Week 35 - Fruitcake hot potato

December Zone Conference

Hello y'all! Tuesday we got to go to Utica, New York, for a zone conference which is a 3 1/2 hour drive each way! Elder Bennett was our visiting general authority and also our area president, and he talked a lot about keeping our attitudes positive in this winter season (with the cold and all)! He said if we don't we are shutting the doors of heaven from which blessings flow. Yikes! So we've tried to be better and honestly things have been more enjoyable!

Funny thing of the week, we were visiting a sick member and we got into the elevator and this man was there holding a box. He asks us where we're from and we said yeah and he said oh, well Merry Christmas! And handed us this box. We look down and it's this nasty looking boxed fruitcakes stuff. So we said thanks! And got out and laughed how random that was and didn't know what to do with it. When we get back in the elevator another man gets in and we say hello and then...... Merry Christmas! Hand him the fruitcake and run to our car. Haha.  I wonder how many times that had been passed around!

Good news of the week, we have Rita on date to be baptized New Year's eve! If you remember, she's the one who was scheduled to be baptized a while ago but fell through, so pray for her and that everything will work out smoothly. Our little branch could use her leadership (she's on the city council and a go-getter).  What better way to start 2020? 

Have a great Christmas!

Love,  Sister Potts 

My Mommy must love me!
 12 Days of Christmas has started!

Watching the large commercial cargo ships go through the Eisenhower Lock
on the St. Lawrence River is pretty cool!

FUN FACTS:  My favorite part of each site!

1. Smith Rarm - too hard to choose, but I do love the upstairs of the log home where angel Moroni appeared. 

2. Whitmer Farm - the 4 minute video at the end about the growth of the church since it was founded there!

3. Grandin Print Bldg - you can't beat the printing press, even if the original is in Salt Lake City!  Love the smell of books, too!

4. Hill Cumorah - the beautiful view from the top of the hill!

Sorry those aren't better-I ran out of time haha.

Note from Mom:  The Spears who have been the senior couple assigned to Massena for the past year are being transferred to Buffalo, New York, next Monday!  This is such sad news for this little branch since there most likely won't be another senior couple to take their place in Massena for a while.  The Spears have been the backbone of this little branch since there are only 3 Melchizedek Priesthood holders, and one actual family in the branch.  All the others are singles, and most don't even have a car to get places.  The Spears have so generously offered to transport people to church and activities and to go support them in whatever way is needed--from home fix-it projects to cheering at swim meets & choir concerts to giving piano lessons and taking care of those who are sick.  They will be missed so much.  Emily and her companion will now get to host the Christmas Dinner for all the singles in the branch who don't have a place to go for Christmas.  There is lots of change and transition coming up, and the Massena Branch needs lots of prayers to be strengthened, and that people will be able to step up to the roles they need filled.   There are some fun pictures & videos of Emily & her companion on the Spear's blog if you want some fun.  The week of Thanksgiving had an awesome whip cream challenge game that was video'd of them :)   https://spearmissionblog.com/