NY

As I have said before, a picture is worth 1000 words, so here are a million.

This vacation was beyond wonderful. I can't put into words the significance of all I got to learn and experience. I have never been one for historical facts and places, but there is something truly sacred about the places we were able to visit and the time that was spend with great people.
At this point in my life, it is so important to re-focus, to find time to ponder and pray and to surround myself with wonderful influences. Being with President and Sister Cook again was so amazing. I am so grateful for the love they have shown me. They made sure that each missionary understood the importance of conversion of self and investigator. They showed us by example to way to obtain it and how to retain it. The worked personally with us to make sure we had all the help we needed in whatever situation we faced and the continually look after each one of us. I couldn't dream up better influences and leaders.

This time taken allowed me to move past my own self and step into a different rhelm of thinking and learning. There is learning by the brain, and learning by the heart and spirit. For the past while, my brain has been doing a lot of work, and I have tried to get my heart learn through other means, and nothing sufficed until I was reminded that your heart learns through the spirit of God, and he will always guide and give when you know what to ask for. But you'll never know what you need if you don't pause and do some introspection. {turns out it's a word in english as well!}

These are all out of order, but you'll get the gist. (although some events are missing)

View of the temple from the Smith Farm.

The Cooks and I in front of the Peter Whitmer farm, where the
translation of the BOM was completed and the church organized.

Peter Whitmer Farm

Elder Oso. (olson)

Pageant round 3 (with a snapchat chilean flag, obviously)

pageant #3

Getting our first garbage plate at Tom Wahls!

Erie Canal Boat ride!

selfie!

NIAGARA FALLS!

Good ol' Hornblower and black eyes

Original copy of the Book of Mormon! 

So, we just thought that this was cool looking. It is the memorial for the first meeting of the Salvation Army.

Alvin Smiths Grave.

Day 2 at the Sacred Grove.

We went to the Grandin Building (where the BOM was first published)

Palmyra Temple!

Sacred Grove.

Every trip needs an awkward selfie or two.

On top of the Hill Cumora.

The whole group of us after President and Sister Cooks talks. 

xoxo

mandy