Serving a mission in Ohio

Squirrel Tactics! So I have a question for you.  When a squirrel runs across the road in front of your car - you have all had that happen right?  When he gets to the double yellow line that is painted down the middle of the road - what does the squirrel do?  I will answer that a little later. The last few weeks have been filled with higher temperatures, more humidity and lots of rain.  Quite often we pick up the mail and the paper will not make the paper sound because it is too damp.  Wheat Thins are not crunchy and Oreo's are soft.  Kind of reminds be of being back in Taiwan.  All except that there are way too many cars and way too few bikes and almost no school uniforms. A few weeks ago we went on an early Saturday morning "hike" in the Caldwell Nature Preserve" about five miles up the road.  The top picture is from one of those trails.  There was so much moisture in the air the the sun beams were everywhere!  We also found a s...

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 ...

A new discovery! Not far from where we live is one of Cincinnati's parks.  Mt. Ariy Forest is 1459 acres of trees, trails, frisbee golf, and a few streams that right now are pretty small, except when it rains.   Spring really is trying to come but about 5 days our of 7 it gets kidnapped by winter.  On one of those rare spring days we made our way to Mt Ariy Forest and hiked for a couple of hours on one of the many trails.  Later in this entry I will include some more pictures of that little 'Venture. Today - April 16th starts another six week cycle for us.  We have new missionaries arriving today.  Tomorrow we will help get them to Centerville where they will meet there first companions.  Also we have several going home - that is the other side of the transfer.  We will help get them to the Columbus Temple for a session tomorrow then they will be off to continue their lives that they so willingly interrupted. One of the miracles ...

A few weeks ago, it was a little sunny and looked warmer than it really was, so we ventured out to EDEN park that overlooks the Ohio River.  We were able to walk along some paved paths and even found some flowers starting to do what they were created to do - give beauty and variety to the earth. It was good to be outside.  Since we have had some throw backs into winter.  Life here continues to be very busy.  Since we last wrote we have had a sisters conference where all of the sister missionaries gathered and taught one another.  Sister Ardeth Kapp, a dear friend of President and Sister Welch came and taught us all.  I say us because I (Elder Wendel) was part of the transportation, setup, clean up and overall support crew. Sisters Conference in Centerville OH We went from Sisters conference right into a MLC (Mission Leaders Conference) where all of the leadership of the mission reports on stewardships and receives instruction from President and S...

Columbus Ohio Temple The OCM (Ohio Cincinnati Mission) like all other missions in the church operate on a six week cycle.  Each six weeks this wonderful cycle repeats itself.  It starts with the arrival of new missionaries from the MTC.  In our mission they come in on Monday afternoons.  They are picked up at the airport - which is in Northern Kentucky.  On the way to the mission home they cross the river (Ohio River).  Time is spent at historic SMALE park on the river in downtown Cincinnati where they learn about some of the history of Ohio and the roll the church played in those early days.  From there they spend some time contacting and talking to people they meet in the park and on the street. Then it is off to the Mission Home for dinner and orientation.  Since they got up at 3:30 in the morning to get to the airport, by the time they get to the mission home they are tired - more like exhausted. Tuesday we travel one hour north t...

While everyone else in in the nice warm chapel at the start of Zone Conference, Elder Carter, Elder Gray and myself are out side inspecting the vehicles.  This picture is from our latest conference where the Cincinnati and Cincinnati East Zones met at the Montgomery Stake Center on Feb. 13th.  We had 25 cars to inspect and at 8:30 in the morning it was 24 degrees.  Good news - there was no snow and no wind.  Most of the cars were clean.  We finished up in about two and a half hours. Elder Gray doing his thing Elder Carter getting all of the paper work straight. This is the Ohio Cincinnati Mission Song.  Each time the missionaries meet - Zone Conference, New Missionary Training, New Arrivals and Departures this is the closing song.  Those who are leaving stand in front while we all lock arms and sing this song.  There are always lots of tears and most times we can't make it through without crying. The weather...

February 11th 2018 Two months ago today we arrived at the Ohio Cincinnati mission home and were swept into a whirlwind of activity.  Since then we have been out of breath most of the time. This is three fourths of the missionaries in our district.  This last Saturday - yesterday in fact, we attend two missionary correlation meetings - one with the Norwood ward the other with the Cincinnati ward.  It has been a busy week!  Tuesday we worked half a day in the office - then left for our three and a half hour drive to Fort Wayne Indiana.  Wednesday morning we arrived at the stake center a little after 8 am to start lining up the cars for inspection while elders and sisters from the Ft. Wayne and Muncie Zones who were attended zone conference.  It was cold and windy.  There were three of us inspection cars - myself and Elder Gray and Elder Carter.  They were a life saver - without them I would still be stuck in Ft Wayne probably incased in ice ...