Our Mission in SWNY Ends

During the past month our branch friends have frequently made the comment, "I bet you're sure excited to get home!"  We answer, hesitantly, how much we've missed our family back in Utah and how good it will be to see them.  Thanks to Skype and Facetime we have been able to see all of them now and then via computer but its not like being with them in person.  Our newest little grandson Oliver, was born May 25th.  It will be so good to see all of them.

But we certainly will miss our friends in the Cattaraugus Branch.  Feeling a little conflicted yet excited too, on Wednesday, October 16, 2013, with the help of Elder Wood and Elder Hales, we loaded up our Chrysler Pacifica and drove away from the Cattaraugus mission area, the place where we had loved and struggled for eighteen months.  As we departed we felt a powerful sense of gratitude for this opportunity.  The eighteen months seemed “but a moment" yet they changed us forever.  Our hearts are filled with love for the people we’ve met, for the young Elders we served with, for our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ, and above all, for the eternally important message of the Restored Gospel.  We have been so blessed!

A Walk With President Francis

President Francis encouraged us to make one more trip to Palmyra before we departed the mission.  On this last trip to the sacred sites President Francis led us on a walk through the woods east of the Temple and on the north and south sides of the Hill Cumorah; so many touching events to think about and such a privilege to be here in the Cradle of the Restoration.

A Fun Last Weekend with Jeff's Family

Before leaving for Utah we made sure we had one last fun weekend with Jeff, Scout, Tate, Calvin and Lars.  This time we rented the house on Seneca Lake LDS Girl's Camp.  Even though it was a rainy evening, the boys had bunches of fun playing with their new G.I. Joes under the lights in the sand volley ball pit under the metal roof.  The rain poured down outside but we were dry and having a great time.   Later, when the rain stopped we roasted hotdogs and made smores.  Sure do love that family!  And love that we've been able to see them several times in the past 18 months!

A "Linger Longer" and sweet Goodbyes

In a surprising and kind gesture, President Jones and his counselors planned a “Linger Longer” following church the last Sunday we were together for branch members to send us off with their love and appreciation. With lots of good food and most branch members in attendance it was sweet and memorable.  Such good friends!  Health Garlow, Judy Boehm, the Austins, the Shomers, the Joneses, the Nephews, Jackie Jamieson and her grandchildren, Myrna Snow, and so many others that had touched our lives and our hearts said their tender goodbyes.  The Jones family sang, “Come Unto Jesus” and “God Be With You Till We Meet Again.”

Roger and Kathy Elwell

Even though Roger and Kathy Elwell were not interested in our teaching them the gospel, they still seemed to enjoy our visits.  We have so many things in common that it was just natural when we were in Forestville we would stop and visit. The Elwells have a small grape farm.  Just a couple hours before we left for home we were able to see them harvested.  What an incredible aparatus!  I received a text from Sister Elwell on our way back to Utah saying this years crop was their best one ever!

Corline and Monty Campbell

Before leaving for home, Corline and Monty Campbell insisted on having us for dinner one last time.  These occasions with the Campbells will remain in our hearts for a lifetime.  Such good people and such great friends!  Every meal seemed like a banquet.  Corline is Cayuga Indian and Monty comes from hard working Polish ancestry.  The two have raised a large family with four biological children and six adopted children. The two are pictured here in a photo taken at our open house.  Also included is a photo Sister Corline took of us by her Azalia bush and two I took of their lovely home and surroundings.

The Dzienziels and Sister Found

A favorite monthly event was having dinner with Brother Ziggy and Sister Gunda Dzienziel and Sister Mary Found.  We enjoyed being with these folks so much, filling ourselves with delicious food, one month at Sister Found’s, the next at the Dzienziels.  Brother Ziggy and Sister Gunda are immigrants from Germany and Poland who experienced extreme hardships during the war.  They would touch on these as we visited at dinner and Sister Gunda always thrilled us with her delicious German dishes.  Prior to our last dinner in the Dzienziel’s home we took these photos.  They have a beautiful home that makes us feel like we are relaxing in an English garden.  Sister Found, in her mid eighties, bakes a loaf of her incredibly good whole wheat bread each week for the missionaries, we Seniors included. 

Our Dear Friends, Ted and Denise Hoca

Of all the members of the Cattaraugus Branch, the ones we have spent the most time with and grown to know and love, are the Hocas, Ted and Denise.  Sister Denise and I have worked together with the Primary music, the music for Sacrament Meeting, and the Branch Choir.  She is a wonderful pianist and organist.  I led the music and she played the accompaniment.  Ted was serving as Young Men’s President until recent months when he took over Elder Jeppesen’s calling as Branch Mission Leader.  We have enjoyed many meals and social gatherings at the Hoca’s home.  Ted’s sister Claudia, a concert pianist, was in a terrible car accident and they took her in to their home for a while.  A benefit concert was held for Claudia. We attended it with the Hocas, after having dinner together at Red Lobster in Hamburg. 

Elder Bevan's Birthday

We like to make the Elders’ birthdays a little special by providing a meal and birthday cake, or in this case, an Apple Crisp Dessert, a favorite of Elder Bevan’s.   Pictured are: Elder Wood, Elder Hales, Elder Bevan and Elder Ivie.

Bill and Pat Shomers

Becoming acquainted with and teaching Bill and Pat Shomers has been one of the highlights of our mission.  We have so enjoyed sitting with them on their beautiful porch and discussing gospel topics.  We brought the Gowanda Elders with us for our last visit before leaving.  When Sister Pat gave us samples of the impressive pressure canning she had been doing, I asked if she would demonstrate this for our branch.  She accepted.  A large crowd attended for the demonstration and Pat did an incredible job.  Pictured are the finished products. 

A Senior Couples Social in Palmyra

Now and then we Senior couples get to socialize with other couples at events in Palmyra.  This time we met in the pavilion by the Hill Cumorah Visitor’s center and had a picnic meal cooked in a milkcan.  Potatoes, corn, carrots, and sausage.  Delicious! Pictured is President and Sister Francis enjoying the meal with us. 

Cattaragus Branch Area

The Cattaraugus branch area covers a distance of about 50 miles by 50 miles.  In the center of this 2500 square mile area is the Seneca Nation of Indians, a Sovereign nation of about 7 miles by 14 miles.  On this small area lives about 2000 Senecas.  We were told there are only about 7000 Senecas today.  The Cattaraugus meetinghouse is located on the Reservation nearly at the center of the branch area.  We drove considerable distances every day to visit with members and less actives who live in various communities in the area from Derby on the north, to Angola on the west, to Silver Creek, Forestville, and Cattaraugus on the south, and Eden, North Collins and East Otto on the East.  Adding to this the meetings held in Amherst and Orchard Park, and our several trips to Palmyra, we averaged about 2500 miles a month on our dependable little Pacifica.  As we drive through the various communities, and in particular on the reservation, we stop in at the homes of less active members. Included are photos of Sister Maxine Smith and her cousin Sister Jenny John who continues to recover after a serious accident and leg amputation.  These two sisters, both Senecas, reside on the reservation.  

During one trip driving through Eden we ran across “The Original Kazoo Factory.” Thinking of Kazoos made me laughingly think of the men’s singing group I directed back in Utah and the fun time we had singing and playing the Kazoo Koncerto so as a momento for them from southwestern New York I bought red, white, and blue Kazoos to distribute when I got home.

 

Fall Festival on Reservation

Fall also means the Fall Festival on the Rez.  There are craft booths, a parade, softball and LaCross tournaments, and lots of food booths selling an assortment of foods, including corn soup and Iroquois fry bread.  I took a few photos after the parade.  Here is one of Vicky Seneca and her grandson Johnny.  Johnny’s little brother, only three, lost his life tragically a few months previous.  Sister Seneca has become a dear friend to us and is such a devoted grandmother.  Four-year-old Jairon Nephew and his cousin Hector Francis stopped long enough to get a photo of them with their LaCross sticks.  This was their first year in LaCross and their parents would drive them up to two hours away for their games.  Brother Nephew, Jairon’s dad states, “Our team is by far the best.”  Even at four years old, these Seneca children are polishing their LaCross skills on the Rez, where LaCross had its beginnings.  

Fall Arrives

With the coming of fall we are made even more aware our time in the mission field is limited.  We have gotten into a good, steady pattern now, knowing who we should visit and when.  We continue to spend a lot of time preparing food and washing dishes. From the early days of our mission we have been visiting Sister Linda Allen, a dear friend now whose daughter joined the church a few years previous.  Although Sister Allen

enjoys our visits she has no interest in our teaching her about the restored gospel.  We are hopeful in time her heart will soften to the gospel message. We also try to make certain we visit Brother Buster Gates and his wife Laurel at the Lake Shore Care Center each week, often bringing goodies or soup with us.  Brother Gates expresses his appreciation over and over for our visits. Also included is a photo showing our car filled with refreshments for a Stake Missionary Fireside.  It was our branch’s turn as host, and we wanted to be sure there was plenty for a potentially large crowd.