Dec. 2011, Meet Mrs. Beardsley

 This is Mrs. Beardsley, the best back seat driver in the mission.

Sister Wall & Sister Chattterton, a great companionship!

24 Dec. 2011, Tina Klein's Baptism

Sister Chatterton, Tina Cline & Sister Wall - 

Conversion Story

Of

Tina Klein

Tina Kline grew up in the Rochester Area.  She had a high school girl friend named Dale Menditto.  They  both investigated many religions hoping to find the truth.  Dale joined the LDS Church at age 19, was married and sealed in the temple and moved to Arizona.  Tina on the other hand married a man named Bruce.  Tina and Bruce chose a life style far from the standards of the church.  Even though Dale her best to interest Tina she just was not interested.  Then after 25 years of marriage Bruce died  of cancer(2009 Dayton Beach Florida). Tina loved her husband and missed him terribly.  She soon became very depressed and wanted very badly to change her live. 

When Dale learned of Bruce’s death she called the LDS Bishop of the area she was living.  Bishop Pillow of Daytona Beach Florida came and offered his support.

A short time later Tina returned to the Rochester area.  She was still struggling with addictions and depression.  She was so down she decided it was time to throw away all her drugs, coffee and anything that was bad and pray for help.  She was so committed, she prayed all night on Nov 4^th, 2011 asking God to help here find peace.  Assisted by her friend Dale she went on line and found the address of the closest LDS Church which was Rochester 1^st Ward.  She said I was a mess when I walked into the building prior to the 9:30 Meeting time and was met in the foyer by a man name of Ray Chrystal.  She told him she needed help.  Sensing her sincerity he said, “I know how you feel” I am a convert myself and know how to help you.  Let me introduce you to the Sister Missionaries.  Tina later described Ray Chrystal as an angel. She said “he just glowed”.   She continued, “I will always remember him.  He looked so much like his name, a Chrystal”.

 Sisters Wall and Chatterton began teaching Tina and she was baptized on Dec. 24 th, 2011, Christmas eve.  She received her limited use temple recommend this past week and is going to the temple to perform baptisms for the dead for her husband, her mon and her grandmother.  She said, “I cannot wait.  My feet are not even touching the floor right now.  I have walked up to that temple door many times to just touch it.  I cannot wait to go in.”

She will be sealed to her husband in less than a  year.  She is so pleased with her new life. 

19 Dec 2011, Christmas at Smith Farm

 Elder & Sister Colledge in Joseph Smith Log Cabin

Elder & Sister Lenker in the Smith Frame Home

Leadership Training/Couples 14 Dec. 2011

  Pres. & Sister Christianson, Torontos, Jeffs, Beckham, Williams, Colledges, Malans, McVeas

Palmyra S. Zone Leadership Training 14 Dec. 2011

Back row:  E. Kitt, Wilson, Caldwell, 

4th row back:  E. Peck, Fitt, Worsham, Hallam, Hulse, Bryson, Owens

3rd row back:  S. Meister, White, & E. Depew

2nd row back:  Pres. & S. Christianson, S. Lovell, Rivera & S. Depew

Front row:  S. Correia, McKenna, Tirrell, Fetuli, E. Southam & Rasmenssen

Palmyra N. Zone Leadership Training 14 Dec. 2011

Back row:  Pres. & S. Christianson, Teichert, Preisdendorf, Thomas, B. Anderson, Gonzalez, Hess, E. C. Larson, Morrison, Gudgell, K. Larsen, Adair

Front row:  S. Lee, Morgan, Trujillo, A. Carter, Hatch & Crook

Buffalo Zone Leadership Training, 14 Dec. 2011

Back:  E. Stoker, Garcia, Elrey, J. Hoffman, White, E&S Gibby

3rd row back:  E. Halbert, Schow & Frost

2nd row back:  E. Maisey, Tanner, Robinson, Adams, Wood, Hole, Nicholes, S. Barrus, S&E Paulsen

Front row:  S. & Pres. Christianson, E. Pratt, Jones, Neville.......................S. Meggan Gibby & Gulzar

Rochester Zone Leadership Training14 Dec. 2011

Back row:  Elder Olsen, Lachaga, A. Cook, Bowman, Hill, Wilcox, Swaner, Henricksen, S&E Moses

2nd row back:  E. Decker, Anderson, Ingram, Miller, Woodworth, Schlechter, S. Carver, Chatterton, E. Servoss

Front row:  Pres. & S. Christianson, E&S Jones, E&S Jensen, E. Davis, Finch, Simmons, M. Campbell, W. Cox..... 

Sister Sultanian, Wall, Garcia, Green, Torres & Sister Servoss

10 December 2011, Brigham Young's Baptism Site

Elder Kent Servoss made this temporary sign for a Christmas Open House at the John Young Home.  Visitors were shown where Brigham Young was baptized.

Dec. 2011, Meet Mrs. Beardsley

 This is Mrs. Beardsley, the best back seat driver in the mission!  This is a car inspection at a Zone Conference in Rochester.  Notice the candy and bribe letter:)

Sister Wall & Chatterton, a great companionship!

Party Time in our Office Bldg, - 21 Nov 2011

Back half:  E & S Jensen, ?, S & Pres. Christianson, E&S Servoss, Cindy & George Wolfe

Front Half:  Frank Stein w/dog (Sarah), E & S McVea, Beth, Jennifer (mail lady)

 President Jack R. Christianson & Sister Melanie Christianson

Sister Kae & Elder Kent Servoss

Office Staff

McVea's, Christianson's, Jensen's & Servoss'

 Sister Valli & Elder Coleman McVea

Sister Maxine & Elder Richard Jensen

Sunsets

16 Nov 2011 - Sunset at the Mission Office, Fairport, NY

26 November 2011, Sunset at John Young Home in Mendon, NY

Transfers on 15 Nov 2011 - Going Home

 Elder Nightingale (deaf missionary), Elder & Sister McVea

at the Westfall Stake Center in Rochester, NY

Elder & Sister McVea with an amazing Sister, Sister Stoker!

Us with Sister Hill, she is a sweetie!

 Us with Sister Vaterlaus, she is a good one!

Us with Sister Christensen, she has the smiles!

Leaf Pick-up in Fairport, NY - 14 Nov 2011

Pretty Spiffy if you ask me.

The making of the movie "Over Miles"

 Elder Decker, donkey #1, Tami Hutchings, donkey #2, Elder Davis at the Hutchings home for dinner.

 Elder Davis mode of transportation after going over miles :)

Who says a dog is man's best friend?  (Elder Decker with donkey #1)

Oct. & Nov. 2011 Missionaries

 Sisters Stoke & Carter performed a clogging routine for us at the Senior Couples Halloween Party in the basement of the HC Visitor Center.  The gray hair was to represent the Senior Sisters & Elders (tie on Sister Stoker).  

 Elder Ashton Cook, Assistant to the President for over a year, showing his second pair of worn out shoes.

Sister Destiny Tirrell & McKenna, twin outfits.

Lisa & Connor Morris' Visit 26 Oct. - 2 Nov. 2011

Connor & Lisa Morris, Sister Valli McVea at Brigham Young's Baptismal Site.

 

Connor & Lisa Morris in front of the Welcome Sign for Mount "Morris", New York.

 Fall colors in Letchworth State Park, Mt. Morris, New York.

 

Elder & Sister McVea, Connor & Lisa Morris in Letchworth State Park.

 A favorite spot in Letchworth State Park!

 Sister A. Crook was assigned Hill Cumorah Visitor Center the day we visited with the Morris'.  Connor and Sister Alexandra Crook were in dance class together at Timpview High School.

 Elder & Sister McVea with Lisa & Connor Morris in front of the Christus in the HC Visitor Center.

 Joseph Smith Farm House, Palmyra, New York

Lisa & Connor Morris, Elder & Sister McVea at the entrance of the Sacred Grove.

Halloween Decorations in Palmyra, NY 2011

They really go all out in Western New York for the Holidays!

 

Miracle Rendezvous at Hill Cumorah 23 Oct 2011

Elder McVea standing by the "Moroni Tree" named by President Christianson.  Coleman thought this was the tree but I did not.  So, I silently prayed that Pres. Christianson would just happen to come to the Hill to settle the problem.  I knew he had out of town friends visiting so the probability of him showing up at the Hill was almost nil. 

While there Coleman took pictures of some of the taller trees.  Notice the branches do not grow on the bottom part of the trunk.  They only grow on the top of the tree where they can access sunlight.

We had spent about 40 minutes on the Hill and as we came to the top we saw Elder & Sister Servoss hunting for acorns.  They did not see us when this picture was taken.  Sister Servoss cleaned the acorns up and painted them with a clear varnish.  She gave me some for souvenirs.

This is where the miracle comes in.  While we were talking with Elder & Sister Servoss, guess who arrived at the top of the HILL?  President and Sister Christianson with their guests, the Martin family from Provo, UT.  Br. Martin had just been sustained as a member of our Stake Presidency in the Edgemont North Stake back home.  Small world.

 

Sister & Elder McVea with President Jack R. Christianson and Sister Melanie Christianson.

President gave ALL of us a tour of the Hill showing us not only the "Moroni Tree" but an area on the HILL where you can look up in a small clearing and see this, "The Cathedral" called by President.  By the way, Elder McVea had picked out the correct Moroni Tree which was confirmed by President.