Stanley Park in Vancouver in November.... We decided to take a drive and see if we could find Stanley Park in Vancouver.  It was kind of a chilly day, but was not raining.  We found the park with no trouble, even driving right through downtown Vancouver.  It is quite the park with many things to do and to see.  I am sure that it is absolutely beautiful in the summer.  The leaves from the trees were all on the ground, but oh what huge leaves they are.  Found a little gift shop and looked at a few fun things.  I'll include a few pictures, hopefully the pictures in the spring and the summer will be a bit more colorful.  I wish I could remember my photography class and take the camera off automatic, but just can't remember too much.  I did try to get the curve into the picture however, so just notice that.  And I wish I could make the pictures bigger on this blog, but can't make that work.  Every once in a while the bar comes up to change, but I'm not sure what I do.  Saturday is our P-day, so we try and go explore a bit.  We didn't get off like we wanted as a pair of Sister lost their phone so Al needed to go into the office and get a new one ready for them.  Some Elders also called and they broke the lock to their apartment and were not sure what to do.  Al now has 265 kids to look after with credit cards, phones, and apartments.  :)  Makes my job of tablecloths pretty easy.  (ha)   We enjoyed the fresh air and the ocean.  It is so nice to get out of the office and see some of nature.  We live in the middle of a huge city.  The ocean is not too far, but you have to drive there and most weekday we don't have the time, or it is too dark.  It was nice to be together. 

Al in front of the totem poles.  It was fun to read the meaning of each of them.  This area is full of "First Nation" history.

 

The moss on the trees is actually growing.  The trees seem to have green hair.

Al in the far distance.  I always lag behind to snap the pictures. 

 

Al wanted the camera so I guess I get into the picture.

 

 

I wonder if he is looking for home?  Loved how the trees framed him.

 

 

 

Piles and piles of leaves.  I don't know how their parks department keeps up with all of them.

 

I like the 'First Nation" art.  It is really neat. 

 

Transfer week-November 12-14.


Well we survived transfer week and it was actually a very tiring process.  Tuesday we went to the temple with the departing missionaries and then fixed them supper and served at the President's house.  The temple is almost exactly like the Twin Falls, Temple only a bit smaller.  Made me home sick.   Anyway then on Wednesday is when the new missionaries arrive from the MTC.  We have an orientation, treats and training before we feed them supper and then continue in their training.  Thursday is then the big transfer day when those who are getting transferred come to the mission office and they have meetings all day, and get their new companions.  We fed about 230 very hungry Elders and Sister.  I am always amazed at their capacity to eat.  We had a funny thing happen.  Our President is totally into getting people introduced to the gospel and getting them baptized.  Well right in the middle of the craziness of transfer week Fed-Ex delivers us 9 cases of Baptism/Confirmation forms.  That equates to 9,900 forms.  I think that is enough to last us around 10 years, so President thinks we just need to get baptizing and use them up.  The distribution center in Salt Lake has a new computer system and for some reason on my last order they attached this huge order for baptism forms.  So I just got that sorted and then I get a call from home and there ate around 9 cases of church stuff on my front porch.  It was an order that I needed for Transfers.  For some reason distribution sent it to my home address.   So needless to say we have had some interesting times with shipments this week.  Al and I had to take a part on the training today, of which I knew nothing about.  We are suppose to train in our area of assignment.  I thought what am I going to train on, how to prepare a table, or a file, (ha)   But it was most interesting as I approached the pulpit it came into my mind to talk to the downhearted of which I did.  I related my experience as I was here my first month, and told them my ballgame score story and addressed the down in spirit among them.  I'm not sure all I said, but I do know that the spirit was directing my words.  I had so many Elders and Sisters talk to me throughout the day and thank me for my words.  It was a very tender experience, the Lord will direct you to help others if you will just have Faith in him and let him take over.   I hope I helped some of those struggling.  It has been a fulfilling week, but I must say a most tiring one.  It is nice to be home tonight before 8 p.m. I have decided that a mission is a vacation, working very hard, day in and day out. 

Got my orientation room all set up.

 

Our new missionaries.  My first group that I got to take care of.  What dynamic young people.  Loved each and everyone of them right off.

And of course the transfer dinner decorations.  Just have to show them, as I worry about them for weeks.  Kind of dumb, as nobody really cares, but it does look nice.  We had yummy pulled pork sandwiches, which I think we probably ate around 3 pigs or so. :

 

Have to just add a fun picture of Al and me last Saturday, taking a minute to have a breakfast in a real restaurant.  That huge fruit "thing" was a yogurt parfait.  It was sooo big.

 

 

Mission Conference, November 8-11.  Well we had our first mission conference with a visiting general authority from Salt Lake city.  Elder Johnson and his wife Jill visited our mission.  They were absolutely wonderful people and taught us so much.  The conference was a very spiritual uplift.  I was in charge of the meals each day.  I tried to have centerpieces that were pleasing and a little treat as well after eating Chinese food.   We fed about 165 on Friday and then again on Monday.  It was a huge job, but it was fun to see all the missionaries.

Used pictures of Jesus sitting on top of the scriptures, with a bit of greenery and some scriptures.

The Senior Missionaries in the Lower Mainland that were able to attend the conference on Monday.  President Tilleman and his wife and Elder Johnson and his wife are seated. 

Just a bit of sweet after lunch.  M&M's=Mission of Miracles

Got a sign made, a bit bigger than the 8 x 11 inch one we had.

 

All the Elders and Sisters were so fun to serve.

 

The calm before the storm.  Sister Boehmer makes that final check.

We were blessed to have the Carletons stay with us as they came from up north in Kamloops for the conference.   We had fun laughing and talking.  They are from Toronto, Canada and are doing a great job helping the people in Kamloops.

 

Also we had the wonderful opportunity to go with the Elders as they taught a mother and son about the gospel, Robert and Louise Milner.  It was so awesome to listen to the Elders teach them about the gospel and to witness Rob and Louise as they read the Book of Mormon and accepted the truthfulness of the gospel.  We had their baptism on Sunday evening, November 10.  Elder Nickels will confirm them on next Sunday the 18th.  They ask that he do that.  It was a neat experience and we hope we can continue to help them as they learn and grow in the gospel.

All the missionaries that were involved in their teaching. 

Left--to--right:  Elder Orgill, Elder Smith, Robert, Rob (who baptized them, he is leaving on a mission in a week), Elder Lindeman, Louise, and Elder Gardner.  Love these Elders.  They are so dynamic.  They are so busy each and every minute.  They are the AP's right now and are trying to get the mission conference ready, but they ran home Sunday afternoon and baked a cake for refreshments for the baptism that evening.  These 4 Elders also sang at the baptism.  It was the most beautiful song I have heard for a while, it was absolutely wonderful.  They are so multi-talented and are certainly  God's representatives, as they preach the truth.  You can see it and feel it from them.  They are absolutely correct in their teaching.  It has strengthened me so very much.  Our Heavenly Father loves each and everyone of his children.