June 22

Another busy week has gone by. Started with getting our car's air conditioning checked out. At the Ford dealer at 7:30 a.m. Monday. After we checked in, went across the street to Burger King to get breakfast. Then checked in on the car; it was still blowing cold air so we watched Bounty Hunters and Swamp People on TV. After an hour, the air was finally warming up. It is the manifold – it has a crack; need to order a part from Richmond, VA. Can we come back at 1? When we were ready to leave, the manager asks can we come back in the morning? The truck is running late ... They did a temporary fix to get us through the day, thank goodness. So did our usual Monday things: laundry, clean apt; got my hair trimmed; shopped at Target. Got a new larger purse to carry all my "things" and check prices on plastic bedbug covers for mattresses. Did not find any. Had FHE, which means more hot dogs. Picked up everything at the church and went to Pres. Lewis' to watch World Cup play offs, US vs Ghana. Had a good turnout; US won, too, so that helped.

Another early run to Ford dealer, breakfast at Burger King and wait – but only for 1 1/2 hours. Nice to have A/C again. Made bread and banana choc chip bars and took a dozen to G1 elders to inspect their apartment. Took about half an hour, but forgot a couple of important thinks – like CO and smoke alarm checks. Then took the G2 sisters to Girls Camp. It was at a youth camp at Dover, about 20 miles, but took about 45 minutes. It was really warm, 93 and humid, so did not linger outside. Air conditioning inside the cafeteria, nice. About 100 girls from Kinston Stake in attendance. We ate supper with them, BBQ chicken, squash, mac & cheese, potatoes, salad and tropical punch. The stake presidency was there: Pres. Walker, Bro. Whaley and Bro. Jones. Sis. Jones is YW stake president and is doing a great job. The program was a Q&A. The girls asked the missionaries question (also 2 sisters from Kinston in attendance), and they asked very thoughtful questions: why did you decide to serve, what have you learned, what do you miss the most, what will help you the most after your mission, how has your faith grown, how much do you have to study. All good questions. Then the stake presidency spoke a few minutes – even Elder and Sister Steffler got their 2 cents worth in!

Wednesday, water aerobics, finally. Water was wonderful, not too cool, high of 95. Went to Walgreens for eye drops, Harris Teeter for ingredients for spinach salad for tonight, then to Blue Cross to change from Idaho to North Carolina policy. Had the G2 elders over for supper. Warmed up casserole and fresh bread and strawberry jam. Salad was not good – too much red wine vinegar and red onion, plus the bacon was slightly burned. Had to rush them home so we could get to Institute; barely made it. Good lesson on how the scriptures support one another and how prophecies were fulfilled. I read in Jesus the Christ and Dan started reading Pres. Hinckley's book "Standing For Something."

Fitness center for a workout, then pool to cool off – great way to start the day. At district meeting, two sets of elders were gone to Goldsboro to help inspect cars. I got all the companionships to sign up for apt inspection next week. Discussed Elder Bednar's talk on Christ's character – how he reached outward when most of us would go inward during adversity. Had fruit bars for treat. Another 95 degree day. Dan made hamburger stew and then took a 2 hour nap! I made a different spinach salad, much better, with strawberries and blueberries and a few red onions. (I had bought a big container of spinach to go with the salad on Sunday and hardly any got eaten, hence my desire to use it up.) We took salad, stew, a loaf of bread and strawberry jam to an active sister for supper. Her roommate is inactive. Had an enjoyable meal and chat afterwards. Did the Book of Mormon approach and left a B of M with each of them to give away. We finished watching all of general conference online; now I'm going to read the talks and mark up my magazine. Went to bed early, listening to thunder.

Up early and on the road at 7:30 – had to turn around and go back for Dan's hearing aids and my name badge. We had zone conference in New Bern, about an hour away. Pres. and Sis Baker spoke then both zone leaders presented teaching moments. Theme: What are my expectations? What does the Lord expect? The Lord invests love and trust to missionaries. Faith + Obedience = Success. Parable of wheat and tares: wheat responds to spirit. Preach My Gospel Chapter 9 says teach everyone. Pres. Brigham Young when chastized responded with Just tell me what you want me to do. Find a way to mention ward mission plan at every branch council. Elder Packer talks of unwritten order of things: Watch the brethren and do likewise. Difference between doctrine of atonement and power of atonement. Without vision the people perish. Think ordinances for vision. Atonement is activated by agency. Lots of good spirit food; great spiritual feast. But we missed the branch temple trip. It was a really hard choice to make, but really glad we went to zone conference. We are the only senior couple in the 2 zones that met.

Nice walk in the 90% humidity Saturday. Dan cleaned out paint buckets so we can repot our squash. I think the reason we don't have zucchini yet is the pot is too small. Went shopping at Penney's for tops. Sis. Baker gave a modesty talk yesterday and I decided some of my tops are too tight. So $90 later I had two tops and another exercise outfit. The YSA sisters came over for a short correlation meeting and to help us eat bread and jam. Went shopping at Sam's Club for napkins and plates for YSA and some things for us. Baptism for 8 year old in G2 ward. Picked up Tyrei and Christian and took them to it. The mom is white and active; the dad is black and nonmember. Interesting blend at the baptism. Good to see Tyrei again; he told us what he does in the tobacco fields: break off flowers and suckers. Rain was pouring when we got out of the baptism, so waited for it to quit. My umbrella was in the car, of course. G2 sisters wrote a note to Chris' folks explaining what has to happen before he can be baptized. Stopped at Hwy 55 for a burger on the way home. Guess I'm not tired of hamburgers yet.

With the girls camp and zone conference, we had a great spiritual week. This is so worth it. Our testimonies have grown so much. We constantly look for ways that we can serve. We do get concerned about how things are going at home, but we try not to worry about what is happening. Thanks for all your prayers and support. We love all of you. Mom & Dad