Best Hot Chocolate North of the Border

by Mark and Karen Spear

March 24, 2019 - We continue to meet with members of the Massena Branch to encourage them to make progress on the Temple and Family History work.

Promised Blessing of Temple and Family History Work:

While temple and family history work has the power to bless those beyond the veil, it has an equal power to bless the living. It has a refining influence on those who are engaged in it.
You will be blessed with more closeness and joy in your family.
You will be blessed with the divine protections afforded those who are faithful in his service.
As you respond in faith to this invitation
• Your heart shall turn to the father's
• The promises made to Abraham Isaac and Jacob will be implanted in your hearts
• Your patriarchal blessing with its declaration of lineage will link you to these father's and be more meaningful to you
• Your love and gratitude for your ancestors will increase
• Your testimony of and conversion to the Savior will become deep and abiding
• You'll find protection from the temptation and ills of this world
• You'll also find personal power:
o Power to change
o Power to repent
o Power to learn
o Power to be sanctified
o Power to turn the hearts of your family together and heal that which needs healing
Your own knowledge and faith in the Savior will increase.
You will receive a more certain witness that life continues beyond the veil.
I invoke a special blessing on you parents, you youth, and you children that each of you will find joy and be blessed in every other aspect of your life as you fulfill the obligation that has been sent from heaven.
I promise you will be protected against the intensifying influence of the adversary as you participate and love this holy work.
You will be safeguarded in your youth and throughout your lives.

Temple & Family History Work is one ingredient required to open the heavens.

It was transfer week and sadly Sister White was transferred to the Clifton Park area to serve in the Glenville Ward which meets in the same building as our daughter Jessy's Schenectady Ward. So, Sister White will get to meet Jessy and her family.

Sister White saying goodbye to Tim and his family. Tim was baptized just a few months ago.
Goodbye Everett who will be getting baptized in the near future.
Aloha Sister White - We will miss you. Good job!
We picked the sisters up at 5:45 am for the drive to Utica - that is the moon still in the sky - the sun was still a long way off from showing its face.
Yes, there really is a Mexico, New York!
Home of the best hot chocolate north of the border - Mexico, New York
Waiting so patiently for the Hot Chocolate!
Life is good - especially with good company and good hot chocolate!
Sister Black with President Vest who was telling all of the new missionaries what an awesome missionary that she has been. There were 3 new Sister Missionaries and one of them was going to be Sister Black's new trainee companion!
Three sisters and four Elders waiting to see who their new Trainer would be. Drum roll please......
Sister Black's new companion is .... Sister Weaver from St. George.
Sister Weaver didn't know she was going to get THREE companions. Lucky girl!!!!
The Massena Country Club Golf Course - just across the street from our fourplex - this is the first time that we have seen grass in Massena since we got here - there is hope for spring and summer, yet. (Of course it snowed 3 inches AFTER this picture was taken!!)
Another sign of spring: the ice breaker is breaking up the ice in the St Lawrence Seaway so the ships can go from the Ocean to the Great Lakes and back. This is the river the runs by the golf course by our fourplex.
This is a Canadian Ice Breaker - the Pierre Radisson.
Mark & Karen with the ice breaker.
Karen & Karen. The Karen on the right is a ship chaser - she loves to watch the ships move up and down the St Lawrence and go through the locks - she's teaching the ropes to the Karen on the left!!
Bug Day at the Nature Center. They buy 2,000 crickets at a time to feed all of the frogs, turtles and fish.
Lots of worms for the kids to play with.
Sisters Black, Weaver and Spear teaching a lesson to Everett.
The Amish cart pulling some type of old farm equipment.

The work of the Lord moves forward a small amount each day in Massena. Take the time to immerse yourself in Temple and Family History and reap the blessings!