Preparation day

Saturday is our Preparation Day, but we usually end up doing something.  We helped load up some furniture that was donated to the mission.  Elder Nickels is always looking for furniture to furnish the missionaries apartments.  Sister Boehmer is awesome at finding people who are willing to donate, but we usually have to go and pick it up.  Elder Atwood is the moving elder right now. 

 Elder Nickels with Elder Atwood secure the mattress.  The trailer is full. 

Elder Boehmer and Elder Nickels with all the new 'treasures'

 

Thought I would insert a picture of us as we are in our typical 'go to the office attire'.  We leave each day around 8:15 am and get home around 6:00-7:00.  Many nights we get the opportunity to go out with the AP's to teach a lesson.  

 

 

We look as white as the walls behind us in our apartment.  I think we need to see some sun.  I can say we are looking forward to spring, sun, leaves on the trees, and maybe a flower or two.

 

 

 

 

 

 

February Transfers

February Transfer is history now, but what a week.  We had 20 new missionaries come in and opened up 8 new areas.  We were so very busy.  Al was buried in closing apartments and trying to find new ones.  We feed 12 departing on Tuesday, 20 new ones coming in on Wednesday, 220 on Transfer day and mission council on Friday.  We are exhausted.  It is so fun to have all the Elders and Sister come in from out in the field, but it makes for long, long days.  What dynamic youth are in this church.  I am just going to tell the story of transfers with pictures.

I just got the orientation room set up, ready for the missionaries to arrive from the MTC.

 

The teaching pamphlets we have combined into one book, laminated the front and the back.  The missionaries seem to really love them, so we are giving them to our new ones coming in.

Added a sign for the front of the room.

 

The AP's working so hard to get everything done and all prepared for Transfer day tomorrow.  Elder Orgill and Elder Owens.

We couldn't make it through Transfers without Elder and Sister Boehmer.

All the AP's after training the new arrivals.

Standing in  line for supper.  They are hungry.  It has been a long time since the MTC.

 

The sisters arriving in February makes our mission have over 100 sisters.

Sister Silver with all the cupcakes she made for Transfers.  She really worked hard on them, and they were beautiful and delicious. 

The tables looked very nice, complete with candy hearts and strawberries dipped in chocolate.

I snapped a picture of Elder Nickels instructing all the missionaries during Transfer training.

Yummy Transfer Lunch.

The two workers.  Sister Silver and Sister Boehmer.

 

Some of our favorite sisters.  Sister Lamb, Sister Ding, Sister Lin, Sister Dahl, Sister Larsen, and Sister Holm. 

 

January and a visit from Taylor

Well January is beginning to be long, but we are so blessed to have Taylor come and visit us for a few days.  It has been such fun to have her here.  She really brought the feelings of home with her.  It is great to  have a break from January.  We visited Steveston, where they film "Once Upon A Time".  She went and spent a day with the Sisters in Vancouver and they had a great time.  She was also here with us today, Sunday, to help us with the baptism.  Al baptized Kaba today and I gave a talk on Baptism.  We had many people to pick up for church and Kaba and his whole family, so we started out very early.  Having an extra pair of hands was so needed.  Thank you Taylor for all the help with the kids.   Al did a wonderful job of the baptism.  It was wonderful to have a granddaughter here with us and her being with us for Al's first baptism.  It was a special day.

Sister Wright, Taylor, Sister Demardaunt in Vancouver.

Ready to head out with the sisters, the new Sister Nickels.  Or should I say the Young Sister Nickels

Saturday we spent in Steveston.  The wind was blowing and it was cold, but we had to go and see it.  It is always great to go down by the ocean and see all the boats.

 

We had to investigate all the boats and their fish they were selling.  Each Saturday the boats are docked at the pier and they sell their fish off their boats.  It is so interesting to see all the different kinds of fish that there are-heads and all.

No visit is complete without Fish n Chips at Dave's.

 

Have to have those pictures from "Once Upon A Time"  Here is Granny's Diner.

 

My talk was about the three Bears.  When you are baptized you Bear the name of Christ, Bear your testimony, and Bear one another's Burdens.

Kaba is 9 years old.  All of the Assistant's were involved in his teaching. 

Kaba was so excited to be baptized.

 

It has been a wonderful weekend.  We are so happy that Taylor came to visit us.  We will have a hard time putting her on the airplane tomorrow on Monday.  Don't know if I can bear it. 

 

 

Butchart Gardens--Christmas Eve

We took a few hours on Christmas Eve and visited Butchart Gardens.  It was so beautiful to see all the lights.  The theme was the 12 days of Christmas.  We had gone to the island to deliver last minute gifts and an apartment problem, so we took a few hours before we could catch the ferry back to the mainland and went through the gardens.  The Christmas lights were so beautiful.   Can't wait to tour through it this summer when all the flowers and color is out.

 

 

Eight maids a milking

Calling birds (cell phones)

Ladies dancing

 

 

Geese a laying