The Regina Chapter Comes to an End--October 24th to December 19th, 2013

This shall be the final chapter in our Regina experience.  We were advised on October 25th by President Thomas, president of the Canada Winnipeg Mission, that the Missionary Department of the Church had permanently reassigned us to the Canada Winnipeg Mission as MLS missionaries; and were subsequently advised directly by the Missionary Department, that notwithstanding the change was a permanent designation, that the brethren of the Quorum of the Twelve still wanted us to go to India in the event our visas come through.   We later met with President Thomas in Winnipeg during transfers at the end of October and he advised us that he would like us to go to Atikokan, Ontario and serve in a small branch where they have not had missionaries for some 17 years.  Housing needed to be arranged for us and due to factors related to the India visa situation we finally departed from Regina late on Thursday, December 19th.  The delay in going to Atikokan was clearly again in the Lord's hands and led to our continuing the process of teaching, along with three wonderful Sister Missionaries (Sister Haner, Sister McRae and Sister Elkins),  Jody W. Hanley and his son Preston A. J. Hanley.  As we taught them the restored gospel, we enjoyed the blessing of witnessing Jodi and Preston gain firm testimonies of the truthfulness of the gospel message which led to their baptisms on Saturday, November 23rd.  Throughout the conversion process they attended church regularly and Preston attended young men's activities.  They got to know Bishop Dilts and other members of the ward.  Also, the Sister missionaries made sure that other members of the Lewvan Ward were also involved in teaching them.  Elder Leary had the blessing of baptizing both of these fine young men. Sister Leary and I found that we had many things in common with Jody and Preston in our own conversion and life experiences.  We came to love and appreciate them so much because of their willingness to accept the truth and to act on that knowledge without waivering or hesitation even in the face of the usual opposition.  Elder Leary also had the blessing of ordaining Jody Hanley a Priest in the Aaronic Priesthood on Sunday, December 8th and being able to stand in the circle the following Sunday on December 15th when Jody Hanley confirmed and ordained that same priesthood upon his son Preston and gave him a most beautiful blessing.  What a wonderful experience for us to be involved in the conversion of these golden investigators.  It reaffirmed my testimony once again that there are many amongst us in our communities who are searching for the truth but know not where to find it.  In this case, they found the gospel through a referral.  Brother Hanley, Sr. went online and googled "free bible" and the first site that came up was The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and within minutes of his contacting the church, the referral system had notified the local missionaries by text messaging of their interest.  Our first visit to them with the Sister Missionaries was on October 8th--6 1/2 weeks later Brother Hanley and his son were baptized.  How often do senior missionaries get to be involved in such blessings? Not often! And this is because it is generally local priesthood or the full time Elders who will perform the baptisms and ordinations.  It is interesting that four days after Preston was ordained a Priest, Sister Leary and I were on our way to Atikokan.  We made mutual promises with Jody and Preston to stay in touch over the years that will follow.  It is also interesting to note that the Mission President did not know anything about the baptisms or priesthood ordinations until we later told him of these events.  Does the Lord have his hand in all we do?  The above experiences seem clear enough on that point--but I shall let each of you ponder that question further, particularly in regards your own lives. 

Leaving Regina in many ways was bitter-sweet.  We left behind Bishop Dilts, whom we worked with every day during the week for 10 months at the Archives, and his family whom we came to love very much.  At the Archives, while working on preservation of homestead and civil court record documents, we had many doctrinal discussions of mutual interest, shared untold numbers of similar life experiences and had so many similar opinions on various topics such as politics, music and other aspects of life.  It was truly amazing that we found so much common ground amongst us.  Then there were the many laughs we enjoyed virtually every day while working with Bishop Dilts.  We also shall truly miss the missionaries that we have worked with, both at the Archives and in teaching investigators and the less actives, and of course the members of the Lewvan Ward that became our extended family and part of our lives.  We have been so blessed here to have had so many wonderful experiences while getting to know some of those struggling with activity in the church and life's challenges and while working with other investigators of the gospel.  Even in our last few weeks, we began to work with a large First Nation family that we very much appreciated and loved and for whom we have high hopes.  We shall miss everyone who worked in the government offices at the Archive as well.  We often enjoyed pot luck lunches together and at other times just pie or cake that someone decided to bring to work for everyone to enjoy.  And, we also enjoyed the many discussions at lunch time with the staff--particularly those that sometimes ventured into family history for that was very much of interest to all that worked in the Archives.   We shall also miss the natural seasonal beauty of Regina and southern Saskatchewan. 

Notwithstanding these experiences and feelings, we are ready to move onto other challenges--Atikokan seems a good place to go and try to strengthen and grow the little branch there.  And hopefully, if we do get our visas and go to India, we will be in Atikokan long enough to make a difference.  We are looking forward to the challenge.

Now for a further comment on our India visa situation.  In early December, legal counsel in Calgary made contact with the Consular in Toronto who had replaced the person that counsel had previously worked with successfully for others, including President and Sister Sackley. The Consular is looking into our file as to why the delay and hopefully will give us some direction soon on our applications. We remain hopeful we will get our visas as that is where a prophet of God called us to go--even though the Lord had some other interim plans for us.  

--OCTOBER 24TH TO NOVEMBER 31ST--

MORE BEAUTIFUL LATE OCTOBER SUNSETS IN REGINA

ANNUAL REGINA STAKE ANNIVERSARY BALL

Sister Leary at the helm of the Rescue Ship of Promise

Saturday evening on October 26th, we attended the Annual Stake Anniversary Ball which had "Journey to the Stake of Promise" as a theme with five ships--the Preach My Gospel Ship, the Feed My Lambs Ship, the Rescue Ship, the Compassion Ship and the Temple Ship supported by the scriptures as per Ether 12:4 and 1 Ne 17:13. The theme used for the event is the Stake Theme for 2013 which will continue in 2014.

Elder Wilson (left), Sister Eckert & Elder Wells (right)

Sister Denton amongst the Wascana Ward pirates.  She is serving in Regina from Liverpool, England--many things in common with Sister Leary and a bond developed between them.

Elder & Sister Echert from Texas and Alaska are leaving today, Sunday, October 27th, for home in Texas.  They served in the Regina Stake for 18 months as MLS Missionaries and have traveled to the far corners of the Stake while serving, inviting and teaching member and non-member alike.  They will be greatly missed and were honored by the Stake President at the Annual Stake Ball.

Sister Haner (left) & Sister McCrae (right) who taught Brother Hanley and his son Preston with the assistance of the Leary's and others.  At the beginning of November, Sister McCrae was transferred to Saskatoon and Sister Elkins replaced her as the new companion of Sister Haner.  

ARCHIVE CENTER -- RECORDS PRESERVATION 

Arichive Center--From left to right: Bishop Robert Dilts, Sister McCrae, Sister Haner, Sister Porter, Sister Leary, Elder Leary & Elder Fratcher 

Elder Martin--District Leader (left) & Elder Fratcher (right)

SISTER MISSIONARIES ENROUTE TO SISTERS CONFERENCE IN WINNIPEG AT TRANSFER TIME--THE LEARY'S WERE THE HOST DRIVERS OF THE RENTAL VAN

Sister Missionaries serving in Regina, Saskatoon and Moose Jaw going to Sister's Conference in Winnipeg.  This is a stop at Sub-Way in Brandon.  Some are being transferred after conference.  From left around the table: Sister Waterhouse, Haner, Lane, Meservy, McCrae, Wise, Denton & Elkins.  They are powerful missionaries and have changed the lives of many people in the mission.

Sister Missionaries and the host van drivers upon arriving in Regina after Sister's Conference in Winnipeg.  From left to right, Sister's Meservy, Haner, Peltier, Harrison, Waterhouse, Elkins, Lane, Denton & McCrae and the Leary's. 

GEESE IN THEIR ANNUAL MIGRATION SOUTH, BEGAN TO ACCUMULATE ON WASCANA LAKE UPON THE FIRST SNOW FALL ON NOVEMBER 4TH AND THEY CONTINUED TO DO SO UNTIL AFTER BITTER WINTER SET IN ON NOVEMBER 18TH; AND THEN LINGERED FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WELL INTO DECEMBER BEFORE HEADING FOR WARMER SOUTHERN CLIMES
(ALL OF THE BELOW PHOTOS WERE TAKEN AT ABOUT 8:45 AM OR SO 

ON OUR WAY TO THE ARCHIVE)

Above three photos are a panorama from west-top to east-bottom looking north across Wascana Lake towards the Parliament Building

THE AGRIBITION EVENT IS A WELL ATTENDED AND POPULAR WEEK-LONG ACTIVITY IN REGINA

MACKEREL CLOUD FORMATIONS--ONE OF MANY CLOUD FORMS THAT ONE SEES IN REGINA

Taken from the Archive in Regina.  Mackerel skies are the result of a disintegrating weather front usually as a result of its encountering a high pressure system.   They resemble the scales on a Mackerel fish. 

Example of same from Australia (Source: Website on cloud formations)

ELDERS TAKING A HOT CHOCOLATE TO A SURPRISED MAN CLEANING THE SIDEWALK AT THE ARCHIVE CENTER

"BY SMALL AND SIMPLE THINGS ARE GREAT THINGS BROUGHT TO PASS" 

Alma 37:6

Elder Neesom (left) from Edmonton, AB & Elder Hornberger from Tremonton, Utah

REGINA "SUN DOG" PHENOMENON NOVEMBER 22ND

A Classic Sun Dog---Photo taken from the Archives at about 9:30 am

Left side of the Sun Dog circle just above the horizon--Notice the spectral colors with yellow on the inside of the circle

Right side of the Sun Dog with the spectral colors reversed

Photo taken about noon--The feature is beginning to fade and shortly after this was not visible at all

This photo was taken from our apartment at about 4:00 pm on the same day  as the feature reappeared again as sunset approached.  The feature was not visible during the early afternoon--although apparently on some occasions it is visible all day.   

Above are photos of an amazing phenomenon called a "Sun Dog" that I have only seen here in Regina--probably just didn't pay much attention in the past.  The pattern you see is caused by fine snow flake crystals randomly oriented in the atmosphere that cause the sun's light to refract--the effect is a little like what happens with a rainbow but this kind only occurs in cold climates.  You can google and see others.  

Hope you like my drawing in an attempt to explain why the feature was called a Sun Dog. 

 BAPTISM OF JODY HANLEY AND HIS SON PRESTON ON NOVEMBER 23RD--THE HIGHLIGHT OF OUR MISSION

Sister Haner (Far left) & Sister Elkins beside her are wonderful missionaries and taught by the Spirit.  Prior to transfers on October 31st, Sister McRae was Sister Haner's companion and the process of teaching Brother Hanley and his son, Preston began with them in early October.  Sister Leary and I had the blessing of accompanying the Sister Missionaries on there teaching visits, except later on as members of the Lewvan Ward began to accompany the Sister Missionaries on occasion instead and in that way Jody and Preston got to know some of the members other than when they attended church meetings on Sunday.  Preston also attended Young Men's activities regularly prior to his baptism.  

AN UNUSUAL EARLY MORNING SUN SHOT AT THE ARCHIVES--THE SUN IS BEING SHIELDED BY THE HEAVY HAZE COVER, COMMON IN REGINA IN THE WINTER, AND ITS RAYS SEEM DISJOINED FROM THE BODY OF THE SUN

GREY OWL---THE NATURALIST

(Source: Saskatchewan Archive Documents)

Certificate of birth of a daughter to Grey Owl--Otherwise known to be Archibald Belaney.  The above birth certificate shows the father of little Mary Annie Felora Belaney, born March 29, 1926 in Timagami, Ontario, as Archie Belenay and the mother as Angel Agana.   Angele Egwuna, an Ojibwa woman, is known to have married Archie Belaney in 1910.  He learned much from her about the native peoples.  He also subsequently married an Mohawk Iroquois woman in 1925 who was also very influential in his life by encouraging him to write of his experiences.  He was an advocate of "that you belong to nature, and not it to you"--which is traditional native view.  He was a conservationist.  He apparently was married five times and had three children.  Grey Owl died alone of pneumonia in 1938 in Prince Albert, SK at the age of 49.  He is buried at his cabin on Ajawaan Lake, near Beaver Lodge, SK along with his Mohawk wife, Gertrude Bernard and their daughter, Shirley Dawn.  

 

Grey Owl, the Naturalist

SASKATCHEWAN ARCHIVE RECORD OF GREY OWL (1888-1938)---FAMOUS  FROM THE 1920'S AND 1930'S IN CANADIAN HISTORY AS AN ADVOCATE OF PROTECTING THE CANADIAN NORTHERN WILDERNESS AND TRADITIONAL INDIAN WAY OF LIFE.  HE CLAIMED THAT HE WAS HALF-BREED, BORN IN MEXICO TO A SCOTSMAN FATHER WHO FOUGHT IN THE MEXICAN WARS AND THAT HIS MOTHER WAS AN AMERICAN INDIAN. HE PUBLISHED SEVERAL BOOKS AND LECTURED IN ENGLAND AND CANADA AFTER EXPERIENCES IN CANADA'S NORTH LIVING AT TIMES WITH NATIVE TRIBES TO LEARN THEIR SKILLS, CULTURE AND TRADITIONS.  AFTER HIS DEATH IT BECAME KNOWN THAT HE WAS AN IMPOSTER---BORN ARCHIBALD BELANEY IN HASTINGS, ENGLAND TO GEORGE BELANEY AND KATHERINE (KITTIE) COX, WHO HAD BEEN FASCINATED BY THE CANADIAN NATIVE PEOPLE SINCE CHILDHOOD AND HAD SUBSEQUENTLY IMMIGRATED TO CANADA WHEN 17.  HE SETTLED FIRST AMONGST THE OJIBWA IN ONTARIO AND TOOK ON A FALSE IDENTITY.  HE REMAINS A RESPECTED, COLORFUL AND INTRIGUING FRONTIERSMAN NATURALIST WHO STOOD FOR AND PROMOTED SOME PRINCIPLES MUCH BIGGER THAN HIMSELF.  THESE ARCHIVE RECORDS DEMONSTRATE THE VALUE OF SUCH RECORDS FOR HISTORICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH.

A Wikipedia portrait of Grey Owl (1936) by Yousuf Karsh

LEWVAN WARD CHRISTMAS DINNER AND PARTY 

A wonderful turkey and roast ham dinner beautifully prepared and enjoyed by all

The table settings and Christmas decorations were outstanding

Children gathered below the stage after dinner for the Christmas Story of the Savior's birth

A brave stage hand overlooking the proceedings

Primary children lining up to receive a Christmas present from the ward.  Heather Dilts in the center looking at the present passing her by without much concern.

--DECEMBER 1ST TO 19TH--

MOVING THE LEARY'S HOUSEHOLD TO ATIKOKAN WITHOUT THE LEARY'S ON DECEMBER 3RD

From the left: Elder Lyons, Beaucamp, Neesom, Hornberger, Garner and Fratcher who assisted President Thomas with loading the missionary furniture from our Regina apartment

Loaded and ready to go--President Thomas drove to Winnipeg when loaded and then onto Atikokan the next day.  He had a recent convert with him to help.  After the move, we were left with everything we needed to get by for a couple of weeks or so as you can see below.  We had a beautiful makeshift computer table (Note: Files currently in use from one end) and borrowed computer chair, a borrowed dinner table and chairs and a borrowed sitting chair.  Thank goodness our bed remained behind because it was two singles put together, so now just right when separated for two Elders--Elder Leischman and Elder Lusk, who moved in on December 19th when we left for Atikokan.

MID DECEMBER PRE-TRANSFER VISITS TO THE ARCHIVES

Sister Haner, beside Sister Leary, is being transferred to Prince Albert

Elder Hornberger, on the left, is being transferred to Winnipeg

Sister Denton, in the center, is being transferred to Winnipeg and Sister Meservey, on the left, is taking her place with Sister Lane in the Wascana Ward.


BIRTHDAY MISSIONARIES AT TRANSFER TIME IN MID-DECEMBER

President Noblett, president of the Regina Stake, on the left with President Thomas and Sister Thomas & Birthday Missionaries on the right

Sister Thomas with the Birthday Missionaries

ANOTHER  EARLY MORNING SUN SHOT FROM THE ARCHIVES ON A TYPICAL CLOUDY WINTER DAY IN REGINA

AN EARLY MORNING SUNRISE IN REGINA

SHOPPING FOR CHRISTMAS HAMPERS & PREPARING THEM FOR FAMILIES IN THE LEWVAN WARD

Bishop Dilts with his shopping crew and camera-man.  We stored the frozen turkey and ham in our vehicle trunks because outside we had minus 40 degree weather.  Later in the week the youth in the ward prepared the hampers and the home and visiting teachers delivered them to the respective families.

DOUG--THE EGG MAN & BISHOP DILTS ARE CLOSE FRIENDS AND ARE ENJOYING A MOMENT AT THE ARCHIVES

PREPARING A FEW SMALL CHRISTMAS GIFTS AS A TOKEN OF OUR LOVE AND APPRECIATION

SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WE SERVED AND CAME TO LOVE IN REGINA 

Bonnie Desjarlais with family and in-laws.  From back left--Rain, Ryan, Bonnie & Justis.  Front center--little RayaSunshine and her two brothers.  Bonnie--A exemplary woman of faith and courage.

Peter Huang--An amazing story of faith and heritage

Sister BigEagle and her grandchildren,  Cassie & Talon--A story of family trials, love and caring with undaunted trust in the Lord.

A CHRISTMAS STORY TO BE TOLD AND RETOLD

--From my journal of Sunday, December 15th, 2013--

"After dinner this evening, Bishop Dilts asked us to take an anonymous gift--money bills and coins in a jar with a Christmas note, to a single mother, let's call her 'Deborah', living in meager circumstances with her children and a few in-laws.  This was made possible by a member of the Lewvan Ward who had saved all their tips from a job over the last year amounting to over $160.00 and asked the Bishop to give it to someone in need, and in so doing had explained that the money had been tithed.  When we delivered the gift this evening to Deborah's humble home, she came to the door first and I explained to her how the gift came to be and that we were on the Bishops errand.  As she gratefully received the gift, she could see the money in the jar and the attached Christmas greeting, and at that, she just broke down and cried with joy and gave me a big hug.  She said she didn't know what to say.  After a quiet silent moment, I wished her a Merry Christmas and left.  What a great joy to be able to do this service for someone in so much need and yet with so much faith and love of family to deal with life's trails.  She is an amazing woman.  As we drove away, Deborah was surrounded by children in her living room and we could see their excitement through the window as she held the jar full of Christmas blessings.  We could also see that all their gaze was fixed on the wonder of the timely gift.  A wonderful and memorable sight.  May we likewise cast our eyes with wonder and gratitude upon the precious gift of the Savior, the Son of God, as we celebrate this Christmas season.  Although to Deborah and her family, the donor of this precious gift will remain anonymous.  Yet our Father in Heaven knows all things, and this is a gift from someone whose name and generosity will surely be recorded in heaven for the angels to look upon.  May we similarly give of the heart to those around us and enjoy the true spirit of Christmas."

The Money Jar

Imagine the lighted window scene, as described above, at the recipients home (Note: This photo was taken after the above described experience)

THE LEWVAN WARD MISSIONARIES, AFTER TRANSFERS, THE DAY WE LEFT REGINA FOR ATIKOKAN

After a Pizza Lunch at the Leary Apartment--Just before we left for Atikokan on December 19th, 2013--
From left--Elder Lusk, Rae, Leishman & Garner; Sister Ashton-Korn, Elder Neesom, Sister Elkins and Elder Fratcher.  They were a wonderful group of dedicated missionaries and we shall miss them in Atikokan.  

They always like to do a ham-up picture--especially the Elders.