March Adventures

Several weeks ago our grandson, Gabriel Williams, asked if we would participate in a school project. Gabe sent us "Flat Gabe" (a hand colored picture of himself) to take on an adventure. Our assignment was to take a picture with him when we visited any place interesting. At the end of our adventure we returned "Flat Gabe" to our Gabe with the adventures written on the back, along with pictures. So what follows in this blog are the adventures we had with "Flat Gabe" We are excited to hear how his assignment was received at school.

Early in the month we went on a Temple Trip with our friends in the Oneida Branch. It had been a hectic time for us. We were busy learning our new responsibilities and working with President Wirthlin to prepare for the increase in missionaries. We had little free time to explore our surroundings.  This was to be our first adventure away from the mission office. It turned out to be a beautiful day. Snow was still on the ground and the temps were low.  We enjoyed our time in the temple performing baptisms, inititories and an endowement.
 
We visited some of the sites around Palmyra such as Joseph Smiths home and the Sacred Grove. Palmyra is a special place. To think that God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to the boy Prophet in this very spot is truly humbling. Not far away is the Hill Cumorah, where Moroni appeared and gave instruction and eventually gave Joseph the plates of gold.

..Our day was soon to take an interesting turn. We decided to visit the Grandin Building, where the first Book of Mormon was published. It is on the main street in Palmyra and the Church has restored it. As we walked into the building we were greeted by the missionaries and invited to tour the facilities.  As we rounded a corner a cute family, also on tour came toward us. As I looked at the mother I realized that it was my niece, Amy Barlow and her family visiting from Texas. Now what are the odds of "Flat Gabe" finding cousins in New York? I called this my "tender mercy" from a loving Heavenly Father that knew, even grandma missionaries get home sick. "Flat Gabe" made another discovery while at the Grandin Building, it was hiding under a white cloth. Can you see what it is? He was very perceptive and curious.

Next, we took a stroll to the Erie Canal. We learned that one of the largest achievements of the early 19th century was the completion of the Erie Canal. What a lot of people don't know is that its construction helped to spark the fires of religious revival throughout the state which set the stage for the restoration. Palmyra was right on the Erie Canal. Joseph Smith's family arrived just when the Erie Canal opened the west for trade and travel. Many of our early Saints used it for transportaion.

After a quick trip to the fudge store and to the Hill Cumorah we started back home with "Flat Gabe".  We have often thought back on that wonderful day and the sites seen and friends we made along the way.

We returned home and continued preparing for the 23 new missionaries who entered the New York Utica Mission in March. We are enjoying an increased numbers of missionaries due to the announcement made by the church concerning the change in age. We love our missionaries. It is amazing to me how fast we become attached to them.  Notice one of my favorite Elder's standing in the back row, Elder Oloapu from New Zealand. These are all wonderful, dedicated Elders and Sisters.


On another cold but beautiful day, Elder and Sister Barlow, Elder and Sister Cutler and Flat Gabe went on another adventure. Up State New York is Maple Syrup country and for a very short few weeks in March, the conditions are perfect for the liquid to flow from the Maple trees which are in rich abundance.  We traveled about a half hour away to Ben and Judy's Sugar House where they actually gather and process Maple Syrup from their trees. As part of the yearly celebration they open their sugar house to the public and show how they process the yummy sweet syrup. They also serve a delious breakfast of hot cakes and home made maple syrup. The picture at the left is Ben, the owner.
 
"Flat Gabe" enjoyed the pancakes and I noticed he wasn't quite so flat after that.  He enjoyed meeting the family members who helped at the sugar house and tasted of their Maple candies, jellies and even cotton candy.




The conditions weren't right for the Maple liquid to flow that day, it was too cold, but we became educated on the art of producing that declicious product. Here you see Flat Gabe showing off a bucket which, in the olden days, held the liquid which drained from the tree. They would then have to collect all the buckets and place them in the horse drawn wagon and brought to the Sugar House. Today they drain the trees by inserting tubbing which runs down hill to the Sugar House.

Well, our adventures with "Flat Gabe" were over so we shipped him off, along with the pictures and a sampling of the maple syrup back to our Gabe in Utah. I'm going to miss the little guy.

The month of March was not over. Elder and Sister Barlow celebrated their 44th anniversary on the 29th. What wonderful years they have been. How blessed we are. But the crowning event was an all Mission Conference where we met with Elder Bednar of the twelve apostles, Bishop Davis of the Presiding Bishopric and two members of the Seventy's. I will never forget that day. What follows are excerpts from that meeting written in our "Harvester" mission news letter by our wonderful AP, Elder McKay Tingey:

Elders and Sister,  We send our love and appreciation to all of you. This month we experienced the blessing to have Elder David A. Bednar instruct us. During the confernece we discussed with him key principles of teaching, moral agency and faith.

Teaching: We are to teach in a manner that will enable others to feel the knowledge that comes through the spirit.  Teaching is observing, listening, and discerning; not "what do I do?" but "what do they need?"  As we receive by the Spirit what they need, we must "[follow] courageously the Spirit's guidance" in teaching others (PMG pg, 97).

Moral Agency: "Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other" (2 Nephi 2:16). We must be agents unto ourselves to act and not be objects to be acted upon.  We have never felt the Holy Ghost by being an object or by taking away one's agency.

Asking in Faith: In order to ask in Faith, we must ask with a determination to act. As Moroni says we must "ask with real intent."  Joseph Smith went to the grove to ask in faith and he was determined to act upon the answer he knew he would receive.  Elder Bednar said, "Action alone is not faith in the Savior but acting in accordance with correct principles is a central component of faith." The power comes after we exercise our agency. He then challenged us: "Based upon what I have observed, felt and learned today, what will we do?"

Durting the month of March we experienced fun, hard work and spiritual uplift.  It is a great opportunity and honor to serve our Savior, Jesus Christ.