Beacon in the Storm

Where were you in late summer of 2011?

That question references the last part of this post.

Now, we are seriously into November, and counting

weeks until Thanksgiving feasting.

But I couldn't resist sharing this wonderful twist on

Halloween pumpkin carving which was done by my intelligent

and spunky teenager (and our amazing niece) Hannah Sweat, 

who apparently decided carving the Angel Moroni statue 

into her pumpkin was a better use of an artistic opportunity

than the traditional spooky or silly gourd face.

For us, the weather is playing catch-up as well,

with unseasonably warm October days turning now

into below-freezing morning temperatures and cold wind,

mixed with clear but cooler days. It is interesting to see

the myriad green-tipped stakes "planted" along private

roadways and parking lots preparing for the days in

the near future when snow plow drivers will need
to be able to see where the pavement ends.

My topic for this post comes from NHM Mission events

that took place back in the single digits of the October

calendar, and I have only now found place to report.

As disciples of Christ, we seek for opportunities to help

and serve and lift and bless. This is the most obvious way

to demonstrate discipleship, and to show "what would Jesus do."

For new converts and Gospel veterans, it is a natural response

to what we feel as we let the Atonement of Christ 

be active in our own lives.

Each autumn, usually early October, a tradition has been set

in the New Hampshire Manchester Mission to participate in

"a Day of Service" at the Joseph Smith Memorial Birthplace site.

It is paired with the regular incoming new missionary

"Follow Up Training" that falls in that calendar window,

approximately one week after their arrival into the mission.

In this image above, Sisters Semadeni and Green help string lights

around the JSBM Chapel. 

 The new missionaries worked together with their trainers

and the FM seniors and employees on site to prepare

for their annual "gift to the community" 

holiday light show which attracts automobile drive-thru visitors

from hundreds of miles around.

In this picture, below, (as well as the one above)

Sister Beck, wife of Mission President,

and the other sister missionaries are lighting

the fence line on the property.

Other projects that day included transplanting native

ferns from certain areas to improve and beautify

other plantings on the property, seen in image below.

(As an aside, the original plan as directed from Salt Lake

headquarters-based horticultural supervisors called for

"Vermont native" ferns and plants to be shipped in from

somewhere else for this work. The on-site FM landscape team

countered this idea by suggesting that a re-distribution

would work as well or better, and be more cost effective.)

On the far right, you can see Elder Warner participating.

 Below, more young elders are working on the site with

their powerful shovels and great spirits of service.

Below, experienced and new elders help string lights

near the visitors center.

The young missionaries traveled in from their outlying

areas, dressed for work, arriving by 9 a.m. on Tuesday

for a full day of labor, interrupted only by lunch together.

After the work day, we gathered for an evening cookout

at the next-door Camp Joseph camping venue,

where we enjoyed a wonderful sunset, camaraderie,

and great grilled burgers and hot dogs, and

even home made root beer. A camp fire, 'smores,

and a fireside Gospel discussion rounded out the day.

 President and Sister Ferguson from JSBM treated us there,

with Elder Sypher doing camp stove duties (YUM!).

Camp Directors Elder and Sister Tucker

made sure plans were set for accommodating 

the Elders for cabin overnight sleeping,

while the Sisters left the site to double up with

nearby sisters in missionary apartments.

(During planning, we were concerned about the cold,

but it turned out to be wonderfully mild, and dry!)

On Wednesday of this event, the Elders and Sisters

arose on their routine early schedule to dress and prepare

for their regular Follow Up training day, meeting in

the Sharon ward house. There they can read, as I did

during our first Follow-Up meeting, this touching

plaque, presented by the Town of Royalton to thank

members of that Ward and missionaries for service

extended back in 2011 when Hurricane Irene 

devastated the region.

(This is what the "Where were you" query refers to.)

" We, the people of Royalton, wish to thank the members

of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for

your meritorious dedication to community service during

the flood of August 28th. Your unfailing enthusiasm and

generous contributions of "people power" during and after

Tropical Storm Irene demonstrate a true commitment

to neighbors and those in need. Recovery operations in

Royalton and surrounding areas have been carried by this

sense of purpose and passion that you exemplify. 

We are truly grateful and appreciate the spirit and energy

that you share with all of us. Your steady presence has served

us all and continues to strengthen the bonds of our community.

Thank you."

 This is the satellite image of Irene on August 26th

as it begins to impact the long coastal region

of eastern United States. Its effects were felt up and

down the coast, and nearly everyone with that shoreline

exposure or even much farther inland was affected.

In rural Vermont, the associated rainfall was too much

for the mountain streams and rivers to handle,

and extensive flooding occurred. Regional news sources

reported later than 672 road and bridge projects were needed

to repair the effects. Thirty-five hundred homes suffered 

damage, with 1400 households displaced.

 The cost to the State was $110 million, with private

funding and insurance contributing $75 million in recovery funds.

Federal housing funds for unmet needs reached $21.7 million.

As I read and re-read the message on the plaque

each time we visit the JSBM Chapel, my heart swells

that the Gospel in action was so immediate and willing

from the Saints living in the area. I hope to hear more

from local members who may have participated

in service during that catastrophe.

Until then, my lamp is filled to know that folks

are serving and stepping forward, and in a way

representing all of us who want to be counted

as members of the Church of Jesus Christ

of Latter-Day Saints.