We Survived the Washington Snow!

We are still here having a great time and finally most (not all) of the snow has melted.  Church was cancelled for January 8th and 15th.  Our apartment is locate in northern Vancouver (where I 5 and 205 intersect if you have map) and we had more than a foot of snow practically over night.  This is unheard of in this area.  As a result, there are no snow plows.  Once we got out of our parking place with the help of three neighbors, Gil had to park by the office until we were blessed with rain and above freezing temperatures last Tuesday.  We had a bit of cabin fever when we couldn't get out, but the beauty was spectacular.  Local parking lots were resembled tobaggan runs and many trees were down with the weight of the snow.

Gil and I continue to love our mission and those amazing people we serve with and for.  Such a blessing to try to lighten the load of our valiant young missionaries as they serve tirelessly through snow, illness and minor injuries.  They were amazing with the service they provided shoveling sidewalks and pushing stranded motorists.

We are blessed to serve with a totally committed inspiring Mission Presidency/Wives as well:  Pres/Sister McAteer, Pres/Sister Christianson, Pres/Sister Stone and Elder/Sister Anderson.  They are wonderfully involved with the Mission and Missionaries and it is a joy to know them.

As missionaries come and go, we attend and participate in Trainer/Trainee, Mission Leadership Council and weekly office meetings as well as Zone Conferences.  While I am involved with Missionary Health, I, also, keep the Mission History and take minutes of most meetings.  I appreciate the extra duties to keep busy.  In addition to entering baptism records and temple recommends into the computer, Gil also processes referrals and assists Elders Lowder and Turner with furniture and cars.  Oop!  Almost forgot - he, also, forwards all mail that comes by USPS and notifies each missionary if he or she receives a package.  He is quite the popular guy!

Occasionally, we have the opportunity to treat missionaries to lunch - probably more fun for us than them!

Last, but not least - we had a great Christmas!  The entire mission gathered together at a local Stake Center.  We enjoyed a talent show starring our talented and sometimes hilarious missionaries as well as President and Sister McAteer.  The Stake provided a delicious turkey dinner for the entire mission. We attended Church on Christmas Day and then came home for a quiet ham dinner.  We have enjoyed the leftover ham in many dishes and soups since.

Photos to follow!!

Lunch/Meeting with New Missionaries and Trainers 1/3/17

Three of the new Elders are awaiting visas for Trinidad

Night of the white-out Snowstorm

View from our bedroom window - Hospital in the background

Missionary Work is tiring!