Aug. 10

Another blessed week has passed; time to report.

Sunday the 10th was an unusual day: none of our branch presidency was in town! No branch council! Elder Steffler even had to pass sacrament – something he has not done for many a year. Bro. Jim Walker conducted and the stake Relief Society presidency spoke. RS Pres Hancock also took the time in Relief Society and spoke on a subject near and dear to her heart: family history. She is so enthused about it and how easy it is now to submit names. I need to work on descendency progeny or whatever it is called. E. Steffler needed a steak for dinner, so I let him fix the entire meal. He did good. Then we got caught up in our reading of D&C and listened to Mormon Channel Legacy about church in England when Wilford Woodruff baptized 1500 people. Very interesting. Called a less active member to help fix a car for another member. I have also been arbitrating obits from North Carolina recently.

Our service project for Monday (fixing car of a member) involved getting them both to the broke-down car. E. Steffler said once he looked under the hood that he knew what the problem was: the thingeys that hook onto the battery terminals. I'm sure they have a name. Using the tools that one guy brought, he was able to disconnect the worn out ones, then a trip to the auto parts place to buy new ones: $6.50, and then replace old with new. A jump from our whimpy jumper cables (took about 15 min.) and it started! Now to replace the tires – a project for next week. A trip to 5 Guys for burgers and fries was in celebration of not having to buy a new starter or battery. Made bread in the afternoon then off to FHE. Took Stevon and Hawa. It involved tunes from movies and TV shows, most were familiar to me, but I am really bad about names. I didn't even get Gilligan's Island! Most everyone had a good time, even Hawa, who claimed she does not play games. She knew more tunes that I did!

Tuesday we took a couple of sisters to Havelock for exchanges with trainers. Returning home missed the turn off to Washington and ended up on I-70 to Kinston then home. One of these days we are going to find that turn-off. When we got home we started cooking chicken in preparation for dinner appointment that evening. Missionary correlation got canceled, but the couple we invited came and had a good time eating Creamy Green Chicken Enchiladas. Talked about Palmyra and did the Book of Mormon pictures and gave them a book to give away.

Humidity is high every morning, sometimes 100%. But we still exercise, whether walking, water aerobics or work out. It had rained during the night, so it was almost wet. We had a couple of sisters over for a practice session and lunch. They did a non-Mormon door approach then we role-played an inactive couple. Had leftovers for lunch, but still good. Sent the sisters home with two air mattresses because they were expecting a stay over from Havelock trainers. Then we picked up Kierra and brought her to our apt for a lesson on temples. She is so excited to go to the temple Saturday. She thought she would be gone to Job Corps, but not until the 26th. We showed her pictures on the internet of the Raleigh Temple and also some of baptismal fonts and other ordinance rooms. Then did the BOM picture tour and invited her to give away a BOM. Did a Google Hangout that evening with Eliza and her family. It was Karina's birthday, but she was pretty involved with her new toy. Lewis liked looking at the computer and seeing the photos of everyone. Philip was his usual goofey self! Got to say hi to all the kids, even Elinore!

Had a good visit with the family we teach on Thursday mornings until her son got bit by fire ants. They are everywhere. Read 1 Nephi 17 that has lots of prophecying in it. She gave us some chocolate cookies. That afternoon we met with Andre, an investigator, at the church. Did a church tour and talked about the artwork and what went on in various rooms. Talked about Restoration mostly. He is a nice young man, very polite in rejecting our invitation to come to church. Made hamburger casserole for supper. I don't know how I get so many leftovers!

District meeting Friday; love meeting with the missionaries and feeling of their spirit. Took the cookies, cut up a pineapple and some granola bars we didn't like. Also took a watermelon to cut up there. Had three young men invited to supper, then Kierra called to ask us to take her to her interview with Pres. Lewis – at the same time as the supper. But everything worked out. Had to cook everything once we got home (we had breakfast for supper), so set up computer with Mormon Moments. Good supper of link sausage, fried potatoes, eggs and biscuits.

Had a lazy Saturday morning, then made brownies to take to another baptism. This is an older gentleman who has felt the spirit from the time he first met with the elders and told them he wanted to be baptized. Picked up Kierra to go to baptism also. They asked me to lead the music, which I was glad to do. Had some time to kill afterwards, so went to Bojangles to get chicken and biscuits before heading to Raleigh. Tyrei canceled so just the three of us went. We tried another route to the temple; took longer but not the congestion of changing highways five different times! We walked around the temple and took pictures. Ended up with 8 brethren (one was first time convert) and 7 sisters. Everyone got to do 10 proxies. Elder Steffler got to be recorder, so he was busy shuffling papers. Afterwards took the group photo then headed to Korean BBQ. E. Steffler and I ordered plain chicken tenders and dipped them in the hot sauce. It was actually very good, although spicey. It was late when we got home (11 p.m.). I would rather do the Korean BBQ before the temple so we can go home directly after and not be so late. But it was a good day, a blessed day of service and baptisms.

E. Steffler: Kierra was very excited to do temple baptisms. She has been a member for four weeks. She was feeling a little water logged when she got through. She was not able to do any of her own names yet; she needs to learn how to collect the information: birth and death dates, etc. So far every one who has been baptized in the YSA branch since we arrived has done temple baptisms. What a blessing in their lives and ours. It is amazing how the gospel changes lives if we let it. All it takes are the little things: attend church, read the Book of Mormon and pray.

Our love and prayers go out to our family. Thanks to those who read our blog. This mission is the best thing we could have ever imagined. We recommend it! Love to all, Elder and Sister Steffler