The Serving Strouds...New York Rochester Mission: HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

May 2013

Seems as though our days are going by faster than ever! The sites are getting busier and we have so much we want to do before we leave our mission. But first things first....

My foot continues to do good. It has progressed as expected all month. By the end of the month I am able to wear shoes and go barefooted around our apartment. It has been a LONG time coming. Feels good to be able to do my part during our shift.

The first weekend this month a terrible tragedy happened in Palmyra. Mark's Pizzeria, a well-known establishment in downtown Palmyra burned along with several other businesses. Missionaries always enjoyed going by and getting a slice of pizza for lunch when they were at the BOMPS. This placed will be missed in Palmyra.


May 3, 2013

May 4th we had our first experience handling a bus tour. Two buses arrived at the Book of Mormon Publication Site with 83 people. Lee & I along with another senior couple and two sets of sisters were on duty. We got these people in and our in 48 minutes. We did good!! The tours could not have gone smoother. I am sure all of them won't go this well, but I'm sure glad our first one did!

May 8th saw four of our sweet sisters going home. Sisters Brown, Larsen, Raines & Schank all served an honorable mission. They will definitely be missed, but we will learn to love the new ones that arrived just as much as we love those that left.

Sisters Schank & Raines


Sister Larsen

Sister Brown


Sister Schank

Sunday, May 19th Maxine & Bobby arrived for a visit. They brought us some good ole NC barbeque and Maxine brought me 16 2-liter bottles of Diet Coke. She does love her baby sister!!! Cokes are expensive here ($1.44/2-liter)....she got these for $.99. We were able to take them to all the historic sites. It really took a toll on Maxine with her fibromyalgia. She will never know how much it meant to me to have her & Bobby here for a few days.

May 20th we were privileged to have Kim Smith, great-great granddaughter of Joseph & Emma Smith here to tell us here conversion story. She also had her son, Bryan Davis, with her. He also spoke and they both sang. She gave a perspective of Emma that I had not heard before. What an opportunity to hear her! Glad Bobby & Maxine were here for this.

Me & Maxine

Bobby


Sister Kim Smith

We had the opportunity this month to spend two of our Preparation Days with the Howells. We always have a blast with them. May 15th we spend the day at Sodus Bay Point and the 29th we spent the day at Letchworth State Park (Grand Canyon of the East)...14 miles of beautiful park with three waterfalls and gorges and trails.