8 May 2011, Mother's Day

 Sister McVea holding flowers given to her by Caitlyn Pemberton, a Young Single Adult.  She is an investigator of a month or two and has attended institute where we have gotten to know her better.  She just radiates and I love her smile.  She helps tend children that come into R.S., she helps clean up after institute putting chairs, food and hymnals  away.  To put it simply, "she is a sweetie!"

 The  Duval Family whom we LOVE! Anna & Burt, the parents of three children, 2 you see in this picture, Autumn and Hannah.

On our way home from church today we stopped by to see this wonderful family.  From L to R of the children are Autumn, Burt and Hannah.  Anna's parents are serving as mission president in the Congo and they come home the end of June this year.

New Colt at President Hutchings home

 24 April 2011, Easter Sunday, with the Hutchings and their new colt born just the day before.  We were told the colt stood within a few hours of birth.  His "coat" was so soft to the touch.

 

 Lela Schutz with the colt.  Lela is a YSA in Geneseo Ward and her father is our Bishop.  They are a great family.  There were 15 of us total for Easter dinner at the Hutchings. 

President Hutchings, who you see in this picture with the colt and her mother, is a counselor in our stake presidency.  He grew up in Mapleton, UT.

Elder Dajeu's Miracles

L. to R. Elder Henricksen, Marceline and Elder Dajeu with daughter and son in the front.
 Marceline _______________ and her two children moved from Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission in March and needed a few more lessons before their baptisms.  She is originally from the Congo in Africa and speaks French.  She has been in the states for a year or so.  Elder Henricksen and Elder Dajeu who are companions both speak French and are the only French speaking missionaries in our mission.  Elder Dajeu had a goal  for his mission to teach a family in his native tongue, French.  Marceline and children were baptized the week before Elder Dajeu returned home in April.

L. to R.  Elders Olsen & Hole, Joseph _________, Elders Dajeu & Henricksen
Joseph is here in the states searching for "the truth" as he puts it.  He is from Cameroon, Africa just 175 miles from Elder Dajeu's home city in Cameroon.  Elder Dajeu's last Sunday in his mission he came to Geneseo Ward to meet with Joseph following church.  Joseph was so surprised to learn the church is in his very city and that there was a missionary serving here from his country of Cameroon.  He wanted to meet him and it took two weeks but the miracle happened just days before E. Dajeu left for home which is now Virginia.  His family came to the states in 2007 just 2 years after joining the church.  We love the miracles we see on our mission.

Tim ___________ Baptism - 6 April 2011

 Elder Wilson with Tim ________ at his baptism in __________ Branch.  He has come a long way.  His family joined many years ago when he was a teenager but he chose to live another life style.  His countenance has changed as he has come to love the gospel of Jesus Christ.  He is one happy man!

 L. to R.:  Elder Wilson & White, Tim & Elder Jones.  All three elders taught Tim.  Elder White received permission from President to attend the baptism since had been transferred to another area.

Tim and his sister, Celeen __________, who is also a member of the __________ Branch where Tim is a member.  Their parents have passed away but I am sure there was much rejoicing over Tim's baptism on both sides of the veil.

Maple Syrup Sugar Shack - 26 March 2011

 Schoff's maple syrup is delicious!  Two weekends a year in March this family open's their processing of maple syrup to the public.  It takes about 50 gallons of maple tree sap to make 1 gallon of maple syrup.  The owner is a school teacher and he does this as his hobby.  He learned the trade when he was a boy by helping his grandfather.

 Sister McVea posing while Elder McVea gets a picture of the way sap use to be collected.  They collect sap now by running lengths of PVC pipe from tree to tree with a vacuum pump on the end of it.

 Handsome Elder McVea with Mr. Schoff, owner of the Sugar Shack.

When I said shack I mean "shack."  Mr. Schoff out front of his processing plant.  There were 3 adults and 2 children in the shack with us and it was crowded.  His goal was to make 450 gallons of maple syrup this year in this little shack.

Scenery in March 2011

 Elder McVea was standing in the parking lot of the Rochester Stake Center when he took this shot.  He was only 35 feet away from these mallard ducks.  Can you see the hen?

Breath taking!  Elder McVea took this shot one evening.  This is our view from our kitchen window.

Sunrise from our side yard.

Oh, Deer!

 25 March 2011, The soybean field across the road from our house by nightfall had 47 deer.

24 February 2011, Sister McVea snapped this shot on the way to work.  Do you see the deer getting ready to walk in the back door of the house?