A word about the diagram I posted. Two sisters did a training at district meeting and used this. It shows Pres. Monson at top, Pres. Baker (mission) on left and Pres. Walker (stake) on right. Then the circles intersect and it shows common areas where all members work and some for just missionaries and some for just stake. I thought it was very clever.
Now the week. Sunday was Break the Fast Sunday. Some of the members were home sick (some with NFL-itis) so not as many as we had hoped for. If only we could see through God's eyes – what difference does a game make, really? Learned about the patience and integrity of Job in Sunday School. We could not set up tables because 2nd ward's sacrament meeting extended into the cultural hall. But it all worked out. We had a Taco Bar and a lot of food – that's always a good thing! I really like our two new counselors: they were in the kitchen washing dishes! Had a long chat with Lena; she is feeling better so trying to do more than she should and was feeling the effects of it. Got to say Hi to Teezha – what a chatterbox! Now if I could understand all of what she says ...
Had lots of rain lately, so pool was cooler than usual. Made banana-zucchini bread and it was okay. Didn't cook it long enough so it was a little doughy on top. Did some arbitrating and reading as well as laundry. For FHE we did family history. I learned a little more about descendancy. Had .54 inches of rain and only to 79 degrees.
Tuesday was a busy day with food prep. Had G1 sisters, Bowen & Bunker for practice lesson and lunch. I was a Catholic investigator and was pretty hard on them – but they asked for it! Fed them dried out mac & cheese, cooked carrots and beaten steak, with bread and jam of course. Had two members for supper; good conversation and food. For BOM pictures, they both had in mind who they wanted to give the book to!
Wednesday we walked in 70 degree with 80% humidity; not too bad, but still got sweaty. Had to kill a cockroach that was hiding under the laptop. Yuck! YSA sisters came for practice lesson and lunch. I think they were given an alert from the G1 sisters; they chose someone much easier on them. I was an interested (academically) investigator. They would not let me get them sidetracked with questions. They always came right back to where they wanted to be. Went over the branch roster, who we knew was here or not. Napped and read scriptures. Went looking for a member; he didn't answer our text, so we found his apartment and left a passalong card. Also found Jarvis Hall on ECU campus and the community shelter, in case we might need to find again in the future. Sisters called to say that the investigator that we gave the lesson to last week did not want to meet again. So sorry for her agency; glad she had agency, just that she decided to use it to not have a lesson. Then the lady that we read BOM with on Thursday called to say she was sick. Institute was good. Learned about Oliver Cowdery and how he got involved with Joseph Smith.
Thursday, 9-11, remembered what I was doing in 2001. I was getting ready to go to work at the paper and heard about the first plane that hit the tower. Everyone wondered how that could have been a mistake. Then saw the second plane hit and knew it was no mistake. We watched TV at work all day. Don't know how we got the paper out the next day. E. Steffler and I decided this was the day we had waited for: to find Ted Rudder's mom in Havelock. We had lunch with the Havelock sisters (Chinese), then went looking. She was just leaving for an appointment. We said we would come back, so went looking for a member on our roster that lived in Havelock. Found out he had moved to D.C. quite a while ago. So back to chat with Mrs. Rudder. Learned a few things about Ted and Beckie that they would never have told us! She was a delight. Admitted the grandkids called her "Goose." Rather unusual name, but she did not want to be called Grandma or Granny. When we returned to Greenville, we took the YSA sisters to supper to Olive Garden. I only wanted a salad – still feeling the effects of Chinese. Then E. Steffler and I read Bruce R. McConkie's talk on salvation and grace.
Took birthday bread to district meeting – whole wheat and banana-zucchini for a sister whose birthday it was. Took the G2 sisters out to Applebees for a graduation lunch. They no longer get to come practice lessons with us. There are two other new sisters to take their place. It was better than B's Barbeque! Got invitation for a senior couples outing to Colonial Williamsburg, VA. It will be about 3 1/2 hours for us to get there. We were planning to go there for our anniversary, so now we may go to the Outer Banks and Kitty Hawk or someplace else. Starting reading Lesson 4 of D&C notes and got feeling ackey and tired so went to bed early.
Saturday felt good enough to go walking; cool down is coming! Went to Walgreen's to refill some of E. Steffler's meds then went to farmer's market. Bought some squash, beans and salsa. I was still feeling ackey; no fever, thank goodness. E. Steffler cooked a steak and microwaved a sweet potato and warmed up the carrots, so he was taking pretty good care of me. Finished reading Kim's D&C #4. Also read Eyring's Priesthood Men.
So our week started out with a bang and kind of ended with a whimper. But we cannot expect to be on a high all the time. It is nice when it happens, but the low times help us appreciate the high times. We have been out 6 months and I feel like we are just getting the feel of being missionaries. I know we could do more and be better, but we get tired and have to rest. Not like the young missionaries. I think about half of them were sick this past week and were just working through it. Looking forward to General Conference, wherever we may be. I pray that each of you will seek God for answers to the questions in your life. He loves you and wants to help you – BUT you have to ask. If you have not, would you take time to listen to the talk by Brad Wilson on grace. It is wonderful. God bless each and every one of you. Love, Elder and Sister Steffler
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