June 1

Hope y'all had a good week. A week ago we had church and got a new ward mission leader, Tyler Jones. Now we can get some coordinating done. Picked up Tyrei for church. Had talks on Sleeping Through the Restoration. Took the YSA sisters to the Paries for a picnic BBQ: burgers on the barbie, potato salad, baked beans, green salad, salsa and chips, watermelon and cantaloupe plus brownies and homemade sherbet. Quite the spread and all of it yummy. I started reading "Jesus the Christ" that I ordered last week.

Memorial Day. Laundry, hair cuts, shopping for groceries. No FHE because of it being a holiday. To celebrate we bought BBQ ribs and had that with the leftovers from yesterday. I made bread in the afternoon – Monday has become my bread day. We are in charge of Break the Fast next week so announced it on facebook – only one person announced what they would bring. I was a bit disappointed.

Tuesday decided to invite the G1 sisters to lunch, along with the YSA sisters. (They live in the same apartment; must be a riot!) We marinated chicken tenders (Lena's marinade) steamed squash and of course homemade bread and strawberry jam. We played the role of inactive members for the YSA sisters to practice on. We were inactive because of health reasons. Enjoyed feeding all the sisters. Read in Preach My Gospel how the Book of Mormon can answer any question in your life. We are going to memorize scriptures, so I wrote several on 3x5 cards. Let's see if that works.

Wednesday after our workout in the fitness center, I was just relaxing in the hot tub when I saw a blur of movement in my peripheral vision. I shrieked and splashed away from the side. I thought it was a cockroach or some bug, probably just a leaf. You will never guess what it was! A frog! a little green about 3 inch frog. I don't know where he came from, but Dan caught him and helped him out of the hot tub. Much longer and he would have been cooked. It took me a while to calm down! I made banana chocolate chip bars with the overripe bananas to take to institute. For lunch we warmed up beef barley soup and fed the other pair of elders in Greenville. They really seemed to enjoy it – and the bread and strawberry jam. How long do you thing the jam is going to last? That afternoon I read William Geddes' story and all the Sanfords in the "red book." Thanks again, Sher. Picked up Tyrei and met the sisters at the church for a discussion before institute. Clark brought Krispy Kremes and I had my bars so we ate good after the lesson.

Cloudy and cooler – always a good thing, but the humidity was up, but no rain. It really needs to rain here. We had planned on visiting some inactives, but it fell through, so we read scriptures, watched conference talk and I worked on Jesus the Christ. Dan was feeling a bit under the weather (allergies, whatever). Shopped for things (food) we need for Friday and Sunday. Went to the hospital and trapsed about a mile trying to find a sister from Havelock, but she had checked out earlier that afternoon. So we went to 5 Guys for burgers and fries. Yummy! They have Idaho potatoes. Worked on our assignment for district meeting: How does the Book of Mormon bless families? Got an outline of how we were going to present it plus worked on a question of the soul. Mine was Why does God allow evil in the world? Dan's was Does God know me? Answers are found in the B of M.

Friday – a good missionary day. Had district meeting; good interaction, plus three extra sets of missionaries for splits. We took watermelon and cantaloupe for snack afterwards. That afternoon we drove to Snow Hill, about 20 miles out of town, to visit Ross Brown. He does not have a car and it was a lovely drive. Saw a field of corn that must have been waist high. Gave a lesson on reading the B of M. Read 1 Nephi 1 together; awesome first book. He showed us his baby fox, 2 baby possums that he is rehabilitating, plus watched a chick beginning to hatch. Came home via 903 where the strawberry patch is and bought 2 qts of berries and homemade ice cream. Yum. At 7 we had a meeting with an inactive and gave the restoration lesson. He says he is really getting close to returning to church; he feels something is missing in his life. We assured him that reading the B of M and coming to church would take care of that.

Saturday was Baptism Day for Tyrei Pollard. Made a raspberry cake for refreshments afterwards. Frosting is Cool Whip and raspberries. YSA sisters made brownies and brought chips and a platter of fruit. His folks went to the beach so were not there. He was kind of bummed. He really wanted to go with them, but he knew everyone was planning on him being baptized. Had a good turn out for the baptism; all the missionaries from Greenville and about 10 members from the branch. One was an investigator who wants to be baptized next Saturday! We had 2 pieces of cake left that we ate for supper and half a watermelon (small). I have started practicing the piano whenever we are at the church (alone); have practiced twice this week. Got a couple of hymns that I can almost play. I knew when I was home that I ought to be practicing the piano. But didn't follow through like I should have. Every missionary needs to know how to play!

Another week has gone by. We have been in the mission field for 2 whole months now. I really enjoy working with the missionaries and YSA branch. My testimony of the B of M has really increased. We encourage all our family and friends to read and pray about it daily. It will help in all of your daily struggles and problems. It is true; I know it and Dan knows it; and you can know it too. We love all of you. We invite you to write to us and let us know how you are doing. Love Elder and Sister Steffler