Reaching the Half Way Point!

Hi Family!! We hope everyone is happy, healthy and having a wonderful summer. As we approach our three-month mark (half way done already?) I have a million thoughts running through my mind. I am in the process of compiling a LONG list of the many things I love about our little apartment and I promise to blog about that soon, but today I am thinking about the blessings of missionary service and the gratitude I feel for this opportunity. It has been wonderful to get to know and love a whole branch full of people – each one unique and interesting in his or her own way. Church members in Pennsylvania are special and this is a reality! They love each other and care for one another in a way we have never witnessed before and being in the Lock Haven Branch has touched us tremendously. It has also been our privilege to watch a recently baptized couple learn to grasp the principles of the gospel – as we teach them, they are really teaching us with their humility and childlike faith. We feel our testimonies growing daily as we struggle with the many highs and lows of being missionaries, and we have a new love and admiration for our sons who have done this with the added challenges of youth and the difficulties of learning a new language and living in a foreign country with strangers for their companions. My companion is a great missionary, and that has been the biggest blessing of all.

Saturday was the Branch Temple trip to Palmyra Temple in upstate New York. We awoke at 5:00 am and arrived home at 7:30 pm!! It was a LONG day, but Millie and Barry, the newly baptized couple, did some baptisms, and the few branch members that were able to attend, had a relaxing picnic afterwards. The scenery was spectacular and it was a gorgeous summer day! While we were in the temple, a man who we have been trying to connect with, left us a text message asking if we could meet with him this coming Wednesday! Hooray!

Life is good. There are some down days, but we have mostly good days. I have a new favorite scripture that has given me comfort and helped me get my thoughts back on track. It is Alma 26:27 and I modify it just a little to fit our life as missionaries. “NOW WHEN OUR HEARTS WERE DEPRESSED, AND WE WERE ABOUT TO TURN BACK, BEHOLD, THE LORD COMFORTED US, AND SAID: GO AMONGST THY BRETHREN AND BEAR WITH PATIENCE THY DISAPPOINTMENTS, AND I WILL GIVE UNTO YOU SUCCESS.” We testify that this has been true for us.

We continue to ask for your prayers that we will stay healthy and find the willing hearts that need to hear the gospel. We pray for each of you that you will know of our love and appreciation for the great support you are to us.

We love you, MOM and DAD

Overnight in Abbottstown

When looking for a place to stay near Gettysburg, we came across Abbottstown on the map and couldn’t miss the chance to stay there. Abbottstown was founded in 1790 by John Abbott and the Old Altland House has been an inn and restaurant since the 1880’s. Our room at the Inn was very nice and the food was delicious! We had a package deal that included dinner so we ate like kings with appetizer, salads, filet mignon, and dessert. We walked the town which took about 15 minutes and searched for Abbott relatives in one of the cemeteries, but no luck. Pennsylvania is dotted all over with these wonderful, charming colonial towns. Wish we could explore all of them!

Dwight D. Eisenhower Farm

On our Gettysburg trip we stopped to see the farm of President Eisenhower.  It was very modest and was an insight into the Eisenhower’s personality – warm, comfortable, and inviting.  Highlights were the PGA-built putting green, the doormats, and Mamie’s totally pink bathroom!

Gettysburg

Hi All! History came alive for us this weekend when we traveled to Gettysburg, PA. The weather was outstanding – perfect for being outdoors and walking all over. We spent two days immersed in the Civil War and loving every minute. The entire area has been preserved as a National Park and a shrine to the pivotal battle fought there. It is one of those places that just feels sacred. The Battle of Gettysburg was fought July 1-3, 1863 and so the area looked to us much like it would have looked at that time – shady, green trees, wildflowers along the side of the road, wide open fields, red barns and small farms, blue sky with billowy clouds.

We walked or drove to each battle sight and because nothing much had changed (trees are still there, barns and farms too) we just had to use our imagination to envision the bloody battles and amazing courage of both the North and the South. There are monuments dotting the landscape everywhere honoring Generals and the states that fought in a particular spot. One of our favorite places was Little Round Top – most of my children know that Joshua Chamberlin of the 20th Maine is one of my heroes. It was incredible to see the area where this brave leader led his men as they successfully held the ground for the Union. We also took a ranger guided tour to learn more about Pickett’s heroic charge – we stood at the rocky wall which is only about three feet high that was the end point for Pickett’s charge that ended with most of his division being completely devastated by Union forces. We learned about Robert E. Lee and also General Meade and gained an appreciation for the genius, courage, and humanity each of these commanders possessed.

Hope you enjoy the pictures as they speak louder and better than I could ever describe. Wish you all could have been with us in this unforgettable place. Love to all, Mom and Dad

Our District

Lunch with the Amish

Everyone here talks about shopping at the Amish markets for great produce and good prices, so Dad and I set out Saturday to find an Amish market.  We found one and luckily there was a special event going on.  Every few months, the Amish have a huge chicken BarBQ along with the usual sale of baked goods, rabbit hutches and shoes, but no fruits or vegetables at all.  We still need to find the right place for that so we stayed and had lunch.  The chicken was delicious, as were the baked beans and coleslaw.  The best part of all was being in the midst of these interesting people and coming to realize that they seem totally normal.  As the young girls served us our food, we heard their distinct German accent – German is taught in most homes as well as English.  The girls wear no makeup and their hair is tied back under a severe black bonnet.  They all dress alike, wearing all black with a thick fabric belt that is pinned with straight pins in the back (no buttons allowed for some reason).  The men wore black pants and homemade blue shirts and they all had beards.  The children were adorable: The little girls wear dark blue bloomers and black dress on top with cute floppy bonnet, the little boys dress  identical to the men but they had lighter blue shirts on.  Both men and boys wore broad brimmed straw hats.  On church day the men wear all black like the women with black hats.  We observed happy, social people who love to talk, eat and visit.  The Amish do not like their picture to be taken but Dad snuck one of the men at the grills from a distance, and I took a picture of a horse and buggy.  I’m pretty sure the horse had no objection!  It has been so unique to watch these folks at work, at play and coming and going around town.  We hope one day to be able to go inside an Amish home and have a real conversation.  Another thing to add to our “To Do” list.  I am hoping to find the recipe for traditional Amish baked beans and if I find it I will pass it along.  Needless to say, with all the good eating that happens here in PA, Sister Abbott has not lost any weight!

Two Month Celebration

Hi Everyone!  Life is good here in PA – time is going incredibly fast and we are having some wonderful experiences.  One unforgettable moment happened last Friday night when Dad and I were at the movies.  With about 15 minutes left in Snow White and the Huntsman, the theatre was struck by lightning! Huge BOOM, melted screen, and pitch blackness until everyone turned on their cell phone lights.  We were with some friends that didn’t seem to think it was so unusual, but it was a first for Elder A and I for sure!  There has been a thunderstorm at least every other day for a couple of weeks now.  Not my favorite thing, but I am getting used to it.  Another funny (?) thing that happened was when we knocked on a less active lady’s door,  she opened the door, stared at our faces and our nametags and said, “Well, who paired you two up?”  We explained that we had been “paired up” for 41 years!  She had never seen a Senior Couple and we had a good conversation about it – somehow she thought two random old people got assigned to go on a mission together!!

The best part of the week was our meeting with the Hanna Family.  John and Rachel don’t attend any church, but they want some guidance for their children as they grow up.  Olivia is 9, Jack is 7, and Dane is 5.  They are adorable and made me think of Cameron, Jacob, and Josh.  We taught about the apostasy and the First Vision, we gave them two Books of Mormon that Uncle Dave and Aunt Crista gave us with their testimonies written in front and all references to the Savior underlined, we gave them a Childrens Book of Mormon Stories, and a framed Family Proclamation quote.   They were sweet and gracious, and seemed to understand all that we taught.  We invited ourselves back next week and challenged them to read the introduction to the Book of Mormon and pray about it.  John gave the closing prayer and did a wonderful job.  This couple looks like a modern version of Adam and Eve from the Temple Movie!!  I can’t wait to meet with them again. Thank you for all your prayers on their behalf and please continue to pray that they will feel the Spirit as they read and pray.  

We are taking a few days at the end of the week to see Gettysburg.  One of the small towns right by Gettysburg is called Abbottstown, so we will be spending the night there.  Maybe we will get a family discount~!!  Dad and I are watching Ken Burn’s Civil War to get ourselves in the mood for our trip – I am really looking forward to learning more and experiencing the highlights of Abbottstown, I mean Gettysburg!!   

Love to all,  Abby and PaPa