"Does the Journey Seem Long?"
It almost seems trying to post on my blog has now become the journey that seems long. I have been having a heck of a time trying to get something published. I can't even find what I did post so if some of this is redundant, please bear with me. Let's hope this works.
We arrived in Palmyra on Wednesday, April 23, 2014, a day ahead of schedule. We were tired of travelling and wanted to stay put for awhile. We weren't disappointed when we saw our cute apartment. It is really nice with two bedrooms (for anyone thinking of coming to Palmyra this summer). It is just right for us.
We had a little bit of a problem travelling through the Chicago area, but our GPS got us through. Good thing! Kathy could never have read a map and figured out where to go. We were going here and then there and then finally where we needed to be. If Kathy had been navigating, we might have ended up in China and divorce court. GPS systems are under-rated! The GPS was a great help.
But better than that GPS was God's Prayer System. We know all of our children and grandchildren and friends were praying for our safe arrival. We know Nikki prays for us, even though it is hard for her (us being gone for 6 months), she says she knows we are where the Lord wants us to be. She is a rock. She is our cheerleader and prayer giver. So glad she is our daughter and a daughter of God and knows she is loved by both her parents and her Heavenly Father.
We also received some communication from Jorge Pulleiro about his son, Lucas. Lucas is one of our Primary children we taught before we left He said that Lucas thought we were going to be gone on our mission for 6 years. He told his dad, "I will be in the 7th grade when my best friend, Durg, comes home from his mission. Jorge explained that was not the case and that Durg will be home in 6 months. He tells us Lucas prays for us everyday. Thank you Lucas!
We crossed the New York border in a snow storm. Durg was ready to return to the beautiful Wood River Valley and sunshine. But we pressed on! Thinking of the Pioneers travelling the distance they did in extreme weather conditions, made us so grateful for all they did and for what we have. Pushing and pulling those handcarts all the way through Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming to Utah. Amazing. Ross Gedeborg remarked, weren't we glad we weren't using a handcart when I left my purse in Cheyenne and had to travel 90 miles there and 90 miles back to Sidney, Nebraska. The purse would have been history in that case.
We stopped in Jamestown, New York for lunch on our last day of driving. We were in a restaurant across the street from the largest cemetery (100 + or - acres) we have ever seen. We asked some locals about it. They said that Lucille Ball is buried there because she was born and raised in Jamestown. They told us about a young women, Grace Galloway, who was also buried there. I won't take the time to tell you about her or her burial sight. You can google her: Grace Galloway, Jameston, NY. We sent pictures to Joel because we thought he would appreciate it and he did. Said he had never seen anything like it. We found Lucille Ball's grave also.
When we were in Iowa, we came upon a small town,Winterset, where John Wayne was born. We drove by his house. It was just a little home. It was fun to see that.
Here is a little FYI. Wyoming's elevation is 7000 feet. The Allegheny Mountain's highest elevation is 2000 feet. Most of Wyoming seemed like a prairie and the Allegheny's seemed like driving up over a mountain. But what do I know! Durg said Wyoming is called the high desert. Now I know.
After travelling 2860 miles, with 200 miles left to get to Palmyra, I was anxious and excited to get there. That's all I wanted to do. Durg on the other hand wanted to avoid toll roads, so we meandered here and there and took a wrong turn, had to return and try again. We drove from Idaho to Palmyra, New York without driving on a toll road. There wasn't much conversation those last 200 miles.
We had family home evening with the other 19 temple missionaries on Monday night at President Brighton's home. The Rochester Mission President, President Francis and his wife, gave the family home evening lesson. President Francis told us that we were unique missionaries. We were set apart by our Stake President for our call to serve as missionaries. Then we were set apart by President Brighton to serve as temple ordinance workers. We get to do the two things we love most, be in the temple and befriend and share what we have with others as missionaries. We have two name tags. One we wear in the temple and the other one is the official missionary name tag. How could we have been so blessed. This mission is perfect for us.
Leaving you now in Palmyra, New York, cradle of the restoration until next time.....Love you
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