Week 17 - Hegsted Mission

 13-November-2022-Sunday

What an interesting day.  Our President Ewer spent the night in the hospital Saturday after suffering from severe cramping.  Elder Buswell took him to the hospital yesterday and then we came for our shift, Sister Buswell took Sister Ewer to the Hospital to be with him.  It was a stressful day for all four.  We came home early from Rutland, so we could open the site at 1 pm as Buswell's were with Ewers.  They were able to bring Ewers home before 3 pm, so we only worked our short shift.  We had 6 people (I do not think anyone came after this.). Two were young woman from the Vermont Law School in S. Royalton.  They wanted just a short tour so I broke off and took care of them.  I think they were surprised that we had people stationed at the site, but were gracious in listening to a short tour.  Meanwhile Dede was working with a family of four from Brooklyn who had come up for the 3 day holiday.  They were delightful and had  8 and 11 year-old daughters.  Dede is always at her best with a young audience.  Her energy with young people is amazing and so fun to watch.

Dede and I had been preparing to talk in the Rutland branch having been assigned to Bedner's and Rendlund's October 2022 talks respectively.  This is always interesting as I realize that I have to follow the wonderful and powerful testimony of my wife.  I told the ward it is unfair to be the man and follow a wife and have the meeting go downhill after her performance.  She truly gave an inspiriting talk with ideas that I would never have thought of.  I do not think I was totally a flop, in fact I thought the Spirit supported me well.  More below.  Dede spoke about the marriage feast and the right to choose whether to even attend the feast and then about the man who chose to attend, but not to wear the wedding apparel.  She focused on our right and opportunity to choose and how it is easy not to choose to join the feast and celebrate with the Savior even though everything is provided.  To close her talk, we sang "Choose to Serve the Lord" which fit in so well with her remarks.  I had planned to accompany her on the piano, but she was concerned about singing alone.  I think we sounded good using her iPhone to accompany us.

My talk was on staying on the correct runway to obtain revelation.  This morning in praying/pondering about my talk, I was praying about the meaning of revelation and what I might say about this definition.  Instead of receiving an answer to this question, I received instead a distinct impression that we needed to find the music for "Choose to Serve the Lord" on Youtube and sing together.  This must have been a revelation, because it definitely was not what I personally desired.  I arose from prayer and told Dede, so we found the music and practiced a couple of times.  I must admit, it tied in nicely to my talk and I was able to share the experience with the branch, but it was still not my choice.

I had also told Dede that I was concerned that I had blocked out my talk so thoroughly in Notes on my iPad that I feared I had not left any room for inspiration during my talk.  I usually have just a few notes written down such as quotes or scriptures, but this time I had much more detail.  I did my notes on the laptop and then made sure they were on my iPad.  When I first looked, I only had a portion of my talk on the iPad and then some other quotes.  However, it seemed to synch up and so I thought great.  I played the organ, so I called up my talk and saw the first portion and thought great.  When I stood up and began speaking, I realized that my talk was not on my phone.  Just some quotes from Renlund's talk.  Then a peaceful feeling came over me as I realized, you did not want to be bound by a rigid talk, so that was taken care of. How merciful is God.  Had the talk just disappeared I might have panicked.  But as it was, I felt comfortable and I did change my talk to match into Dede's talk and fit the Spirit I felt from the people.  After Sacrament Meeting while sitting in Priesthood Meeting, I called up my talk again and it was all there.  Who can deny the tender mercies of the Lord?

Dede had enough food to feed us as well as the Buswells for dinner.  They have had a trying few days sitting at the hospital with the Ewers.  It was just fun to visit with them.  They are just good people.

14-November-2022-Monday

Walked out of the apartment today and knew old man winter has come home from the Bahama's.  With the humidity and wind, it just felt cold, even though the temperature was above freezing.  We expect snow on Tuesday night or Wednesday as much as 3 inches.  We want to go to the temple, but will need to see how the weather looks when we get up.

We did not have our morning meeting, so it gave us extra time to play before our 1:30 shift began.  We needed to take a flyer (about Christmas lights) up to Bernard, which is a town back in the mountains.  Sharon is isolated, but it does have I-89 nearby.  Barnard, is beautifully located higher up in the hills and is pleasant to drive to.  We found the store with its bulletin board and then drove back toward Bethel to visit the White River National Fish Hatchery.  There was no-one in the building so we just started wandering through the fish runs.  They have the normal (for Idaho) long rectangular fish runs, but they were all empty and they were using round ponds with the drain in the middle and input up at the sides to keep water flow.  I thought this strange, but they can keep the fish separated and put tents over each "pond." to maintain separation.  They raise landlocked Atlantic Salman as well as Lake Trout for Lake Champlain as well as two of the Great Lakes.  We wandered around and took some pictures and in the last row of ponds saw people working.  Low and behold they were spawning their brood stock of salmon.  The use of round ponds made such great sense.  They put in metal dividers through which water flows, but not fish.  Then they could have one empty area with three areas with fish.  They could then catch a fish, take a DNA sample from the anal fin and milk the females for eggs.  Then each bowl of fish row was identified to its mother.  We were told that many would be put into Lake Champlain as fry so they did not need to raise them.  While others would go to another hatchery to be raised to fingerlings before release.  I did some further reading and found the salmon have been suffering from a lack of B1 due to a diet inflicted on them by the non native rainbow trout and this was making them too weak to reach spawning beds and to spawn successfully.  Thus they are treating the eggs with B1.  We were so lucky to be there today when we could watch them.  I will tell you that the lake trout brood stock were huge.  I took a few pictures.  (Gasp, I know you cannot believe I would take a picture.

We delivered another flyer and then found a farmer's market near Royalton before stopping at Creek Diner for a late (11 am) breakfast.  This place is always packed and it was apparent from the good food, why it is a local favorite.  

It was totally dead at the site.  I took time to sign up for Medicare.  Yes my next birthday is the magical 65 and thus it is time to think mature thoughts.  We walked around the site and then had a great visit with Bob, the FM manager, and then talked with President Ewer who is feeling better.  Tomorrow we will put up the Christmas tree in the visitors' center.  Dede showed Sister Ewer what she wanted to do to supply cards for the 160+ people in the area that receive meals on wheels.  Nice slow months' project for her and other sisters.  The sisters have also been planning the Thanksgiving feast.  I am looking forward to Thanksgiving as we light the lights on the next evening.  Last Thanksgiving we were in Egypt and the next two Thanksgivings will be spent in Vermont.  I need to change my focus from being with family to being truly thankful for my many blessings.

15-November-2022-Tuesday

Another great day in the mission field.  We worked the first shift and did not have any visitors again.  However we were able to help Bob (FM mgr) set up for next Friday when we will have the lighting ceremony.  He also helped us understand how many people would attend. I was thinking 100's as I was told there would be kids everywhere.  Bob says 50 would be a good number.  I will hope for 100.  However I must honestly say that I would personally avoid the opening ceremony and visit on the following night when I did not need to get out of the car.  But then, I know that I do not speak for everyone and so I am glad that we are supporting those who think the lighting is a big deal.  We also need to remember that last year there were two lighting ceremonies one for the VT and one for the NH stakes.  However NH no longer cares to be involved so this year we will only have one official lighting night, so that could draw a larger crowd with only one ceremony.  We will see.

Dede has been working on cards that will be passed out with meals on wheels to the local area.  Between the two cities they deliver to about 160 homes and Dede thought it would be nice to offer cards during the slow months at the site.  I worked on the video.  I figured out how to get the five separate videos combined without losing editing capability.  Then I started going through it one last time as a combined movie.  I have 10 minutes left of the 30 minute video.  I will then output it and place it on the site laptop for President Ewer to review.  Hopefully he will have a few specific things he would like to change so we can get it ready for SLC review.

After our shift, we drove over to Tunbridge, which is quite close if one takes the back roads to put a flyer (Christmas lights) in the library there.  On the way home, Dede snapped this shot.  There is so much granite along the highways and it tends to weep water.  Since it is cold today, in the shady areas we are already beginning to see these ice flows.  Pretty fun.  Cannot imagine what it will be like when it is allowed to build up for several days and even weeks.

After lunch, we drove to Hartford to see if there were any stores or gas stations with bulletin boards and to gas up in NH where gas is $0.30 cents cheaper (due to taxes) than Vermont.  One the way, we passed a flock (herd?) of turkeys in the field.  Obviously they are not very concerned about becoming turkey dinner.  They hardly budged when I got out to take a picture.  The next field had another flock.  They are very common here.  We then went to a general store called Dan and Whit's in Norwich VT.  (Norwich is the town where Joseph Smith Sr tried farming [and failed] before leaving for Palmyra.  It is not far from the site.)  The store is incredible.  Their slogan is "if we do not have it, you do not need it." and is probably similar to Smith and Edwards in Utah, but not an army surplus store.  The store is huge, but it meanders in and out of different rooms and so one is exploring as well as shopping.  And yes they have a bit of everything.  First is groceries, but then clothes, a decent amount of hardware (but not lumber that I saw) including plumbing, pipes for stoves, nails, screws etc.  They had a fairly good Christmas department.  There was clothing, toys, obviously alcohol (as all stores seem to live off this sale) etc. etc. etc.  Dede bought a LED-lit snowflake to hang outside and for $20, I bought a programable light set that looks like a Christmas tree for outside.  It was supposed to sell for $50, but obviously was not selling.  We bought some spices and chocolate ice cream.  Life is good and we had a great adventure.

We are supposed to get our first snow tonight.  In fact it is supposed to be snowing right now with an accumulation of 3 to 6 inches.  If it is not bad tomorrow morning, we plan to got to the temple in Boston.  However if it is bad, we will call it off.

16-November-2022-Wednesday-PDay

Anticipating 3-inches of snow we got up early to shovel and leave 15 minutes earlier for the temple than we have in the past.  The snow was wet and heavy and we endured snowy roads for the first hour of our trip.  They had plowed and were plowing and I think they did a good job, but the bridges were especially treacherous as they are always colder than the road and thus the snow piles up deep there and the ruts were bad.  Nevertheless we were able to get there at our usual time with a 15 minute early departure.

It was an interesting decision on whether to ddrive in the snow to the temple.  Should we take the risk?  All my life, I have heard stories about pioneers willing to give their lives to serve the Lord and follow the prophet.  Then when Covid came, the temples were shut down by the prophet declared it was the will of the Lord that His saints be safe and prudent and so temples were closed down.  This begs the question, do we error on the safe side in these situations or do we trust the Lord will bless us for being obedient and willing to sacrifice to attend the temple?  I do not think there is a correct answer to this question.  I prayed we would be safe and wise enough to turn back if it were too bad.  I also realized, that we did not want to be afraid to travel for 3-4 months of a Vermont winter.  It was reassuring to see three other Vermonters at the temple.  So what did I conclude?  It is not my place to judge anyone for their decision in such a situation.  Nor will it ever be totally clear to me whether or not we made the correct decision.  We made a decision and stuck to it and it turned out well, but....  Regardless, it was 52 degrees F when we got to Boston and just rain.  We enjoyed both an endowment session and a sealing session.  We drove home in decent weather.  Dede and I had a great time discussing the Law of Consecration both down and back.  I am glad we went and were safe and had a great experience.

We ate at a little hole in the wall Greek restaurant in Concord recommended to us by the Buswells.  It was very busy with mostly take out business.  Nice portions and good food.  We have been able to find a number of good places to eat near the Boston Temple.  Many more places than around the Pocatello Temple, but then the Pocatello Temple has Dede's kitchen just five minutes away and that definitely cannot be beat for taste, atmosphere and the good looks of the chef.  

17-Novemeber-2022-Thursday 

We had second shift today.  I awoke to work on two things.  First we have been asked to work with the Rutland Branch on a musical number.  They have a song which they know, but which I would need to play and frankly I am not doing well with it.  Luckily the site has a portable piano, which I am using.  I practiced over an hour and then came home and practiced more and I do not feel like I am getting any better.  I have a few days before Sunday, so perhaps a miracle will occur.  I also worked hard on the video and was able to put it together and load on the site computer so President can review it.  I am learning to disown the video.  I.e. changing my attitude from owning the video to actually realizing it is a stewardship that belongs to God and that my representative to God is President Ewer and his wife.  Thus I am to the point that I just want to get it in their hands and receive their feedback.  I know they want this to end, but I cannot imagine that I will not figure out ways to improve it over time.  But right now, we just need to get it approved and ready to roll out for January.

Looking down the road, it is hard for me to believe that we will get many virtual tour requests.  I surely hope I am wrong, but with Covid ending and the fact that Come Follow Me is not about church history,  I fear people will stop looking for that opportunity.  Nevertheless I am glad for the opportunity to have worked on the video and if helps but one person, I am grateful.  I am sure there will be more than one who will come, I just hope it helps fill our slow time in January through March.

Dede with Sister Ewer and Sister Buswell have been making cards that will be distributed with Meals on Wheels for the week of Thanksgiving.  This first batch was rushed, but they look great.  Dede was able to get them to Royalton who delivers to 100 people and Monday will go to Randolph which does about 60.  Beyond the administrators for Meals on Wheels, no one will know from whom the cards come, which is perfect in my mind.

Well time to practice again,  before reading for a few more minutes.  What a change in the last few weeks. It is dark by 5 pm which will move closer to 4 pm by Christmas.  It is cold and there are now roads, I no longer  want to travel in the woods of Vermont.  It seems like we are in a totally different place now than just two weeks ago.

18-November-2022-Friday

Had first shift today so I spent the morning practicing the piano.  I think I am getting better, but I am so bad that better is a relative term.

At the sight four missionaries came in planning on their district meeting.  I do not think they had much planned so we spent 30-45 minutes talking to them about the site and the restoration of the gospel.  I think everyone had a good time.  Two of the four are from Idaho, one from Utah and the fourth from Arizona.  Turns out he is from a ranch in southern Arizona which is next to the Smith ranch from which we had two senior missionaries in our district at the MTC.  I think it was fun for him to actually meet someone with a connection to the area.  Also this is near Sierra Vista where Danielle's family lived for several years so we could talk about it with some amount of knowledge.  The church is a small world.

Beyond them we had one brother stop, but he had others with him and so he just wanted pictures.  He said he was here working until near Christmas and so would return although he is about 1 hr 45 min from the site.  It would be hard to be away from family as he is, but he is training EMT's and so it is good service.

Came home and after taking a nap, went back to practicing.  I am just not used to that much playing.  Wah, Wah!  We will attend a dinner at the S. Royalton ward tonight.  Dede is making a potato dish.  Like funeral potatoes, but gluten free.  I love them.

During our shift at work, I took winter pictures including going down to the foundations to take some pictures in the snow.  It was slick so I walked down which was good for me.  It has warmed up enough to be really icy.

The birthplace site surrounded by snow.  This was cleared off by the snow contractors so it looks stark away from the snow.

The monument with snow and without any flowers.  It looks so stark in this setting after seeing it with flowers since our arrival.

Christmas lights will add a great deal.

Solomon Mack Foundation in the snow.

Foundations behind the Solomon Mack home.

19-November-2022-Saturday

Interesting day.  We went to W. Lebanon to shop and hit a number of stores.  Gas is 35 cents cheaper at BG's in NH than in Vermont so we gassed up the car for tomorrow as well as buying some items.  Because it is cold, but the car was filthy we went to Queeche to wash the car.  All the local car washes have terrible reviews, with this being the best.  I thought it was typical of what a similar car wash in Pocatello would do.  I could have and probably will take cloths next time to wipe down the car.

We had a family of five come into the site.  A husband (will be baptized soon) and his member wife along with her sister and two children from Ecuador who spoke little English.  That mixture complicated the tour and I can only hope that they were blessed with the Spirit despite our feeble efforts.  Since they live in Vermont, we invited them back to see the lights.

I spent time watching BYU football.  The game was broadcast on BYUtv and so I could actually watch.