Glimpses of Palmyra

Thought I'd better get something written about what's been going on here in the Mission. Everyone keeps asking for MORE BLOG. I'm sorry I am not really good at this stuff yet, but will try to do a little better.

The Hill Cumorah Pageant was a real success!! It ran for a full 7 days and was pretty full every night, although not all the 9,000 seats were taken each night. I'm sure the cost of gas and long vacation trips have slowed the crowds some, but it was MORE than successful when it came to sharing the gospel and referral cards from those who want to know more about the Church. We received over 6,000 referral cards from the Pageant and the Historic sites during this time. They said there were only about 500 referrals last year, so this was a BIG increase. Now there will be lots of time spent on calling people and following up on the many referrals. Also, we are doing a lot of data entry and will be mailing out promised DVD's by the truck load it seems. HA! About 500 of these referrals were within the boundary of our own mission, so our own Elders and missionary Sisters will probably get to deliver DVD's and get to teach them too.

It was so fun to have Karyl Lee and RaNae and also Roberta & Skip here as Pageant volunteers. It was like a fun family reunion!! That is, when we could find time to get together -- it was a very BUSY two weeks. Roberta and Skip worked with us down at the Peter Whitmer Farm, and that meant a 40-45 min. drive down and the same back each day, so it made for some long shifts. I think they really enjoyed it though, we rotated the volunteers at their posts and it gave each couple everyday a turn at giving pre-tour stories and information about the Whitmer Log Home as they organized people for the tours. Most of the volunteer people at the other sites just "guided people" through the scheduled tour area and got to answer questions occasionally. We had a fun time with the two of them on our rides down and back -- sometimes taking a quick trip to Sauders (a fun Menonnite store) or stopping at Jean-Jean's for ice cream. One day the Bennett's and Karyl Lee & RaNae came down and took a tour of the Whitmer Farm, then stayed until we finished our shift and we all went down to Seneca Lake and watched the sunset on the Lake.

Before they all went home, we took a cruise boat on a trip down the Erie Canal. It was so much fun! It was a real pleasant evening with a soft breeze and some fun music and songs. We had dinner aboard the boat and it was very good too. We got to go through the locks -- where they lower or raise the water level to accomodate the different levels of the Canal. Wouldn't you know, I forgot my camera on that trip. I guess that means I get to go again -- HA!

Some of you have already heard about our episode with the stolen license plates. Nearly all the cars around Linda & Gary's house (5 of them) got their plates stolen. We are pretty sure it was those hired "Anti-Mormon" protesters because the next night they stole all the Utah license plates at the Palmyra Inn motel. The one GOOD thing that happened in all of this was that Skip's special Purple Heart license plates were returned (probably by some veteran in the group that knew the value and meaning of those special plates). It was a real spiritual happening for Skip, because that night he had dreamed that his plates were returned to him, being placed on the front porch steps -- EXACTLY in the very spot where he found them the next morning. He was so emotional and touched by this that he could hardly relate the incident to all of us.

We had a few other unusual happenings too. Like one of the volunteers having a heart attack while at the Smith Farm (next door to Linda's), they brought him to Linda's and had to call 911 and someone to administer to him. Then the argument between the Police, the Dr. and the Sheriff (as to just WHO had jurisdiction) over the incident -- and in a blinding rain, to boot. Then there was the incident of Bridger and Alesha's little 1 yr. old getting locked in the car by mistake. The police were called again, and everything turned out OK. But the joke was that you just call and say it's the "Bennett's" and they know exactly where to come! HA!

The Pageant was a wonderful, beautiful experience -- hundreds of cast members and a hillside full of stages. The costumes and lighting effects were GRAND, and the pyro-techs fantastic! (Linda posted several pictures of the pageant on her blog -- and it's linked to mine) -- if you want to go to her's and see some of the staging.

We love viewing your blogs and love reading the letters from Jacob in the MTC . We love the missionary work we're privileged to do here -- such a beautiful place and a spiritual and sacred feeling. We love the Savior and are so grateful for the gospel in our lives -- and the marvelous things that transpired here in this wonderful place. Our prayers and love are with you always,

Elder and Sister Hamblin