November Blessings



Winter returns

The year has turned its circle,             
The seasons come and go.
The harvest all is gathered in
And chilly north winds blow.

Orchards have shared their treasure,
The fields, their yellow grain,
So open wide the doorway ...
Thanksgiving comes again!
An Old Thanksgiving Rhyme

Thanksgiving in up state New York was wonderful. This poem expresses our feelings and experience here. As you can see by the scene of the lamp post outside our window, we have come full circle. Snow has once again covered the ground, the seasons have come and gone. and the cold north wind has returned.

Living in the country has taught us an appreciation for the harvest and of our bountiful blessings. We are grateful for this time of season where we stop and consider how Heavenly Father has blessed our lives. It is especially poignant to consider the blessings of family now that we are so far away from them. We have been receiving an increase of letters from our beloved grandchildren for which we are especially grateful. Thank you family for all the support you have given us.

Twin Orchards Apple Store

This is apple country and their are many orchards in the area. We have a favorite store down the way called Twin Orchards and all they sell are apples of every variety and other apple products such as home made apple pies, apple juice, apple butter and apple jelly. I have never tasted such wonderful apples.

Copenhagen New York

Early in the month Sister Barlow was asked to teach a Family
History class at the Lowville Family History Center. Lowville is a little over an hour away. We passed through many small towns along the way. This church caught our eye in Copenhagen New York. The Village of Copenhagen is in the Town of Denmark and is northwest of Lowville.



Haddock, Hazelett, Meidell, Gleue, Pres. Wirthlin, Sis. Lamber, Sis.Wirthlin, Horton, Mendlove, Gnasatoto, Lewis

November Arrivals

November Transfers occurred the week of Thanksgiving. Our returning missionaries (above) arrived home on Thanksgiving day. Oh what wonderful reunions they must have had. Our group of incoming missionaries (left) arrived and have been trained.



Elder & Sister Barlow, Elder Meidell, Elder Lewis

Elder Tanner and the Frog

 This is one of the Assistants to the President, Elder Tanner, with the famous NYUM mission frog. As part of the training given to our new missionaries, the Assistants do a role play on the Fable of the Frog. The fable goes like the:

"They say that if you put a frog into a pot of boiling water, it will leap out right away to escape the danger.  But, if you put a frog in a kettle that is filled with water that is cool and pleasant, and then you gradually heat the
kettle until it starts boiling, the frog will not become aware of the threat until it is too late."

Frog Fable

The Assistants do this training to let the missionaries know how to handle difficult "relationship" issues, whether it be their investigators, a member of the ward, or other missionaries. If there are feelings developing at all, either the companion or the missionary just has to call the president and say he/she has a "frog" problem. Nothing else needs to be said. At that point the president goes right to work and handles a rapid transfer to another part of the mission. This is the quick fix of a possible problem, they are taken care of quickly. The skits have been hilarious, with the assistants knowing of missionaries having girlfriends at home and using their names in the skit -- all in good fun -- lots of laughs and yet getting the point across.

Another mission tradition is the "Wood Shed".  President Wirthlin tells the Missionaries, that at times he will give them "focused feedback" with increased love afterward. In essence he says that it is like taking them behind the woodshed. He always says this with great love. The elders in our area made him the woodshed shown here (notice the "Angel Moroni" on top). The frog and the woodshed are kept in Presidents office as  loving reminders of the need for exact obedience.
On Thanksgiving day we worked at the office for half a day. In the morning the Elders in the Utica District came to the snow covered field outside our office for a "Turkey Bowl". We warned the elders not to play rough, we didn't want any injuries! Elder and Sister Barlow left for a short time to get some Texas Sheet Cake they made  and some hot chocolate to share with the dozen elders that were there. When they arrived back with the treats, there were twice that many in the game, some from the neighborhood. The only injury was a bloody lip from a collision with Elder May. He's ok.


In the afternoon we traveled to Canastota, NY for a delicious Thanksgiving meal with our friends from the Oneida Branch, Brother and Sister Lewis. We couldn't help but hum a song we used to sing as children, "Over the River and Through the Woods". A slight dusting of snow set the stage for this beautiful day with our new found friends.

As was mentioned in last months blog, we are blessed with a new little grandchild, Tessa Joy Barlow. We had a bit of a scare when the results of her PKU came back with a positive screening . After more testing and through the grace and tender mercies of our loving Heavenly Father all is well.

 

Picture of Christ by our Grandson, Sam Arnett

We wish all of our friends and family a Blessed Holiday Season. Our prayer for you is expressed in the Primary song "He Sent His Son".

How could the Father tell the world of love and tenderness?

He sent his Son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness.

How could the Father show the world the pathway we should go?

He sent his Son to walk with men on earth, that we may know.

How could the Father tell the world of sacrifice, of death?

He sent his Son to die for us and rise with living breath.

What does the Father ask of us? What do the scriptures say?

Have faith, have hope, live like his Son, help others on their way.

What does he ask? 

LIVE LIKE HIS SON.