One-third of the way
Dear family and friends
Sad and happy to say that one-third of the mission is complete and we have two-thirds to go. As in all things, marking time wastes the opportunities while seeing what has been accomplished gives satisfaction and joy and spurs you forward to greater efforts for the time remaining. We'll be home in twenty weeks, and in the meantime we are reveling in the Spirit.
Monday we were treated at FHE to Bob Parrot, the Church's forester. He has responsibility for maintaining the Sacred Grove and other forests around Church history sites including Kirtland and Harmony Priesthood Restoration. He does not have a degree, just a love for the woods and a lifetime of experience.
The Sacred Grove was in a dying condition because the Facilities Maintenance people were keeping it park-like, removing all leaves and dead branches. Many members preferred it that way, but it was killing the grove. Brother Parrot became involved through a series of "coincidences". (Here we go again, but there are no coincidences.)
He was hired in Feb 1997 to removed several large trees. He had known the Grove since he had been going there as a teenager. He had just finished a large job and was going to another when he had this opportunity for one week's work. He arrived and then the ground thawed so he could not get the logs out without damaging others. He waited and waited, and while he waited (the ground never refroze that winter), he was asked to join a group of 12 Ph.d's to discuss what to do to save the Grove.
The Manager was a friend of President Hinckley, and after listening to Brother Parrot confidently say what came to his mind in the Spirit and passing his impressions on to president Hinckley, Bob Parrot was hired by the President because they had the same approach and attitude about living things. In ten years the Grove recovered more than he could have ever guessed. Brother Parrot wishes he could walk through the Grove with President Hinckley now and show him the progress and the realization of his vision.
Our schedule changed Wednesday so we worked a morning and an evening shift. Loved it. Thursday we went to Watkins Glen. Here are the pictures so you can see what we did. It was inspiring. I walked it with Keith Layton, a sealer, while mom and his wife sat and chatted. It would have been too strenuous for them. I will let the Glen speak for itself.
But first we saw some fossils in slate. Fresh water mollusk below.
And some fascinating large bones in the same slate.
And now Watkins Glen
]
Elder Perry preparing to photograph the falls
Looking down on one of the falls from behind
Other shots of the many cascades and views
Walking behind a fall looking out
Looking out towards the north end of the Glen
We had to walk through some tunnels, and the view was still nice.
Huge logs get rolled down when there is a really big rain or snow.
Seeing a bridge from behind a fall
A scum ball collected below a fall - about four feet across
Friday we worked only the mid shift and then all day Saturday. Early on Saturday there were few patrons in the Temple, so in one prayer circle we asked for patrons, and the Temple was then busy all afternoon. We are so grateful.
Our Sunday lesson was on Priesthood responsibilities and we had the marvelous experience of the class asking questions that directly led to what we needed to teach. When the teacher and hearer are both acting with the Spirit, then learning occurs as the Lord wants it to.
We spent the afternoon with branch members and an investigator(although he didn't know he was investigating). We definitely were guided as to what to say.
Sad and happy to say that one-third of the mission is complete and we have two-thirds to go. As in all things, marking time wastes the opportunities while seeing what has been accomplished gives satisfaction and joy and spurs you forward to greater efforts for the time remaining. We'll be home in twenty weeks, and in the meantime we are reveling in the Spirit.
Monday we were treated at FHE to Bob Parrot, the Church's forester. He has responsibility for maintaining the Sacred Grove and other forests around Church history sites including Kirtland and Harmony Priesthood Restoration. He does not have a degree, just a love for the woods and a lifetime of experience.
The Sacred Grove was in a dying condition because the Facilities Maintenance people were keeping it park-like, removing all leaves and dead branches. Many members preferred it that way, but it was killing the grove. Brother Parrot became involved through a series of "coincidences". (Here we go again, but there are no coincidences.)
He was hired in Feb 1997 to removed several large trees. He had known the Grove since he had been going there as a teenager. He had just finished a large job and was going to another when he had this opportunity for one week's work. He arrived and then the ground thawed so he could not get the logs out without damaging others. He waited and waited, and while he waited (the ground never refroze that winter), he was asked to join a group of 12 Ph.d's to discuss what to do to save the Grove.
The Manager was a friend of President Hinckley, and after listening to Brother Parrot confidently say what came to his mind in the Spirit and passing his impressions on to president Hinckley, Bob Parrot was hired by the President because they had the same approach and attitude about living things. In ten years the Grove recovered more than he could have ever guessed. Brother Parrot wishes he could walk through the Grove with President Hinckley now and show him the progress and the realization of his vision.
Our schedule changed Wednesday so we worked a morning and an evening shift. Loved it. Thursday we went to Watkins Glen. Here are the pictures so you can see what we did. It was inspiring. I walked it with Keith Layton, a sealer, while mom and his wife sat and chatted. It would have been too strenuous for them. I will let the Glen speak for itself.
But first we saw some fossils in slate. Fresh water mollusk below.
And some fascinating large bones in the same slate.
And now Watkins Glen
]
Elder Perry preparing to photograph the falls
Looking down on one of the falls from behind
Friday we worked only the mid shift and then all day Saturday. Early on Saturday there were few patrons in the Temple, so in one prayer circle we asked for patrons, and the Temple was then busy all afternoon. We are so grateful.
Our Sunday lesson was on Priesthood responsibilities and we had the marvelous experience of the class asking questions that directly led to what we needed to teach. When the teacher and hearer are both acting with the Spirit, then learning occurs as the Lord wants it to.
We spent the afternoon with branch members and an investigator(although he didn't know he was investigating). We definitely were guided as to what to say.
Beautiful pictures of Watkin's Glen! Wish we could be there!
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