Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Youngstown Stake Zone Conference

We had a great Zone Conference today with our new Mission President and his wife and our Stake President. We had great inspirational lessons, food and fellowship. The lesson that stood out to me the most was when President Vellinga said to let the power of the Holy Ghost do the teaching and when President Kirk demonstrated the power of 3 to us as compared to the power of 4. We were "volunteered" to do a roll play with a oouple of other young missionaries about the atonement and sharing the Book of Mormon. Whenever we do the roll plays we learn alot. It was a great day.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

September 2012 Newsletter Article for the Pheasant Ward

We saw a picture of our home this week and we got really homesick so we are making ourselves as busy as possible. You know what President Hinckley’s father told him when he wrote home from his mission, “Forget yourself and go to work.” We love our mission very much so that surprised us a bit.
Our work in the Archives has been steadily increasing and most of our books are passing. We missed one that had a hand covering some information on the page and another one where the writing was so light it didn’t meet the line segment test. We look at it like another opportunity to learn a little more about the fascinating world of photographing these sacred books. We are really glad we are done with the traveling before winter sets in. We are so grateful for the opportunity to do the traveling around to the other Records Centers to see how they are organized and work and meet more great people in Ohio.
We really like to learn more and more about the Amish culture not far from where we live in Niles. It is fun to see the horse drawn farm implements and lawn mowers and carriages. They have some beautiful horses. The horses have to be exercised to keep them in good shape so we have seen several children out in the carriages we call the convertible carriages. It has no top. It has room for one or two in it but usually just one child is in it. There isn’t much to hold onto but the reigns.
We are so grateful for the work we do in our Ward. It is always so rewarding when someone we have visited comes to church or we have an opportunity to serve. The Home Teaching and Visiting Teaching assignments have been and are being redone to include more less-actives and part-member families. It is always so good to watch a Ward grow and become even more missionary minded. We have a very missionary minded Stake Presidency who are inspiring some great changes in our area. We are looking forward to Stake Conference.
We greet people as they come to church on Sundays and make a point to greet those who aren’t able to greet us at the door. We met with a young woman this week who was baptized in March in the Hiram Ward and is new to our Ward. We played in the park with her five and one year old. We are giving her a ride to Stake Conference Sunday in hopes to meet the Bishop’s family and the Relief Society President. We have great young missionaries in our ward. We meet with them to review our list of birthday visits each week. We are taking them to visit a family about 30 miles away whose house burned down and they are living in their shed in their back yard to evaluate their needs today. Every time we visit someone it is a reminder to us of how very blessed we are and grateful for the abilities we have to serve.
We have been reminded of the importance of the Plan of Salvation this past week with the passing of two great men that have meant a lot to us over the years. The hope and peace the gospel brings truly helps us put one foot in front of the other when life happens and we experience the sadness and trials along the way. We know that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. We love and miss you and are grateful for each of you and how you have touched our lives.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Amish Bakery

This is our favorite Amish Bakery. They make fruit turnovers that they call fry pies. They make donuts and cream filled long johns that they call cream sticks. Everything they make is homemade and delicious.

THIS IS A FRY PIE

Countryside

I want the riding lawnmower franchise for the State of Ohio. Look at the size of these monsters. Could take more than an hour to mow the lawn.






The only irrigation they get is from the rain...


A Typical Farm in Ohio

A typical farm in Ohio. We are looking forward to harvest time to see what is growing in the field. We think it is beans.



Monday, August 13, 2012

Roadside Advertising



Farm building with some advertising. Not sure how old this is.

Amish Barn

 


No new construction on Amish barn on way to Chardon. Could be they are too busy in fields.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Ohio Strawberry Box

June picture of strawberry box

August picture of strawberry box

The strawberry patch is taking off. The rains have been good and we have lots of sunny days. A critter has been eating some of them, but thats ok.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

FHE

The topic of the Family Home Evening this week was Forgiveness. Great lesson by Elder Carmack with very attentive little ones. The object lesson was a simple obstacle course ran backward and then forward. Moving forward is like forgiveness. When we forgive and forget we can let go of past hurts and move forward with our lives. "Chews" to forgive with chewing gum. We love our FHE Family.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Barns in the Countryside


Old and new barns in countryside. We love visiting members in the outlining area of ward.

Warren High School Football Stadium



High school football is big in Ohio. Here is one of the High School stadiums in Warren Ohio. 

Beautiful Country Church

This scenic Community Church is just outside Parkman Ohio. We passed by it almost every day when we went to Chardon for work.

Immigration and Naturalization Records Next!

"From Sea to Shining Sea" is the motto of the next big FamilySearch project to index and arbitrate the Immigration and Naturalization Records. Come join the fun of indexing and arbitrating these precious records. You may find your ancestors in the process!

Thursday, August 2, 2012

FamilySearch Newspaper Article in Warren, Ohio

We were in the Tribune Chronicle Newspaper July 30th. They did a story about the work we are doing in the Archives.  We are praying that it opens some doors for the missionary and genealogical effort.

Just click on the link: