Tuesday, December 29, 2015

At the Mission Conference on December 23, 2015, a photographer took our picture.  He did a great job.  Irene and I are in there somewhere. 

On Christmas Day we had Elders Passmore and Fisher over for dinner and they invited Emmanuel Elkins, whom they are teaching and who will be baptized January 2, 2016.  Emmanuel is from Liberia Africa.  We also invited Joe Cruz to come as well.  He spent Christmas Eve with his children and grandkids and had no place to go on Christmas Day.  We had a lot of fun and played a game with some Christmas Tree ornaments that Shannon sent us.  Since we didn't have a tree, we used them to play a game.  Each star has a different name of the Savior embossed on it.  We wrote scripture references on 3X5 cards where the name is found in the scriptures and gave each person two cards.  Then we selected the ornament which we thought was the name referenced in the scripture.  Elder Passmore was the winner.

We were pleasantly surprised to receive a package from the Canyon Crest Ward.  We were impressed to see notes from children, youth, and adults and some items that we could use, like gum and lip balm.  Thank you so much and for remembering that we are here.  We hope all the youth are preparing for missions as well.  It is a great experience and we know you'll love it.

Picture taken on December 23, 2015

Joe Cruz, Emmanuel Elkins, Elder Passmore, Elder Fisher, Irene

Gifts from the Canyon Crest Ward.  Letters from Primary Children, YM & YW, & Adults.  Thank You.

Elder Passmore, Elder Fisher, Irene, Bob, Joe Cruz, Emmanuel Elkins

Elder Fisher, Emmanuel Elkins, Elder Passmore

Some of the names of Christ stamped on Christmas Tree Ornaments.

 

December 28,2015

Wonder......,

Today we were going to detox our bodies from all the Christmas treats and junk we have eaten. I have to shake my head and just laugh for this is what Bob ate today.

Breakfast---3 pieces of toast and chocolate cream dessert. 

Lunch/--- pop corn and a bowl of chocolate covered nuts and candy. 

Dinner -- 2 cheese toast. 

I GIVE up. 

December 24th 2015

Baltimore Maryland Christmas Devotional

Everyone had a chance to play Minute To Win It. It was so fun. The room filled with energy and laughter. 

Some of the coolest nativities you would ever see at the DC visitor center. They had original displays from over 65 countries on loan for the Christmas season. 

We have enjoyed an amazing day with our whole mission. The missionaries enjoyed playing minute to win it and letting loose for some fun. After that we gathered together in the chapel for a group picture by a professional photographer who offered to do this free. 

As we finished that part of the morning we were treated to a amazing ham meal fixed by angels. 

When lunch was finished we  were the MC for the talent show. We were blown away by the many different talents that were shared from juggling, poetry to hula dancing and even hand balancing. Beautiful music, talented musicians and piano solos. 

The day ended with  a spiritual musical program and talks. As a total surprise. We were given bags with our mission name on it and also scarves that were given to over 200 missionaries through the love and generosity of so many people in Utah. And those who heard from word of mouth what was transpiring The lord  blessed us this day with an abundance of his spirit. 

We are most grateful for our testimony of this gospel and for our Savior who we honor this Christmas. Wishing everyone a joyous holiday and Happy New Year. 

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Thursday, December 10:  We assisted at the Frederick Zone Conference serving lunch.  Elder Teh was visiting the Mission from Salt Lake City.  After we were finished we headed home to take Elders Tharp and Deering to the Washington DC Temple and Visitor Center and a young man whom they are teaching.  The young man is about 21 years old, from Liberia, is a professional soccer player.  Very fine young man.  After touring the Visitor's Center and seeing the Christmas lights we head to Odenton for a baptism.  Great day.

Friday, December 11:  We assisted at the Columbia Zone Conference serving lunch.  Elder Teh also visited this conference.

Saturday, December 12:  We received a package from missionaryaprons.com.  It didn't have "Don't Open Till Christmas" on it or who it was from, so I opened it and we were pleasantly surprised to find two black aprons with our name tags on them. See the picture below.  We were really curious who would have sent them, but my sister Shirley, from Kansas City, Missouri, texted the next day and asked if a package had come.  I called her and she confessed that she had sent them to us.  Thank you again!

Sunday, December 13:  We went caroling with Branch members to several homes and took them a gift basket from the Branch.  I am still convinced that all my choir directors in the past were correct: I should only move my lips and let nothing come out!

Monday, December 14:  Sisters Bindrup and Gudmundson were moving from their apartment in Fort Meade to a safer place in Arundel Mills, so we went over to help them before going to our 4:00 teaching appointment.

Tuesday, December 15:  We got to help Sister Christiansen prepare food the new Elders and Sister coming in that evening.  Lots of fun and great to associate with them.

Wednesday, December 16:  Transfer day.  Elders Moore, Tharp and Deering got transferred.  Irene and I finished reading the Book of Mormon for the third time since we've been out.  We have started reading the Doctrine and Covenants again.  We also went with the youth of the Branch to the Washington DC Temple to do baptisms for the dead.  We also took Estelle Missouri with us.  It was her first time and she was proxy for one of her deceased ancestors.  She was very excited to do it.  See her picture below.

Friday, December 18:  We received a package from the Canyon Crest Ward.  It was super!  Thank you so much and for the kindness of thinking about us.  We also had our Branch Christmas Dinner as well.  It was very nice and good turnout.  Lots of good food and the desserts were ... well, let me just say that I should have started there first!

We have delivered 40 gifts so far to Branch members, mostly of Irene's homemade fudge, gumdrop cake, banana bread, etc.  One of the brothers needed a new shirt.  The one we got him was too small around the neck (18 1/2") so we took it back and got him a 20".  It fit him fine and he sent us a picture to show us how it looks.  See below.

Elder Moore and Elder Tolley

Sister Gudmundson and Sister Bindrup

Aprons from my Sister Shirley.  With all the food prep and serving we do she thought we needed them, and we do.

Elder Deering, Immanuel Elkins, Elder Tharp

Elders Tharp and Dearing

Adam's new shirt.

Estelle Missouri at the Washington DC Temple.

Continued from today's log

Last night was our senior missionaries Christmas party at the mission home. It was wonderful to be all together and see everyone and share great food and special Christmas memories. We fill the love of our mission president and his wife , president and sister Christiansen. As we left for home they gave us a box of chocolates for the holidays. After we broke our fast and ate dinner. Bob said let's open the candy and see what's inside. We did. 3 little cartons of chocolates were inside. I said oh good we each get our own. Can you guess which one is Bob's ?  Loves sweets so much it's hard to be mad. 

Sunday, December 6,2015

Blessings unmeasured

Sunset outside our bedroom window

Fresh baked cookies for neighbors and friends. Cripples for Bob

Exercise bike on loan so we can get fit

Today was an amazing Sacrament meeting. It is the first Sunday of the month and fasting is not always easy. If I fast for a purpose then as I fast I am blessed with no desire to eat. We had two investigators to our fast meeting and they bore their testimonies that being in church here with us felt like coming home. It was amazing. Also a new member that was baptized in May had never given her testimony in church.  As we visited with her this week  She said. " sister Moore. I don't have confidence to go up and say it. "I asked her what she believes in and as she told me I wrote it down without her knowing. After she was finished I handed it to her and said that she just bore her testimony. I did she said. Wow that's cool. I said you can do this because you just did. 

Today she got up and read her testimony and she did so beautiful. At the end of it she added something so sweet that made me cry. She said I also love Elder and sister Moore and Sister Crites. Wow so touching. Our Heavenly Father does hear our prayers and truly will honor our fast. People just kept getting up and the spirit was so strong. We love this gospel and our Savior Jesus Christ. We are bless to serve here. We wish everyone a wonderful week and alway remember the Savior. 

Friday, 4 December 2015

As we enter the Christmas Season may we rejoice in the Birth of our Savior, ponder His influence in each of our lives, and look happily to His coming.

We wish each of our family and friends a wonderful Merry Christmas and may Christ be a daily part of our lives this coming year and always.

Please enjoy reading during this month, as a family, the following scriptures that remind us of the Savior and His great life and atonement.

Luke 2:1-21;  Mark 4:35-39;  Matthew 14:13-21; 

Luke 10:25-27;  Luke 17:11-19;  Luke 22:41-45;  3 Nephi 11: 1-17;  3 Nephi 18:1-12;  3 Nephi 17:11-25;  D&C 14:9

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Here are some more pictures from yesterday and Monday.

Scale Model

Williamsburg

Williamsburg

Williamsburg

Lindsay & Irene finally got caught!

Williamsburg, but a typical Kyle Barney Wreath.

Williamsburg

Bob's favorite shop

Elder and Sister McCabe

Just some pictures to remember.

Past due--Nov. 25

We have been enjoying Lindsay stay with us. She arrived on Saturday and we took her around the area, to Wegman and to a seafood grill. We enjoyed church and we taught her a lesson on self reliance. Monday we were able to set up a visit to the Navel base with elder and sister Macabe. They were the very best and treated us to a wonderful lunch on the base. After that we took the light rail to downtown Baltimore and inner harbor for some fun. Tuesday we helped prepare lunch for zone conference in Baltimore and then took Lindsay to the DC temple and did a session.  We enjoyed the Christmas trees in the visitor center.

Today we drove to Williamsburg Va. with permission from our mission president and truly enjoyed a wonderful afternoon in old colonial town of Williamsburg. Tomorrow we will visit Jamestown  and Yorktown.  Then enjoy Thanksgiving dinner in a restaurant. I Do Not Have To Cook. 

This year I am grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission and invite others unto Christ who makes all things possible. We love Maryland and the people we call friends and family.  Below are. Few pictures of these past few days.

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Last week we helped Sister Christiansen with the Zone Conference Luncheons, which is always alot of fun.  We served BBQ chicken sandwiches on Tuesday to the Winchester WV Zone; Wednesday clam chowder and taco soup to the Martinsburg, VA Zone; Thursday stuffed baked potatoes to the Frederick, MD Zone; and Friday BBQ chicken sandwiches to the Annapolis, MD Zone.  Yesterday we served clam chowder and taco soup to the Baltimore Zone and today we drove to Williamsburg, Virginia for Thanksgiving.

On Saturday, Lindsay flew in to have Thanksgiving with us, but first we had some things to do.  Sunday she went to Church with us to the Brooklyn Park Branch.  She met most of the people we have included in previous blogs.  On Monday, we went to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, and Elder and Sister McCabe took us on a tour of the facility.  Below are some pictures.  I was impressed with the scale models of sea vessels in the museum.  There were at least 100 of them.  Tuesday, she helped us with the Baltimore Zone luncheon.

We left about 1315 hrs for Baltimore's Inner Harbor.  We took the light rail from the North Linthicum station to Camden Point and walked to the visitor center.  The guide told us about the free bus system in the inner city, so we took advantage of it and did some sightseeing.  We concluded our sightseeing at Vaccaro's Bakery in Baltimore's Little Italy section.  The place came highly recommended from one of Lindsay's friends, who said the eclairs was to die for.  Well, it was pretty good and huge, but cost $7.00.  Irene bought an little Italian Pie and a cannoli for $7.00.  I bought some cookies and the cost was $22.50.  OH MY GOODNESS!  For Monday night's dinner, we had a pastry party.

I'll include pictures in the blog tomorrow, because the internet here is really slow and no pictures are uploading right now.  As I said earlier, we are in Williamsburg, VA, and this is a pretty cool place.  I'll include pics of this place as well.

Tuesday, November 17th

Trip to Winchester, West Virginia.

Today we left early to drive to zone conference in West Virginia. The mission home wood floors were being redone so I cooked bbq chicken for about 45 minutes.  I could smell it all night as it cooked. I got up 3 times to check the meat. One time to shred the 48 chicken breasts. I don't know how Sister Christiansen does this all the time. I am so glad I could do this for her. They are in a hotel for 3 days. All during 6 zone conferences. 

On the way there this morning-- I must say it is beautiful even those the trees are just about bare we passed the Shenandoah River. Below is pictures of what I saw. 

This river is a tributary of the Potomac river. It is 56 miles long and has 2 forks that are 100 miles long each state of Virginia and West Virginia. The picture just doesn't do it justice. 

This was a beautiful day.

Saturday, Nov. 14th 2015

 A view of our week.

Great plans sometimes just don't turn out the way you hope. We had hoped to teach 6 lessons during the week and had it all scheduled but one by one they all dropped their day for one reason or another. I am learning being a missionary requires patience and prayer for those whose timing isn't the same as yours.  We did manage to teach 2 lessons on self reliance and gave service so all was not lost. 

We were able to borrow 2 twin mattresses from the mission so Lindsay will have a bed to sleep on this week when she comes for Thanksgiving. I can't wait. 

Thursday we were able to help at a missionary training in walkersville. Such a beautiful farm area and then that night we fed the Elders. Bob left after dinner to teach a recent convert how to look up his  genealogy. I stayed home because after dinner I slipped on the kitchen rug and took a nasty fall.  Grateful I didn't break anything or make a hole in the floor. I was sure the tenants below us thought the worst. My pride was hurt more than anything and I felt very sore that night and next day. 

Friday Bob helped fix a few things at the mission home and I shopped at the mall. I know I got a few good deals. No hurrying on my part.

We love our mission more everyday. The lord is so kind and loving to us. He helps and blesses us with thoughts to act upon and people to teach. I am more and more convinced that the gospel changes lives. Mine being one. It brings hope to those in dark places, fills everyone with light and truth who are willing to listen. Happiness comes with the love of the Savior. I love the Book of Mormon and Preach My Gospel.

Dinner with our new Elder Tharp-- in the sweater. Notice my bowls. A Goodwill find. I got them for $1.50 a bowl with lids. That night I made taco soup with rice and all the trimmings.

Below is the after math of my fall as I hit the cupboard door. And to top it off the next morning I asked Bob to hang up the TP on the side. He thought it was real funny so I took a picture. Remember ladies words mean everything.

Sunday, 8 November 2015

Last Sunday at 5:00 p.m., our Branch President and his wife had a little social at the church for their son, who entered the MTC this last Wednesday.  His name is Mark Dotimas and will serve in Des Moines, IA Spanish Speaking.  He will make a great missionary.  There was lots of food!

President and Sister Dotimas

 Tuesday, Irene and I spent most of the day at the Mission Home in Ellicott City, MD.  Irene helped Sister Christiansen with food preparation for the elders and sisters who were coming in that evening.  I was able to do some things for President Christiansen and all in all is was a great day, especially when the new elders and sisters arrived at the home from the MTC (mission training center).

There were five elders and three sisters being transferred from the Pasadena and Glen Burnie Districts, so we made them a little "being transferred gift" similar to the ones we made on the previous transfer.

Elder Carlson was transferred from Brooklyn Park to Baltimore Inner Harbor.  We hated to see him transferred, but were excited to have Elder Tharp from Magna, UT take his place. 

Sister Moore, Elder Carlson, & Elder Moore

Elders Skarda on the left and Carlson, both were transferred.

Six of the "Transfer Gifts"  Three Elders & Three Sisters.

 

Sunday, November 1, 2015

This past week Irene and I helped Sister Christiansen with the Sisters' Conference held in Walkersville, MD.  Irene helped with the conference and I was in charge of the luncheon.  They also provided breakfast for the sisters; french toast and a yummy sauce to pour over it (oh my goodness, that stuff was so good I could have drank it!), fruit, bacon, juice, and chocolate milk.  Delightful!

I recruited Elders Baker from Fort Meade and Jaccard from Hagerstown to help me with the lunch.  Sister Christiansen planned the meal, purchased the food and transported it to Walkersville; all we had to do is put it on the trays and try to make it look "pretty."  I don't think we did too badly for three old guys who could care less about how it looks as long as it tastes good.

On the way back from the conference my phone rang and since I was driving I gave the phone to Irene to answer.  It was a man who just moved to Brooklyn and wanted to know if we had a copy of the Book of Mormon to give him so he could read it and get baptized.  She took down his name and phone number and I called him when we got to the apartment.

He said that he had started reading the Book of Mormon but his son may have thrown it out by mistake.  He said that what he had read impressed him and he wanted to read the rest of it.  I told him that I have enjoyed reading the Book of Mormon because of its testimony of Jesus Christ.  I also told him that I enjoy reading the Bible too, and the two books testify that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer and the testimonies they give fill my heart with gratitude for the sacrifice Christ made for each of us.  We will see him this week.

Elders Jaccard, Baker, and I prepared these meat trays for the lunch.

Sisters renewing friendships.

Lots of fun.

Lunch time!

Entrance to the hiking trail

Waterfall along the hike.

Lake at the end of the hike.