Snakes and Shotguns

Summer is winding down. We have had some cool days (except for this weekend which was hot enough. On Monday we worked in the church library again - fine tuning. We then went to Marmora for dinner with Doris and Eileen. On the way back to Campbellford we passed by the street where Rob Michel lives. We have been trying to meet him for eight months. As we arrived a young boy (Hunter) came out to greet us, telling us they were in the back yard. Hunter is Robs 12-year-old son who was visiting. We met Rob's father, Robert, who had several questions about religion. The elders had taught him in the past (as had the Jehovah Witnesses). Soon Rob came along holding a shotgun. He had been hunting a fox that was steeling chickens. Hunter had a baby garter snake he had caught. He kept Sister Wheeler entertained for some time. We were glad to finally meet them.

Hunter, Rob, and Robert

We spent most of Tuesday preparing our Pearl of Great Price lesson for Thursday.

On Wednesday we had district meeting in Kingston again. It's a long drive - 1 1/2 hour each way. It is good to meet with the elders and sisters from time to time. Elder Wheeler had a role play with Sister Jungert. She always has a smile on her face no matter how hard the work is. Sister Wheeler had a role play with Elder Decker. Every missionary meeting includes role plays. We had branch council in the evening. It was different attending as the Elder's Quorum president rather than visitors.

A couple of red-breasted nuthatches stopped by for a visit

So did a goldfinch

Thursday ended up being a long day. We went to help Mary at the family history center. Elder Wheeler spent his time reformatting old floppy disks so they could be thrown away. Sister Wheeler was able to find a nice website about Benjamin Thomas Mitchell, who was a stone mason for the Nauvoo and Salt Lake temples. As Mary was leaving to go home the door stuck on her specially-retrofitted van (to handle her wheelchair) so we followed Mary home and then went with Penny (who lives with Mary) to the dealership in Campbellford to get it fixed. It took them to closing time, but they were able to fix it. Because of the late time, Penny joined us for dinner before we all rushed off to the Pearl of Great Price class.

Friday walk along the canal

On Thursday night, Bro. David (the sunday school president) told us that Linda (a sunday school teacher) was moving to Toronto and couldn't give the lesson for Sunday. Elder Wheeler spent much of the day Friday and the morning Saturday working on the lesson. He finally found out there was a misunderstanding and Linda was just visiting her sister and had the lesson prepared. As sister Camejo would say, "Blessed are the flexible for they will not be bent out of shape."

On Saturday afternoon we decided to take a drive, since we had not had a preparation day, not knowing beforehand where we were going. We ended up at Callaghan Falls Conservation Area. It is a section of the Crowe River that has some nice, shallow wading areas, small falls, and deeper pools. A perfect place for the grandchildren. Elder Wheeler was able to talk to a man from Peru about the gospel. It was a nice break from the indoor work we have been doing this week.

Crowe River

Canals cut into the walk

Local beauty

Train bridge across the river

One of the falls

A closer look

On a rock by the falls

 We need to rush to make an 8:00 AM PEC meeting Sunday mornings. Elder Wheeler and President Holt are the only ones there on time. Several don't come at all. Elder Wheeler has just updated the home-teaching assignments. There are only five districts (there were four before). Of the 11 elders, 7 can go home teaching. With three prospective elders we have five companionships. He has not yet been set apart and counselors haven't been called, but Elder Wheeler is trying to organize things anyway. The purpose is to train future leaders. Maybe by the time we leave there will be a presidency to work with. We had district visitors today so Sister Wheeler was busy in the primary, there were 9 primary age children. We also had a pot luck following the meetings. Sister Wheeler fixed a gluten-free lasagna and a cookie pizza for desert. The lasagna ended up being the only main dish and was quickly devoured. One of the visiting teenaged boys came by afterward and said how much he LOVED the strawberry cookie pizza. Maybe that's what member and leader support is all about.