NHMM... That would be the acronym for the New Hampshire Manchester Mission... The beautiful land which holds a special place in my heart. That's where Lily was called to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and where I know God walked with my daughter.
So, our family knew we wanted to do this trip even before Lily left on her mission. We started planning on it while Lily was still serving her mission. She was saving a list of places to take us after she came home and when we would come back to visit her mission land. Eventually, we planned to go in late spring after she returned, which would be before the summer rush of tourists from cruise ships, but after the bitter cold winters, and hopefully when things would be in bloom.
Here's a smattering of where we went..
Portland, Maine
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| She's standing in front of a study booth at the local library. She spent lots of time in those booths when she'd do companionship study or teaching lessons to people. |
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| This is in the lobby, a really cool art installation of birds flying |
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| Our pizzas by the slice at a place Lily and her companion used to frequent. They have way more than your basic pepperoni or cheese. And under $5 a slice. |
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| Amara walking to Pizzaiolo, our lunch stop. |
To be honest, walking from our car to Pizzaiolo was only a couple blocks, but it sorta had me creeped out. The big city had some sketchy spaces and sketchy people. I was just glad we all were together. Then I realized that Lily used to walk these streets all the time. I asked her if it was creepy to her or if she ever felt unsafe, and she said it didn't feel that way to her and the Lord would guide them to know which streets to take or avoid.
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| Our family at the Portland Headlight |
It was chilly and began to rain on us here. I suppose that was God's way of making sure we had the place to ourselves, which we pretty much did. The Portland Headlight is the most photographed lighthouse in the USA. Just look at it! No wonder! It's not just photogenic, it carries a feeling with it. It feels so charming, New-England-y, historical, magical.
A Google search let me know that it was commissioned by George Washington in 1787 and first lit in 1791, it is an iconic symbol of the rugged New England coast.
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| Maybe, just maybe, I sat on the same rock Henry Wadsworth Longfellow sat on when writing his poem, The Lighthouse. |
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| Don't prick your finger on a pointy lighthouse. It hurts. |
