Still Running

Our fourth week has gone by in a whirl. We are feeling more comfortable with our work assignments and our surroundings. It has been a good week with a lot of different things happening. On Tuesday along with President and Sister Simpson we were invited to dinner at the Robinsons, who are serving here as temple president and matron. We had a very enjoyable time listening to their “temple” stories. One story was especially interesting. A couple of years ago the Robinsons were called to serve a temple mission in the Lagos Nigeria Temple. About a year into their mission security issues developed around the temple and the Church decided to close it until more peaceful times prevailed (the Temple is now fully operational). The Robinsons were told to leave Nigeria very quickly and without any farewells. As you can imagine, this was very hard for them. Larry enjoyed trading stories and perceptions that he had picked up from his numerous African trips while he worked in Church Translation.

[Simpsons, Robinsons & Foleys]

After being home about a year, the Robinsons were called as temple president and matron of the Halifax Nova Scotia Temple. We have been able to attend the Temple a couple of times and have enjoyed its friendly atmosphere. The first time we went, we were warmly greeted and introduced to the workers. The temple is small and serves a relatively small Church membership. Our mission has only two stakes and one district. Twice a year special sessions are held for the French speaking members living in New Brunswick. President Robinson commented that he would like Larry to work in French with them at the veil when they come. That could be challenging since he has never done that and his French is less than fluent.

[Halifax Nova Scotia Temple]

Next to the temple is the Dartmouth stake center. The Cole Harbour and Dartmouth Wards hold services there. We attend the Dartmouth Ward which is a very large ward. We enjoy attending there very much. We are assigned to home teach three Hispanic families in the ward. On Wednesday we met with a young Hispanic couple and really enjoyed the visit. The wife is from Guadalajara and knows one of our sister missionaries from the Visitors Center. It was fun to talk about our mutual acquaintance. We would like to use these families to identify other Hispanics in the area so that we can introduce them to the Gospel. This couple knows a few Hispanics, so we hope to move forward with our plan.

[Halifax Stake Center]

We also had the chance to go through a missionary transfer day. The companionship changes occur every sixth Thursday. Newly arriving missionaries arrive on the preceding Tuesday. The president and his wife pick them up at the airport. On Wednesday they attend the Temple with them and give them orientation. Early Thursday the changes are made. On Friday any terminating missionaries leave. It is a very busy week. This week things went awry. We were supposed to get seven missionaries this time. However, one had appendicitis and won’t be arriving until March 29th. The other six were supposed to transfer to a Halifax flight at JFK but their plane had mechanical problems and they wound up spending the night in NYC. Not knowing this, the President was up till 2:00 a.m. waiting for them. Then the next day the six came in on two different flights. Consequently, no orientation, just straight to their areas early Thursday morning. We closed the office on Thursday to have lunch at President Simpson’s house with the missionaries transferring in to this area and the two departing missionaries. It was fun to visit with them over morsels of food.

[President & Sister Simpson]

[Two stripling warriors]

[Lady missionaries assigned to Halifax]

[Best buddies?]

[Hoorah for Israel]

[Joann helps with cooking and cleaning]

[Yours truly]

On preparation day this week we ventured out to take in a few sights. It has been so cold lately that it has been a struggle to even walk to the car, so we have not really seen much of the area. Today was a little warmer. We ventured down to Eastern Passage which is a small town located at the southeastern edge of Halifax Harbor. This part of the harbor is not the main shipping channel because of its shallow depths. Historically it has been used by the fishing industry. Its waterfront consists of small wharves and piers. It was fun to walk about and see this area and the waters of the North Atlantic. We want to come back again during the summer to see more.

[An old chapel in Eastern Passage]

[Aren't wall murals a thing of Old Mexico?]

[Houses near the pier in Eastern Passage]

[A forlorn sailor waiting for his next voyage?]

[The bridge from Dartmouth to Halifax]

We continue to enjoy our mission a great deal. We know that we have been sent here for a special purpose and we are looking forward to accomplishing that.