Last Week May 25 - 30

This was an interesting week. Lots to do as always. I had a unique experience for a short time helping Elder Young. He has a special project that involves "repairing" some of the logs in the Peter Whitmer Farm House where the church was first organized and where Joseph performed some of the translation of the Book of Mormon. Elder Young had a dream in which he received inspiration on how to "repair" logs that were rotting. It involves first removing the log from the cabin wall. Then he carves out the rotten part and fills it with concrete. I got to help him put one of them back in place. It weighs a ton!!! Yah - another scaffolding job!

Linda, Sister Huffaker, and Sherie from the FM office spent two days doing an inventory of everything in the Kraig Road chapel.

This is the Peter Whitmer farm house where the church was organized. You can't tell where the logs that have been "repaired" even are.

Elder Picanco and Elder Parkeson spent the whole day wheelbarrowing and spreading 3 yards of bark mulch around the Fayette Chapel. I now know that I am no longer 20!

We did a lot of other tasks this week also. Sister Parkerson & I wire brushed off the old paint on a well cover that needs to be repainted. We fixed outdoor lighting at the sisters apartment. We sprayed for ants at the sisters apartment..........

To get a better look at some of these neat historic sites where we are working visit the web site

www.hillcumorah.org It has lots & lots of information...

This is the special group of folks that we are blessed to be working with. Seated from the left is Sister Huffaker, Elder Huffaker, Brother Rick Reynolds, Elder Flynn, Brother Alan Warner, Our Boss, John Rutkowski, Brother Mark Chapman, Me, and Elder Boudreaux. Missing of course is Sister Parkerson, Brother Jeff Williams, Barbara & Sherie the office workers, Elder & Sister Picanco, Elder Murphy, Pam & Wendy custodians.

The Sacred Grove tour

A very Special Saturday. We had a rare opportunity to take a special guided tour with Mr. Robert "Bob" Parrot who works as the agent forrester for the church here in Palmyra. He only takes small groups (usually up to 6) senior missionaries on this tour. We spent 3 1/2 hours in the Sacred Grove. He started with map of the grove showing how it was originally and how is is now. He spoke of the "miracle" in as much as the property has changed hads 10X since the Smith family owned it and to date no one has laid an axe or chainsaw to the timber there. A miracle considering the value of the timber there.

Elder and Sister Huffaker were with us on the tour.

They are one of four couples currently serving as Facilities Management missionaries.
Elder & Sister Picanco are another couple who is serving with us as FM missionaries. They also live upstairs from us in the Martin Harris Homestead.

This is the "apostle" tree as Bob calls it. It is an ironwood tree estimated at over 300 years old. It would have been in the grove when the boy Joseph Smith Jr. went here to pray. Origionally it had 12 limbs which all reached upwards!

This is Sister Parkerson and Elder Parkerson. We are standing next to one of the only SIX remaining "witness Trees". There are only six trees left in the grove which are 200 years old or older. They would have been here when Joseph came to the grove to pray and receive the visit from God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

This is one of several "adversity Trees". Bob so named them due to the fact that they have endured major traumatic events and continue to live on. The one below had its whole trunk ripped off (probably from a storm) following which two limbs grew out and then reattached themselves, braced the remaining tree and continued to grow up. A rarity for sure.

It was an exceptional morning. A very Spiritual time. Bob, by the way is not a member of the church. he claims that you don't have to be a member to know that this is a special, sacred place. He knows that God and Jesus appeared to the boy Joseph. He has had many sacred experiences here himself. We took dozens of pictures but can only put up a few here.

What do you do?

What do we do? Everything....

Linda and Sister Huffaker spent most of the week painting

the Canandaigua Chapel hallways.

Of course Linda comes from a long line of painters and enjoys it.

Well this is Linda working in the garden at the Joseph Smith Log Cabin.

Elder Huffacker started most of the plants in Jan & Feb. Linda's favorite past time is gardening.
Of course Geoffrey has to get dirty too. Getting right into it. I love this kind of gardening! Instant gratification - instant garden! No looking at just dirt waiting for something to happen!

Linda gets around in style whether cleaning or gardening on the Joseph Smith farm "campus"

Yep thats me. I figured how to run this thing without destroying anything!

We also have a "small engine shop" on the FM campus. I enjoy tinkering there. So far I have repaired a small Mantis roto-tiller and a couple of lawn mowers. There is still a Honda gas powered water pump and a Troy Built Horse roto-tiller to do.
I wonder what we will be doing next week. :-)

Almost Up to Date

The little group on the right is a group of "senior missionaries" that held a family home evening and welcome Parkersons dinner party last Monday evening. Mormons out here look for any excuse to have a party. There are 3 Senior couples serving with the FM group, 16 couples serving as "site" missionaries and another 15 serving on "temple" missions.

Well our first real week working has come to a close. It has been interesting, fun, work and an adjustment. Now you probably know that we are not naturally "morning" people but we are evolving. We usually go to be between 9:30 - 10:00 and arise between 5:45 and 6:00 AM. We are to be at work by 7:30 AM. Every morning starts with a brief scripture lesson followed by a prayer. We discuss the day's plans then go forth.

Sister Parkerson and Sister Huffaker have been painting a Chapel in Canandiagua and cleaning a chapel in Penn Yen. I have been all over the place. Repairs in a Stake Center, reinstalling a rain gutter 20 feet up, electrical repairs, repair a Mantis roto-tiller, working on the electrical of a man lift, repair of some concrete steps, electrical outlets in a campground, etc. Usually have lunch together noon - 1:00 then back to work till 4:00. Off for the rest of the day.

Its a great place to be out here. I feel bad for those who don't take the time to go on missions. There is such a great need for seniors. There are folks out here in their mid to late 70's. At least one I know of will be 82 this year. Some are on their 4th missions! God has blessed each one.

That's all for now. Love to you all. Elder & Sister Parkerson

The First Week

Not too mmuch to include. Wednesday - Friday was spent unpacking the car and trailer and getting organized and ready for work. Thursday morning we met with and had breakfast with our mision Preident and his wife. Very nice. Found some local shopping spots. Sunday we went to the Geneso ward where we have been assigned.