Visitors

Just as we finished the blog last Sunday, the Firmages arrived from Smith Falls. They completed their mission, drove home to Maine, then returned for a visit on their way to Utah. The week they were home was so busy they don't yet know what it's like not to be missionaries. They left Monday morning on a cold Canadian day.

Here is Elder Wheeler with his birthday tie from his daughter Andrea

Where we did so much traveling last week we stayed closer to home this week. Going to Bellville on Tuesday was as far as we wandered. We had some new faces at our district meeting; Elder Phillips as a zone leader and Elder Gwilliam who came into the mission mid-cycle. We headed straight home after the meeting in stead of having lunch in Belleville. It was cold and windy. We were invited to dinner at the Campbellford Holts. It was fun playing with their two foster daughters.

Zone leaders: Elder Goodman and Elder Phillips

Elder Gwilliam (C) joined Elder Pineira (L) and Elder Leasuasu (R) in Trenton

We used Wednesday as a planning day and a day to attempt phone contacts with most of the less-active members, trying to set up appointments for visits. There are only seven less-active families who have told us they would welcome contacts (either phone or visits), five families we have met, but are avoiding us, and five more whom we have not yet met, even after many attempts. Then there are the "lost" and "do not contact" members we don't even attempt to contact.

We were able to take a break on Wednesday to walk around the Trent Canal in Campbellford. It was a long walk, but needed for sanity. 

Sister Wheeler touching the top of the giant toonie

Is this a sign of spring or will it snow tomorrow?

The fire hydrants are ready for spring

We had branch council meeting on Wednesday night. We were given two more assignments to help the branch: 1) get water bottles filled for the church and 2) pick up a plaque from the city offices for the branch. The mayor gave out special service awards and this year gave the award to all of the churches in Trent Hills. We completed the assignments on Thursday.

Award for service to the community

 Elder Wheeler was asked to teach the gospel doctrine class Sunday for Bro. Rowan who had a triple bypass on Thursday, so he worked on the lesson Thursday morning. We then went to Cordova Mines to visit Leila, our Finnish friend. She likes to show us the flowers in her yard. The Trilliums (Ontario provincial flower) are starting to come out. She doesn't let us in her house (too crowded), but gave us some apple juice to drink and gave Sister Wheeler some daffodils from her garden. We then had dinner with Doris and Linda in Marmora.

First trillium of the spring

Daffodils in the apple juice container

Friday morning we got a call from Elder and Sister Bevins who are serving in Bancroft. They needed to get away and asked if we would mind a visit. They had a slow week because of the weather. We always like visits and understand the need to get away. We had a nice visit with them then showed them around Campbellford. After dinner we showed them through our chapel and they headed back to Bancroft.

Visiting the chocolate outlet store

Visiting the giant toonie

 Saturday we had a nice branch activity; a pancake breakfast and swap meet. Elder Wheeler was in charge of the gluten-free pancakes, which were about eight inches (oops - 20 cm) in diameter. Everyone brought "good stuff" they didn't need and let all of the members select the items they could use. We gave away some books and a cookie sheet that did not fit our oven. We were so busy cooking, etc. that we forgot to take pictures. It's too bad you can't see those perfectly cooked gluten-free pancakes.

Following a rest we decided to take an extended (6 Km) daily walk. This time it was in the Goodrich Loomis Conservation area. There are trails that go through grassy meadows, along a creek (the size of Utah rivers), through mud, and across oak moraines (hills caused by glaciers, like hill Cumorah). It was a cool, but clear day, just right for a walk.

We love the conservation areas

Grassy meadows

Fisherman on Cold Creek

Through the woods

Uprooted trees

A "less maintained" trail

One of several mud holes

A colored trillium

Sunday was a nice day. Sister Wheeler played the organ (if that's what you call the small Hammond instrument) and Elder Wheeler gave the Sunday School lesson. It seems that the members survived the lesson without running away. We had dinner with Gail in Hoard's Corner, a little way out of town Sunday evening. Overall it has been a slower (less travel) week, but that's OK.