June 18th, 2017

Rouge with step-day, Joel

 June 10th, 2017
        Today was a very special day with the Labtic family as Joel baptized Iris's son, Rouge, into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  After going to many of the lessons while the elders taught Rouge, and dinner with them at the Labtic's house, we were so delighted to be a part of the baptism and feel the spirit there.  Quite a few members of the ward attended, which we were so glad to see, to show him that support and friendship.  He was confirmed the following day at Sacrament meeting.  We love being a part of their family!

Elders Rowley, Buchanan and Criddle

Labtic family with elders

Sister Brown and myself with Labtics and elders

Joel with Kimber

Rouge with Elders Rowley and Criddle
 

So big changes Sunday at Sacrament meeting;  the White Plains 1st and White Plains 2nd wards had a joint meeting, where the two wards were merged together into one ward.  It makes for a huge ward, but many inactive or lost people.  Now it seems to make sense why we have spent so much time looking for the different sisters on the Relief Society lists, so that we can assure them in both wards of those who no longer live in this area and hopefully help them clean up their ward records some.  The 1st ward was totally dissolved, all those serving in it released from their jobs, so it will be very interesting to see the changes make to ward callings as they try to assimilate everyone.  I hope it will help strengthen the entire area, especially to combine the youth programs.
       

Pres. & Sis.Johnson

Jim Tate, taking us sailing

Sisters on sailboat

The Senior missionaries met last Saturday for a day of sailing with some of the members in the Calvert Ward (Jim and Sharon Tate, no relation that we can figure out), which is an annual tradition for them.  Not only do they take all the senior missionaries out on the Patuxent River on their sailboat, but they supply crabs, freshly caught and steamed, for us to enjoy!  It was a fun day with the other missionaries and nice to have some down time with everyone, even Pres. and Sis. Johnson!

Tate's sailboat

Sis. Tate digging out crab

Lunch after sailing trip

Today has been another very special day.  We spent 4 hours this morning at a missionary conference with Elder Brent H. Nielsen of the Seventy and his wife.  I felt so well-taught by such a wonderful leader in the church, and motivated in our work of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others.  Then tonight he also came to our stake conference, so we were able to hear his wife and him speak again - powerful and inspiring!  I look forward to the morning session tomorrow to be instructed and taught by them again!

         This has been a really marvelous week, so many great experiences and really feeling the love and strength of our Father in Heaven as we continue serving Him the best we can.  My love for the Savior grows continuously as I see His work progress here in Maryland.  Love you all! 

June 9, 2017

I know you are all "anxiously" waiting for my next post, as somehow the days have slipped by and I have not written!  We are keeping busy, getting to know sisters in the Calvert area, and trying to help where we can.  One of the fun "new" things is that there are now young sister missionaries in that area as well as us - except they are assigned full time to that one ward alone.

Sis, Thompson and Sis. Lusk

So the days we go to the Calvert Ward, we try to check on them, see if we can help them out, or take them to lunch.  Sister Thompson and Sister Lusk are so enthusiastic and fun to be around - and we feel like their grandmothers, making sure they are okay.  We try to pass on any referrals or names of part member families that we have contacted, so that they can go to teach them!

Dares Beach View

Typical farm sign

We love seeing the beauties of the areas we drive through, the very green trees, beaches and beautiful flowers.  People here have to fence their gardens to keep the many animals (deer, rabbits, squirrels, etc.) from eating their produce.

Fenced in garden

Interesting barn

A lot of the homes are spread far apart from each other and there are a lot more farms than I expected to see here in Southern Maryland!  We love finding sisters home to visit, and are getting to know this area and the people in this ward pretty well.
        
One of the really great advantages of being a senior missionary is that we can spend time with family either that live in the area or if they come here to visit.  That is just what I did last Saturday, going to visit Stacie and her family in Virginia!  I got to see one of Liam's soccer games, attend his first piano recital, and have fun watching the kids at their "Montclair Days".

Liam's soccer game

First piano recital for Liam

Montclair Days activities

They rode ponies, played games, Isla had her face painted, went down the water slide - what a fun day for them!  (and me too!)  Then we took a boat ride on the lake by David and Stacie's house - and relaxed!  What a special day!

With Stacie's family on boat

Isla with painted face!

The Lord's work continues here in Southern Maryland and I love being here and being a part of these wards, trying what we can to strengthen the members and bring them closer to Christ.  Rouge Labtic is getting baptized this weekend, a special occasion we have been greatly looking forward to!
       I love all of you, I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the joy and happiness it brings.  The Lord has blessed me so immensely while serving this mission.  It is such a great experience and I am so grateful to be here at this time.  Have a fantastic week and stay happy!

May 29, 2017

MEMORIAL DAY, 2017

I have really missed being in Chesterfield this Memorial Day - so many special memories there from years past.  Last year I was with some of my family in Chesterfield to see DeLos' headstone and put flowers on it for the first time.  I feel fortunate to have a niece to arrange them and put them on for me this year.  Thanks so much, Aileen!

Emmanuel Church

Cemetary next to church

So here in Maryland there is a small cemetary by most of the churches in each community - it is very interesting to see.  The churches are small, but quite old and attractive, lots of stained-glass windows.  The pastor of this one showed us through one day when we stopped by in our travels.  I was curious because his name is Matthew "Tate" (my maiden name), so we had an interesting visit with him, told him some about the "Mormons".  He was about as interested in what we had to say as we were in his Methodist religion, but he was very nice to show us around.        

We see such beautiful areas each day in our visits to different sisters - from Cobb Island on the south to Chesapeake Bay on the east.  Such a beautiful part of America!!  And the people are so nice, too - a lot of great Southern hospitality here!  We had some very special visits this week with sisters we have grown quite close to, hoping always to bring them closer to the Savior.  It is so great when we see them attend church, no matter how difficult the challenge!

Near Cobb Island

Chesapeake Bay

I have loved getting to know Sister Morningstar, who is from Spain.  She has been a member for about 40 years now, and was telling me of her conversion as one of the first generation members in her fanily,  Now it is going into the 3rd generation of members, and the church membership has grown so much where she is from.  She is excited to go back to Spain to visit her family in a couple of weeks and do some family history while she is there!   I am SO excited for

Sis. Morningstar

Cade, my oldest grandson, to be going on his mission to Spain in July!  Maybe he will get to know some of her family there!

          We had another great experience attending the Jenny Oaks Baker concert Sunday night at the Visitor's Center of the Washington D.C. temple.  It was so marvelous and then to top it off, I saw my cousin and her husband there, who are serving in the Washington D.C. South mission. This is Jenny Oaks Baker with her 4 children playing the concert.  They are heading off to Europe to record music from "The Sound of Music" there in the Austrian alps!   Next is my cousin, Karen Lyon Hansen, and her husband, Jim, who we surprisingly saw while at the concert.  Small world!   

Jenny Oaks Baker concert

With cousin, Karen and Jim Hansen

It has been another great week in the Washington D.C. North Mission, and the Lord is blessing us abundantly!  Thanks for your love, support, and prayers!!

May 22, 2017

Mother's Day in the Mission Field!

I felt so fortunate to be able to spend a little of Mother's Day with David, Stacie and their three little sweethearts!  Such fun!  After church we met at Gravelly Point for a picnic and to watch the planes taking off from Reagan Airport.  It was so special to spend the time with them and see their enthusiasm and energy!  And I also got to talk to each of my children, and most of my grandchildren that evening - another special treat!  

With all the phone calling, I didn't get a chance to write my blog last week, so I am trying to catch it up this week.  I have had some great experiences the past couple of weeks.  Attending the temple with Sister Ohnsorg (92 years old) and her family was one of the highlights of my mission - to see how she radiates with her love for the Gospel and how grateful she is to now be sealed to her family forever - what a blessing!  It was a very special occasion!

Sisters Ohnsorg & Eubanks

    

Crabfest with the Elders at Labtics

Brother Labtic showing us how to break open the crabs

We really enjoyed being with the Elders at the Labtics to learn how to break and eat Maryland crabs!  This is a delicacy Maryland is known for, and they served it to us with great pride!  It is more common in the Philippines, where the Labtics are both from.  The elders will be baptizing their son soon!

It is SO beautiful this time of year in Maryland, with lush green trees lining the roads, and flower beds where ever you go.  We drive along many roads like this.  We have made many visits these last two weeks to the sisters in the White Plains areas so we can focus more on Calvert County - beautiful sites and wonderful people in both parts of Maryland!
        We loved stopping at the Amish Farmer's Market one day, such nice people who grow their own food without all the modern conveniences we have, and transport their things to the market in horse and buggy.  I wanted pictures of them, but they do not like to have their pictures taken. These are flower baskets they sell, but we really enjoyed their homemade breads!

We have also been able to have some adventures the past 2 weeks seeing some of the sites in Washington D.C.  We were fortunate to get into the Hirshhorn Museum to see the "Infinity of Mirrors" while it was showing there (thanks to Stacie!)  The "dot" room was a favorite!
    

Sister Brown and I went through the Archives while in D.C. and were able to see our great documents of freedom for our country.  I am truly awed at the freedoms and liberties we enjoy here that so many have fought so bravely for.  We also went to Arlington Cemetary and watched the "Changing of the Guards" at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - a very sobering experience.

National Archives

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Arlington Cemetary 

While there is always something to do and see, we spend most of our days visiting sisters and helping the Relief Society presidents with all the work they have to do.  There are so many sisters that are very lonely and need to know they are cared about.  There are many challenges, but I love being a missionary and sharing my testimony when I can while being a representative of Jesus Christ.  What an awesome responsibility!  I am so grateful for this opportunity and blessing!

May 8, 2017

Overlooking the Chesapeake Bay from St. Leonard, Maryland

        We have been busy all week in our visits both in St. Charles County and in the Calvert County.  Traveling between the two areas takes quite a bit of time, but also gives us a great variety in the areas we see and in the people we meet.  Much of the time is spent in looking for people on the ward lists, sometimes finding the sister has not lived there for a few years.  It is very hard to keep the ward records up to date.  But when we do find someone we are looking for we consider it a success!
        This sister is one we were referred to who has had a stroke.  We love that she can operate the CD player we brought her and listen to the CD's of the Book of Mormon.  They seem to bring her peace and some comfort in her loneliness.  She was really pleased with the afghan we gave her that a sister in the Calvert Ward had made.   
          While looking for another sister this week, we found she was at work, but her nonmember husband spoke to us at length about how much his family means to him.  We shared with him the knowledge that families can be united forever, even after death and he was so interested in the things we told him.  We have given his name to the elders in that ward to hopefully follow up with.
           We looked for another sister where she works in a store called "Peebles".  We found her, had a nice visit, and also found some cute sandals and purse!   Now hopefully we can visit her again this next week on her day off!
            The night we look forward to the most in the week is meeting with the Elders and the Labtic family, who we have grown to adore.  We furnished the pizzas this week - and they furnished the entertainment (music and games) and a great lesson for Rouge about the Book of Mormon.  It was a special evening with them!

Elder Rowley with Leo

Bro. Labtic with Rouge

Sister Labtic with Kimber

Enough pizza for all!

         The Church of Jesus Christ is true and I am so grateful to be able to share it's message with those we meet in this part of the Lord's vineyard.  There are so many really terrific people here and it is a wonderful opportunity to meet them, grow to love them, and let them also know how much the Savior, Jesus Christ loves them.  Have a wonderful week! 

May 1, 2017,

Eternal Light Peace Memorial at Gettysburg

Lincoln - Gettysburg address

Another week has gone by so fast and here we are into May already!  Keeping busy sure makes the days and weeks fly by!  I wish I had pictures of the wonderful sisters we have visited this week, but it's hard to take pictures when you are listening to all their challenges and problems.  We have had some great experiences both in St. Charles and Calvert Counties, but it looks like we won't be working much in the White Plains area anymore, as the Stake Relief Society president has asked us to help in the Bayside Ward now, along with the Calvert Ward, even being a part of their meetings on Sundays.  I will miss the sisters we have grown close to here and gotten to know pretty well, as we will be driving every day to St. Leonard, Prince Frederick, Huntingtown and further north to the Bayside Ward area to meet and work with the sisters there.  I guess this is a little how elders and young sisters feel when they are transferred and have to leave their contacts and investigators behind - with a few mixed emotions, but excited for new opportunities and challenges!
        Some of the sisters have really opened up to us, sharing their problems, anxieties, as well as their testimonies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Some are so glad to know someone cares about them, others just glad to have a visitor - many are so lonely.  We visit sisters in care centers, beautiful homes right on the Chesapeake Bay, and others in small apartments, hard to even get in them!  It is wonderful to feel of their spirit, or try to help them come closer to Christ.  The sweet sister who just found out she has cancer was able to have a blessing last weekend before her surgery this week.  Her husband and daughter, who are not members of the church, were there and we heard that there were many tears shed, as a great deal of Faith was felt by all.  We are praying for her this week!
         We had a wonderful experience in the temple this week, meeting with members of the Suitland Stake in the large Priesthood room on the 7th floor of the temple.  The stake president spoke, then the temple president and his wife with very special messages for all who were there.  We were so grateful we could be in attendance for this sacred experience, followed by a temple session with so many we have gotten to know these past few months. 

Senior missionaries and tour guide  

Civil War cannon at Gettysburg

Cemetary at Gettysburg

                                                       Saturday we traveled about 120 miles to be with the other Senior Missionaries from our mission and tour Gettysburg by bus.  We had a tremendous guide there to show us all of the important spots in this battle of the Civil War that took the lives of about 50,000 soldiers.  It is quite humbling to think of what has been done in our great country to preserve the freedoms we have today and to keep our country together.  I feel so fortunate to be able to see these historical spots while serving a mission - what a great opportunity!

Lunch at Captain Pickett's

         I am very grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who is aware of our needs and desires, and blesses us every day.  I have seen His blessings for me and for so many others in these few months I have been able to serve on a mission.  What a wonderful experience it is!  Thanks to all of you for your love and support!