16 September 2017

The biggest news is the arrival of (Elder Warnick's brother) LaMar and Debby to our mission.  They looked wonderful and it was great to see them again, the first time being at a 4 zone conference in Poole which is a 2 and 1/2 hour drive for us.  Since the couple that they are replacing have not gone home yet they were able to spend a couple of days with us visiting many of the sites that we have visited with some of you....Dartmoor, the ponies, the clapper bridges. Lanhydrock, Coleton Fishacre and Okehampton.  They were able to continue on with us to go to the senior missionary conference in Exeter.  After an evening of instruction, as a group we visited Exeter Cathedral, Buckfast Abbey, Cockington Village and Dartmouth where we took a river boat ride then had lunch before all returning home.  Now most of the senior couples know how far we have to travel when the conferences are in their area as we are 4 hours away from the usual meeting places.  LaMar and Debby are an hour plus from us so we hope to see them again before we return.

We have helped the local missionaries teach Mason who has now been baptized.  Another former investigator who wasn't baptized because of opposition from his son told us in a visit that he was not going to let that happen again as he knew the church to be true.  Within a few days his son had gotten to him again and he refused to open the door when we stopped to visit.  He has since apologized.  We are sorry that he does not have the strength of his convictions.  This is a sharp contrast to our own ancestors who not only faced disapproval but complete rejection and yet they persisted.  We are forever blessed and grateful for their courage and faith.

The YSA convention is beginning to take shape but was preceded by our anxiety over the lack of action from responsible parties.  Lately they have really stepped up.  We do want them to feel successful and to have an enriching weekend.

Last Thursday we had our YSA version of dinner and a movie by listening together to Elder Bednar's devotional for single adults and pizza.  We only had four attend as many are still doing summer holiday before school starts again. We enjoyed the time with them on a more intimate basis.  There is nothing quite like a gathering of young single adults to brighten our day with the exception of being with our own family.