Week 42 Hegsted's Mission

 7-May-2023-Sunday

The new week begins with another day in paradise.  It was sunny as we drove to Rutland and traffic was great both ways.  The rivers have dropped, but are still running much fuller than last year.  It is so fun to sit at the organ doing prelude and watch Dede meet, greet and hug everyone that comes in.  She is so kind and charitable and I feel so safe observing from the organ.  It is so fun to be stuck on the organ, so I feel absolutely no guilt for not keeping up with her.  

The first hour at the site was dead, but we ended the day with 27 people which is a very good day.  We had a group of 11 young adults come in.  They are in Manchester selling pest control and for the most part are students at BYU-I.  What a wonderful group.  We combined them with another couple from Utah.  At the end I took the couple down and the YSA's walked.  I interpreted things to them and they (the YSA) all wanted to hike Patriarch Hill which they did.

When I returned Dede turned me around with a group of 5 to see the foundations.  I was shorter with them and came up to help Dede with a former sister missionary who had served at the site and came out with her parents. They were all delightful.  She remembered the Bergers.  We tried to call the Bergers but they did not answer so Dede and I went over to Camp Joseph as the new camp hosts had invited us to a "get to know you desserts" and I took Bergers back to the site (down to the foundations) to meet the sister and her parents.  So glad I did as they really enjoyed each other when she was serving here.

Dede had other visitors while I was playing down under.  She got to carry the heavy load today.  But what a sweet gift to have all of these people on a bright sunny day.  To bear testimony of the prophet Joseph is such a pleasure.  Dede did have two nonmembers that she taught while I was "goofing off".  There must have been others, but it seems all a big rush.  

We stopped at Camp Joseph and visited a minute, but then came home as it is fast Sunday and we had not eaten and breaking our fast with sweets seemed to be such a poor idea.  I am grateful to be able to fast.

8-May-2023-Monday

Tis the most joyous day of the year, the year when my sweet Dede was born and made the earth 10x brighter than it had been before and my life 1000x better than I deserve.  Happy Birthday Dede.

Normal start to the day.  I took Dede to eat at a local diner.  I was disappointed with the food, but the company more than made up for it.  We then stopped at a local flower store.  We bought three trailing plants for the bucket out front.  More fun, we bought a Petunia Bag.  This bag holds dirt and has holes from which the flower protrude.  It is made from plastic but will slowly leak out water so the flowers do not drown.  I picture is worth a 1000 words.  I waited until dark for the picture and my Christmas lights are on behind it, but you get the idea.

When we arrived at the site, the sun was shining brightly on the top.  Seemed like a good omen for the day.  The Buswells had a very busy morning and as things usually turn out, we had a very slow afternoon as the day averaged out.  However we visited with a lonely young man who does not know whether or not he wants to be a member, so it was a good day.  Besides, it gave me time to get all my steps in.

Took Dede out for dinner.  She did not want to cook on her birthday.  Imagine that.   However, she made a breakfast cake to take to our prayer meeting this morning in honor of her birthday.  It was marvelous.

We found a Tai Restaurant in Lebanon that was fantastic.  We will need to take Anna there when she comes in a couple of weeks.

We finished the evening with a wonderful night of grocery shopping.  Sara and her family come in late tonight.  We work the morning shift tomorrow and then will leave shortly after 2 pm to go to Boston and eat with the the Mitchels  and stay in a hotel.  We will play Wednesday and do a children's museum Thursday morning before coming back for our Thursday shift.  What a joy to have them be with us.

9-May-2023-Tuesday

We cleaned and packed before our shift so we could drive to Boston right after our shift.  We had one group of three come in to visit us  I think all three were members and and also converts.  There was a son, his fiancée I think, and a mother.  They had excellent responses at the restoration board and were delightful to talk to.

Buswell’s were kind enough to come early so we changed and were on our way to Boston  by 2:15.  Good traffic until we got downtown and almost to the commons  where we met up with Sara and family.  Sam had found a Chinese restaurant close by and I thought the food excellent.  Sam thought two dishes were good and others okay as compared with food in Taiwan.  I was happy.  The kids were so glad to see Gram and Miles was glad to see me.  As long as I bring Gram they both like me.  

It is so kind of Sam and Sara to bring their kids across the country to visit us.  It is not easy and I appreciate the sacrifice and love.  It is so good to see Sam and Sara and our grandchildren.  Emma is smarter than ever.  I love to listen to her.  Miles is speaking clearly and continually.  He is very easy to understand and that is so fun.  Tomorrow will be a big day.  

10-May-2023-Wednesday PDAY

We had a great breakfast and then took the train toward Gloucester to do a whale watching trip.  We knew we would need to catch a bus the last way and so we’re prepared as they are working on the track beyond West Gloucester.  On the way home we caught the bus and then the train.  All was well until the train stopped and we were told there was a fire on the track (a brush fire in the area) we sat for some time before they brought a bus which took us past our planned stop into Boston.  This was a major station so everyone could catch the correct trains but it was difficult for us to know how to go back. where we needed to go.  It was exciting but we made it with some help from kind people.  Although it was late and everyone especially Emma and  Miles were exhausted.

I get ahead of myself  the 7-Seas whale watching trip was a huge success.  The boat was not too large and we saw at least 4 whales close up and probably three more at a distance.  All were humpback whales and it was so fun.  The seas were calm and the experience could not have been beat, especially since we were with family.  I will add photos when I can get them uploaded and do some editing.  I think I had some good photos  of whales and other sites.  I loved the pictures, but I wish I had a telephoto lens.

After the trip we went to a beach and looked for sea glass before eating at a nice restaurant. The fun with the train began after our meal.  However we are now home and I am ready to bath.

11-May-2023-Thursday

Another fun day with Sara's family.  We awoke and got them a rental car and then headed to the Boston Children's museum.  It is very good and it was fun watching the kids play.  We were able to stay and hour before we needed to head back to do our shift at the site.  There were three floors of fun at the museum and we were there early before the buses of kids started to arrive.

We had a busy afternoon at the site.  Somewhat surprised, since Buswell's were busy in the morning.  We were very steady until 5:30 with 16 people including Sara's family.  Everyone of our visitors today were members.  We had a couple from Colorado Springs.  They did not know the Larsen's.  This was their furthest point east.  They had been in Palmyra yesterday and will go back through Kirkland and Nauvoo.  Sounds like a fun trip.  We had a family of 7 who were fun.  It was three sisters and a family of 4.  It was obviously best to have our children and grandchildren at the site.  

We came home and ate spaghetti.  It was delicious and Miles seemed to be super hungry as he ate and ate.  Tomorrow they will go to Burlington to visit an aunt and then we can have dinner together.  They will leave Saturday night.

A few pictures from today.

12-May-2023-Friday

What a great day to wake up and have Sara's family with us another morning.  They left for Burlington, VT to visit with Sam's Aunt while we worked our morning shift at the site.  We had 7 people.  The first was a nonmember couple.  She has member friends and so was very interested in what we had.  He held the baby and acted like he had been warned to stay away from all members of the Church.  We do look scary, so I understand.  We next had a great couple from Utah.  They were away from kids and just enjoying themselves so they wanted to know everything.  Such are the best tours as no one feels rushed.  We felt lucky to meet them and teach them.  The next couple was just opposite.  She wanted to know everything.  She is a docent and so loves details.  He wanted to just get the highlights and get out.  We enjoyed them also, but it is more stressful.

After our shift, Sam and Sara returned and we had homemade pizza.  I love this meal as did the grandkids.  Dede made cookies with the kids and Sam and I went and hiked Patriarch Hill.  He gave me some mapping hints that I will try and use in the future.  Thanks Sam.

13-May-2023-Saturday

Today was out last day with Sara's family.  I have been so amazed with Sara's children.  Emma has a vocabulary that is amazing.  She says things that just surprise me with her choice of words.  She became much more friendly towards me.  I think the defining moment was when we went down to the foundations in the golf cart and she was allowed to help steer.  As she said to me "I should drive first, because I am much more experienced than Miles."  This statement may be true, but every bit of closeness a papa can get he will take.  Miles has always liked me and that has not changed.  He is such a gab.  I might have thought that with a very vocal sister that he would not need to talk, but he loves to sit and gab whether or not there is someone there or not.  For his age, his is surprisingly easy to understand.  I missed a few things, but caught most of what he was saying.  

We played at the apartment until about 9:30 after which we headed to Riverside Park in Lebanon.  There the kids played on the toys.  I did a little walking.  There are a set of falls there which are now artificial as it is a dam.  Going the other way down the river, there is a path Dede and I could walk if we wanted a place to walk.  After playing we went to eat at Han Fusion (Chinese Restaurant) and then bought a few Carmels at The Red Kite before saying goodbye.  By leaving from Lebanon, they were 25 minutes closer to Boston.  Dede and I went home to change and get ready for our shift.  It was sad to see them go, but we were so glad they would come and see us on our mission.

We had 2 groups.  A single woman came in.  She had no plans for the day and just looked for highlights on the road map to visit.  She was nervous to listen to much, so I focused on the monument history and where she could take good photos.  After thinking about her, I will add a thought to all people who just want to know about the monument.  "There are many important people we celebrate in New England, but only one of them was privileged to see God and Jesus."  Before she left a family of four came in.  The younger couple had been at the site before and remembered us.  They had brought her parents.  They told us they wanted 20 minutes, 30 minutes max.  So we tried to hurry and skip a few things, but then they told us to slow down and it became much more enjoyable.  I even took them below and showed them the foundations.  The daughter mentioned I was carrying potential missionaries, so at the end I took some time to talk about filling out paper work and what to know about the process that I did not know.  He plans to retire in January, so they are getting close enough to begin paper work.  I think they are excited to go.  That was all of our visitors for the day.

Dede took some spaghetti sauce and noodles and put them in the fridge for the Ewers.  They should come in later tonight and Dede wanted to leave a quick meal for them as they try "to get back into the saddle" as the old saying goes.  I am so curious to see how they are doing.  I cannot comprehend what they have gone through and so I cannot imagine how it might change them.