Goodbyes are not forever.

Mt Ary Forest

Much has happened since the last post.  It seemed like it would never really be spring.  I am still wondering if spring ever came.  I think we just kind of leaped into summer.  Everything is green, the temperatures are in the upper 80's.  Doesn't cool off all that much at night.  Humidity is high and in the next 10 day forecast we have 10 days of rain.  Mostly thunderstorms - but it is still rain.  

Since last writing we have sent off another group of missionaries.  Going home after be faithful servants of the Lord.  We once again had the opportunity of seeing them off.  Every six weeks we witness the miracle of missionary life.

We were with them from seven in the morning till late that night.  Sad to see them leave but happy for them as they start the next phase of their lives.

This is just a little visual of how spring/summer is here in full force.  From our second floor balcony we sometimes can see some little critters.  At one point we had a mommy duck and seven little ducklings waddling around out there.  I kept looking for the "lemonade stand" - waddle waddle.










The last few weeks have been very busy in the office.  One of our church service missionaries was released, so we are now in the office full time.  Hoping to be able to change that a little way down the road but for right now that is were we are



We did manage a few weeks ago to get the Welch's and Leavitt's out for a little hike in a nearby nature preserve.  This park is bout 15 minutes down the road from where we live.  It is called Caldwell Park.  We found it a few weeks ago when we decided to go hiking on my birthday.

We even found a spot for a "post" picture.  No rocks big enough for a rock picture so we had to use a tree stump to hold the camera.  We were out with each other for about two hours - then all went to lunch together.  It was a wonderful afternoon.

We just recently finished a "senior missionary" outing.  All of our senior missionaries but two were able to come to Cincinnati on May 11th and 12th.  We took a trip to Williamstown KY to see the ARK.  A full size replica using biblical dimensions of Noah's ark.

Here is our group before we enter the ark and walk through it's four floors of massive space.

After lunch we enlisted the help of a willing stranger to take a picture of our group.

The next day we met for breakfast at the mission home - no small task.  President Welch taught us from the Book of Mormon, then we departed for downtown Cincinnati to the Smale (pronounced smell) park were we went through an orientation process that the new arriving 'young' missionaries go through.

Smale park is a beautiful river front park that just two and a half months ago was almost completely under water.

I will finish up with just a few random pictures from the park.
Goodbye for now and remember to 'work hard and stay safe'