Movers and Shakers

We have mentioned before that part of Larry's assignment includes managing mission apartments and cars. Last Fall we found ourselves on the road quite often looking for apartments for senior couples, replacing old furniture in the young missionaries apartments and helping to deliver 10 new trucks that were assigned to the mission.

In August and September we found and furnished apartments for two new couples assigned to the mission, the Duncans in Amherst, Nova Scotia and the Hunters in St. Stephen, New Brunswick. Later at very short notice we also found and furnished an apartment for the Piersons in Halifax. It is so exciting to see these new couples come. They are needed very badly and make such a difference in the areas where they serve.

In early November we drove one of the new truck to the elders in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. On the way we dropped off a new dresser to the the Duncans' apartment in Amherst and shuttled their other dresser across town to the Amherst elders.

Lovely farm on the way to Amherst

Our Amherst Elders Meynders and Steward along with Elder Foley

The moving crew

We next drove to Summerside, PEI where we left the truck and picked up their car to be delivered later to St. John, New Brunswick, something like musical cars.

From Summerside we drove to Charlottetown, PEI where we were able to participate in an historic district conference. On Saturday night we stayed at the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel which also was the venue for a big district dance. It was fun to see the room packed with people, all the way from babies to grandparents (like us). A fun Mexican buffet was the fare of the night followed by lots of visiting and dancing.

Everyone having a great time

We enjoyed watching the Duncans. They were great dancers!

Years of Arthur Murray??


The District President and Sister Aitken (front right)

On Sunday morning we were greeted at the chapel by some of our great elders. They helped park the cars for a well attended conference.

Aren't they cute?

During the meeting the New Glasgow District was disolved and its units were divided between the two stakes in our mission, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and St. John, New Brunswick. President Aitken was released along with his counselors. The hope is that these two stakes will continue to grow and get stronger and that a third stake can be added in the near future. Church headquarters felt that this was a necessary step in that direction. Some people were quite surprised about the change but the attitude seemed very positive.

It was a cold but very sunny day and after the meeting we had a beautiful drive around the island, across the Confederation Bridge, and then home through some scenic countryside.

Scene on PEI


More of PEI

Access to the island is either by bridge or ferry. The Confederation Bridge is quite a marvel. This 8 mile long bridge connects PEI with the mainland and makes travel to the island much easier. The toll for using the bridge is about $43 which may sound like a lot but the ferry toll at the other end of the island is about $70 and takes a lot longer.

Confederation Bridge


Yet one more lovely sunset on our way home

Also in November Elder and Sister Steffen arrived in Halifax from the MTC. The Steffens are from Fruit Heights, Utah and many years ago lived next door to Janice's cousin T.J. Jones and his family. The President was out of town, so we had the honor of showing them around the area for a couple of days before they left for their assignment in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. Of course, we had to show them Peggy's Cove even though it was a very windy and cold day.

By the lighthouse


Beautiful Atlantic Ocean


Church at Peggy's Cove


By the temple at Church the next day

After sending off the Steffens, we sent home one of our lovely sister missionaries, Sister Tolliver. Her parents and younger brother came to pick her up which was fun because they live in the same ward in California as our niece Lori Sherman. We enjoyed meeting them and hearing how wonderful Lori and Dave Sherman and their family are (we already knew this of course).

Sister's Simpson and Tolliver

Our next November adventure was to drive the mission van and trailer to Annapolis Royal to vacate a missionary apartment. This area had been closed down and the apartment was left full of furniture and missionary "stuff." Elders Langford and Cordner from nearby Kingston met us at the apartment and helped us de-junk it and load the furniture into the van. We cleaned and scrubbed and finally headed with the full trailer in tow further down the coast to Yarmouth where we unloaded the desks and beds and reloaded it with the old beds and desks from the apartment there. By this time it was late and we were exhausted. Rather than drive five hours back to Dartmouth in the cold and dark, we took the elders for pizza and then we hunkered down in a hotel.

Elders Cordner and Langford at their finest


All packed up and ready to roll

One thing for sure on this mission we have met many wonderful people and seen many beautiful places and we NEVER get bored. We are continually impressed by all the great missionaries we are blessed to serve with, both young and old. We love President and Sister Simpson and feel honored to be able to try and make their load a little lighter.