Train ride to Plains Ga to see Jimmy Carter

Sister Westbrook and Venice finlinson, at our christmas Train ride to Plains George, where  JImmy  c
Carter will turn the lights on for the Christmas seacon and Santa  riding our train will  Head the parade in town. The Mission office all got ticket and went on the train Ride. It was about 1.5 hours to Cordele then 1 train  ride to Plains GA, we passed the peanut capitol of the World and the Cotton Field were being harvented.

President And sister Cottle and Santa Clause 

The 4 women that man the mission,S
Sister Cottle, Sister finlinson, Sister Westbrook and Sister Landreau
Notice our beautiful necklaces flashing lights

This was the cabin on the train we were riding on. Venice and Garth
Carol and James Landreau
 Alabama was playing a big game that night and Bro Landresu had and and shirt to match.

Doug and Cindy Westbrook and Santa they run the office Cindy is the Secretary and Doug is the finance man

James and Carol Landreau- and Santa they are the housing people,

Garth and Venice finlinson and Santam  GArth is the housing man and Venice is the mission nurse.

Venice  and Garth in the  Cafe in plains GA m getting a hamburger

Brent and Joyce Cottle Present of the Macon Mission

Cindy and Doug WEstbrook and Carol Landreau enjoy the good time waiting for food.

Santa Clause the leader of the parade, rode on our train to start the parade.

There was many light decorated carriages and crazy machines in the parade

Hard to see but Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalyn on the second story balcony waving to the crowd.

Jimmy  Carter and Rosalyn his wife on the balcony wait to signal the light  to be turned on

another shot of President Carter and his wife  Rosllyn

Plains Georgia the Peanut capitol of the world President and sister Cottle

Venice finlinson by the  giant peanut man

the town was full of antiques shops. crazy

We are walking from  the Parking lot to in line for the Santa  Polar Express
President and  sister Cottle,  Carol and Jame Landreau, Doug and Cindy Westbrook

Old sewing machine and  lots more

The Cottles take a stroll throught the antiques

Sister Cottle with her lights she is the nicest person I have ever met.

This town was the official headquarter for the  Jimmy Carter President  run for President of the United States

Sumset from the train Window I thought is look like a scene from heaven

We had to cross over a big lake and the water was so deep that the tree were growning out of the water.

James and Carol Landreau the kindus Georgian  People I have  ever  met.

Selfy on the Train it was a great  ride with lots of happiness

My  wonderful Husband GArth waniting for the train ride, it has been so much fun being on a mission with him, an answer to many prayers

This is the Lake around the park were the train starts it was a beautiful fall day.

 This park was a old army base and it had these plane s park so all could enjoy them

 Could not resist taking a picture of the road sign Choo Choo lane

This was what the train looked like and it was a full ride. every out to be apart of the lighting of the town of Plains GA

Thia was  allittle toy train that was parked   under the pavilion . I am sure in the summer the kids go for ride around the area  with is pulling train cars.

the leaders of the Georgia Macon mission
Garth Finlinson-Cars  President Cottle, Doug Westbrook- finance and James Landreau- housing

The women behind the men
Cindy Westbrook- Secretary , Carol Landreau- housing, Sister Cottle mother of the mission, and Venice finlinson - Nurse.

Santa was greeting every one so I snuck in and Got a picture with him.
and below  it is all aboard, sister Landreau and president Cottle climbing  aboard 

Sister Lamdreau ready to board the train President Cottle ahead of her.

2015 Christmas in Georgia our First

Garth Sitting at  the table have  apple cobbler and ice cream on Christmas night.

Christmas Eve day we had flash flooding all along the Ocmulgee River is was out of it bounds. it has been raining non stop for 4 days. We  were t=driving all day  as we started out to delivery Christmas present to the Columbus Zone that boarders Alabama

Our first  Package exchange was in Warner Robins, Elder Ballard mother had sent his Christmas presents to Warner Robin , but he got transfer to Columbus the week before Christmas and missed the package. Plus we had packages sent to the Mission Office, and it there was not time to delivery them by mail the office couple divided and conquered. Diving up the 5 different zones. We got the Columbus zone. This is Elder  R.Allen and Elder Hansen, they both thought that every missionary would want there presents, so our trek was well worth the effort.

More picture of the Ocmulgee river out of  it bounds.

To our great surprise, as we arrived back in Macon from our deliveries. a tornado cloud had been spotted over Macon and Forsyth.So the alert sirens were sounding all over town, Radio and cell phone  announcing that the tornado was coming and take cover, it a closed area, get off the highways. It was go real and scary New before had I spent a Christmas eve with flood warning and tornado hovering over us. Check out the tornado clouds over Macon

There is a army tank on the city park of  one of the cities that we passed through.

We had it to our last stop. got lost and had to call the Elder twice. but the presents arrived. Here is Elder Bailey and Elder stewart. Great zone leaders. They had sent out warning to all the missionaries in Columbus and Phoenix city to get to high ground. They were just as excited as us to delivery presents.

Garth is handing over the present to the Elders Stewart and Bailey, they big guitar shaped present was for Elder Bailey. I teaced him that the President did not like guitar in the Mission.- But he assured me that is was just a great shaped  shipping box and it was just other things I  told him we would  check it our after Christmas

 We we are heading out to be Santa little helper. it was so much fun we started at 0900, we are at the mission office to load up. and it was raining hard.

Here  is Venice  Christmas morning opening presents. it was fun. but different to be alone.

Garth opened JoBecka present w book she had  made from our farewell pictures.i was darling a  a great treasure.

Good times for the Senior Couple- there is such a great spirit of love at Christmas time and our message as disciple is to tell the World  That Jesus Christ is born.

Crazy me  the surprised face at a great present that Garth gave a letter telling me how much he loved me and that I was the best companion he had ever had.

Christmas decoration  Nativity scene, and a Candle  saying that Christ light the way to Eternal life.

Our tiny tree we bought the tree when Jami was here for thanksgiving. and she helped me decorate it.  such fun !

Jamilyn and Dallas and Kylie  on Santa Lap Christmas Eve in Oak city Good time the kids all went to Julie and Rawlin and played games and had a great time.!

You cant have Christmas with out a fire  burning so this is our little flame that we listen ed christmas song and opened our presents.

This is our front door. and dinning ares notice the many card 40 and more. wreath on the door. and the beautiful Christmas flower arrangements.

Another Shot of the front room and  you see our piano room. where I practice they have called me  play the music for Sacrament meeting 4 songs, it is definitely a act of faith. Only in the Mission field would the need my feeble skills.  But is had been a opportunity to grown and be embarrasses with bad notes and what every. but I guess when god calls  you he qualities you

this is my Christmas card, for 2015 Jami helped me make it. and our Santa bulbs and our cotton Picture.

our beautiful flower arrangement . it loved the combination of flower an the added so much to the scene

Christmas party at the office  pot luck it looks so beautiful and so fun to boot.

Sister Cottle and Sister Westbrook, the greatest ladies in the Mission filled with true love and devotion  to make the Macon Georgia mission the best every and love every single missionary.

More goodies to share, and they are on the president desk  at the office.

Christmas Eve was the best every the Senior Couples Finlinson, Cottles, Westbrook and Trevor and Stephanie Westbrooks Daugther went with is. It was the care center in Boling broke. where  President Apple bee  mother was, we told him we would sing  to her. So in we go. it was pouring rain our side. but inside was filled with the Spirit of Christmas, as we  went to room to room singing, ther face would light up , we let them choose there favoroite  Christmas songs and  Silent Night  was the pick of the night. as we went room to room 3 ladies in wheel chairs followed us sing as the went. What a fun filled night and we eve sang to the Kitchen staff as they were doing the dishes.

This is our Missionaries f room Forsyth we picked them  up at 1200 on Christmas day, to call parents and have late breakfast. sister McCulloch, sister Goade, Elder Hansen, Elder Hollenbeck at the Westbrooks house.

The sister came to our house and the elder went to Westbrooks, to use phone and computers. them we all got together and had  Breakfast, I brought the waffles and  candy furnished the egg, bacon and other goodies. The missionaries could talk to there parent for 40 minutes. sister Goade mother got engaged. and they announced it on  the phone.

This was our Christmas party for elder Owens  that was going home, He was our AP leader for 3 transfers. and he was going home on Dec 14,2015
Elder Holt, Elder Owen, Elder Hillier, Elder Mahan, Elder  Clark

good time at the Westbrooks
Elder Holt, Elder Owens. Elder Clark, Elder Hillier, Elder Mahan

Day of transfers Elder Owen was leaving in a few minutes this is the Mission Home Christ tree.
Elder Hillier, Elder Mahan, Elder Holt, Elder Clark, Elder Owens

Fire place at Mission Home President and sister Cottle have all the pictures of there Grand kids .

A better shoe of the tree it was beautiful  with Red Cardinals all over it. and there manger from the Holy Land

The Cottle had this picture plaque of there name made at the  Perry State Fair , love it. Cottle
 Jenny and Jami sent us Christmas present and this is how it was addressed "the Orphans"
Some crazy and fun loving Single Daugther at home. You got to love them.

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