Massena Branch Baptisms

It has been four weeks since the branch opened. The opening was wonderful, our mission President Joseph B. Wirthlin presided. our District Presidency was present, Jeffrey R. Fracum, Brian Erath, and
Jeremy Evans. We had forty four members, non-members and investigators in attendance.

 

Left to Right back row: President Francom, Elder Hussey ,President Evans, Brother Cook (counselor in the branch presidency), Sister Cook, Brother Stevenson, John Scott Sterling, Elder Huff, Sister Huff, John Martin, Sister Erath, President Erath, Harold Nason.  Right to Left : Crystal Nason, Brittany Nason, Cody Nason, Michelle Nason, Janet Hann, Richard Hann (branch clerk), Amy Gotham, Sister Wirthlin, President Wirthlin, Cecil Garrow, Ellen Miller (Primary President), Richard Bacilieri, Sister Stevenson Front row left to right: Donna Ward, Barbara Garrow, Dillon Abernathy, Brielle Abernathy, Roxanne Abernathy, Andrea Abernathy, Cooper Abernathy, Ed Saunders and daughters, Molly and Morgan Aragon, Larry Nason.

                                          





We have been working hard and were anticipating five baptisms on June 28th. However, that changed quickly as those we thought were strong and ready made some disappointing decisions. Amy and her daughter Morgan were the most disappointing. Amy has a good friend Renee' that joined the church several years ago and introduced her to the church. We had been teaching Amy for several months with Elders Bybee and Hussey. Amy was excited about the gospel and reading everything we had given her, she was living the word of wisdom, and had discontinued her use of coffee for weeks before she told us. She had even started paying her tithing. Shawna (our oldest daughter) had sent gifts for them with wonderful letters from Grey and Clare bearing their testimonies of their baptism. We hopefully will be able to see her baptized and enjoying the blessings of the gospel in the future.

                                                                                                     

Elder Huff giving Jo-Jo a haircut

 

 

 

Elder Huff Jo-Jo Molly and Morgan

 

 

We did have the baptism of Crystal and Brittany Woodward, we met them one evening as we were fulfilling an assignment from the President Curtis, the Potsdam branch president. We had been asked to visit a less active family, the Bunnells who live in Brasher Falls about fifteen miles from Massena. After our visit with them, which was outside and in a very wooded area where Philip had a turkey attack him (he was not hurt, I just wish I would have had my camera). As we left the Bunnells we looked at the list of other members in the area and saw the Nason family, Sister Bunnell knew the family and  gave us directions. We visited with the family for a short time and learned that they were raising two nieces because of the death of the girls mother. Brittany and Crystal had  had the missionary discussions several times but because of transfers and there location baptism had not happened. We introduced the family to Elder May and Tibbett's and they began teaching them however shortly after they had started teaching a new area opened and Sister Wilson and Blevins took over teaching, then our branch opened, the boundaries  were changed and Elders Bybee and Hussie took over the teaching. Brittany and Crystal are shy but were very excited on their baptism day. They continue to come to church with their family and take part in their Primary class.

L to R, back row- Elder Huff, Larry Nason, Elder May, Elder Watkins, Elder Bybee

front row- Sister Blevins, Sister Wilson, Crystal Woodard, Michelle Nason, Brittany Woodard

front and center- Cody Nason

We also had the baptism of Cooper Abernathy (a child of record) He is the oldest in his family, he has a brother Dillon, and two sisters Andrea and Brielle.

Elder Bybee, Elder Hussey, Cooper, Elder Watkins, Elder May