Eventful Two Weeks of Travels and "Missionarying" in Beautiful Maine and New Hampshire

Dear Family and Friends,

What an eventful last couple of weeks. We have completed the apartment and car inspections for this transfer cycle.  What a big job. Actually, though Dad thought these apartment and car inspections would not be so fun ... they have actually turned out to be very enjoyable and fulfilling for both of us. We love the driving through all of the beautiful country of Maine and New Hampshire, as we go from apartment to apartment in 3 Zones. And, we have thoroughly loved our interactions with the missionaries.

As we have driven through the country side ... thought it would be fun to mention a couple of fun names... "Pick-pocket Road" and "None Such River". How do they come up with these names????

On our July 15th apartment/vehicle inspections tour, we had made arrangements to meet up with 2 other Senior Missionary couples (who were also doing inspections) at the Riverfront Grill & BBQ in Augusta, ME for lunch (see picture). They are Elder and Sister Seamons, and Elder and Sister LeCheminant. The Seamons return home today, and the LeCheminant’s have been here 2 months longer than us.

Now the fun part of shopping for the items needed in those apartments and then determining how best to drive in a systematic way making those deliveries. This coming week we will be going out probably two full days to make those deliveries and will still have one more day the following week.  Then, joy of joys, transfers are the 2nd and 3rd of August, so we get to start the car and apartment inspections all over again.

We have been spending quite a bit of time working with our African friends.  Last Wednesday night we went to the home of an African family that are members but have not been coming to Church much of late.  There were two non-member women visiting them.  They are all from Burundi. One of the women was young and quite attractive.  She spoke quite good English, so while Dad was conversing with the others in French I asked her about herself.  She has been here 1 year 7 months. She has a job, and in fact, had an interview the next day for another position within her company.  I asked her why she came to the United States. She very matter-of-factly said that anyone in her country that gets an opportunity to come here, will. Things are very bad there.  She told me three weeks prior, a male cousin of hers got into a car with one of his friends and they have both just disappeared. That seems to be a very common occurrence.  There are many that can't get visas to come here so many go to Rwanda, a neighboring country. She told me that things are more stable there.

She shared her story of traveling here, flying alone for 19 hours, and then landing in New York City all by herself, speaking no English and needing to get from New York to Portland, Maine. She was very scared. She had heard that young women alone could get into a taxi and just never be heard from again. She knew she needed help. She decided to go to a United Airlines counter and talk to a woman working there. Somehow it was communicated that she needed some help and that she needed that help in French. The worker introduced her to a friend that spoke French, probably another United Airlines worker. This woman was able to help her purchase a ticket to Portland and then get her to the right area to catch that plane.  It was very interesting and sad talking to her. I was again reminded how blessed we are.

We have been spending a lot of time with them the family we talked about in our last email, the ones from the Congo.  Dad has been trying to find them a 2 bedroom apartment to move into.  Vincent, the husband, looks on-line and writes down many pages of possibilities, but because he speaks so little English, he really can't communicate well enough to call them. Dad has been calling all of them. They have been living in a motel in South Portland, but last Friday they got word they had to move into the Family Shelter. Dad loaded our car with most of their belonging, and the wife, and we went over to the shelter to check them in.  Vincent and their two daughters waited for a taxi to come that was running very late. They got settled in, but the challenge now is that no one can go into the family quarters. So, to be taught the gospel will be a little harder to work out. They got a surprise at 4:00 this morning. The Mom had to go to the hospital to have her baby. Today was her due date, and her baby boy was born about 8:00 this morning. They took a taxi to the hospital.  They had planned on taking a bus, but she was having labor pains and didn't want to chance the bus. This new baby boy shares a birthday with several members of our family, plus Pioneer Day. Truly a great day to be born.

As I am writing this email, Dad/Dan is at a Stake general Priesthood meeting (in Yarmouth, ½ hour away).  Following that meeting he is going to the hospital to pick up Vincent and their two daughters to take them back to the Family Shelter for the night. It is so difficult, not having transportation, or a license, or speaking the language.

Dad/Dan talked in our Sacrament Meeting today and he did a fantastic job (getting Barb to put that in her e-mail cost me BIG-TIME J). His subject matter was talking about loving everyone, as God's children, regardless of race, religion, etc. 

One of the African couples we are working with asked Dad/Dan if he had gone to public speaking classes because he had done it all right (again … cost me BIG-TIME J). 

Last week we had to go Costco and on the way back we went to Kennebunk, Maine. That is a place we visited on the cruise to the northeast we took with the Blackburn's, 6 years ago. The first time we were there, Carolyn and I bought $10 watches. We went into the same store and they still had watches for $8 and $10.00. Dad was kind enough to let me buy two (of course that's Mom talking, you know ... you also know that my answer is always, "yes, dear ... yes, dear ... anything you want, dear"), plus a heart ring.  There is also a family pastry shop close by in a town called Wells, Maine.  We bought donuts there and they were really good.  Brandon had seen something posted about them being one of the best in the nation, and alerted us to it. It is probably Barb’s favorite of all of the donut shops we have tried here in the area. Also while we were there, we went to a fish (Barb … ugh) place to eat a late lunch and Dad/Dan had clam chowder that he was really disappointed in, hardly any clams (but they made up for it with a higher than normal price J.  Their place mat had some fun facts about lobsters that I'd like to share:  Lobsters can live to be 100 years old or older.  During colonial days, lobsters were plentiful and were the food for the poor.  A lobster's brain is in its throat, and they taste with their feet.  Lobsters are a great source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.  Three and a half ounces of lobster is only 96 calories and about 2 grams of fat.  Lobsters can grow up to four feet long and weigh as much as 40 pounds.  Lobsters aren't red. They turn red when cooked, but in nature they can be green or yellow or even bright blue.

On Friday of this coming week, we have an appointment with Fran Cole (the lady where Rick spent time, when he was on his mission), to have chocolate tapioca pudding with vanilla ice cream.  She said she loves pudding and ice cream, although she has never had chocolate tapioca. Barb asked her if she had time on Friday and she said that she would make time.  She is a sweet lady and lonely. We are looking forward to getting together with her.

We continue to work with Constant and Prisca (from Burundi). They were gone last Sunday, down to New Jersey to meet with an attorney about their seeking asylum paperwork.  They were also able to go to Massachusetts to visit a sister of Constant's that received her U.S. citizenship. He said the program and process was wonderful. She has been here for 5 years but she had a green card when she came.  We don't understand all that has to be done depending on your status when you come here, but we are slowly learning.  We have been seeing them not only on Sundays, but also during the week for a meal or for a lesson.  We didn't see them for about 10 days and we really missed them.  They are special people. Like all missionaries with investigators, we wondered if after getting together with family, they might have a change of heart and not be interested in the Gospel. Gratefully, that does not seem to be the case.  In fact, after Church, Constant mentioned that in the future maybe he could help the missionaries with the translating during Church.  The Bishop asked him when they were getting baptized and Constant kind of shrugged his shoulders and pointed to Dad.  Maybe the missionaries need to give them the baptism challenge next lesson. After Church today, Dad took Constant and Prisca on a tour of our Church building.  They really enjoyed it and were quite taken with how big it is and all of the types of rooms. On the wall close to the baptismal font is a picture of John the Baptist in the water with Jesus, at his baptism.  I commented to Dad later, wondering what they thought because in their religion they sprinkle, although the New Testament is pretty descriptive about our Savior's baptism. We are having them over for dinner this coming Wednesday night. Barb thinks she will be daring and make lasagna (anything she makes will be delicious). 

Last evening we had Janvier (from Burundi) and the missionaries over for a follow-up lesson. He was baptized the end of May. A couple of weeks ago, Dad conferred the Aaronic Priesthood and ordained him a Priest, in French.  He is the one that was an emergency room doctor in his country.

You will never guess what Dad and I (the avid camper J) did Friday night........we went to a dinner and program for the ward. It was a camp-out, although we did not spend the night. Good thing too, because they had about two hours of thundering, lightening and rain. The program was put on by the Primary children, about 10 or 12 of them, most of them really little; they put on such a cute program. The Primary President and about 3 other sisters did a great job.  They and we sang songs and the children did pioneer skits.  The Primary workers read some pioneer stories and the children acted them out. It was wonderful. Dad will probably post some pictures on our blog.

Another thing that has been taking a lot of our time is helping the ward clean up their ward list.  They have LOTS of names that nobody seems to know about. We have purchased an internet program for the ward called "BeenVerified.com". We have been trying to identify and verify names of people we know have moved out of the ward, or have moved somewhere else within the ward boundaries. Today we turned in 27 names to the ward clerk, with back up, of people who no longer reside in the ward (we are only through the “G’s” in the ward list.  Hopefully this will help improve their home and visiting teaching, attendance percentage and budgeting, knowing who and where people are.

We would like to direct your attention to two talks that made a big impression on us.  The first we learned about in the MTC and although it is not the exact same talk, it is similar.  The one from the MTC is only available there.  It was given there and has not been published anywhere else. Although this similar talk you can find on the web under the Brigham Young University- Idaho Religion Symposium given on January 25, 2003, by Elder David A. Bednar, it is entitled "The Character of Christ".  This talk spoke to us, showing us so many areas where we lack so much, but giving us goals to work toward. Defining what made Christ so different from us.  The second talk was used in one of our weekly District meetings.  It is by Elder Lynn G. Robbins from the October 2014 General Conference, entitled "Which Way Do You Face?"  We remember when he gave this talk. It was powerful to us then, and when were reminded of it at District Meeting, it again really struck a chord.  There are so many good things to draw upon. 

I have still been thinking about the verse in Esther, referred to last time.  "....and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?  As we live our lives and make our daily choices we interact with others and who knows what influence we have on them. The goal is to strive day to day to be our best selves and although we all will fall short from time to time, we need to just get back up and continue on down our road of life. As perhaps most missionaries, we are finding on this mission that we are certainly not where we want to be. Let's all work together, supporting, sustaining and encouraging each other to do just a little bit better each day.  That is certainly our goal.

Well, we hope we have not droned on too long. Hope you are all doing well.

Love and miss you all,

Dad/Dan & Mom/Barb (a.k.a., Elder and Sister Aldridge)

Just "looking"??

Can't pass up a $8 & $10 watch.

Beautiful! ... the background scenery in Kennebunkport isn't bad either :-)

Banana Cream Pie at or favorite Portland dive ... Becky's Restaurant (by the port)

The State of Maine Capital building, Augusta, ME

Lunchin' with the LeCheminant's and Seamons in Augusta, ME

A NEW MISSION PRESIDENT, GREAT MISSIONARY EXPERIENCES AND LOVING GETTING TO KNOW THE ELDERS AND SISTER

Last Thursday, we met our new mission President and his wife, plus a son and daughter that are returned missionaries and will only be here for a month or less. We enjoyed getting to know them. They each seem to have a great sense of humor. President and Sister Blair like to kind of tease back and forth. She is a relative of Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley and had a lot of association with him. The Blair's son, James, talked about not being afraid to stand up for what you believe and to share the Gospel.  He referred to the scripture in D&C 50:41, that says, "Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me." What a great reminder for each of us.

Sister Blair shared one of her favorite scriptures, it is found in Esther 4:14, the last portion of the verse. It says, "and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"  I love that verse. This too applies to us all.  Wherever we live, in whatever circumstances we find ourselves, we each have a mission to perform.  We don't always know what it is, but as we move our feet forward, we will find as we look back that He was always in charge. We just need to stay on the path, and keep moving forward.

Sunday was a special Sabbath day. At church, we had several African members there, as well as a husband and wife and another husband and wife and 2 girls, that we are assisting and friendshiping. Dan has more than abundant opportunity to use his French. Barb has more than abundant opportunity to share her love, and relates so well to these people. They love her. 

There were many wonderful talks given and things said, but there are two that we want to share here. First, we had two women speakers. They each did a great job talking about General Conference and how we should read and study the talks to remind ourselves what was said and what we need to work on.  Although they each did great, they left about 15 or 20 minutes before it was time to close the meeting.  Brother Eubank, the Bishopric counselor, who was conducting, shared some thoughts.  He retold the story from General Conference by Elder Arnold, about the two ships in a storm. One ship lost it's engine and the other ship came to their rescue, using a cable to hook the ships together. On the shore, they were aware of the dangerous circumstances, but couldn't decide what they thought would be the best course of action, so they did nothing.  As the storm increased the cable between the two ships snapped.  Again, the ship that still had it's engine went back to help the damaged ship. Without any help from shore, and with the increasing winds and waves, both ships went down with all hands on deck.  

He also told a personal story about a college student that was cramming for exams and she kept getting the prompting to stop studying, make some chocolate chip cookies and take them to her next door neighbor.  She kept ignoring the prompting thinking she had to study, she wanted to pass all of her classes. Finally, the impression was so strong that she thought I am not going to get any studying done anyway, and stopped to make the cookies.  She went next door and knocked. A young man answered and she said to him, I was suppose to bring you these cookies, but I don't know why.  He broke down and sobbed.  He had been feeling so depressed, that he told God that if in the next hour he didn't have a sign that God loved him, he was going to kill himself.  The hour was almost up. We never know what effect we might have on others as we listen to those promptings.  

We cannot delay to seek out our brothers and sisters that are lost in the storms of life. Not that we can take away their challenges and trials, but we can extend our hand and seek to be the voice of reason striving to guide them back to their Savior, Jesus Christ.

A counselor in the Mission Presidency attended our ward on Sunday, President Hawkes.  He talked personally with us for a while and then he said, "I know you know this, but just remember that the Lord has always known that this is where you would serve your couple's mission. All of the experiences you have had, have led you to this point, and you have all of the skills needed to make a difference in the Portland Ward." Do you would think Heavenly Father was trying to get a point across, or what?!

We went visiting some members of the Ward on Sunday afternoon.  We ended up visiting a sister in the ward that has just been divorced. She is probably in her late 30's. She has an 8 year old son. She has not been actively participating at church for many years. She has many challenges. We left her with some home made rolls Barb had made, tried to lift her spirits and left her with a prayer. We were reminded of how blessed we are. We all have challenges and trials, but when we also have the Gospel of Jesus Christ to guide our way. 

The other day we visited an older woman in the ward named Fran Cole (See attached picture).  She and her husband were very kind to the missionaries when Rick served here, in Portland, ME. They had him to dinner many times. She would always have chocolate chip cookies available for them. We had a wonderful visit. Her husband passed away 5 years ago.  She celebrated her 90th birthday in April. She is still very sharp, mentally. It was a treat to be in the same home, visiting the same woman where Rick had been about 23 years ago.

Working with so many of the African people seeking asylum is really eye opening. They have incredible stories of loss and running for their lives. Many of them have family members still in their native country.  One man who was baptized the end of May said, "Because I am here, I have food to eat, but I don't know if my children at home have anything to eat." He had a good life there, but the government wanted to kill him so he had to go into hiding and ultimately come here.  He sends money home, hopefully for them to have food and a roof over their heads.

Monday evening, we met with some investigators in our home.  Constant and Prisca are pretty amazing. Constant's sister Jeanne, was also here, she is already a member of our Church. They relate really well to Dad (and they love Mom, and listen to every word she speaks :-)) and already have a deep belief in Jesus Christ.  They know that they have to help people, show kindness and strive to follow the example of the Savior. They have had two lessons from the missionaries here at our home ... and we have had them here two additional times ... a week ago Sunday night for dinner, and tonight to watch the Restoration video, answer questions and discuss the "kingdoms of glory" after the resurrection. We have developed a mutually respecting and admiring friendship. They are very enjoyable to be with.

There is another family that has only been here a few weeks. They have come from the Congo. They have 2 little girls 5 and 7 and the wife is pregnant with a little boy, due July 24th. They are living in a one room hotel room.  They have to move before the baby is born and they have no money. They are planning on meeting with an attorney next week, but they have to come up with $500 for the lawyer to see them. And, they have no deposit money for a place to live, even if they can find one. There are so many people in such challenging circumstances.

We have been hither and yon as we have looked at missionary cars and apartments as well as visiting ward members. We have completed well over 2/3's of our cars and apartments to inspect for this transfer period. We do this every 6 weeks. Today, we completed another District. We neglected to tell you that we have been to "Around the Pond" in Norway.  We know we were in Norway because on two different streets, we saw a man that was skating down the road (on a longboard) but had a ski pole in each of his hands and was working them like he was cross country skiing. We have been to South Paris, Peru, Freyburg and many other places I can't think of right now.

We are so tired every night that we practically fall into bed. There is so much to be done ... and, so little time to complete it. We feel like the little Dutch boy at the Dike, trying to plug all the holes that were leaking. But ... we are finding some "joy in our journey". We have found some wonderful bakeries and places to eat. It is so-o-o beautiful, green and densely forested here, with many waterways, lakes and the ocean. We find the people to be quite friendly and polite ... even on the roadways. 

We will include a few pictures to share some of the beauty.

         Love you all.

A small snippet of Portland, ME Harbor

One of "many" cobblestone streets in downtown "Old Portland"

"Becky's Diner" - Down by the Portland Wharf - Great "Nor-Eastern" Cookin'

Chocolate Cream Pie at Becky's Diner - Above - Yes, really whip cream

Yes, "Only her hair-dresser knows" (that would be me); 1st time

Sitting on the doorstep of where Rick lived when he served in Portland

A view of one of the many Portland Bays

Fran Cole, who was so kind to Rick and his companion about 23 years ago. She is very precious.

Where Fran Cole lives today ... and where she lived when Rick visited her.

The "Lobster Claw" in Kennebunkport, ME, where I had delicious clam chowder this evening, after inspecting missionary apartments in Kennebunk, ME

Downtown Kennebunkport, ME