Corner Brook, Newfoundland

     We  had a great  District Conference in Corner Brook, Newfoundland this past weekend, April 11th-12th, 2015.  Elder Harding and I flew over to NFL with Sister Leavitt, while the rest of the Senior Couples planned to drive and then take the ferry over, with President Leavitt, a 12 hour process.  We were all sort of holding our breath that the weather would hold, and we thought that we were "home free" until about 10:30 am Friday morning, when President saw online that the ferry was cancelled due to a strong wind forecast for that evening!  Disappointing for the 10-12 missionaries scheduled to come on the ferry, But we saw the hand of the Lord helping us as we were able to get to NFL with Sister Leavitt, plus President was able to book the last seat available on the afternoon flight and get there as well. This was a small miracle! The Leavitts' were the ones most needed that weekend to run the Conference, and the Lord got them there.

This ferry ride might....

......have become this ride!  Hi ho Silver!

We loved meeting the wonderful Saints in Corner Brook. They are quite isolated there, not only from the rest of the church but from many things. A boat brings in the fresh produce and food each week, so if the boat can't get in, they have to be able to manage. I think that this is why the Saints here are known  are known for being so kind and Helpful and good to others. They know that they have to take care of each other, there is no one else. They were so good to us and we felt that we had known them for a long time, so easy to talk to, lots of hugs and smiles, and sincere conversations.
   When a friend back home in Calgary heard we were going to be in Corner Brook, she asked me to look up some people she knew --- she had grown up here, which I did not know before!

Here is Brother Hicks, and Sister Watson.

They sent their love to Elaine.

   Both Elder Harding and I were asked to speak in  Leadership Training, which was a good expereince. There were about 20 members attending, plus Grand Falls, Bay Roberts and St. John's joined us via Skype.

During the Weekend, I kept feeling prompted to follow Presidents example and spend one on one time with individuals. Since most of our Missionary group could not make it, the training for the Young Womens and Primary organizations did not happen as planned. I did not feel like an expert in these areas, but I felt that I could share with the women what had benefitted our children, so I took the Primary President aside and we had a good chat ---- she showed me their Primary room, told me all about what they were doing in the Branch and how she was not only the Primary President, but also the chorister and one of the two teachers! I don't know who was teaching who! I think what was most needed for her, was to "share" what she was doing and have someone listen to her.
Then I found the YW's president and she told me that she had been a member for only a few months, and the YW's president for 2 months --- she was looking forward to getting some help that weekend, so I told her some of the things that were done in YW back ho me with our 3 girls as they were growing up.  Then the spirit told me to tell her that the most important thing was to just keep showing up each week -- her young women would notice that and follow her example, and maybe one day, they would go on a mission as they remembered their YW president who was a faithful convert to the church --- this was what she most needed to hear and she smiled at that.
So it did not take any preparation to do that,  and even though those who were prepared to teach were not able to be there, the Lord still provided a way to strengthen and help these Saints.


 We  had lots of fun doing things like

eating Moose meat.

A family in the Branch hunted and cooked it ... down the hatch she goes, matey!

We sang "Happy Birthday" to the Leavitts,

and placed our bets on who would win the arm wrestling challenge.....

And best of all, five of us were "screeched in".

You have to declare that you  really, really want to be an honorary Newfoundlander, drink cod liver oil,

Kiss the cod fish, dance a scottish jig,

and say, "May your jib always draw", as you down the cod liver oil. Elder Alger, Sister Pearce and Sister Leavitt joined us in this time honored ritual. What a bunch of crazies!  I am not sure, but I think that perhaps the Corner Brook branch enjoy watching the CFA's (come from away) do this --- I know I would!

To finish, you eat bologna on a cracker and drink some home made syrup!

We got our official certificates. Could not be happier!

We even had a little time to shop for souveniers,

being careful not to step on this big Newfoundland dog, "guarding" the store.

The scenery was rocky and beautiful, the amount of snow still here, in mid- April is mind boggling.

We saw and did many things ---- most importantly, we helped to lift the Saints, share our testimonies, and hopefully gave some encouragement along the way. We left tired but satisfied. We would go back again, in a heart beat--- thank you Corner Brook, for a memorable weekend!