November 2

Late again; sorry. Good excuse this time: let a member use computer while we waited for CES fireside, which begins at 8 p.m. here in the east!

Pres. Lewis was gone last Sunday; he had a 25 year reunion with some of his medical friends in D.C. So after branch council, sent Elder Steffler to pick up Tyrei and I practiced with the choir, because we got to sing. We sang "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" and didn't do too badly, considering we don't have a pianist and asked someone from another ward to come play. We ran through it a couple of times with him. Found out one of the young women who had been to sacrament meeting several times was not a member. Her grandmother is and has been for years. The grandmother attended with her granddaughter and they stayed for all 3 meetings. So the sisters were all over that! They got a home lesson with her that afternoon (a lesson taught in a member's home to an investigator). They were so happy. During third hour one of the counselors explained the ins and outs of the media splits on this upcoming Saturday. A lot of the young singles were signed up with either our sisters or elders in the other wards. There are 14 missionaries here in Greenville and splits were to begin at 7:30 a.m. and end at 9 p.m. They were to show what a missionary does throughout his/her day. I hope some of you got to see some of the photos I posted Saturday. Warmed up some leftovers for dinner and finished off the pumpkin pie that we bought on Saturday. Walked to a member's apartment here in our complex and took her a loaf of bread; she was not home, but I left it with a sticky note saying who it was from. Sorry to have missed her. Then we read all of the institute lesson we have to teach Wednesday.

Monday was D.J.'s birthday; hope it was a good one for him. Dan got the car's motor oil and transmission oil changed (that was expensive!) while I made bread and cleaned the apt. He made hamburger stew for FHE later that evening. It was a costume party and there were some pretty good ones. I posted one on facebook of a group. Of course there was food: 4 kinds of soup with rolls and bread and doughnuts and cookies, etc. Had a good talk with Lena and Eliza. Sure is nice to talk to family.

Tuesday we braved the water yet again for a water aerobics session. It's not cold until you get out! The training sister was sick so there was no practice lesson. So we went to the clinic for a recheck on Elder Steffler. Only waited 1 1/2 hours to see the PA. Dan had lost 9 lbs with the water pill he is taking and she was encouraged with that. I asked for an explanation of the blood work that was done and why he was taken off all NSAIDS. Well, turns out he is in stage 3 of kidney failure, which sounds really scary, but she wants to get the heart problem (water retention) figured out before jumping into the renal problem. Evidently the kidneys filter the leftover products from the NSAIDS, so that was why he was taken off. He has popped pain pills for years, and now it is taking its toll. We hashed through the institute lesson on who was teaching what and when. Made a couple of copies of things to hand out. The lesson focused on True Disciples and the reading was about the law of consecration. Had a hard time putting the reading with the lesson; came to the conclusion that they don't really have to be compatible! Had correlation at Pres. Lewis' house and finalized the media splits and talked about some inactives. Always trying to reach out to those who are hiding out!

We were tired out from our walk Wednesday. I think we are both a little worried about his health and that institute lesson. YSA sisters came for a practice lesson and lunch. Went over the Gospel lesson just as a refresher. Had appt with Dr. Peterson the cardiologist. The nurse did a thorough triage and EKG. She said it look good. Dr. Peterson wants an echocardiogram done and a nuclear stress test, so two more appts to find out if anything is wrong or if he just has water retention. Even with handouts and a board diagram, we did not feel good about the lesson at institute. The area director was there, and that did not help. We were feeling pretty down. But when we got home, here was our door with sticky notes all over, expressing love and encouragement. What a blessing those two sister missionaries were to us that night!

Thursday, no time for exercise as we had to leave to pick up the G2 sister missionaries and go to Kinston for district meeting and interviews with Pres. Baker (mission president). We were early, but most of the other missionaries were there, too. Talked about the importance of prayer and how and why we pray. Did a role play of introducing the Restoration with a couple of elders; interesting. They jumped right in and we were more reserved in our approach. For lunch, took the G2 sisters to Wendy's, where the four sisters from our complex also showed up. So we bought their lunch, also! Another customer (older lady) gave E. Steffler a bad time about having all those young girls with him. He got a chuckle out of it! Our interview didn't happen until 4 p.m., so we napped in the car, then read the next commentary lesson in the D&C. When it was our turn, we told the president about Dan's health issues and he was a little stern saying he needs to be informed of situations like that. Then he explained he was talking to a group of high priests on Sunday about senior couples serving missions. He wanted to make a video of him interviewing us about why we came on our mission, what was it like, are we having fun, do we miss our children and grandchildren, what did we have to do to prepare, etc. I would like to get a copy of it and see how it came across. I was glad I wore my blazer/jacket because it was cool and I look more like a missionary in it. After dropping off the sisters at their apartment, we went to Walmart and bought 2 turkeys to cook for break the fast. Took one of the turkeys to the R.S. president who volunteered to cook it. A tender mercy of the Lord that we were able to find her house in the dark!

Braved the water another time on Friday. A small breeze did not warm us up! Spent all day thawing out the turkey in a sinkful of cold water. Deana sent us a picture of her going home after surgery; she looked pretty awful. But she said the surgery went well. Hopefully that helps with her breathing problems and other assorted problems. We wanted to walk through the apt that the G1 elders are moving into (it is in our apt complex) so called to see if it was ready. No call back, so we walked to the office (there was a light refreshment party provided by the complex, so we had to have some) then one of the office workers took us to the apt on his battery-driven golf cart. It looked good; carpets had been cleaned 2 days before so there was still a slight smell of cleaning leftover. It is upstairs, which would be a problem for us but not for them. There is a small balcony where they can park their bikes if they want to. They are so excited to more out of their run-down apt that is too small. Plus there is a weight machine that takes up 1/4 of living room that E. Steffler helped them take apart so they could haul it to the dumpster. Took G2 and Spanish elders to 5 Guys then to Sweet Frog. We had not treated them for quite awhile and they enjoyed it. Let G1 elders borrow our 2 air mattresses because they did not get their mattresses moved over to their new apt.

Saturday was on the computer on and off all day reposting photos of missionaries. Got to see photos of all the missionaries in Greenville plus 4 other missionaries who have transferred out. It was great! The weather was cold; I had to break out my winter coat because my sweater just didn't cut the wind. No trick or treaters showed up yesterday, so I have a bag of candy that I'm taking to break the fast tomorrow; I'm not having that candy sitting around here! Got the turkey cooked. Had lots of juice from turkey and water from cooking the giblets to make gravy. Everything in the fridge awaiting tomorrow's feast.

Daylight savings time ended so got to sleep in. My body did not get the memo; I was awake at 4:30! It thought it meant an hour early, I guess! E. Steffler took full advantage of the extra hour of sleep. It took 4 trips to the car to haul everything we needed to take. Crockpot of instant potatoes, large pan of gravy,large veggie tray, bag of all the other stuff plus our regular scriptures and binder. Had to pick up Tyrei and Christian, his 11 year old brother came along. He helped us set up for the meal; good help. E. Steffler bore his testimony about our mission and the interview and media split. We truly have been blessed. Had to make Stove Top dressing, warm up corn, potatoes, gravy. Had 6 pies, and they did not all get eaten. Most of the turkey, all the potatoes (two crockpots full) most of the dressing and salad got eaten. Young adults know how to eat! Had the vacuum up the mess that the pies made; who would have known?! Took Christian home, and Tyrei back to our apt to await CES fireside. He seemed to enjoy reading Alma 2, about the fight with Lamanite and Amlicites. Watched conference talk on paths by Pres. Monson. Then went to the Lewis' for fireside. Bro. Hallstrom gave an excellent talk on building on firm foundation, with photos of the Pittsburgh PA temple. They dug down 30 feet to granite bedrock then drilled 150 feet into the rock for the rebar. Now that is a firm foundation! Likened it to how firm is our foundation in the gospel and our testimony of God our Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. Truly worth staying up late for.

Another week before us, not as crazy as last week, I hope. Anxiously awaiting the echo on Tues and stress test next Monday. Don't have to teach institute this week, which is a blessing, although that made us search deeper into the lesson to find its meaning, and that is never a waste of time. Have enjoyed our study of D&C and Isaiah. I just hope and pray that when we get home we can continue our study of the scriptures; what a blessing in our lives. God bless all of you this week and always. Love all y'all, Elder and Sister Steffler