Vermont: The Green Mountain State

THE FIRST WEEK

Johnson’s told us not to come to the Center on Saturday so that we could start to get situated a little.  So, we spent half the day trying to get things put away.  Then Johnson’s picked us up in the afternoon and took us to West Lebanon, NH to the grocery stores (3) to get acquainted.  That is about 15-20 miles from our apt. and where we will have to go to shop.  The Osborne’s met us after their shift and we all went to dinner at Applebee’s.

Our front door (kitchen sink is inside under window).

Our Apartment is the door behind our car (left of stairs).

 

South Royalton Ward House

Here comes the bus!

 Sunday morning, Church started at 10:00am and we were all but there when Rhonda discovered she didn’t have her missionary badge so we turned around and hustled to get it.  Back to the Church just a little late, Elder Johnson was waiting out in the hall for us to arrive.  We stayed for Sacrament Mtg and Sunday School and then went to the Monument as there was a bus load of visitors scheduled to tour at 12:00noon.  We did what we could and then stayed for a while longer to find out a few things, finally getting back to our apt. about 4:00pm for lunch.





Visitors Everywhere!
 

We were scheduled for the 2-7:00pm shift on Monday.   I feel like I am beginning to get the tour thing down.  Two sister missionaries came to do the last hour of the day while the rest of us went to Family Home Evening in the Johnson’s residence. Rhonda and I were the lesson.  We both told a little about our lives and included a faith promoting story that we told in our Sacrament meeting in St. George.   Each of the missionary couples prepared a food item. All the left-overs were given to the ward members to take home to help them eat for the next week. 

At the entry to LDS Lane

Just about closing time on Tuesday, several groups came so we were late.  One of the guys was a  member from Idaho in the area for business.  Elder Johnson asked me to give him the tour and he followed along behind adding a few things he thought important that I left out.  I did feel pretty good about my first time and the guy complimented me on the tour so things are looking up. Finally about 8:00pm we got things tidied up (supposed to close at 7:00pm) and Johnson’s asked us to come have chicken-noodle soup and left over rolls from home evening for our supper.  As result, we didn’t get home until nearly 9:00pm.

Monument with Visitors' Center on right and Johnson's home and office at left.

Back of VC looking down from Monument

 

  We had the early shift on Wednesday and had several groups come through. I had my first opportunity to drive the golf cart as tour guide down in the woods to show the remains of Solomon and Daniel Mack’s  homes along with the old stone bridge and the rock wall that was part of the old turnpike road that went from Montreal Canada to Boston.  That gave me an opportunity to tell more of the “story” that we have been learning for the visitors.

Old Turpike Road

          

         

Solomon Mack ruins

Daniel G. Mack ruins

 

 
Getting off shift shortly after 2:00 made it possible for us to find our own way to West Lebanon, NH and the grocery stores. We also did a little shopping for a TV for our apartment.  Didn’t get too lost and am starting to get some slight sense of directions.  At least we made it home safely.  We were invited over to Osborne’s for supper.  They said it was quite unusual for both of us to be off the same afternoon.  Dykes were also invited and we had a good meal and a good time visiting and getting a little better acquainted.  Osborne’s are the other missionary couple from Spanish Fork (Hansen's neighbor and former bishop) while Dykes are from Mt. Pleasant and doing work with the FM group.



Thursday was supposed to be our “P” day but they had 2 buses scheduled for 9:00am tours so they asked us to come in to help.  The buses were late but our job was to catch all the visitors that came from the non-tour group and give them the tour.  We had two groups come but the building was full so I got out the golf cart and we toured down in the trees and gave them the “speel” as though we were in the visitor center itself.  It was nearly 1:00pm when we finished so we spent nearly a full shift on our day off.  After getting some lunch we again went back to NH and got a TV and some groceries so we should be set for the coming week.  I washed the car once we got home.  I don’t think I have worked so hard washing a car for a long time.  There were so many smashed bugs I really had to scrub to get them cleaned off.  The car sure does look better clean.   We worked around the apt. for a while and went to the Memorial to try to take some night pictures of the monument with the full moon in the background.  A good attempt but I need to learn how to use my camera better.

Friday morning early, the guys from the TV company came to install Dish-network for our TV and internet hook-ups.  Before they finished, Elder Johnson called and ask me to go with him to administer to an older lady of the ward who had fallen.  (Sister Bowles)  We found her place out in the trees.  She was pretty black and blue and swollen so we administered to her.  She is the only member of the Church in her family.  Her husband is paralyzed from a stroke and can’t get out of bed.  We did the afternoon shift at the Memorial.  The shift started off with cake and ice cream to celebrate my birthday.  All the missionaries  and most of the FM people made it for the treats.  Rhonda baked a cake and we got ice cream so it was kinda fun.

R) Elder Johnson, Elder Osborn, Sis Osborn:  L) FM's

Celebrating birthday at JS Memorial mission