Cutler's Utica, New York Mission

We are back!!!  As I have said before, the weeks fly by and we find that we are behind in our blogging.  Groundhog Day does not describe our lives, but we do a lot of the same things during the weeks of the month.  We had some time to do errands at lunch on the 16th of May and decided we would eat at a Asian restaurant at the mall.  We will not make that mistake again.  We both got horrible food poisoning that lasted from that night until Monday the 20th -- sick sick sick!!!  We continue to get stomach aches.  The awful thing about the whole experience is that at an office staff meeting  the AP's asked us where we had eaten -- and they said we had not eaten chicken.  What?  Then what did we eat?  They were not going to tell us, but others wanted to know as well.  It came out and we almost got sick again -- we had eaten possum....... Gag again!!!  I said "you mean we ate road kill?"  Yup.  No way -- Elder Tollefson said the restaurant is being investigated for serving sub par food -- not what they are advertising to be serving.  Well, Scott asked me whatever were we thinking to eat Asian food in a small Asian restaurant in rural New York?  I guess I will wait until we get home to eat at "The Taste of Asia" -- awesome food there.  We were so sick, and we missed an "exploring" trip with our friends and Stake Conference.  We were most disappointed. 

We were sad to hear of the passing of Sister Frances J. Monson. 

She was truly a remarkable woman.  As I have read the Church News, over and over the remarks about her life indicated how dedicated she was to serving the Lord.  President Eyring said, "Her talents were many, her love abundant, her character above reproach and her faith unshakable."  She is a good example for each of us to follow.  There is much more I could say, but there will probably be a book written about her that we can read.  We were able to watch her funeral on the computer in the office. One thing that we noticed was how old President Monson looked, and his coloring was not good at all.  I am sure that he has had a big load with her illness, his health issues, and the huge responsibilities that are his being the Prophet.  He has also been an incredible example of a life in service to the Lord.

The week of the 24th of May Dad was busy trying to get 8 apartments.  They now use the missionaries, primarily the zone leaders, to find the apartments that the President wants in the various areas.  It is amazing how it all comes together, and Dad has said many times that he has felt the tender mercies of the Lord in finding these apartments.  They are all nice apartments and furnished nicely as well.  The missionaries are all awesome!  They always seem to come through.  They are out in the various areas, find an apartment, call Dad, take pictures of the apartment inside and out, email the pictures to Dad, Dad calls the manager, and then the leases are put together.  Amazing how well it has worked.  There has only been one that Dad said he would not let a pig of his live in -- and so the missionaries are now very careful.  Google Earth helps as well.

On Saturday the 25th of May, we had a pancake breakfast at the Barlow's.  His pancakes are so very good!  We then went out exploring.  This time of year is so beautiful here.  All different colors of green.  There aren't any mountains, so it is hard for me to get my bearings, but with the GPS we are able to do fine. We headed out of Utica towards Rome, NY.  We saw an obelisk on the right hand side of the road and took a side trip to where the Battle of Oriskany was fought in August of 1777.  It was one of the bloodiest battles of the Revolutionary War.

 

This was one of the few battles in the war where almost all of the participants were North American:  Loyalists and Indians (against the Revolutionaries) fought against Patriots in the absence of British soldiers. There is a lot I could write, and it was a very interesting side trip in preparation for our time at Fort Stanwix.                                                              

 

      

Fort Stanwix played an important role in the Revolutionary War period.......

 

The 27th I went with Dad to deliver some phones and then he had to do the final work for a lease.  It was a beautiful day and we drove along the Catskill Mountains and over to Cooperstown.  The countryside was absolutely gorgeous.  The day was a bit hazy, but I had to take a few pictures to show we were there.   I love pictures of silos,

so I try to take  a picture whenever I can.  This  one was set against the Catskills, but they are not mountains as we know them.                                





 

 

 

 

On June 1st, a week ago, we drove to Clinton, New York and saw some beautiful old churches -- 1700's.  There are all different kinds of churches, each unique in their own way.  It is hard to get far enough away to get the church without the electrical wires, but here is a sample of one in Clinton.

 

 

Our day would not be complete without going to a bakery.  They said that these "half moon" cookies are famous from this area -- delicious too!

 

 

It was a fun day  -- went to farmer's markets, antique markets, the Oneida Silver Store in Oneida,
and just lots of looking around. 

We are so thrilled to have Kara out on her mission now.  The MTC is a wonderful place, and I know she is feeling the spirit in great abundance.  She will be a fantastic missionary, I know. And our love and blessings to Kirk as he starts his time as a Bishop.  He will be fantastic, and his family will be a great support to him.  Julie, you will be blessed as well!!  

Sunday, June 2 we had a fabulous musical evening put on by the Utica Central District.  Elder Borgia (from Morgan Hill) played the acoustical guitar and sang, and Elder Rymer (from Mapleton, Utah)played the piano and sang also.  Both are very talented, good voices, play their instruments well, and then the other missionaries in the district each had speaking parts to pull the evening together in a celebration of Christ.  It was wonderful!!!  We were very impressed with the music and the spoken word was good as well.  Such a nice Sunday evening, and another  great testimony of the role of Christ, his atonement, and the restoration of the gospel.

Monday, June 3.  Today is my Dad's (Mom) 98th birthday!!!  Does not seem possible that so many years have passed by without him.  He was 54 when he died.  He was a good man and has been missed by us all. 

This week Dad has been delivering furniture to the eight apartments.  The missionaries at the different locations do the lifting and carrying, so Elders Barlow and Cutler just get the furniture there and supervise the delivery.  The system works well.  I had a very slow week as far as the weeks I have experienced so far.  I was doing things that had not been done in a long time and feeling pretty good that I had worked ahead of schedule.  On Thursday afternoon as I was working at the computer I had a real shock -- I was supposed to have the Monthly Newsletter ready for Friday delivery to the Zone Leaders.....  I had half of it done, but I had to really get going on Friday to have it finished in time.  I was so glad that I was able to finish in time -- the typing and computer angels were by my side for sure------

We had another tender mercy yesterday in regards to another apartment.  As we were leaving the office on Friday, President Wirthlin told Dad that he needed to get one more apartment.  Changes in the missionaries coming on Tuesday made this extra apartment necessary. I guess President Wirthlin had told the zone leaders in Albany of the need.  We received a phone call yesterday morning that they had found an apartment.  The lease has been emailed, the pictures emailed, and yesterday we spent our Preparation Day buying the things other than furniture that are needed for the apartments -- lamps, irons, ironing boards, pots and pans, etc. etc. etc.  We were able to finish and get the trailer loaded by 3:30 yesterday afternoon so that the furniture and all can be delivered tomorrow.  I will never doubt that the Lord is in charge of this important work.  .He knows the needs.  We are so lucky to see these things take place first hand.

We love each of you and pray for your wellbeing.  We are very blessed that you are part of our lives.

Love, Elder & Sister Cutler, Grammy & Papa, Mom & Dad.