November 7, 2021- What Happened to October?

Hey All,

Hope your month has been as busy as ours has been. We definitely have stayed busy. More training, more food, more zone conferences, more food....I don't think anyone goes hungry when we gather together in this mission!

We are trying to enjoy the last bits of fall weather when we can. One Saturday we went to Kennebuckport for a walk on the beach and a view of Walker Point. That is where the Bush presidents would escape to from the White House.

One day we got the chance to escape mission boundaries and take 7 missionaries to the "Visa store" in Boston. They are all waiting for their time to come to head to France. So the Blackhams and the Henscheids drove them into the city, dropped them off and then while we waited we explored a small part of Boston. Faneuil Hall - a national historic site. It is a large market building that served as a meeting place for Patriots on the eve of the American Revolution. It is surrounded by North Market, South Market and Quincy Market and in addition to its history is a fun place to eat, shop and watch street performers. So we did all of the above while we waited. Then everyone had lunch and we headed back. It was a nice change of scenery/pace for a day.

The last Friday of the month, the 29th, I came into the apartment after my morning walk and found Allison sitting in our living room!!! What a FUN SURPRISE and the best kept secret ever!!!! She and Spencer had some airline credits from a COVID cancelled flight in 2020 and in June they decided that the perfect use for some of those credits would be for Allison to come for my birthday. It was a short, great weekend and we had so much fun eating lobster, shopping, touring around and just being together. So grateful that she came and for their willingness to use their credits to make it happen.

As I mentioned we have made it through another cycle of mission life. This week is the pause for catch and preparation before it starts all over again. We are doing well. Enjoy our time spent with the young missionaries - they help us remember why we are here.

I'm pretty sure there are exciting things happening with each of you, although we don't hear about them often enough - if at all. Please stay in touch and keep us a part of your lives. We love all. We love the pictures added to the frame, the texts and phone calls and Facetimes. All of those help us feel not so far away.

Love you,

Mom

Hello from the Old Man!

The hardest part of Allison's visit was keeping the secret for over 4 months. There were a few discussions where I had to hold my tongue, and as we prepared to bid farewell to the Blackhams, I had to confide in them so there were no conflicts. She joined us for our office farewell, and we enjoyed the rest of the weekend showing her the highlights of New England. All of which any of you can expect if you end up out this way.

The monthly routine for the Car Guy continues, although last night's call was worrisome. Two elders had taken their car in for a safety inspection, and were told the brakes were 'delaminating', which was an automatic failure. But, the shop shared, you can take the car up into the hills, ride the brakes so they get real hot, and then you should be able to pass the brake inspection. I listened in on the phone while they told the elders this, and we agreed they'd retry the inspection on Monday, P-day. But up the hills they immediately went, and about two hours later I got the call from their Zone Leader--"they wrecked the car". Over the next hours I learned that they had not seen a sharp turn in the road, and hit a bridge abutment hard enough to total the car and release all the airbags. The cars they drive are pretty stout, and now it appears quite safe, even when they make dumb driving decisions. The driver is a big 6'6" loveable galoot, but he won't be driving the last 10 months of his mission. Plus I don't have a replacement car for them, so they'll get to walk in the hills of Vermont this winter. At least they aren't going to be a feature story in "The Safety Zone" (safety training videos all missionaries get to watch).

We continue to be touched by the sweetest testimonies by our departing missionaries as they share their Golden Truths. The most common are Trust, Patience, and Love for your companion. Many times the chemistry between new comps is slow to develop, but it is so powerful when you see them closely yoked in their service in their areas and with each other. These are the times that are the great payoffs for our service.

We've been enjoying some lovely fall weather--colors are still out there, and only a few days where we had to scrape off the windshields. But here it comes!

I continue to get updates on Uncle Henry, who is still holed up in isolation in the Blackfoot rehab facility. Keep him in your prayers.

We love hearing anything from you, and are proud of your hard work, love within your families, and prayers for us.

Love,

Grandpa, Mark, Dad.

*****

P.S. Hello once again....

After I sent the update email I realized I was delinquent in thanking all of you for making my birthday a fun celebration!!! It was so fun to receive your phone calls and text messages throughout the day.

With perfect timing I was even able to have Kneaders French toast for my birthday breakfast. Along with the orange marshmallow pumpkins that I usually send to you, which I couldn't find anywhere here-so you sent them to me!

Thank you for making the day so special for me.

Love you all,

Mom/Grandma