October Offerings

October has come and gone but we don't want it to pass without recording what went on here in the mission field. We have enjoyed watching the squirrels scampering around gathering up their winter stash. We, like the squirrels, know that once the snow begins to fly we won't be venturing out much. All the leaves are off the trees now and the weather has turned chilly but October was beautiful.





Falling Leaves



 

 



Baseball Hall of Fame

Go Dodgers

Where it all began

Doubleday Field

We traveled to Cooperstown, New York. Cooperstown is best known as the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Abner Doubleday, a Civil War officer, was the supposed inventor of baseball. According to some, it all began in a cow pasture within this little village in 1839, the present site of Doubleday Field. As we toured the museum a flood of happy memories came back of attending Dodger games with my parents at Dodger Stadium. We were there the night Sandy Kofax had his perfect game. I remembered having a crush on Steve Garvey and seeing Don Drysdale. I love the memory of Mom sitting on her couch with her little transistor radio to her ear, listening to Vin Scully and her beloved Dodgers. She kept score in her trusty notebook which was always kept right next to her on the TV tray. We had a picture perfect day seeing all the sights with our dear friends, the Cutlers.

Take me out to the ballgame!

Steve Garvey crush

Babe Ruth

Hall of Fame

 

This part of New York is known for it's apples and fall is known as apple cider season. While Wendy was here we visited a Farmers Market in Clinton where we met a farmer who is also an artist. He invited us to visit his Farm/ Farmer's Market / Cider House. I have never tasted better apples then we have experienced here in this area.

 

Cider Mill

New York Farm in Ilion, New York

 

 

Elder and Sister's Barlow

They have entered the Mission Field

Transfers were interesting this month. Usually President and Sister Wirthlin meet the missionaries at the Syracuse Airport and bring them to the Mission Home where they are interviewed and given some orientation. When they got to the airport only one missionary got off the plane. The others were not scheduled to come until the next day but no one told the President. When they finally arrived they were given their assignments and driven directly to there different areas. We didn't get to meet them until later. We were disappointed since one of the new missionaries was Sister Barlow. I had e-mailed her father and discovered that Elder Barlow and he are second cousins. We have since met Sister Barlow and love her.

 

King, Simmonds, Portella, Palmer

Tanner, Gabbitas

 We had our last supper with the departing missionaries and said our goodbyes to Elders King, Sanders, Portella and our beloved Sister Palmer. Elder Tanner and Gabbitas remain our Assistance to the President. They are such a big help to us in the office.

 

Elder Barlow is responsible for the cars in our mission. He is known as the "car czar" Each month he puts a tip in our mission newsletter, "The Harvester". We found this picture on facebook and are tempted to use it as next month's tip. What do you think?

 

Winter Warning: Remember, cold season is starting and cows seek heat on car hoods. Do not forget to tap on the hood to give the cow enough time to get off before you drive away!   Elder Barlow Car Czar

 Zakai, Tyson and Kim B. were our birthday's in October and although she didn't arrive until November 7th, we want to welcome Tessa Joy Barlow into our family. Heavenly Father has truly blessed our family in so many ways. Thank you Kim and Chad for this latest blessing.

 

Tessa Joy and Chad (proud Dad)

 The last week of October we had Zone Conferences throughout the mission and we were blessed to have a visiting General Authority. Elder Bruce R. Porter of the Seventy and his wife did a mission tour with President and Sister Wirthlin. They covered about 1,300 miles in 2 1/2 days!

Elder Porter's message was entirely on the Doctrine of Christ. The 4 Saving principles where by men can come unto Christ are: 1. Faith - "I am the way".  As we put our faith in Jesus Christ we are given power to overcome the effects of Sin and the Fall.  2. Repentance "Come unto the Redeemer" Vital before any ordinance is given. 3. Baptism - "Enter into a Covenant" After we repent we have a desire to promise our Heavenly Father to never do this again so he allows us to enter into a covenant to keep his commandments and always remember Him. This is repeated each time we partake of the Sacrament. 4. Receive the gift of the Holy Ghost -" Receive the Holy Ghost" which brings all things to our remembrance, teaches, guides and enlightens our minds, testator, comforter, sanctifier. All four of these are connected to bring about our overcoming sin and the ability to gain eternal life which comes as we participate in temple ordinances. The temple ordinances are designed to help us perfect ourselves. They are not saving ordinance like the first four but they are exalting ordinances which help us become like God so we can dwell with him in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom. As missionaries we teach the 4 Saving Principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to teach them with plainness. The Savior is not only your Redeemer and Savior, he is your Captain and your strength. Come unto Christ and let him be your strength.

In October we were also privileged to attend the Palmyra Temple with our Branch. We spent the entire day in the temple, Elder Barlow performing Baptism, I did initiatory, then a session and ended up with sealings. What a glorious 11 hours we spent in the house of the Lord.