Medley: I am a Child of God, God Be With You, I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go

Since I've taken three months off, I will try to summarize with three songs.

March:  I am a Child of God
I am a Child of God and He has sent me here.
Has given me an earthly home
With parents kind and dear.

The Orange Blossom Family Special concert series brought many children of God and their parents kind and dear together for fun, wholesome music and entertainment. We are a little sad that it's over, but very glad that it happened. Fredericton shone as bright as our lighted sign by having many new friends and family members attend the concert here.

The amazing Bishop Sexton had Elder H. find this sign. Brother MacGougan and his mom did the letters, and Brother Vienneau cleared the snow so it could be put in place. It was great advertising for the last two concerts.

We love the musical missionaries who have generously shared their talents, Elder and Sister Call as the director and assistant to the director, and President Leavitt's vision and generous support to make it all happen.

The Phantom after one of the final concerts.

Parents and children of all ages enjoyed two fun activities organized by our young missionaries. First, the Elders gave us "Sixty Seconds to Score," a Minute to Win it-type activity. Then the Sisters put together a fun Valentine's party for everyone.

On St. Patrick's Day, we felt LUCKY to know so many of God's choice children here in Canada.

April:  God Be With You

God be with you 'til we meet again.
When life's perils thick confound you,
Keep His arms unfailing 'round you.

With heavy hearts we accepted a call to leave Fredericton and move to Dartmouth to work in the office and serve in an entirely different way. It felt as if someone had cut out our hearts with a dull knife. However, we are so grateful that part of our hearts will always be here. No one can take away the love and memories of the people and experiences that made this year the best in our lives so far.

(We regret that we didn't get pictures of all those who took time to wish us well or invite us to dinner including Davie & Carol Ray and Don & Faye MacRitchie and others).

 





Elder H. combined farewell dinners with his birthday celebration. Elders Hunt and Skinner made amazing home-made tortillas for our Mexican dinner. We broke out the party hats the Sisters gave Sister H. for her birthday. The famous pink iPad recorded the moment.

Donna Clark and her girls and Theresa hosted a farewell supper with our friends from Carrington Place Apartments.

Glenna, Pauline, Betty, and Mrs. Wilson at the apartment supper.

Farewell buffet dinner with our across-the-hall neighbors and adopted parents, Bob & Theresa Anderson.

Family Night with Bishop Sexton, Carin, Jacob, Mason, and Liam.

Sisters Gochnour & Turner are shining lights that were hard to leave. We loved watching the General Women's Meeting with them and Emmeline.

We made a final visit to Manida's seamstress shop. It was here we taught our first missionary lesson. We have been blessed and see these two become fully active in the church. They are our friends forever.



Last YW activity with Avery Pierce, Camelle Currie, Sam Hatt, Tanya Knudson, Summer Augustine, Janessa Harker, and Emmeline Barnett. They made a scrapbook page with photos and notes. How blessed I have been to know them.

Rachael Mattice showing her flexibility at our last YW activity.

Barry & Louise Hatt took us and their daughter Jessica to dinner at the Diplomat. They were the first members we met and have been wonderful friends, fellow missionaries, and examples of love and service.



Terrible picture of the wonderful missionaries at our last district meeting: Elders Hunt, Skinner, Hatch, Jensen; Sisters Turner, Gochnour, Sandberg and Doherty, and Elder & Sister Call.

 

So hard to say goodbye to these wonderful missionaries we have come to love like our own children.

 

May:  I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go

But if by a still small voice He calls
To paths that I do not know,
I'll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in Thine:
I'll go where you want me to go.

Surprise! There is much to love and enjoy here in Dartmouth. The walking trail and Lake Banook are next door and across the street. The Mission home, with our beloved President and Sister Leavitt, is shouting distance away. We can attend the temple in less time and have a better parking spot than we ever could in Utah. The people in our ward are welcoming and kind.

Farewell gathering at the mission office for Elder & Sister Davis, joined by Sisters Leavitt, Ranglack, Wiebe, Thompson and Curtis.

We had the opportunity to sing in the choir and perform with  the BYU-I Sinfonietta orchestra on Easter Sunday.

We love the energy and commotion of being in the office with so many young missionaries coming and going, calling,  and sharing their enthusiasm and love for the Gospel. Elder and Sister Davis left things is perfect order at the office and in the apartment we took over from them. We could not have better co-workers than Elder & Sister Wiebe and Elder and Sister Thatcher. The days are busy and simply fly by. We know the Lord has called us here and will guide us to those we should meet and teach.

Reunion at the office with Sister Broadhead. We went street contacting before she left for home.

Our beloved Elder Hawkes preparing for the big transfer back home.

Sister Sandberg heading for Newfoundland.

What a blessing to have some of our beloved Fredericton friends come to visit and others meet us at the temple.

Elder & Sister Heninger (the new Fredericton couple that are taking care of things very well), Susan Gorman, and Melvin Nash came on the bus for the temple trip. What a great place to meet good friends.

Adam Strangemore, a stalwart recent convert, visits the temple for the first time.

 

Daisy Street, who was in YW in Fredericton, now lives close to Halifax and we've seen her several times already.

YW (Naoise Moeller & Emmeline Barnett) and the Temple:  a heart-warming combination.

We are happy that we are where the Lord wanted us to go and we are working on learning what He wants us to say and especially what He wants us to be.

 

There is Sunshine in My Soul Today

There is sunshine in my soul today,
More glorious and bright
Than glows in any earthly sky,
For Jesus is my light.

The earthly skies in Canada have been more cloudy than sunny lately, but our souls have been warmed by a heavenly light and love. President Leavitt asked us to read the entire Book of Mormon in January and it chased away any gloom with its message of hope and peace. We found we could listen to the audio version while we went about our routine tasks which don't require much thought. Going straight through rather quickly shines a light on its message and purpose as another Testament of Jesus Christ, who is the Light of the world.

The snow is as high as an elephant's eye.

There is music in my soul today...
The Orange Blossom Special rides again as we are right in the middle of the Family Edition: Peter, Pirates and Princesses. The new concert features music from Pirates of the Caribbean, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Hansel and Gretel, and Peter and the Wolf. After two concerts, we are already seeing more young families in attendance and warm appreciation from children of all ages, including grandparents. Elder Hendrickson does a repeat performance of the Phantom and Elder Call delights everyone with his high-speed rendition of The Orange Blossom Special. Sister Hendrickson is having fun hosting the show with President Leavitt. The show concludes with the beloved hymn, "How Great Thou Art," which always puts sunshine in the soul.

Elder "Sebastian" Raymant and Sister "Ariel" Lee debate the merits of being "Under the Sea"

There is springtime in my soul today...
We have actually seen glimpses of the lawns and patches of sunshine, so we know that springtime can't be too far behind. We also see promise of a rebirth in our ward and our work here in Fredericton as we invite others to leave behind the chill of the world and come into the warmth and assurance of living the Gospel. Our young Elders and Sisters, in the springtime of their lives, bring so much exuberance and love that it feels like spring fever.

Short, but sweet. Sister Vera was only here one transfer, but we and Sister Lewis miss her still.

'
There is gladness in my soul today...
We were so glad to witness Sam's baptism via Skype and get a glimpse of our family enjoying the sacred time together.

Sam with his dad on his baptism day. We love Skype!

It was fun to celebrate a birthday here and be reminded of all our friends, here and back home, who fill our lives with gladness.

Sisters Gochnour and Lewis made my day special with a cake and party in a box.

Elders Hunt and Wolsey called and sang me a song and joined the celebration.

Oh, there's sunshine, blessed sunshine
When the peaceful happy moments roll.
When Jesus shows his smiling face,
There's sunshine in the soul.
May His light and love fill your lives with eternal sunshine!

Love,
Elder & Sister Hendrickson, aka Clyde & Norma

Foot "notes"

Chelsi is on tour with the new family special concert, being played by Sister Lee. Violet's owner, Sister Echols is singing several songs, one chipmunk style, and playing percussion .

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It only takes a moment...

To fall in love with our sweet grand daughter, Abby Elizabeth Hendrickson. She was born to Luke and Liz on November 26. We love her, even if it has to be From a Distance for now. She plans to come see the land of Anne Green Gables this summer. We will then make up for lost time.

 

 

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The Christmas Song

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.

We don't have an open fire, but we love our little gas fireplace that keeps our apartment so warm and cozy when Jack Frost is nipping at our noses.

Our season was made much brighter singing yuletide carols with the missionary choir in two concerts in Greenwood and Truro.

We should have dressed up like Eskimos for the snow and freezing rain that roared through while we were there, but we were glad for a safe hotel room to wait out the storm and an uneventful return to our apartment-home. 

We CAN be dressed up like Eskimos because of the generosity of our friends here who have given us FOUR coats!

Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright.
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight.

We had not A turkey, but two American Thanksgiving turkey dinners.  Sister Kadisch raised a turkey specifically to cook for the six missionaries in our ward. Later in the week the Sterners hosted another delicious turkey dinner with some ward members, but we forgot our camera.

We met one turkey this summer while working in Sister Kadisch's garden.

We all donned turkey slippers...

...and enjoyed the turkey's ultimate sacrifice

So we're offering this simple phrase
To kids from 1 to 92
Although it's been said, many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to You!

Here's one of our favorite kids, who is not far from 92 getting a chocolate Riesen from our stocking.

We shared THIS simple phrase with those who passed our door:
Jesus is the  Reason for the Season.

We have come to adore Him more than ever before. Our Christmas wish is for you to know and feel His love in your lives.

Love,
Elder & Sister Hendrickson

I've Been WORKING on the Railroad

I've Been Working on the (Orange Blossom Special) Railroad
All the live-long day.
I've been working on the railroad
Just to pass the time away. 

It may appear to some that the musical missionaries have weekend vacations just to pass the time away each time the show goes on the road. Here are a few photos to dispel that myth. Besides the set up, the concerts require long hours and long distances all the live-long day.  After they return to their areas, the missionaries go right back to work.

Despite the funny faces, Sister Laxton and Elders Clark, Woodward and Waldie are WORKING on the sound system.

Elder Call and Sister Lee have starring roles in the hard WORK of set up.

Sister Echols isn't above getting down on her knees to WORK on preparations.

Hail to the chief, er President, who WORKS harder than anyone you know.

Elder Raymant and Sister Lee WORK on sound checks so the concert will sound right.

Elder Call's idea of "PASS THE TIME AWAY."

The audience has no idea the WORK they missed in the hours before the performance.

Saturday was the final in the first series of Orange Blossom Special Concerts. It has been a wild and crazy ride with lots of learning curves and wonderful passengers. Sister H was surprised to be a last-minute substitute to MC the program with President Leavitt.
The audience was large and enthusiastic. Today the missionaries offered musical numbers in the Sunday meetings and enjoyed a "linger longer" with members and missionaries from Saint John and Hampton.
This is not the end of the line, however. There are other things in the WORKS. Beginning in January, the Orange Blossom Special rides again with a family concert featuring Disney music and Peter and the Wolf. The Orange Blossom fiddle piece and Phantom will still be in the line up.  Stay tuned!