NETHINIMS...

Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out. Nehamiah 3:26

TUESDAY, 3 February 2015

We were to be a part of the early 6:00 AM session this morning so arrived at the Palmyra Temple around 5:30 AM.  We had another lovely morning at the temple.  We were so surprised at the amount of patron's who braved the weather and arrived at the temple this morning.  They had stories of several road closings and accidents viewed as they drove to the temple.  We were totally fascinated with the amount of snow that has fallen the last couple of days.  This is the entryway of the temple when we arrived this early morning hour.

How could we not have a great day when we enter The Lord's House?  He always makes us feel like "welcome family" when we serve here.  Thank's for painting this picture Brother Olsen. 

 "The Temples, the houses of our God, when acceptably dedicated, become to us the gates of heaven.  They are esteemed most holy unto the Lord of all places upon the earth; therein the faithful approach nearest unto God, and obtain the greatest fellowship and inspiration of His Holy Spirit."  Apostle Franklin D. Richards May 17, 1884

NETHINIMS: TEMPLE SERVANTS

The sun began to shine just before we left, so I had to get a picture of the clean walkway to our car.  

 This is a bench to sit on...but not today!

 If we thought we wouldn't get hurt we would have climbed this snow embankment....but we knew better than to try.  This mound is at the end of the parking lot.

WEDNESDAY, 4 February 2015

Six couple missionaries got together this morning and went to the George Eastman home and museum in Rochester, NY.  He is responsible for all the film camera's in our era.  He was an unschooled inventor who made all our lives a lot brighter and brought the film industry into being.
"George Eastman (July 12, 1854 – March 14, 1932) was an American innovator and entrepreneur who founded the Eastman Kodak Company and popularized the use of roll film, helping to bring photography to the mainstream. 
He was a major philanthropist, establishing the Eastman School of Music, and schools of dentistry and medicine at the University of Rochester and in London; contributing to RIT and the construction of MIT's second campus on the Charles River; and donating to Tuskegee and Hampton universities. In addition, he provided funds for clinics in London and other European cities to serve low-income residents.
He was one of the outstanding philanthropists of his time, donating more than $100 million to various projects in Rochester; Cambridge, Massachusetts; at two historically black colleges in the South; and in several European cities.  In 1918, he endowed the establishment of the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester, and in 1921 a school of medicine and dentistry there."
This is what his home looks like in the summer.

We arrived all ready to learn about our old Eastman Kodak cameras we all had in our youth.

This is what the gardens looked like as we toured today...burr

These are just some of the old bottles of mixtures used to develop films through out the years.  Times have sure changed since the "dark room" era & this cell phone camera I used today.

George Eastman was quite the hunter and Elder Bushman wanted a picture with the ivory in the 

Eastman sunroom.

This is what this room looks like!

Our tour guide told us the story of Eastman as we toured his home.

These were author signature prints on the indoor walls of the library.

 I thought this was an awesome idea.

 There is a study center on the third floor where you can study all the cameras etc. that Eastman invented.

 This knob was so pretty on the staircase.

 This is looking up three floors from the bottom of the stair case.

We took pictures of all of us in his living room-office.

 In order to get all of us we had to double up on the photo...thank's to Sister Neeley and Elder Mortensen we got everyone of the six couples.

There were many rooms that you can see online...these are just a few of the pictures I took.  Mr Eastman ended his life with this note written in Green ink.  He was so sick and hurt so bad that he ended his own life.  A sad ending to a man who helped us all create our memories of our own lives  through affordable cameras & movies of now and early years.  George Eastman lived from 1854-1932. Thank you George Eastman for creating the Kodak Camera.  May you find peace and joy now that you have been reunited with your parents again.

Dedicated:  to George Eastman, may this put a smile on your immortal face!

After we left the museum we went to lunch.

We all ordered our own favorites.

 We studied those menus till we were satisfied with our choices!

We had a wonderful day with our friends and co missionaries.  Thank's for the memories on this winter day.  

Now we are off to serve in the temple this evening.  I helped run the office tonight.

THURSDAY, 5 FEBRUARY 2015

Happy Birthday to our son-in-law Michael!  Today he turns 40!  He took our Granddaughter Lily on a Daddy-Daughter Party at her school...good birthday party for a good daddy.  Mike is a dentist and is responsible for Sister Bushman's pearly white teeth!  He can make your teeth shine too...just sayin'.  Thank's for being a great member of our family Mike, we love you! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL!

We served in the morning and evening shifts at the temple today.  I went on a session and the VanGorders were on the session.  They drove up from Cortland and it is still snowing outside.  It was great to see you both...safe travels back to Cortland.  I had a sister come up to me, in the temple, and give me a little frog.  "Fully Rely on God", she said.  She said when I get down to remember what F.R.O.G. stands for and smile.  I asked the sisters, in the dressing room, if any of them had a frog from this sister.  Most of them had one.  Another sister said she has given over 1000 of these little frogs out.  Thank you Sister Call, yes, you make me smile and I will treasure this memory of our temple visit together.

It was my day!  Sister Lynnette Neeley gave me a copper bracelet with magnets on it.  She said she saw it on the internet and bought it for me.  I wear copper on both my wrists to keep my arthritis from hurting.  They work great for me.  Thank you Sister Neeley.  I hope to wear this for many years and will think of you as I wear it.  Thank you for your example and kindness.  

I did not go swimming today...there is so much snow on the roads and on the sides of the roads that I chose to stay indoors and stay warm.  I sure miss swimming daily though.

Another Pepperdine loss for BYU in Malibu CA 74-80

Because we like you!

FRIDAY, 6 February 2015

Today, in 1928, The Hill Cumorah was purchased by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  This opened the way for us to become missionaries here!  Hurrah for the history of this "The Hill".  It's sad to think we won't see the hill this beautiful and green before we leave in April.  Right now it is covered, and really covered with snow.  

Nethinims: Nehemiah 8: So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.  

 We are so thankful that Joseph Smith gave us The Book of Mormon, another Testament of Jesus Christ! 

STAND YE IN HOLY PLACES AND BE NOT MOVED.

It is snowing, again, this morning.  I am doing the eternal laundry!  This is another beautiful winter day in Palmyra, New York!  This is our preparation day...so we are getting our Sunday School lesson ready, doing assignments requested by President Brighton, indexing etc, etc, etc.

SATURDAY, February 7, 2015

It was still snowing when we left for the temple this morning.  We served all day in the Palmyra Temple.  It was a good day.  There were many members who traveled up from our Cortland Ward to the temple today.  It was so good to see all of you in the temple!   We got home just in time to see the last half of the BYU win against LMU 87-68.  Congratulations to Kyle Collinsworth for the 5th triple-double of the season!

because we like you!

"It's Me Oh Lord Standin' In The Need Of Prayer"

SUNDAY 8 February 2015
It is snowing again as I write this.  The weather was so cold today.  We stayed in Palmyra and attended the Palmyra Ward Conference.  They had three great meetings.  My cousin Bruce Nickell sang in a men's quartet for Sacrament Meeting.  That was my bonus for missing our Cortland Meetings.  It was so good to hear him sing again.  His voice is really heavenly.  Thank you for your example Bruce.  You are the bestest cousin ever!  This is a photo of him and his wife Ka'ren.  Getting to know them better is our bonus for serving as missionaries here.

MONDAY 9 February 2015
  No swimming again for me today, too leary of driving in the deep snow.  It is a "Delivering Milo" type of day in Palmyra...love the movie...love my Dad...Happy Birthday to my Dad.  He would have been 91 today...too bad he died at 41...he has been back in heaven longer than he lived on the earth.  Happy Birthday Dad..."God Be With You Till We Meet Again."  Love You.  Even then I knew this earth life was going to be a challenge...see the wrinkles on my brow, and the snow on the ground!  This picture was taken in Tetonia, Idaho in 1947.

It is still snowing in Palmyra, New York today.  Happy Valentine's Day to each and every one of you!  We love New York even in the snow.

They were pretty tired by now of course; but not what I’d call bitterly tired – only slow and feeling very dreamy and tired as one does when one is coming to the end of a long day in the open.” 
― C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

If you read all this blog, you must be tired now too....Hug's to you and each of you.

Elder and Sister Bushman; The Temple Servants: Nethinims

Grandma Gene & Grandpa Arthur