Things are rapidly closing down here in the mission field. We are seeing more of the "last" as each day progresses. Today we had our last Sacrament Meeting with at least 12 senior missionary couples. We have 9 leaving this week from the Martin's Cove site and at least 3 from the Sixth Crossing site. They will keep a few couples at Sixth Crossing to run the Visitors' Center there, until it closes for the season on October 1st. Then all the couples will either return home or move to the vacated apartments at Martin's Cove.
The mission president released most of the leaders today and called the replacements. Those staying for the winter were called to fill the vacancies. We do have two or three couples who were called to stay for the winter who have health related conditions. They are in the prayers of the missionaries as the concerns are real for their extended calls. So there are a lot of situations that are being evaluated as we get closer to our release date. By next Sunday's pot luck, we will have about 12, or so, senior couples in attendance, down from 38 that started the summer season.
Mom and I had the Gillilands over for breakfast this morning. They will be leaving on Wednesday. She has served as the Relief Society President and he has been a quiet, and effective, background missionary who is anxious to return to his ranch in Colorado. It has been great to get to know them and serve with them. Then at the meetings today, there was a lot of hugging and tears flowing from those departing. You tend to get real close to those you serve with and minister to. Mom and I have been the beneficiaries to seeing the relationships strengthened through service!
We spent a very quiet afternoon, here in the trailer, enjoying the balance of the Sabbath Day. We listened to the highlights of President Nelson's visit to the Pacific Northwest Seattle and Vancouver areas. The energy, and the enthusiasm, and especially his counsel, is such that I want to hear everything he says! In this meeting with over 49,000 in attendance, he spoke resolutely about the need for religion in the lives of the people. And this message comes in an area of the world where religious affiliation is in the decline. I don't want to miss any of his words, wherever he goes!
I agree! I anxiously await the articles to come out summarizing his messages around the world❤️ I love our Prophet!
ReplyDeleteJared and I were thinking we should have visited our Washington family this past weekend! I'm super excited for conference!
ReplyDeleteI swear I comment and it doesn’t show up! Super annoying. Anyway it would’ve been awesome had he driven 4 hours east to see the Spokane area!
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