July 11, 2021- What's Been Going On?

Hi Everyone,

Guess it's time to send another update. We are staying busy with the mission things - as expected, Right?! We are currently readying for another round of transfers beginning Wednesday this week - I am sure there will be stories to tell in our next update. We have 28 new missionaries arriving and 24 going home, in addition to regular transfers in the mission. It will be a busy week.

Last weekend -the 4th of July weekend- we went to Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts, to try to be a little bit patriotic. It is an 1830's historical village with volunteers acting their parts as if in 1830. There were exhibits and also live working exhibits like the potter, the blacksmith, a saw mill, wool carding and spinning, etc. We even took a ride on a carryall pulled by 2 beautiful draft horses. It is nicely done but nothing like Colonial Williamsburg or even Nauvoo. Still a pleasant get away. They were celebrating the 4th by reading the Declaration of Independence. I don't think I've ever heard it read aloud before. Didn't realize or remember all the grievances against the king- King George-that are part of the document -Interesting.

On the 4th of July, the senior couples (including the dr and his wife- so same group we had for dinner here a while ago) and Pres & Sis Beck had a bbq dinner together. It was a nice relaxing meal; guys at one of the table and women at the other, but still talk of upcoming missionary events- mostly out of necessity.

With transfers approaching, we have missionaries going home that are in our area and so we get to see more often than others. We had a couple of different lunches this week, to wish them well as they head out for new adventures. I'm including pictures! Sister Thomas, standing right next to me on the end, is a Sister training leader- she is going home to Bosie and then to BYU-I. The small blonde elder at the end of the table is Elder Bird, one of our AP's, going home to St George and then to BYU-Provo. Both great missionaries - they will be missed. And replaced as is the nature of the mission.

Yesterday we went to Old Orchard Beach in Maine. "If there is a Coney Island of Maine, it would be OOB". A family favorite, definitely more family friendly. Seven miles of beach and Old Orchard Pier which spans 500 feet out and over the Atlantic. The original pier was built in 1898 and extended 1825 feet out, but time and storms have reduced the size but still a fun sight to see. We took beach chairs and sat on the beach and enjoyed the sun, the waves and later on the food. It was a great, restful end to the week.

Now it's time to gear up.....Again!

We hope all of you are doing well and enjoying your summer. We had torrential downpours this week, some due to "Elsa" storming up the eastern seaboard. We were all wishing we could figure out a way to send some West. The heat sounds HOT and kind of scary as drought conditions continue. Stay safe and try to stay cool. Know that we love you, and pray for you and miss you! Send updates! As I always say, It's great to hear from You!!

Love you, Mom

Well, it’s been a quiet week in Lake Wobegon....

With pardons to Cafe Burf, sometimes we have our nose to the grindstone and with the exception of life in our lanes, its kinda quiet. My challenge this week was coping with a nasty ear infection—no luck with self-treatment, and I ended up at the Urgent Care on Tuesday. Some heavy-duty antibiotics have pretty much knocked it down, but I had to resort to wearing my hearing aids for a few days just so Mom wouldn’t tell me to quit saying “Huh?” So those little guys are tucked back in their pouch and available for the next round.

The week was a classic first of the month grind to gather mileage and receipts for our fleet—we continue to drive more miles than the Fleet team wants, but in months where we have Transfers and Zone Conferences, everyone’s on the road, and they add up. I’ve become the least liked Elder in the Mission I’ve decided—had the Zone Leaders parcel out miles and got lots of grousing and crabbing. I’d say 85% of our drivers go 300-1000 miles over what they have now been capped at. But there’s no free lunch in this business. Plus President Beck points out how very successful our Facebook efforts have been, and when your driving, you’re not working those Friends that you’ve met on FB. At least that’s my perspective.

I’ve also been scrambling to arrange and choreograph transportation for the 28 arriving and 24 departing missionaries this week. The largest group we’ve apparently seen in the Mission. U-Hauls to carry baggage, 37 passenger bus to carry our missionaries, all spread over 3 days. Hope all the planning falls into place—we had to deal with a curve when a big NASCAR event took every mid-sized van in the area, plus all flights into our local airport. So we have to do a Boston pickup, which means traveling outside the mission and more spooky traffic. Pray for our safety.

Mom will share our adventures at Old Sturbridge Village and OOB—Old Orchard Beach. We’re still in our ‘inland--beach’ cycle. Both had interesting features and attractions, but were both 1.5 hours away, so ‘on the road again’. I’d say my favorite at OSV was the cooper—barrel maker (uses lots of red oak), plus hearing the Declaration of Independence read. At OOB it was sitting on the beach reading while Mom wandered up and down the shore collecting shells. Got lots of sun, and it was quite pleasant, but a bit crowded. But the next port call to the east is France, so it was fun to be there.

Thanks for all the notes and calls—more when you get a chance.

Love,

Dad/Mark