Comings and Goings

The last few weeks have been full of transitions in the Palmyra New York Temple.  Our beloved temple leadership has been released at the end of August.  This past week we were able to welcome new temple leadership.  Now, the Palmyra Temple is closed for maintenance for the next two weeks.  With the upcoming dedication of the new Pittsburgh Temple, we also lost around 40 temple workers who are in that new temple district.  We did have the privilege to attend the Pittsburgh Open House just two weeks ago.  It was beautiful and sacred!  We also said good-bye to our dear friends, Elder and Sister Lamoreaux, who finished their mission and returned to their home this past week.

A beautiful photo of our temple leadership and us with E/S Bobo at the Pittsburgh Temple Open House

We have loved serving with this temple leadership.  They have been perfect for us!  They have taught us how to prioritize the patron experience.  They have led by example.  They have taught us in all of our preparation meetings and in special orientations.  Most of all they have loved us.

They have been aware of and accommodated Sister Rueckert's health challenges.  They have allowed us to assist our daughter and her family after our son-in-law passed away.  They allowed us to bring our grandchildren to Palmyra and gave us two days off of our mission at this time.

We can't imagine serving this mission without "our" temple leadership. They will always be part of our fond memories of Palmyra and our love for this special temple. 

As they completed their time, they had a farewell dinner with the missionary couples on August 19.  There we were able to enjoy a dinner, games and friendship. 

Dinner at the Temple President's Home with the complete Temple Leadership, including the Temple recorder and wife and the 5 missionary couples

Playing games after dinner

A photo taken at the farewell dinner by Brother Fergus, our temple recorder

Another photo taken by Sister Pitts with Brother and Sister Fergus in this photo

Six days later there was a reception held at the bowery behind the Palmyra Stake Center where all temple workers were invited to express thanks to the outgoing temple leadership.  Each brought food, which left more food than could be eaten.  It was a wonderful celebration for these leaders who have dedicated the last three years of their lives to the Palmyra Temple, their ordinance workers, and the temple patrons from throughout the world.

The bowery was not big enough to accommodate all.  Many ate on separate picnic tables outside of the bowery.

Food brought by all was amazing

President and Sister Pitts

President and Sister Clay

President and Sister Cooper

President and Sister Kimbler, new president and matron

And many more, including many friends who we normally see only in the temple

As of last week, President Daniel Kimbler and his wife Karen began their service in the Palmyra Temple.  Their counselors and assistants are President and Sister Wozniak and President and Sister Lau.  Each has served as sealers and ordinance workers, so we had already gotten to know each of them.  However, we now have the privilege to sustain each of them in their new roles.  It is amazing to watch the transition of leadership in the Lord's kingdom.  There are minimal distractions as those who are given keys to lead, do so without any contention or fanfare.  We are pleased to be able to finish our mission with these fine individuals.

President Daniel Kimbler and his wife Karen, the new matron

Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple:

There have been approximately 40 ordinance workers who have come from 3 or more hours to serve in the Palmyra Temple, usually on Friday nights and Saturdays.  As of this past month they have been reassigned to the new Pittsburgh Temple.  Several of them told me how happy they will be to only travel an hour and a half to go to the temple. One said "It will be wonderful to go to the temple, serve, and return in the same day".  Although we already miss them, we are thrilled that they can have a temple closer to their homes.  By losing their service, all of the missionary couples have been serving many double shifts on Saturdays, covering the morning and afternoon shifts.

In August a two week open house was held for the new Pittsburgh Temple which will be dedicated next Sunday, September 15.  We were privileged to take our P-Day on August 26 and travel with Elder and Sister Bobo to Pittsburgh for the open house, returning the same day.  The travel was long but the companionship of the Bobos made the time fly by.  It was a privilege to have the time to get to know them even better, including hours of doctrinal discussions.  A day very well spent!

This was a very interesting open house, our first to attend since serving in the Palmyra Temple.  We looked at everything with different eyes, knowing many of the space challenges that we have here.  We found the Pittsburgh Temple to be absolutely beautiful and a little more spacious than our temple.  We noticed everything in detail and fully appreciated it's beauty and functionality.

With Elder and Sister Bobo at the Pittsburgh Temple Open House

At the entry of the open house, "Holiness to the Lord - The House of the Lord" in gold print above

The two of us from the southern view of the Pittsburgh Temple

Enjoying Ice Cream together on the way home

Farewell to Elder and Sister Lamoreaux:

Elder and Sister Lamoreaux arrived with us at the end of March.  They have a daughter giving birth to her first child in the next week or two, so they elected to leave as the temple began their two week maintenance period.  We were able to have one last family home evening together on Labor Day.  We hosted a dinner at our home and we enjoyed socializing together.  Each shared memories of the past 5+ months.  We have grown to love these four missionary couples who have served with us throughout our time here.  We have developed a kinship which can only be understood by being here.  They are consecrated individuals who have gone out of their way to make us feel comfortable and to cover where our limitations required their help.  Each has their special strengths, but all are "Saints".

The next day, September 3, we held a special sealing session in the temple with the 10 of us. Elder Bray and Elder Rasmussen are also sealers, so they took turns performing the sealings and all participated.  The joy of being together in this holy setting with these special friends cannot be described in words.  We were able to seal several families together with multiple siblings, some with 4 or 5 children.  We had one family that had 11 siblings.  It took a few ordinances but the entire family was sealed together.  Elder Rasmussen shared special insights about the sealing ordinance that we will never forget.

Dinner in our living room using a card table and chairs from three of the couples.

Our ten second timer to take this photo together.  Direction of the camera was weird, but it captured all of us.

A photo of Elder Lamoreaux watching our friend Charles Osborne as we played one more round of golf the week before the Lamoreauxs left.  Charles turned 91 years old this past week.

Serving in the Temple:

During mid August we served as endowment officiators 10 times in three weeks, which we absolutely love doing.  However, the last week in August and the first few days in September, we served exclusively in other roles.  One of the recurring roles was in the sealing ordinance assisting patrons.  Some of the others were in the baptistry.  There we witnessed several special moments relating to performing ordinances for families as follows:

• In one session, I was able to be the spouse of a sister who was proxy for her grandparents.  Her emotions were strong and the Spirit was felt by all that were present. After the ordinance, she took time to share her memories of her grandmother and grandfather.  The Spirit was so strong in that session, it was heavenly.
• At the end of the last session of August, I was able to be present as President Pitts performed the sealing of a sister to her deceased husband.  Present was her mother, three sisters and a brother-in-law.  This was President Pitts last official ordinance as the President of the Temple.  His words of love to the participants were profound.  Again the spirit was strong.
• On the same day, I had the privilege to be involved in two young men bringing their wives-to-be through the veil, prior to their sealing in the temple that very day.  I had never done this before and  had the chance to assist in the short veil ceremony twice in the same day.
• In the baptistry a few days earlier, we were helping a stake from Brooklyn, New York that was here doing a youth conference.  This stake has 3 Spanish wards, 4 English Wards, 1 Chinese ward and a branch that speaks Creole.  The first hour was primarily the Spanish speakers.  Many ordinances were performed in Spanish.  The second hour included the Chinese ward.  One of the young men was proxy for his grandfather and baptized another who was proxy for his grandmother.  Debbie was at the font and described the wonderful emotion of this moment.
• Three days ago, on Thursday, we were aware of an older gentleman who would be coming to the temple to perform baptisms for his deceased wife and his father.  We met him at the recommend desk before he went to the baptistry.  He was 80 years old and had recently received the Aaronic , Priesthood even though he has been a member for 42 years.  His wife was a pastor in a spiritualist church.  He waited until she passed away recently before he pursued advancing in the priesthood, not wanting to create confusion in their marriage.  He came from 150 miles away without proxies to help him.  In the waiting room, there was a sister from Utah and her son, who is beginning his mission tomorrow.  They agreed to help with the baptisms.  I was able to step into the baptistry and see him baptize this sister in behalf of his wife.  He also baptized this young man for his father and for the young man's maternal grandfather.  That same day, the future missionary did the initiatory work for his grandfather and came back that night to be proxy for his grandfather's endowment.  We were privileged to be on that same session as patrons.  After the morning shift, we were able to spend some additional time with this older brother as he told us all about his story.  He was inspiring and his ability to now perform these ordinances for his deceased wife was inspirational.

The 80 year old man who was able to baptize a proxy for his recently deceased wife

I also had the privilege to help train new ordinance workers.  Again it was two brothers, one who just came home from a mission in Layton, Utah.  The other will be leaving soon for a mission in Piracicaba, Brazil.  These young brothers learn fast and are extremely diligent.

In a recent endowment session, I was privileged to say the prayer in the prayer circle.  When I invited patrons to come up, a brother who cannot walk on his own, came up with his wife.  Before I knew it, she invited a patron who was blind to also participate while her husband stood next to a single sister.  I realized that in that circle we had the lame and the blind,  joining in the prayer for those who are sick. This is the dedication that we see every day in the temple.

On the same day that we performed sealings with the other missionaries, we had an old friend from High School days come to Palmyra and perform baptisms in the temple.  As we left the sealing session, we were able to locate him and his wife, who were still on the temple grounds.  They came back into the temple and we were able to catch up a little.  This is certainly one of the blessings of being in Palmyra. Members come from all over to visit this sacred place.

With Ken Searles and his wife.  We hadn't seen him in more than 50 years

In our last cleaning session in the temple, we were given two carrot cake cup cakes as a thank you.  Perhaps our time of leaving is coming.

Coming home with a kindness treat from the cleaners in the temple

Some other Temple Friends:

We want to put photos in our blog of some of the special people that we meet.  Their personalities and dedication have made a strong impression on our hearts.

Brother and Sister Hale, ordinance workers and patrons, highly dedicated

Debbie with her friend, Sister Prince.  She had served in years past as a shift coordinator.  She now has difficulty in maintaining her balance but that doesn't stop her from coming.  She and Debbie have developed a special relationship together.

Debbie with Sister Bolton, an extremely dedicated Temple Worker is in the temple multiple days of the week.  She has a lively but pleasant personality.  Again, her and Debbie have developed a strong relationship.

Bishops Storehouse:

As we served last Friday in the Bishop's Storehouse, we were training a new church service missionary. He will cover the shifts of the missionaries during the two weeks that the temple is closed for maintenance.

Training the first church service young missionary from the Rochester Stake.  He was a fast learner and had a great attitude.

The produce that we put into 1 or 3 lb. bags

Penn Yan Branch:

We continue to love serving in the Penn Yan branch.  Our special friend Peggy has attended Church with William for four weeks in a row. We pray that they both can continue to progress as they come closer unto our Savior.  In May, soon after we arrived in the branch we met Lucas, a member who had come for the first time in several years.  He has been a special friend to me.  His attitude towards learning and growing in the Church is just amazing.  His countenance lights up the room. I finally was able to get a photo of the two of us together.

With my dear friend, Lucas, who uplifts me every time that I see him.

LeRoy, New York - home of Jell-O:

When traveling with the Bobos, they told us about LeRoy, New York, which is close to the branch where they attend.  It is the home of Jell-O which was first invented in the late 1890s by a local resident. He was selling it around the region, but was not a strong marketer.  After a few years, another individual bought his rights and equipment for $450, enough for him to buy his own home.  Thirty years later, the Jell-O brand and company was sold for $60 million.

There in LeRoy, they have a Jell-O museum which tells this story and has many artifacts from throughout the years.  It made for a delightful visit.  The old factory is also nearby, but not available for visits.  Also in LeRoy are paintings on many of the barns.  They call them Barn Quilts.  There is also a small replica of the Statue of Liberty, just a few blocks from the museum.  It made for a very enjoyable Friday afternoon after serving in the baptistry for the Brooklyn, NY Stake that morning.

One of the painted barns in LeRoy. 

In front of the Jell-O Museum

The Jell-O Cow in front of the Museum

Our hostess at the Jell-O Museum.  She is wearing a 2002 Salt Lake Green Jell-O Olympic pin 

Everything Jell-O

A hippopotamus is one of the Jell-O Animals

A section of the museum devoted to Utah.  Salt Lake City consumes twice the per-capita national average of Jell-O

Jell-O Baseball Cards

Even replica Jell-O delivery cart in the basement of the museum

An old bicycle also in the museum

Some of the Barn Quilts in LeRoy, NY

By the Statue of Liberty replica in LeRoy, NY

Sweet Corn:

Sweet Corn is a big deal in western New York.  It is grown everywhere and can be bought at many local unmanned fruit and vegetable stands.  It is delicious!  It has become our constant side for our Sunday dinner.

We see these corn fields everywhere that we drive

They go on and on

One Saturday night, I realized that I didn't have any corn for our Sunday dinner.  I drove just outside of Palmyra, a couple miles from our home and found some available . . . 

at a local fruit and vegetable stand . . .

Prices are posted . . . 

and cash is accepted in the box or it can be paid by Venmo . . . 

 

and corn for Sunday dinner picked up without hassle

Big, Green Lawns:

Many homes in the Palmyra Area come on a five acre lot.  That leaves a lot of ground to be covered with lawn.  Nature is the watering system and it works, with enough rain throughout the summer.  The challenge is keeping it mowed.  Riding lawn mowers are used in most cases.  The following photo gives a feel of this unique landscaping which has intrigued me.

A lot of lawn to be mowed.  Photo taken in late August, the large lawn is still green.

Birthdays:

Our grandson, Liam celebrated his first birthday two weeks ago.  This is a screen shot of our FaceTime celebration with Liam, with his sister, Sophia.

Liam enjoying his birthday book

Our Palmyra and Traveling the Waterways

Palmyra, New York has been our place of residence since Easter.  It has become more than a community with the many Church historical sites and the Palmyra, New York Temple.  It has become our home!  We love the history of the mission of Willard and Rebecca Bean who served in Palmyra from 1915 to 1939.  Their story has been portrayed in the movie "The Fighting Preacher" and in the book "A Lion and a Lamb".  As we see the impact of their mission and feel the growth and goodwill of the Church in Palmyra, we are in awe.  As we get to know local residents and culture and see the surrounding beauty, our love increases.

We also had the privilege of traveling on some waterways in the past few weeks, on Lake Owasco and the Erie Canal.  These are also part of the beauty and history of this region.

The DVD of the Fighting Preacher and the book of A Lamb and a Lion.  Each tells the story of Willard and Rebecca Bean who served a 24 year mission to reestablish the Church in Palmyra.

We saw the movie "The Fighting Preacher" several years ago, before we even considered serving this mission.  Before leaving for our mission, we watched it again.  During our grandchildren retreat last month, we watched the movie with them.  After seeing the book "A Lamb and a Lion" in a local museum, we ordered the book and have read it.  The story of this 24 year mission of Willard and Rebecca Bean is remarkable and inspiring.  They came to a city that hated them and eventually won them over with love.  In the process, they were able to help the Church purchase the Hill Cumorah, the Peter Whitmer Farm, and the Martin Harris Farm.  More importantly, they touched the hearts of the local residents.  

When they left, in 1939, there were three branches of the Church, one each in Palmyra, Rochester and Canadaigua.   We now benefit from this amazing history, with growing Church membership and goodwill from most everyone that we meet. Now there are two strong stakes in this same area with several other stakes nearby and . . . a Temple of the Lord. 

The Beans were newlyweds when they were called as missionaries by President Joseph F. Smith in 1915.  The Church had recently purchased the Smith Farm which included the Sacred Grove.  They lived in the home where Joseph Smith lived when he received the Golden Plates in 1827.  Their first daughter was born soon after their arrival and they named her Palmyra.  In fact, the book that we have read was written by Palmyra's son.  As Palmyra began attending school, she was consistently shunned and sometimes threatened.  She had to sit  in a special chair bolted to the floor in the corner, away from the other students.

The original schoolhouse where Palmyra went to school

When Willard Bean came to Palmyra, the majority owner of the Hill Cumorah was Pliny Sexton, a very successful banker in town.  Willard Bean offered to buy his share of the Hill Cumorah for $35,000 and Pliny was asking $100,000.  They continued their friendship until Pliny died in 1924, but the price difference was never resolved.  Finally, Pliny's heirs agreed to sell to the Church for the market value that Willard was offering.   However, Willard's relationship with Pliny was important.  In fact, Pliny dedicated a property next to his bank as a park for the village of Palmyra and allowed Willard to preach in this park every Saturday night. As Pliny was near death, he would lay in his room with the window open so that he could hear Willard's sermons.  He told his nurse that Willard Bean "made the gospel so easy to understand and that he had never heard such a clear interpretation of the scriptures".

The park where Willard Bean preached and nearby bank building.  The upstairs was made into the living quarters of Pliny Sexton.  This is just a block and a half from where we live.

Willard Bean had been a professional boxer in his earlier years.  "He had great confidence in his skills to defend himself physically, and since most of the male population had dreamed of legally laying into him with their fists, he sought to oblige them.  He challenged one and all to enter the ring and match their fighting skills with his.  On one occasion challengers filled the first three rows of the hall, anxious to deck this Mormon once and for all.  One by one they would leave the ring, either with assistance or unconscious, with very few ever landing a punch. He did not fear what man could do and he was capable of punishing anyone who would take him on, regardless of size."  Hence, "The Fighting Preacher" is the name of the movie.

The old Opera House where Willard Bean had a boxing match with many of the residents of Palmyra

Inspite of his reputation as a fighter, Willard and Rebecca Bean won the town with their love and service. When they left in 1939, the entire community honored them in several receptions.  The president of the Lions Club said "We are doing honor to a family that came to Palmyra years ago.  When they settled on the Joseph Smith farm, some of our super-pious citizens started a tirade with the object of getting rid of them..  But as they proved themselves good citizens, we soon learned to tolerate them, then we learned to admire and respect them, and now we love them.  It is with reluctance that we now bid farewell to the most versatile family that ever lived in Wayne County."

We are so pleased to be here.  Just about everyone in Palmyra knows of the Church.  They speak with admiration of the many years of the Hill Cumorah pageant and many remember the open house before the Palmyra Temple was dedicated.  Missionaries are commonplace in the region and well respected.  We benefit from this legacy that began with Willard and Rebecca Bean.

Today in Palmyra:

Erie Canal Depot Museum:

When we first came on our mission we became members of the Palmyra Museum Society.  At the time we visited 3 of their museums.  It was in the primary museum that we saw the book "A Lamb and a Lion".  

Three weeks ago, we visited the last two.  The first was the museum of the Erie Canal.  We wanted to learn more about the Erie Canal before we took our Erie Canal trip on August 23.  Once we were through the visit, I finally realized that the canal boats were powered by mules, dragging the boats from the walkway on the side of the canal.  This visit certainly was able to wake me up to something that Debbie had understood long ago.  This became clear to me in the following photo of their painting.  The glare and reflections make it harder to see, but it opened my mind to understand how canal travel was in the time of Joseph Smith.

My photo of the painting.  Those who paid more could travel on the top of the boat, where there was better air circulation than inside.  See the mules on the pathway to the right with a rope to the boat.

The timing of the Erie Canal was perfect for the restoration of the gospel.  The canal was completed in 1825, just a few years before the Book of Mormon would be printed in Palmyra.  The transport on the canal made it possible for paper and other supplies to be delivered to the Grandin Press, just a block from the Erie Canal.

From the museum, showing the timelines of the different openings of the canal from 1817 until 1821

The Alling Coverlet Museum:

That same day we visited the Coverlet Museum, showing amazing textiles produced in the area, dating back to the early 1800s.  This is a one of a kind museum, very unique to Palmyra, where these coverlets were made.

Debbie in front of the Museum

Viewing some of the coverlets in the museum

Buying a Palmyra Sweatshirt locally:

A few weeks ago, we were invited to visit President and Sister Clay in their home on Lake Owasco (see comments and photos below) and were advised to bring a sweatshirt.  Debbie didn't have a sweatshirt with her that seemed to meet this need.  So I went that morning to see what I could find. If I was to buy her a sweatshirt, I wanted it to be a souvenir of Palmyra.  I went down the street just a few blocks  and found a store that advertised Custom 31 Tee Shirts (Main Street Palmyra is Highway 31).  I went in to give it a shot.  There I found a gem.

Custom 31 store in Palmyra, across the street from the Grandin Building (original printer of the Book of Mormon)

I asked about any sweatshirts with a Palmyra logo.  Eric, the owner, assured me that he could make one within 30 minutes.  I found a sweatshirt the color that Debbie wanted and found a cool design of clouds with the Palmyra name.  Within the clouds was the Angel Moroni statue from the top of the Palmyra Temple.  I told him that I wanted it and would be back in 30 minutes.  

When I came back, he had it ready to press, but didn't want to proceed until he knew that I was serious. So, I was able to watch him create the sweatshirt.  While he did, we talked.  Eric was a typical resident of Palmyra.  He has known our Church for most of his life, has attended a few meetings and of course, the Hill Cumorah pageant several times.  He told me how good the Church has been for Palmyra, it has kept them alive as a village.  He even offers a 10% discount to missionaries. 

This became a very meaningful discussion with a very sincere person.  Eric is still  interested in finding a religious direction in his life, perhaps more than when he was younger.  I was able to leave him one of our Articles of Faith cards, which I had been prompted to put into my pocket before returning to the store.  I included a personal invitation for him to learn more!

Eric, making Debbie's sweatshirt

Debbie, in her Palmyra Sweat Shirt

The Wayne County Fair:

Last week we attended the Wayne County Fair, held in Palmyra.  We hadn't been to a county or state fair for years.  This was fun and gave us a better feel for the people around us.  We knew about the fair because of the sign hanging over Main Street.  Good old fashioned advertising.

Banner hanging over Main Street Palmyra

As we arrived after our Wednesday Mid Shift at the Temple we had many options to visit as noted by the sign below.

Debbie by the sign directing us to the different displays or activities

We enjoyed visiting the animal and crafts exhibits,  watching the sweet corn eating contest, and being entertained by small carnival acts.  It felt good to be among these local residents.  We even met the full-time sister missionaries that are serving in Palmyra.

A big sheep, trying to nibble at Debbie

Checking out the Pigs

Sweet Corn eating contest won by the contestant in the middle.  He was an amazing corn eating machine, leaving the cobs clean.

We even met our friend Diana at the corn eating contest

Local carnival/circus at the County Fair

Balancing act, very impressive

Our Palmyra Temple:

In front of the temple grounds of the "Palmyra" Temple

We continue loving our service in the Palmyra Temple.  We do have an occasional assignment in the baptistry.  Last week, we were able to serve the London and Brampton Stakes from near Toronto, Canada.  They came down for youth conferences which included two days of baptisms at the temple.  We were able to serve the first day for a few of those sessions.  Mostly, we seem to have become specialists for officiating in the endowment sessions.  Over the past few weeks, we have served as endowment officiators just about every shift that we work.  Two weeks ago, we were trained with some adjustments in the endowment presentation.  This training took place by the temple presidency who trained each of the missionary couples.  We, in turn, have had the privilege to train the other ordinance workers, which has allowed us to serve even more often as endowment officiators.  Debbie and I love this opportunity to serve together.

Kong Onesengmani, a temple worker born in Laos.  He joined the Church in the U.S. and serves in the temple 3 or 4 nights a week.  He is an inspiration to me.

Serving in the Palmyra Stake:

A few weeks ago, we scheduled a time to visit our friend, Peggy, at her home with the full-time missionaries.  She had seen the missionaries often as they taught her fiancé, but had not received her own lessons.  As we met together, the missionaries taught her about the first principles and ordinances of the gospel.  We enjoyed sharing our thoughts and testimonies.  I find Debbie to be an amazing missionary teacher.  In the end, Peggy wanted to know how soon she could be baptized.  There was a new missionary, Elder Archibald, who had just been transferred to the area the day before.  This was a choice experience for us.   Last week we were able to give Peggy a ride to her orientation in Canadaigua for her new job.  We are so grateful to be part of Peggy's life as she comes unto Christ. 

Elders Pierce and Archibald with Peggy and E/S Rueckert

Penn Yan Branch linger longer on August 18 with William, Peggy and Tori and her friend Matty in the front left

After the missionary lesson with Peggy, we stopped in the store to buy food for Debbie to prepare a dish for the linger longer.  I am always intrigued by the Mennonites that we see around the Penn Yan region.  This day we saw a few at the grocery store.  I greatly admire their commitment to what they believe.

Mennonites leaving the store in their buggy

Mennonites in the store in their modest clothing

The same day as the linger longer, we had a musical fireside at the Stake Center.  We were privileged to be taught by Brother Wayne Burton, from Canada.  His presentation was on the theme of "The Living Christ"

We saw our friends and fellow temple workers, Charles and Nancy Osborne, who let us sit by them for the fireside.

Traveling the Waterways in New York:

The last two weeks have brought two separate adventures on boats.  On Monday, August 12, we and the other missionaries were invited to spend the day at the lake home of President and Sister Clay of our temple presidency.  They live along the coast of the Owasco Lake, one of the Finger Lakes.  Owasco Lake is 11 miles long and 1.3 miles wide.  

The Clays were wonderful hosts and the company of the other missionaries is always very enjoyable.  We enjoyed some socializing with appetizers, went on a cruise of Owasco Lake, played some outdoor games, made our own pizzas and played some indoor games.  What a day!  This is good clean fun!

The Clays' home on the lake

Socializing with appetizers in the room overlooking the lake

Captain and Sister Clay

Passengers in the front and the back

Elder and Sister Rueckert and Owasco Lake

Moving at high speed!

Playing outdoor games

Making pizzas

President Clay cooking the pizzas

Playing games - Remember the Year

Enjoying Sister Clay's home made cream puffs for dessert

A beautiful night view of the lake

On Friday, August 23, four missionary couples had the day off on the temple schedule.  We decided to take a cruise on the Colonial Belle on the Erie Canal.  This included passing through the Lock and back again, 17 miles each way.  We started with a breakfast/lunch at Rikki's before our tour began at 1:00 pm.  We sailed until 4:30 pm.  A different method of travel, but once again on a boat on the water.  

This one was unique as it was on the waterway that was manmade, completed in 1825, just a few years before the Book of Mormon was published.  All of this would not have been possible without this waterway which facilitated commerce at that time.  Although we traveled with a power driven boat, in those days it was powered by two mules that would walk on the walkway at the side of the canal, pulling the boat.  Every 15 miles they would change mules.  The Erie Canal goes from Buffalo to Albany, New York, 363 miles and includes a drop of altitude of 500 feet.  It included 34 locks to move the barges up or down in altitude before continuing their journey.  Travel by boat (both ways) would not have been possible without this lock system.  The following is from Wikipedia:

The Erie Canal is a historic canal in upstate New York that runs east–west between the Hudson River (Albany, New York) and Lake Erie (Buffalo, New York). Completed in 1825, the canal was the first navigablewaterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, vastly reducing the costs of transporting people and goods across the Appalachians. The Erie Canal accelerated the settlement of the Great Lakes region, the westward expansion of the United States, and the economic ascendancy of New York state. It has been called "The Nation's First Superhighway."

We were impressed by our captain and tour guide.  She was very knowledgeable and described all that we passed by, how it all works, and answered all of our questions.  The lock that we went through elevated us 25 feet and lowered us the same 25 feet on the way back.

Embarking on the Colonial Belle

Eight missionaries with front row seats on the top of the boat

Guided by our captain and tour guide

Beautiful paths on the north of the Canal, previously used by mules two centuries ago

Approaching the Lock

Water draining out of the Lock

A small barge coming out of the Lock from the other direction

Lock fully open for barge to leave and our boat to proceed

This boat was about the size of the boats at the time of Joseph Smith

Entering the Lock

Our boat after entering into the Lock and the gate is closing

Securing the boat before water enters into the Lock

Water coming in and the boat is rising

Lock is almost full, ready to exit 25 feet higher than we entered

Coming out of the Lock at the higher elevation

Going back through the lock, water level is lowering

Controlling the boat while the water reduces

On the way back, water is lowering

Getting ready to exit the Lock

Leaving the lock again, this time at the lower elevation

Some of the beautiful homes on the south of the Erie Canal

Many with boat docks

One happy surprise:

Just a few days ago, we saw a large package in our mailbox.  When we retrieved it we found this beautiful Shutter Fly book of our recent Teenage Grandchildren Retreat. It was made by our daughter-in-law, Amy.  She also sent one to each of those who participated.  What a treat and what wonderful memories!