...the rest of July

July felt like it came and went in a flash.  The highlight was definitely getting to know, teach with, learn from and interact with, in any way, the amazing missionaries here in the Maryland Baltimore Mission.

On July 25th our two darling daughters joined us in Maryland!!!  Camille is 20 and Anna is 12.  They had stayed home with married sisters and grandparents so that Anna could have the opportunity to go on trek with our stake to Martin's Cove.  We were so delighted to finally have them here!!! 

New Missionary Meeting - July 15, 2015

Three weeks after the new missionaries enter the field they are all brought together with their trainers for a meeting focused on them and their needs.  They are a wonderful looking group of sister and elders!!!

And apparently there is always the traditional Cafe Rio!!!! stop post-meeting by the missionaries of the Columbia Zone that come together in the van.  How lucky can we be to have two  of the eleven east coast Cafe Rio locations in our mission!

Miracles in the Emergency Room

We were hoping that we could go three years without a trip to the Emergency Room - we did not quite make 3 weeks:)  But the experience was worth sharing.  One of our newer elders was just yards from their apartment when an unusual curb caused him to crash on his bike.  Through a series of tender mercies he was grinning from a gurney in the hallway of the emergency room of a downtown Baltimore hospital when we arrived.  HIs wonderful companion was by his side. Our two missionaries were such a stark contrast from all of the other people there.

As they prayed for comfort  two members came by at different times, from different hospital departments, and found them "coincidentally".  One was a less-active lady that they made a very sweet impression on.  Their smiles, bright countenances and spirits, drew people to them.  By the time we all left at 3:30am we had had multiple of opportunities to share the gospel - even pass along cards were graciously received by the attending doctors as we left.

Mission Leadership Training - July 10, 2015

It is exhilarating to watch our extremely capable young sisters and elders function in their leadership roles in the mission! Three Fridays a month the Sister Training Leaders,  Zone Leaders and Assistants join us, President and Sister Christiansen, in Mission Leadership Counsel by conference call.  The other Friday we all meet, along with the District Leaders, for a Mission Leadership Training meeting that starts at 9:00am and finishes around 3:30pm.  During this time our Mission Leadership Counsel is also held, while the District Leaders receive specialized training.

July 4th - Maryland Baltimore Mission Style!

4th of July Community Celebration

at the Olson's farm in Frederick!!!

Great time had by all despite....or because of,  the rain and the mud!!!

Fireworks from Inner Harbor with the most delightful & amazing senior couples