January 18

Hit another milestone this week! More months done (10) than left (8). So sorry to hear of the passing of Jeanne Ashcraft. She and Ron were in the MTC when she had a heart attack/stroke and died Friday. Makes you wonder; I know the strict medical exams I had to go through. It really must have been her time to go, although that is hard when she was so young and was doing the Lord's errand. I heard someone say that they would like to die in the temple doing His work. Death is such an integral part of this life. The plan of salvation really is true.

Finally had a branch council last Sunday – first one in about a month, what with holidays and such. A new convert (in November) passed the sacrament for the first time. To try to get members to stay all three hours, I have committed to bring a treat each Sunday. So on the 11th I took fresh bread and honey butter. I think it was appreciated. Went to CES fireside at the church; had 2 members and Pres. Lewis and 4 missionaries. Excellent talk by Elder Reid of YM presidency on staying focused, sincere intent and do the simple things – every day!

Monday I made a cake for an elder turning 20 on Tuesday. He was pretty pleased that I had remembered. He had pointed it out the week before when he was at our apartment! Borrowed his DVD Ephraim's Rescue; very good, based on pioneer journals. We are having missionary correlation at 6:30 Mondays with FHE at 7. We played Slum Dog Millionaire; don't have an idea why it is called that. Rained hard all day, but had quit after FHE.

Tuesday was a blessed day – at least 2 slips for my Grateful Jar (blessings). First we did a practice role play with E. Martinez and Siddoway. For a Spanish-speaking missionary, he did very good. No awkward pauses and has been in mission field for 6 days! Took sister missionaries to an investigator that they have been trying to get to quit chewing tobacco. They bought some hard candy to exchange for the tobacco. E. Steffler gave her a blessing to help overcome her addiction and help her knees not hurt so much. After the prayer she was willing to trade her tobacco for the candy! The spirit was so strong; she knew she had to do it before she could be baptized. Our investigator called in tears and asked if E. Steffler could give her a blessing of comfort. She has two LDS friends who suggested that to her.

Had another set of sisters (there are 2 sets of sisters and 4 sets of elders in Greenville) for practice lesson on Wednesday. The greenie is gluten intolerant so we had to scramble to find something for her. She did pretty good for a first time. She is also a Spanish-speaking sister in a zebra companionship (meaning her companion is English speaking). We met our investigator at the church to give her a blessing. She was shaking, either from stress or nervous about the blessing. She has seasonal depression which does not help since we have had a week of rain. E. Steffler explained about the blessing and afterwards she said she had quit shaking and was feeling comfort. Priesthood blessings do work. Had institute; lesson on D&C 76 – beautiful section.

Thursday was interviews and district meeting in Kinston (about 30 minutes south). Reminded to invite the spirit into our meetings and scripture study so we can receive revelation. What I liked about district meeting was to establish expectations at the beginning of the lesson, then ask inspired questions. Felt inspired to make a calendar to feed branch members in our apartment; get to know them better and so they know what is expected of them – to be member missionaries! One of our members works at a hamburger joint in Kinston so we invited the YSA elders to eat lunch there and see if he was working. He was working the grill and fried our burgers for us. Busy, so just said hi and got to meet his mother. She was our waitress and quite a character! After our interview with Pres. Baker, he invited us to supper with them. Went to a pizza place which was okay. He encouraged us to keep a scripture journal so we bought two on our way home. We are also to have personal as well as companion study, which we already do, most of the time.

For our volunteer time, I have wanted to take photos of headstones in cemeteries. There are lots of cemeteries here in NC, in people's fields, front yards, along side the road. Some are very old. Was told there was a book at the library that had been written with all the cemeteries in Pitt County, and there are more than 800! Every headstone had been recorded, so now what do I do? Need to find out if it has been microfilmed and what that entails.

Our branch had a basketball game in Kinston Saturday, so we picked up a convert and took him to the church so he could ride with someone. He lives about 10 miles out of town. Also got to take him home, too! They lost by 20 points. The other team had a player who was 6'9" and was a good player. Hope they had fun, anyway. Got the calendar made for the Member Meals and made a double-batch of brownies to bribe them to stay for the 3-hour block. Got lots of reading done for RS and SS. I had never put 2 and 2 together before about the Jaradites, Mulekites and Nephites/Lamanites. They all existed in the Americas for a couple hundred years before the Jaradites killed each other off. Things you remember, because I'm sure I knew that once. No wonder the scriptures keep saying, remember, remember, because we forget things easily.

Hope this finds everyone well. The beautiful flowers are from a set of sister missionaries that we bought colored paper for and would not accept money – so they bought flowers. So sweet and so beautiful! We feel very blessed to be here serving in North Carolina and helping both members and missionaries. Thankful for all your prayers in our behalf. Thank you for trying each day to lead a Christ-like life and be an example to those around you and to us! God bless all y'all. Elder and Sister Steffler