Week Fifty-five in our New Hampshire Manchester Mission
experience was busy in a different way for us.
Oil in our lamps was replenished in many ways, as usual.
This hand-drawn graphic was sent to us by Elder Walker
in a thank-you letter in which he expressed appreciation
for the Dunkin' gift card that celebrated the one-year
commemoration of our "flight group". His expression
shows how surprised we ALL are at how time flies!
Must be June: there were red oriental poppies blooming
as we walked past Barbara Shirley Anderson's property on
St. Anselm Drive on one of our final trips to St. Anselm College
before our move. (Mrs. Anderson's paternal family were
early settlers, hence the common 'Shirley' in area street names,
such as often-traveled Shirley Hill Road.)
Two mission vehicles required safety inspection updates
in Maine, so we drove east and then slightly north across
the Piscataqua River to Kittery, ME to have those completed.
Then we headed back to North Hampton Beach for a shore walk.
(New Hampshire's entire shoreline is only 13 miles -
the shortest of all the 23 states bordering an ocean!)
A 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull' descendant posed
for a picturesque photo op on the shore's tidal wall . . .
. . . and so did Elder Warner, in front of the Beach Plum
'walk-up' food stop, standing next to the friendly lobster
promoting their famous ice cream treats.
Senior missionary apartments are in transition this summer,
as leases expire and watched-for apartments have become
available. This map shows the relationship of the Goffstown
apartment complex (Highwood Village), the new address
in north Manchester (Greenview Village), and
the NHManchester Mission Office.
Greenview Village improves our proximity to the office,
(only 2 freeway exits away), and upgrades in size and quality.
Thomas Jefferson wrote, 'You never appreciate a place
until after you have left it.' Joni Mitchell re-phrased that
slightly to be 'you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone'.
Interesting that some of the things we had
begun to find fault with in Goffstown were some of
the things that we will miss the most: proximity to
the forest growth out our deck window; longish daily drive;
neighbors with their tobacco use on nearby decks
(won't miss the smokey smell, just the friendly hellos).
Now we get to have those novel, first impression experiences
all over again in a second location. (Rather a blessing,
to live in two places in one metropolis.) But now
we begin again to build familiarity: where to put the kitchen
gadgets for easiest access; how to find the scenic pathways
for our walks; how to situate the tv for evening sunset viewing;
where we will find a convenient ice cream vendor.
Bird life and forest critters have delighted daily.
We will miss seeing the cardinals, jays, gray squirrels,
and chipmunks. Knowing our photo ops were dwindling,
Vince kept watch with cell phone camera primed to capture
the illusive and beautiful blue jays, but they won THAT stand-off.
Early one morning I captured this one on the deck, a split second
before he heard my shutter click and was gone. (This shot will also
help us remember how close the lush tree growth was.)
Here is a professional photographer's shot (Russo)
to demonstrate the brilliance of this bird!
My intentions were always to record a little bit more
about our Goffstown experience.
Suddenly it has turned sentimental!
To begin, some historical background from their website:
the town was named after early settler, soldier
and civic leader Colonel John Goffe.
Colonel Goffe's lifespan would make him a British colonial citizen,
and later a New Hampshire American.
First settlers in the 1700s found the area magnificently
forested with hardwoods on the hill and white pines
on the "pine plains" which extended along 'Mast Road',
so named because the tall pines could supply long
and straight beams that were needed for the ship masts of
the Royal British Navy, harvested and
shipped down the Merrimack River to the coast.
Goffstown is for Manchester what Sugar House and Murray are
for Salt Lake City proper. This road sign, below, that we viewed
each day on our commute, also shows how at our crossroads
on NH Rte. 114, Bedford (location of mission home) was
not too far away, as well. Following the Goffstown arrow,
we could get to the rail trail for cross country skiing, or . . .
. . . to vistas of Glen Lake.
This photo is one I clicked within a few days of
our arrival - still a beautiful memory. (Vince in silhouette)
On the town square at Main Street is this monument
to Civil War (and other) heroes from Goffstown.
In background right you can see a beautiful tree in bloom . . .
blooming "foliage".
Near the town square on that day I was sight-seeing
was this COVID-19 resiliency sign, where you can see
the Main Street square, nearby church, and perhaps
get the New England feeling that is all around.
Such classic architecture - still trying to figure out
why the simplicity of the style, without dormers, gables,
porticoes or bay windows so enchants me.
With a nod to former travel routines, I took the chance
to find the post office to have an envelope canceled
to record the date (Goffstown USPS building is
unfortunately NOT historic nor charming).
My Main Street ramble included a stroll across this stone
bridge over a tributary to Glen Lake. And there's at least one
final attribute that makes this a wonderful town . . .
We spent a few hours each day packing up one apartment
and moving in a no-deadline, easy-pace way to our new
abode across Manchester. (We had the office Elders help us
move the largest pieces of furniture.) In many ways we feel like
we are "movin' on up". We will make ourselves "at home"
for five months, until it is time for us to return home to Utah.
Then, the newest senior missionaries who take our place
will spend 12 to 18 months making this THEIR home,
surrounded by furnishings and kitchenware we all
inherit from the mission and from previous missionaries.
is never fun, in my estimation, even though this was
a completely good thing in all essential ways.
We have felt the tug and pull between old-space memories
and new-place opportunities. Then, during today's Sunday
mission-wide devotional, the topic addressed by young
Elders and Sisters was the Christ-like attribute HUMILITY.
These all brought to mind a favorite allegory
by C.S. Lewis from Mere Christianity called
"He is Building A Palace."
God comes in to rebuild that house."
Lewis describes how you think a remodel will involve certain
expected changes, but soon it gets a little more expansive
and considerably more uncomfortable. He concludes:
"You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage:
but He is building a palace.
He intends to come and live in it himself."
(Find a churchofjesuschrist.org film of this episode HERE.)
Life in the past 100 days has felt slightly or considerably
unlike the HOME we were getting comfortable with.
As we continue to find our way forward, we hope
and pray for the best as you, the people we care about,
likewise find yourself getting used to your revamped spaces.
God bless you all to find oil to replenish your lamps.
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