Rensselaer

I wanted to show you around my town.

We have a river.  Craig wants to fish in it.  We understand there ARE fish, but we haven't seen anyone with a pole yet.

This is pretty typical of the streets.  These houses are 70 - 80 years old.  Some of the ones we've seen have wiring so old they would probably be condemned in California.  

This is the house right across the street from the picture above.  A brick house with a wrought iron fence.  But if you could see close up, you would see it, too, is pretty old.

A lot of streets have these back alleys.

This wall and the one in the picture above is what Craig has been working on.  The house belongs to Brian, a friend of our next door neighbor.  He's been wanting to finish this wall in the alley for three years.  Now they  just have to cap it.

Most houses do not have a fence around them.  No one steals their stuff, and they don't mind that the world watches them BBQ.

The first signs of Spring.  Finally.

This is the local ice cream store.  There is ALWAYS a line.  The river runs right behind it.  Across the street is a small park with a statue.

Next to the statue is a swing.

We bought ice cream, walked to the park, and sat on the swing.  The foot pedal allows you to keep the swing swinging without having to pump your feet or brush the ground.  

More sitting on the RR tracks.

Here are some things you only see in small towns.

 Yep

We small town folk just pull right up to the door.

This is Brother Rodriguez.  He is a member but his family is not.  He only speaks Spanish.

We went over to help them paint.  Their kids are awesome.  Wish we could get them to church.

Their mom works 12 hour shifts at some place in town where her job is to pick up pieces of pipe (that are cut?  manufactured?) and tie them into bundles.  She works 5 AM to 6 PM.  She doesn't speak English either.  She is having surgery this week.  She has a tumor in her stomach (not sure if it actually in her stomach, but lower abdomen).  She is the sole provider and is very worried about missing work while she heals.  I gave the kids my phone number and told them I would tutor them for free.  Hopefully they will call me.

I wish we could say that we have had some very spiritual and/or wonderful missionary experiences.  Mostly, we visit, and reach out, and paint, and help people move, and build brick walls, and try to build relationships.

Two experiences of note:

Went to see Kelly Shelton.  Her husband restores old cars (instant bond with Craig).  She wants to come back to church but is ashamed of the many things she has done wrong.  Aren't we all.  She cried when I hugged her good-bye.  I'm taking her a Primary CD for her daughter, and a talk by President Uchtdorf, "Come, Join With Us."  

I passed a woman slowly carrying groceries up her walk.  I jumped out of my car to help her.  I told here we were here on a mission for our church.  She asked which church.  I told her the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I said some people call us Mormons.  Had she heard of us?  She answered Yes in a not-very-nice voice.  I said, well, yes, most people have heard of us and some in not a nice way.  I thanked her for letting me serve her and she asked if she could hug me.  I didn't do any preaching.  BUT, I KNOW WHERE SHE LIVES!!! BWAWAHAHAH

The sisters are having a meeting with a local minister on Friday.  They want us to come because they are not sure how it will go.  This should be interesting.

For my non-member friends.  You may be interested to know that the church gains nothing by having people join.  We do NOT have a paid clergy.  Not one penny of tithing paid by the members goes into anyone's pocket.  The only thing we gain is joy, and the blessings of their service.  Because there is no paid clergy, the members must do all the jobs.  Everything from cleaning the building, teaching Sunday School, being Scoutmaster, printing the programs, visiting the sick, taking meals into those who are in need, EVERYTHING is done by the members.  We need all the help we can get!!!  LOL

So we just keep plugging along.