North of the Border: A Time of Gratitude

As we have recently celebrated the Canadian Thanksgiving and are preparing for the American Thanksgiving, it is truly a time to take stock of all the wonderful blessings we have. We are thankful for our marriage, for all the wonderful years we have spent together, for our family and the joy they bring to our lives. We are especially grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and for the opportunity to serve Him here in Atlantic Canada. We are so thankful for the people here, for the love we have for them and for the love we feel from them. In this Thanksgiving season we are thankful for this beautiful part of the world in which we serve. It is truly breathtaking and will always be in our hearts. Each new missionary that arrives brings something special with them and we are so thankful for them, for their service and for all they teach us.

While our daughter Kathy was visiting us Sister Calvert, a new senior missionary sister, arrived in the mission field. We had her apartment prepared and the Tiffanys were kind enough to pick her up from the airport and deliver her to her new home. Sister Calvert is from British Columbia and is a widow. She has a strong desire to serve and is assigned to work with us in the mission office. I will be training her to take over most of my duties as we start to prepare for our return home. We are very happy to see her come and for all her talents. Shortly after Sister Calvert arrived, another senior couple, the Wiebes, also arrived in Halifax. Their apartment is in Halifax and they will be assigned to work with the Halifax Ward but will also help out in the mission office. Elder Wiebe will work closely with Elder Foley and learn the finances, cars, apartments, etc. and Sister Wiebe will help with a variety of tasks, especially with ordering the missionaries supplies.

On a very blustery Saturday after the arrival of Sister Calvert and the Wiebes we took them to see Peggy's Cove. The Tiffanys joined us and although it was very cold, Peggy's Cove is always an impressive site.

Sister Tiffany braving the cold for the beautiful view

In addition to the Wiebes another senior couple, the Davises, arrived to serve in Bay Roberts, Newfoundland. A Sunday night Senior pot luck was held to welcome them and get to know them and Sister Calvert better. As always the food was great and we learned of Sister Calvert's excellent pastry skills.

President and Sister Leavitt with Sister and Elder Wiebe

President and Sister Leavitt with Sister and Elder Davis

Sisters Wiebe and Calvert

A happy group enjoying the great pot luck selections

And there was beautiful music

The last Tuesday of November we welcomed the last group of young missionaries to arrive before our departure. We actually didn't meet them until Wednesday but they got in Tuesday night and were greeted by President and Sister Leavitt and the APs. They were taken to the mission home for a bite to eat and then off to bed before an early start the next morning. On Wednesday morning they went to attend a session at the Temple and then to the mission office for lunch and training. Thursday morning those assigned to outside areas left bright and early to head out to their first assignments. Those in the city and those being transferred into the area as well as those completing their missions have a "transfer lunch" at the mission home. These lunches have been special to us since our arrival in the mission and it is emotional to think this is our last. It is so exciting to see the fresh and overwhelmed faces of the new missionaries and the strong and confident faces of those going home. This is usually a lighthearted lunch with the missionaries gathering in large groups to take pictures and say their goodbyes and greet those they have not seen for sometime. That evening is a special dinner and testimony meeting for the missionaries returning home. We have been so privileged to attend these special events during our mission. To see the growth that has occurred in these young men and women is a wonderful blessing. This meeting was especially touching as this group has served with us from the beginning. We all started as greenies and are now returning home together. It was a wonderful and spiritual night.

Elders Hardy, Meynders, S.Hill, J. Hill, Foleys, Elders Bowen, Farnsworth, Biddulph, Marks

and Elder Henry

President Leavitt has been working hard to maximize the use of senior couples throughout the mission. He felt a need for seniors to work in Bathurst and with the help of the missionaries there we located an apartment for them in the same complex that the elders lived in. We purchased the furniture and planned a trip to set up the apartment. Although we knew it would be hard work we were excited to visit Bathurst once more before returning home. The Bathurst elders were to meet us and also arrange for the help of some members. President Leavitt decided he would also like to go and invited Elders Tiffany and Wiebe to accompany him and see some of the mission. The Elders had done a good job of finding an apartment and although it had one of the smallest kitchens I have ever seen the rest of the apartment was quite pleasant.

On the morning of the move we had great help from the elders, the branch president and several members. The work went really smoothly. Both Branch President Moray and Sister Moray had come to help and invited us after to their lovely home for an "American Thanksgiving" dinner that evening. It was delicious and a very enjoyable time. We stayed over and attended church there the next day before returning to Dartmouth. Bathurst is a very French community and many of the members speak French although the service was in English.

Branch President and Sister Moray of Bathurst

Elder Foley in front of Bathurst Chapel (note name is in French)

The Foleys with Elder Skinner

The Foleys with Elder Nzojibwami

Elder Foley, President Leavitt, Elder Wiebe, Elder Skinner, Elder Tiffany, Elder Nzojibwami

We drove home Sunday after church and went directly to the Mission Home where the senior couples had gathered for a pot luck dinner and final farewells for our return home. It was a wonderful evening and we realized that it would be the last time in Canada that we would see some of these couples. We enjoyed great food and great company. The Leavitts gave us some lovely going away gifts and it was a very memorable time.