Unexpected "Opportunity" to Explore the Palmyra, NY area

The "sudden closure" of the Manhattan New York Temple due to air conditioning problems 

August 11-14--prompted some very "adventurous friends", (i.e., Heidemans and Nabors) to plan a trip to Palmyra, New York area--and invite us to come along!! Kent Heideman's paternal Grandfather was a Presbyterian minister in the area of Romulus, NY which is a neighboring community to Fayette, NY and Palmyra, NY AND none of his siblings had ever been to this area to even see if the Church he preached in was even still there. So we rented a car, booked a room and set our "sites" on Palmyra area--going by way of the Church's Priesthood Restoration site near the Susquehanna River in Oakland Township, PA. We were "all in" for a very fun and spiritually rewarding trip over the next 2 full days!!°

There was a lot of talk about "Duck hunting" on this trip--became our "code" for "stopping to see anything you feel is of interest or importance". That worked out very well for all of us!! It was a very FUN TRIP

Kent Heideman & Ron Mumford inside the Isaac Hale home at Priesthood Restoration site

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Our First stop--the Priesthood Restoration site in Oakland Township, Pennsylvania (what used to be called "Harmony, PA --on lovely Susquehanna  River's banks)

Ron & Carol at Priesthood Restoration site

The Church always does such a beautiful job of "welcoming " all who come to visit their sites!

Entrance to Priesthood Restoration site with Ron & Carol M

Tools of those early settlers in Harmony area

ENTRANCE to Priesthood Restoration site in Oakland Township, PA 

Susquehanna River as we "passed over it's bridge" from freeway in Oakland. Township, PA 

Cute picture of Kent (looking in the window) and Barbara Heideman trying to see more of this old Church in Romulus, New York where Kent's grandfather was a Presbyterian minister in early 1900's--

It was so exciting to make this "FIND" for Kent--as that was one of our purposes for taking this fast trip to Palmyra, NY area 

 Whitmer Farm, Fayette, NY 

 Old Smith Farmhouse  near Sacred Grove, Palmyra, NY 

Carol & Ron below the Angel Moroni at top of Hill Cumorah, near Palmyra, NY 

From on top of The Hill Cumorah in Palmyra, NY 

Near Erie Canal in Palmyra area of New York 

Elder and Sister Mumford with Erie canal as  "Backdrop " in Palmyra , NY area 

Outside Palmyra New York Temple 

L-R--Ron & Carol Mumford, Kathy Nabors, Barbara & Kent Heideman 

Breakfast near Erie Canal 

Ron & Carol M, Kent H and seated in front Kathy N

Amish Farmer, Chris' Chicken Farm in Romulus, New York (very close to Fayette , New York 

More of the Amish Chicken farmer's "craftsmanship"

Chris "

Another Amish Farm in Romulus, New York area--this one where delicious baked goods and garden produce were purchased. Cute story about the 2 girls in the pony cart. We had been to their farm where there was a "roadside basked goods/produce shop" and had purchased several items. Kent Heideman had engaged the one girl in conversation (not easy to do--as the children must be taught to be "careful of strangers" or so it seems) and had asked this young girl where they went to Church. She told him they have their meetings in homes of the Amish people in the area--but that there were 

several Churches in the main area of Romulus, NY, which is where we were. He told her what he was "searching for" and she shared that she thought it was right on the road leading into the center of the town. He thanked her and we got back in our car and headed down the road to find this Church.  It was probably about 1-2 miles down the road and we "found it"!! Well,  as we are taking puctures of the Church and the Heidemans and the yard--we see this little pony cart across the street--the SAME CART AND LITTLE SHETLAND PONY we had just seen "unhitched and in the barn" not more than 10-15 minutes ago!! Turns out that Kent, after paying for his goods, had left them there. And based on what information they had shared with Kent about the Church and it's location--these girls had "hitched up" the cart and came to "find us"!! Talk about "Love  your neighbor AND going the extra mile"!! They had been taught well!

Above and Below pics of Erie Canal near Palmyra New York Temple 

A very "teary" Carol M--after viewing "Video #2 about the Restoration of the Church" --this one shown at Fayette, NY 

This is one of her "FAVORITE SCRIPTURES ever" --it applies to so many aspects of life 

Perfect "barn" for the Amish family we bought such yummy baked items from--it was full of work horses (just in from the field) 

 and a milking cows' section . His children were getting ready to milk the cows 

Kent and Barbara Heideman in front of the Presbyterian church (in Romulus, NY) where Kent's paternal  Grandfather Heideman was a Minister/Preacher. Even tho For Sale--there were meetings "advertised so we thought it still in use today

Taking a few moments to reflect on this wonderful Church site 

The Sacred Grove, Palmyra, NY 

 One of everyone's "highlights" of this trip were the Amish farms  and their people. We even "doubled back" on our route home to make " one more stop" to "see the Chicken project" and to buy more from the baked goods and garden produce.  It truly was a "quick trip" but we sure accomplished much of our Agenda and found we did "take time to smell the roses" and truly enjoyed each others' company!! Thanks to great Missionary Friendships and memories made!!

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"CANADA". . . The rest of the Temple Summer Break 2017

Our "Temple Visits"

top l-r --Hartford Connecticut, Halifax Nova Scotia

bottom--Montreal Quebec 

Before I begin this Post and possibly the next one--I just want to "preface" what I recount here--with one of Ron's "observations" about our Mission and our time here in New York City. As we have been working and serving AND planning this Break--he has said several times " This is the BEST mission!! Where else can you serve where you get 2 weeks "off" in the Winter and then 2 more weeks "off" in  or around Summer that you are encouraged to use for some rest and relaxation??Perhaps now you are saying, "Sign Me Up"??!!  (We do work/serve long hours here--up to 7 hours a day--5 days a week--in the Temple and most of the day on Sunday in a Ward outside of Manhattan-so we do appreciate this time to rest/relax).
We DO have to file a travel/permission form if we are going to leave our Temple District geographical area--but usually if our Temple President approves what we request--the Church's Temple Department over Missionaries will approve it also. So we have enjoyed going to Temples and Church History sites in different areas.  The last half of this Summer's Break we decided to go North--up into Eastern Canada--to visit  Temples in Montreal and Halifax--and then go to the Hartford Connecticut Temple as we came "back" into New York. What an absolute wonderful time we had!!
These Temples run somewhat "limited schedules" of times they are open--so we had to be creative as we tried to plan when we could or would be in that area for a Temple Session . That's one of the reasons we left a half-a-day earlier than planned ( so it seemed like we were "rushing away" from the very people (Linc's family)we had waited so long to come to New York--but we had to sort of "re-route" our trip to be able to get to all 3 of these Temples. So--saying our Good Byes and Hugs and Kisses to this sweet family--we headed out our door for Penn Station and the New Jersey Transit (train) and our first stop---White Plains, NY--to pick up our Rental Car. It seems that getting "out of the City" allows more flexibility in price and Return times. And it worked really well. We were on our way to Plattsburgh, NY--where we would spend the night--prior to entering Canada the next morning.  It was an UNEVENTFUL ENTRANCE (good, you say) past the Border, showing our PassPorts and declaring our REASON to visit and length of stay. Kind but professional personnel there. We headed to Montreal (city of Longueuil, Quebec is actually where the Temple is located). Greeted by such kind and good people!! Nothing better than that!! In the Endowment Session--once all are seated-- they ask "How many speak French?  Raise of hands--then ( well, I "kinda know French--but never have had an actual experience outside of 6 years of Textbook French) but I raise my hand. Brother in charge " counts us" then he asks the same question about English--and Raise of hands. Majority--FRENCH--so he now asks how many would like a headset for translation into English? Ron raises his hand ( but he doesn't do English--he listens in Italian). Well--since I have already "tipped my hand" in favor of French--I DECLINE the English headset offer. Oh my, you say--"How'd that work out"?? Great experience!! Absolutely PERFECT FRENCH--and because I was familiar with the proceedings--it went well.  I had a wonderful experience!!  But it may have made me "overconfident" as we head into Quebec and surrounding area--and these people sort of speak their "own kind of French"-- affectionately called "Quebe'cois"--and I'm not understanding much of anything anymore😢😩. Thankfully, many do speak English--so we did OK. But it was a thrilling experience, nonetheless !! We went to dinner--actually a French-experience--as it was French Fondue --J'ai passe' un moment  merveilleux!! It was like what I imagine a small cafe' in Paris just might be like. We had a serenade (by a strolling musician) of La Vie en Rose and other French numbers. Needless to say--I got BOTH OF OUR MONEY'S WORTH!! ( good thing, Ron says as he pays the Bill💋)

I won't go into that much detail on the rest of the trip--except to say it was the "neatest 2,400 miles of adventure, beautiful scenery, never-to-be-forgotten scenes and experiences " with the Best Mission
Comp ever!! Here are some Highlights:

I found this "recap" of part of the first few days of our trip--just thought I'd share 

some of it here. 

We have been traveling much of the day (Sunday, July 30th after we went to Sac Mtg in Quebec) and it is 6:35 pm and we are still 94 miles from our stop for the night. (Moncton, New Brunswick -- which is about 60-70 miles from Prince Edward Island--our venue for tomorrow).  Still "basking" in the Activities of our "all day to Old Town Quebec" yesterday--bike ride by St Lawrence River, (it's a wonder the man would even rent to me--as I fell off my bike right in front of him while I was trying to get him to understand there was something wrong with the bike 😩) and then shops and entertainment  in the  Old City below La Citadelle and Governour's Promenade as 434 steps took us up to view this quaint little city below.
Best time ever!  Dad just let me "soak up" this French experience and I truly feel like I've been to "Par--ree"--oui oui!! So fun!!
This is such a marvelous opportunity to do this!! 

We have now arrived--and it feels good to "be out of the car"!!💋🇨🇦

                

Robert Frost Farm in Derry, NH--Frost wrote many of his poems ( especially the ones Ron LOVES--in the 10+ years he lived here in Derry

Robert Frost Farm in Derry, New Hampshire

"A tall tuft of flowers. . . . "~ Robert Frost

Prince Edward Island-- what an absolutely "magical place"!! 

We went to Green Gables and "found Anne (with an E) and she was delightful 

 Ron got to Golf on the Island-- his "reward" for allowing so much Anne of Green Gables "searching"-- a beautiful course called Glasgow Hills

We stayed at the Lookout Inn--a BnB that was so beautifully situated  with a view of a lake down the hill 

After leaving Prince Edward Island (P.E.I. as the Locals call it) (we drove our car right up onto a huge Ferry and crossed the water over to Nova Scotia). I didn't get a pic of it but this is what these Ferries look like--they are truly HUGE ! But they can sure move thru the water FAST!! 

The roaring Atlantic Ocean at Peggy's Cove Lighthouse in Halifax, Nova Scotia 

Outside the Hartford, Connecticut Temple 

The Montreal Quebec Temple 

The "French Experience " dining at La Tyrolienne  in Quebec 

And for dessert--Chocolate Fondu--yumm

Beautiful Night!!

On the patio of the Restaurant 

L'entrance de La Tyrolienne 

Riding bikes along the St Lawrence River in Old Quebec 

Strolling the streets of Old Quebec 

Scene from the porch of The Lookout Inn on Prince Edward Island 

The "Trois Flags" of Old Quebec 

Lucy Maude Montgomery--author of "Anne of Green Gables" and several other stories/books.  

Looking down from the top of the old Governor's Palace in Old Quebec City, CA 

We were both amazed that the owner of the Bike Shop would even rent  to me--as I "fell off my bike" , right in front of him, whilst trying to help him understand  that there was something not right with the bike! Well this turned out to be a mistake--as his REMEDY was to take OFF my cushy seat and replace with a skinny hard one!!  Live and Learn!!

Beautiful lakes and scenes and memories in Old Quebec 

It was a trip where we saw and did and drove so much--but we are blessed by the opportunity to do so!!