Why I Believe

Greg and his new friend, Coach Niumatalolo

The Washington DC North Mission sponsors a Why I Believe fireside every month at the Washington DC Visitors Center.  There is a huge auditorium that seats 550 people. The missionaries can come if they bring investigators or new members. There are always  main speakers, musical numbers by the young missionaries, and prayers by new members in all languages. But the best is talks given by two very, very recent converts on their conversion. Some notables we have heard from: 

-Brother and Sister Thurl Bailey, pro basketball player and convert
-Brother and Sister Bushman, noted Church historians, author of Rough Stone Rolling
-Brother and Sister Schaerr, one of the country's leading appellate lawyers, has argued before the Supreme Court six times, and works for the Church on religious issues
-Mason Wells, the missionary that was hurt in the Brussels, Belgium terrorist bombing
-Brother and Sister Eric Weddle, pro football player and convert
-Brother and Sister Scott O'Neil, past president of Madison Square Gardens, CEO of the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils, and Prudential Center in NJ and convert
-Brother and Sister Niumatalolo, head football coach of the US Navel Academy, and 2nd counselor in the Washington D.C. North Mission.
-Brother and Sister Linton, portrait artist

Kenilworth Aquatic Park & Gardens

Senior Picnic June 16, 2018

On the east bank of the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C., surrounded by 75 acres of fresh water tidal wetlands, the park is eight acres of water loving plants, 45 ponds filled with a variety of tropical and hardy water lilies, lotus, and more.  We had a great tour and great lunch with other senior couples we don't see very often.

Gladiolus

Different phases of a Magnolia bloom

Historic Jamestown

May 27, 2018

After exploring Colonial Williamsburg, we went to Historic Jamestown. In 1607, 104 colonists established the Colony of Virginia, with Jamestown as it's capitol. To say the least, they had a terrible time of it for years. In the winter of 1610-1611, 240 people died of starvation. The 30 that survived did so by eating their dead neighbors. But supplies and more people came, and they survived until 1622, when the native population attacked and killed 347 people, a third of the population.  Jamestown burned down several times. This is where John Smith and Pocahontas lived. Virginia was the first British colony to make slavery  legal. This was so interesting, but a lot of it was reading the history placards as you walked, so not many pictures.  They have a education center which has a ton of information and items they have dug up, including people!

This church has burned and been rebuilt several times, but 

they are excavating underneath it.

Original bell tower on the church has survived. Inside is empty.

People were excavating. They were very friendly. They said 

they always fine something everyday.

This is a bake oven that was broken into 600 pieces

and they put it back together.

Artifacts

Colonial Williamsburg Museums - Part 4

Dewitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum & Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum

These two museums were the finest of any that we have seen since we have been here. The Folk Art was my favorite. The pictures do not do them justice and this is just a sampling.

Noah's Ark Toy Set

Dulcimers