We invited our friend Gina Brutus, and Elders Wines and Anderson, to eat with us on Thanksgiving. I made baked chicken thighs, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, sweet potatoes, relish plate, rolls and a pumpkin pie. Gina brought green beans, potato salad, mac and cheese and cider. It was a feast at our little apartment table. Then we visited. Gina had the missionaries laughing. Gina said –and it is true—how great it is that we all love Jesus Christ and feel united and can have a good time together even though we belong to different churches.
Elder Workman and his son brought us a queen bed from Brookside Apartments, which the church has sold, where temple missionaries like Sister Lynette Barnhill used to live. [We have since received a dresser, area rug, loveseat and two recliners from those apartments.] This is Amish-made furniture. Workmans (and a crew of missionaries) had a crazy week getting it into storage. Now they are distributing it to senior missionaries. I’m excited—our bed has been the one big thorn in my side on this mission. It isn’t just for us, it is also for future missionaries who will use our apartment.
The story of the Amish furniture: We are near Lancaster County, Pa. Years ago, an Amish family joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The man made furniture, and was shunned by his congregation when he joined. He was going bankrupt when the Church decided they needed new furniture for the apartments and contracted with him. It gave him enough money to go to Canada and make a new start.
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| Sister Holm with Gina, and Elders Anderson and Wines |
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| And now with Norm! |
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| President Clarke chatting with elders who went home. |
We had had a busy week with transfers— gaining 22 new missionaries and flying 23 home on Thanksgiving Day |
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| Some of our precious sisters. |
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| Our new bed! Our apartment got a lot of new Amish-built furniture during our mission. |
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