The most awesome experience happened when we went to the Palmyra Ward on Sunday April 27th. The first person to introduce themselves to us, in the chapel, was my cousin Bruce Nickell. I had not seen him since he was about 6 years old. His Mother, Idonna, is my fathers sister. Below is a picture of me (the youngest in the picture) with Bruce's mother Idonna and her sister Renae. Idona is the older sister. I felt the heaven's very close on Sunday as I visited with Bruce. It is a small world in the church. Families are forever!
We had a delightful Fireside with Elder William Walker on Sunday evening. He told the story of when his first child was born. He had a best friend who had their first child on the same day. They were discussing this miraculous event and his friend commented that he was so moved at this sweet babies birth, but the hospital staff acted like it was a routine event and that it happened every day, no big deal! Elder Walker requested, from us, that when we do the ordinances for people, don't act like that is what we do everyday...be excited that we are helping that person do their work for their first time. We are to remember how we felt when we were doing our own work. Then he gave several stories about how President Monson always focuses on "The One". I'm writing this down to help me remember how important the work is that we are doing here in Palmyra...Help me lest I forget!
Monday evening we went to our first Home Evening with all the Temple Missionaries. President & Sister Brighton and all the Presidency along with several missionaries fed us dinner and then we met our Mission President ARTHUR Francis and his wife Sherry. They preside over the Rochester New York Mission which we are part of. He and his wife are in their early 50's and are parents of 7 sons and 1 daughter. They have two granddaughters. They are from California. Four of their sons are here with them and another is returning from his mission this Thursday. They have another son serving in the Pocatello, Idaho mission! They are a delightful "young" couple and we feel fortunate to be under their tutorship.
The couple with them in this picture are Elder Ted and Sister Phyllis Bardo. They are our next door neighbors in the Inn. They are converts from Houston and are here serving for 6 months. They are the parents of five children also. They informed us that we do not have to pay to do our laundry...we just get a key from the front desk. Also we can have housekeeping clean once a week. Now they are good neighbors..I did not know this information...are we being blessed, or what? We love our neighbors!
President Thomas and Linda Brighton are the President and Matron of this Palmyra New York Temple. He was a Mission President in Ireland, and they served together in Bejing China and now are the Temple President and Matron for here. Sister Brighton is a twin and has wanted to live by her twin sister since they both got married. The Brighton's lived in this area for over 25 years and finally bought a home in Utah next door to her twin sister. They have owned that home for 14 years now and still have not been neighbors as both couples keep serving missions. They hope when they get released from the temple presidency it will happen as they feel old now...ha...do you think they will stay put?
We send greetings to our family and friends...I think this blog should be published for this week. Tomorrow we get our schedule and the schedule of the ward we will be serving in. I hope we don't shed tears over what they give us! If we do perhaps a rose rock will form from our tears as we travel here. The rose rock (barite) is the legend of Oklahoma and their State Rock. There are several Indian tribes in New York...one is the Oneida Indians. Perhaps our tears won't form rose rocks but eating utensils...just trying to make a joke! The wine-red garnet is the New York gem....very appropriate for this mission.
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