What a Nor'easter looks like...

So everyone knows what I have had to sit through...

Hey Everyone!

To start off, yes, I survived the largest Nor'easter to hit the area in some years! Here is part of the message President Rogers sent to us today recounting the events of last weeks storm:

"Winter Storm Stella hit the East Coast, New England, Pennsylvania, and Central New York in a big way. We had 24-36 inches of snow on Tuesday in much of the mission particularly the Albany area and the southern Owego corridor. Utica and points central and west had 20-30 inches as did most of the mission. Wednesday the storm continued with more wind but just 3 to 6 more inches of snow. This was a true Nor’easter."

"A Nor’easter is a storm that mainly affects the northeastern part of the United States. These storms, technically cyclones, occur along the East coast as warm air from over the Atlantic Ocean clashes with artic cold air from the polar jet stream to the north and west. They nearly always bring heavy rain or snow as well as gale force winds directed from the northeast. This one, named Stella, was the biggest storm in several years. There were blizzard conditions in NYC and the surf surged 3-6 feet above normal. All of our fellow missionaries in NYC and Boston had it worse than we did."

It was crazy! We had to stay inside for the entire day and then couldn't drive on Wednesday! I have never before seen so much snow in my life! After the news that we were released from our "house arrest," we went and helped shovel some people out. Providing service, despite the cold weather and heavy snow (I never knew snow could be so freaking heavy!), helped quicken our day and made us feel good. Below are some pictures of "Stella" beating New York silly! I will send a follow up email with the rest of the service we did.

Anyhow, hope you are all staying warmer than I am and that despite the "storms" that rage around you day by day, you may and will make it through all times of trial as you turn to our loving Heavenly Father who will always provide a way for us to not only survive, but to conquer in a most brilliant way!

Elder Melanson