Before I write about our new President I will talk about the 4th of July. We went to two ward cook outs. The gathering for Huntington 1st ward was a lunch at a place called Beech Fork. It's lake for boating and one of the greenest, most gorgeous places you've ever seen. We were at the picnic area and what a beautiful setting. There was plenty of grilled Burgers and Hotdogs and a ton of side dishes. There were folks swimming, people canoeing lazily down a river right beside our ramada. Men played horseshoes and children fished in the river and played games. Now comes the funny part. It was all done in the rain and folks here just keep doing what they do, rain or no rain. Great party though and good company.
Party number 2 was at the John II and Linda Perry home. The rain had stopped and the temperature was a little cooler, although the humidity was still quite high. These folks had opened up their home to friends and ward people for dinner. This family lives on a 52 acre spread of green rolling wooded hills. I'll say again that the grass cutting here is an art, and folks keep the lawns and green hills so well groomed. Before the dinner John III (he and his wife Sarah also live on the property) took us out on a tour of the property on a Polaris Quad runner thing. As it had rained so much in the morning everything was so wet and fresh looking. We went up and down the wooded hills and muddy ravines and even stopped several times to pick and eat a few wild blackberries that are all over the hills. The grilled burgers and side dishes again were great and the children had games to play and plenty of room to run around.
For days before the 4th and several days after you could hear fireworks going off all around town. It was a nice way to spend a Patriotic Holiday.
Now to the New Mission President. On July 6th our Zone met President and Sister Lindhardt and family. The Lindhardt's came from Ephriam, Utah where he had been an Institute Instructor at Snow College. They brought their 4 children with them to West Virginia to tour the mission with the parents as a family. Only one of the children, a 16 year old boy, will stay here in the Mission. A daughter leaves on a mission to California in August. Another daughter returns to Utah to finish a nursing degree and the oldest daughter and her husband leave to return to school in Utah.
We sure felt President and Sister Lindhardt's testimony, love and commitment to this work as they told us of their interview with Elder Renland and their call from President Eyeing. He has our support and devotion. He will be a great leader here.
Other activities these past few days have been preparing for and presenting the Self-Reliance initiative to Ashland ward in Kentucky. The next two Sundays we have two more Wards to present to, also in Kentucky about an hour and a half away. This is a divinely inspired opportunity for those that need and want to be more self-reliant.
Our Pathway /Institute classes are doing well. This semester seems to be flying by. Our YSAdults are so bright and it keeps us on our toes to be prepared to teach them. Our testimonies are being strengthened as we learn and prepare to teach this semester's lessons on the Book of Mormon.
Monday the 10th was baking/meet and check on folks day. We have had 4 new couples move into the ward to start medical school at Marshall, two new babies born in the ward and some of the ward widows that we met and visited.
We are loving the people here and we are missing our people elsewhere but we are happy and healthy. Pat has recovered from his fall and head injury and all is well.
We love you all and are grateful for this opportunity to serve a mission.
Almost Heaven, Traynors
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