuesday night, it started to snow pretty hard and steady.  The weather forecast was for 2-5 inches.  Newcastle won and got 11!  Most of the other towns didn't get nearly as much.  We found out our car does quite well in deep snow - if it's the dry and fluffy kind - which it was.  So we cleaned off the car, bundled up and got visiting and helping that family move in.  We love the adventure!

Walt cleaning off the car

Our week ended with 3 trips to Gillette.  It is where our Stake Center is.  We had Missionary Zone Conference on Friday from 9-5.  We were able to meet President and Sister Larson.  Such a down to earth couple.  They are from Arizona and love nature.  We had fun with the "young" missionaries.  We are the only Sr Couple in the Zone.  It's fun to be around the them.

Saturday and Sunday was our Stake Conference.  We had two visiting General Authorities due to the reorganization of our Stake Presidency.  (The Stake president and his counselors have stewardship over everyone in the  10-15 congregations within their specific area.  The General Authorities seek the Lord's guidance to know who to place in those positions) Elder Erich Kopichke and Elder John N. Craig.  It's so hard to describe the Spirit that was in those meetings!  They have such enthusiasm and can tell how much they love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ!  They shared such wonderful stories of how the Spirit can guide our lives and in such miraculous ways!  I have seen such things in my own life.   Heavenly Father and the Savior love us so much!  It brings God so much joy for us to be happy and will do all He can to help us have joy in our lives.  He knows as individually, personally!  I cannot count how many times I have felt Him there for me, aware of my trials - grief - my successes.  When I ask and have faith, He is always there.

One of our new frames and pictures

The comment that impressed me the most during all of this was - "Without Family - Nothing Matters."  It is so true!  Life is all about Families!  How very blessed we are to have such a loving and close family.  I know this is not the case for many people.  But there are people placed in our lives that become like family to us - they are part of our eternal family.  We could not be here without the support and love of our family!  We know Heavenly Father is taking care of them while we are gone and blesses their lives on our behalf.

Walt's favorite part was during the meeting today.  Some explanation/background - A General authority is someone who is delegated by an Apostle of the Lord to act in his behalf.  When it is time for a new Stake Presidency, these men come without having met any of the members of the Stake beforehand.  Much prayer, fasting, and  inspiration goes into the process of finding out who the Lord needs to serve in these positions at this current time.   One of the previous counselor in the Stake Presidency - Brother  Ruby felt an impression several months ago, that he might be the next Stake President.  At the time, there were not any plans for replacing the current president.  He told his wife at that time, if he were to ever be the Stake President, he knew who the Lord would want for his counselors.

Then on Saturday afternoon, the two General Authorities told Brother Ruby that the Lord wanted him to be the new Stake President and he needed to choose his two counselors by that evening.  The General Authorities had prayed also about who his counselors should be.  Later, they asked him who he felt the Lord wanted to be his counselors.  The General Authorities had each written down the names, they were felt the Lord had chosen.  All three men had written the same two names for counselors.  We couldn't help but feel the Spirit as they shared this experience and everyone in the congregation knew that these men were called of God.

Our new pictures above our desk.  We love them all

We love being here in Newcastle, sharing with others the love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  We feel we have been sent by that same inspiration to serve and love these people.  We appreciate your love and support for us and especially prayers!  Keep praying we stay warm!

Our view driving home today.  It's from the wind blowing the snow across the road.

The temperature on Friday on the way to Gillette