Snowed all day Tuesday.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Feb. 22
Finally we have a high in the 50s! That is so encouraging after this past week. We are such babies!
Sunday Feb. 15 we had a wonderful branch conference. Set up the crockpot to make taco soup for after. They always have a meal after stake meetings because the stake leadership comes so far. Our stake RS president drives almost 2 hours to be here. Also took 1 1/2 loaves of bread and honey butter. Sacrament meeting went over by half an hour; the other ward was waiting in the wings to come in. Pres. Walker told of a girl from Ecuador that he met on his mission. She wanted to get baptized but wanted her parents' permission. They told her NO! So the elders fasted with her for a miracle and while they were fasting, her parents get a knock of their door (this is a remote village in the mountains of Ecuador) and two missionaries taught them the gospel. They did not accept it, but thought it would be all right for their daughter to be baptized. The girl wanted to know how the missionaries found out where her parents lived; they had no clue, but the Lord knew. Pres. Walker said a sheep farmer from Montana and a pig farmer from Beautankus, NC had their prayers answered; fasting is real and can cause miracles to happen. No time for Sunday School, so Pres. Walker took another 45 minutes talking about love and loyalty and trust – not only with God but with their future spouses. Then time to eat: soups, breads and desserts. Fed about 20 stake people and 30 branch members. Had a meeting with Bro. Paries (high counselor over missionary work) with all the missionaries and branch mission leader and assistant. They want to align the efforts of stake, branch and mission into one goal. Most of the clean up was finished, thanks to a sister in the ward and Tyrei helped with the heavy work of putting tables away and vacuuming. I was so thankful; I was tired!
Monday was too cold to go anywhere or do anything; high of 31. Had a member to dinner. Fixed hamburger stew and had made a fresh batch of bread. She is in grad school and has to be careful what she says because she is LDS, but she took a BOM to put in the grad library. Did a lot of studying because FHE was canceled; a big ice storm was expected about 6. Transfers were moved from Wednesday to Thursday because of the storm.
Tuesday woke up to ice (see photos). Tried walking to fitness center and it was like a sheet of ice so stayed home. Had a practice lesson with YSA elders (cars were shut down but walking was okay). I broke out the last carton of my strawberry jam to feed them. Yes, we do love the missionaries! We canceled our dinner appointment, but could have had it. By 3:30 most of the roadways were cleared and we drove to the post office to mail a package for a missionary. Just got some groceries hauled into the apt when we got a call from the sister missionaries. Could we pick them up (about 1 1/2 miles away)? The cars were officially ungrounded then. So we rescued them. They had been walking since noon – 4 1/2 hours!
Wednesday was sunny and warmer. We were able to walk to the fitness center for a workout. Went shopping for bowls and bought a full set of dishes! They were half off at a thrift shop that benefits abused women. Then bought each of us new athletic shoes, like walking on air! Had a practice lesson with the G2 sisters and taco soup. Our investigator was at institute and we gave her the Feb. Ensign. After we got home and were almost in bed, got a call from her saying she was telling a friend about what she was learning and ended up bearing a testimony. Was it possible she might have a small testimony? She said it felt good. Then she wanted another lesson on Saturday; could we meet with her? Yes and YES!
Up early Thursday to take two sisters to mission office in Virginia. They had stayed overnight so that made it easier to get on the road. One sister has a month left and was being transferred. The other had just finished training (3 months on the mission) and she was going to train a new sister! No ice on the roads, but Portsmouth had had 3-4 inches of snow on Tuesday and there was still remnants of it. Got to hug some special missionaries who were there (ones who had served in Greenville) and were being transferred or were going to train. Our new missionary had 3 large suitcases plus the bedding bag (which the mission is now providing). Got home fine; no side road excursions like last time!
Friday was another cold one; about froze my nostrils shut coming back from our workout! District meeting was good. Got to meet the two new missionaries. Went shopping to Sam's after to buy Nutella and strawberries; over $200 later we got home. Bought printer ink and paper and heat packs. The hankies that Lena embroidered came and they are beautiful! (See pictures) We want to give them to missionaries that we have worked with in Greenville. Our member canceled his dinner appt but the elders came to help eat pork chops, baked potatoes, green beans, salad and apple cobbler. Sent the remaining cobbler home with the elders to share with their roommates.
Saturday we braved the cold once again to walk behind the senior center. It was only about 25 degrees and calm, so not terribly bad. It was nice to get in a good walk. Made two batches of freezer jam (strawberry) then invited the sisters to come help finish the taco soup. They also agreed to take our "old" set of dishes. They had just finished a conference call with Pres. Baker and our next zone conference will be in Raleigh and the missionaries will get to go through the temple! They are all so hyped. Problem: none of them brought their temple clothes and the Raleigh temple has no clothing. So that will need to be resolved. I got the kitchen cleaned up and all the dishes put away (yes, we had to wash all the "new" dishes) and two batches of laundry done, then had to work on a lesson to teach. So we got a little busy. We had invited a member who was baptized about a year ago to go with us to our investigator's apt. We taught her keeping the Sabbath Day holy. She works a lot on Sunday so we thought she could gain the most by having that lesson. She took it well and our member bore his testimony. He was working every Sunday before his baptism and since he started going to church, he has felt better and his work is doing better. He is not so stressed out from working 7 days a week. She also told us she is thinking April sounded like a good month to be baptized. We are so blessed to be teaching her.
So that winds up our week. Hoping for a little warmer weather; today is in the 50s again, so maybe. Had a good chat with Eliza and all is well with them. Did y'all see that Lydia colored her hair red? Super cute. She is still thinking about a mission at the end of this semester. Missions can be so hard, yet so rewarding, so worth every trial. We love working with the members and the missionaries. Hope this finds all well with all y'all. Cute pics of Deana and kids and Ed at West Park. Also of the furry and feathery grand kids! Love all of you, Elder and Sister Steffler
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Friday, February 20, 2015
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Feb. 15
What a difference a week makes! Last week Sunday was in the 60s; this week it made it to 31! Let's see what happened.
Had a good block of meetings on Feb. 8. We had prepared enough food for a member and 4 of her friends, but it didn't happen. Things came up and then changed again.... Anyway we had made crockpot chicken and needed to feed it to someone. We were suppose to teach 3 others that day, so instead we invited them to come help eat some of this food. It was not the best; chicken was dry; bread was stale, but they ate it and told me it was good. (White lies work, sometimes!) Talked about the sermon preached by Neil L. Anderson on the Prophet Joseph Smith in the last conference. Decided next time I will invite them to participate instead of asking questions of them directly. They all answered rightly enough, just that I put some pressure on them to answer a certain way. Live and learn. There was a good spirit there anyway. Kate Luedtke had her baby boy Mitchell this morning; congrats to her and Brett!
Monday a beautiful calm day; walked the senior center walkway. Shopped and prepared to leave for Virginia Beach that afternoon. Kinston sisters road with us. They stayed overnight with sister missionaries and we stayed with a senior couple in the same apartment complex. Let me say this: Greenville traffic is awful but Virginia Beach traffic is horrendous! Especially at rush hour (6 p.m.) and dark and rainy. Not fun. But we had an enjoyable time with the DeBows, talking about families, missionary work, what we did back home, etc.
Sisters conference started at 9:30 but we were to be there at 9 for clothing exchange and to help get the food set up. We took a green salad and Sister DeBow cooked extra rice for us, too. Sister Baker's theme was engraving Christ's name on our heart. Experience the miracle of Christ's atonement. Conversion is acting on your testimony. You can't have joy without work. The sorrow we feel for others is evidence that we are doing our work. Joy is not the absence of sorrow. Pres. Baker showed family photos and then told the sisters he thought of them like he did his family: he loved them and desired good things for them. He promised all of us that we would receive the celestial kingdom because of the choice to go on a mission would influence them to continue to make good choices all their lives. We are on the path – facing the right direction – desiring to bring people to Christ. He left us with good feelings and a desire to continue to do good works. Found a long cut on the way home – through Elizabeth City! Don't ask how that happened. But it did! Anyway, took about 20 minutes longer to get home.
Wednesday was a busy day with the missionaries. Had the YSA elders (who usually come Tues.); they taught the Gospel lesson and we fed them french toast to use up the rest of the stale bread. Then later the G2 sisters came for a lesson and supper. Had a short lesson and tacos and banana yogurt splits – yummy. Tyrei needed a ride so E. Steffler left to get him and the sisters helped me clean up the kitchen then took me to church for correlation meeting. We had cereal and milk for a snack before institute. We want to get the members there earlier so we can start on time.
Had a nice walk with just a breeze. I read Elder Klindagat's talk again from general conference and decided that was what we would covered with a member that evening for Plus 1. She couldn't stay and the member we were to feed canceled so we had a day of a lot of cancellations. Printed off next New Testament lesson and it does not line up with our Sunday course of study, Oh, well.
Friday had an early workout and clean up and off to district meeting. YSA elders didn't make it; one of the elders ate something that didn't agree with him. After the meeting we had lunch with all the sister missionaries at Noodles & Co. The YSA elders came by the apt. and we gave them some meat, potatoes, carrots and onion so they could fix a good meal. Also a half loaf of bread and jam to go with it. They were awfully thankful! For supper a sister and brother came, both active. Still showed them the Book of Mormon pictures of how to introduce nonmembers to the BOM. They brought us chocolates in a heart-shaped box! Also got a Valentine's Day card from my sister, who I love very much. She is enjoying her stay with her new grandson.
Saturday we picked up Tyrei and took him to an elders quorum activity: touch football. It was chilly, but only a slight breeze. E. Steffler and I walked the path behind the park then went home to eat breakfast. We had left the brownies that I had made, and it was a good thing! Instead of playing until 1 p.m., they were finished at 11:30 a.m.! And the brownies were about gone by the time we got back to take Tyrei home. Went to a baptism at 2 p.m. An 8 year old girl, and two boys, 9 and 11. Transfer calls came; a sister and elder are being transferred next Wednesday. Took the G2 elders to dinner at Logan's Steakhouse (full to the gills; waited 45 minutes) because they both wanted steak and the one is leaving next Wed. Neither ordered steaks! Can't figure that one out.
Had a wonderful branch conference today, but will talk more about that next week. It was 18 this morning and only got to 31. Expecting frigid temps all week. May have to wear my coat with the liner yet! Hope this find all well and warm. I hear spring fever has hit! I told Lena it was too early to start tomato seeds and I think she about cried! Pray that all is going well with y'all and that you are trying to live God's commandments each and every day – especially reading BOM and prayer. So important. We love all y'all and so does God. Elder & Sister Steffler
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Feb. 8
Another week to report. These seem to be coming rather quickly. Let's see if we were busy at all.
Sunday the 1st was break the fast, so we were busy! Had Hawaiian haystacks so loaded up everything in the car to haul to the church. We decided it would be easier to put together the chicken and soup at the church; also cooked the rice there. During last hour I cooked two pans of rice. The crockpot was the slowest. Had three different sauces to put on the rice and they were all good. So we had a curry sauce, terayaki and our traditional one with sour cream and cream of chicken soup. Had lots of goodies to add on top. Seemed to be a hit. Fed about 40. By the time we got Tyrei home and the car unloaded it was 4 p.m.! Nap time. Then blog time and email time. Listened to two Skousen lectures on the Book of Mormon and had popcorn. He mentioned the two sets of plates and explained the small plates were the prophetic line and the large plates followed the kingly progression. In Jacob 5 he says the master of the vineyard in Heavenly Father and the servant is Christ. The Father helped open the last dispensation by appearing with Christ to Joseph Smith. He puts things together so I can understand them (most of the time!).
Monday morning bright and early we picked up the G1 sisters from the auto body shop where they left their car to get a new bumper. Then took them to the church where the G2 sisters were to take them shopping. Went to Walmart to find the vacuum bags that you suck the air out to minimize space. Not that we are getting trunky, just wanted to make sure we were prepared! Finally got cleaned up to go to FHE; the YSA elders needed a ride because their car was at the auto body shop getting a new part, also. The singles were playing games inappropriate for us so the missionaries hung out in the Family History room and listened to Skousen on the atonement.
Tuesday up early enough to make bread before the YSA elders came for a practice lesson. Warmed up leftover roast and potatoes from Saturday. Then to read at Joanna's from the BOM. Her friend had taken her shopping so she stayed and we read together. Read 3 Nephi 11 when Christ appears to the Nephites. Had an appointment that evening with our investigator and taught her chastity. She about fell off the couch when we sang "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes." But she will remember what is appropriate because of it. G1 sisters came to use the computer and we were reading D&C 93 commentary; the one sister sat there and listened with us. A lot about intelligences and element combined to make eternal fulness of joy.
Wednesday we finally had a good walk in the sunshine and no wind! Just finished breakfast and YSA elders called and asked us to take them to auto body shop to pick up their car. We said give us half an hour and we will. We both showered and were dressed and ready to go by then. Then picked up a member and took her to get her eyes checked and buy glasses. G1 sisters needed to get their car at 5 so we took them at 4:15 so we could be back for the lesson practice by G2 sisters. Had to play piano at institute because the elders were late getting there. Spent most of the time on section 88, but some on 89.
Thursday we had a good workout and had just gotten dressed when the G1 sisters knocked. Their car would not start; needed a new battery. E. Steffler got his little bag of tools to help. The battery cable was really corroded. The wind was fierce but it had stopped raining. Got their car going and they headed to O'Reilly's for a new battery. I organized a bunch of stuff in my folders. Trent and Brooke came to eat (2nd counselor); fixed pork stir fry. We practiced (role played) giving away a BOM. Called DJ to see how the growers meeting had gone (good) and got to talk to Nate's kids and Lena. The hot tub is working! That was a big concern for E. Steffler.
Friday walked the compound so we would not be late to zone meeting; had time to take a short nap – and both of us went to sleep! We walked in with just a few minutes to spare. A new method of reporting was introduced. We don't do that, so we watched the others work out how to do that. Tyrei did not get any friends to come eat with him, so we invited the elders and they were happy to help out! The meatloaf was a hit but Tyrei and E. Siddoway are lactose intolerant so they didn't eat the au gratin potatoes – and I had made a lot! Elders taught the restoration; Tyrei had not had the new member lessons because he was working and could never get together with the sisters.
Good workout Saturday; got cleaned up and dressed, then did not go anywhere all day. Thanks to Kim we now have the commentary on the New Testament so most of the day was spent getting caught up on that reading. Something interesting: Mary and Joseph's families probably moved to Galilee because of political unrest in and around Jerusalem (they being of the Davidic line and you remember what a peach Herod was!). A few generations before, probably. Had not thought about why they were in Nazareth when their families were from Bethlehem. The language thing was also interesting. Jesus probably spoke Aramic but the first writing (probably by Mark) was in Greek. So it had its first translation when it was first written. What is amazing is that we have the Bible at all; I see the hand of the Lord in this and I had not thought of it before like I had the BOM. Scriptures are so important and the Lord knew we would need them to learn of Him. We are truly blessed.
Looking forward to the sisters conference in Virginia this coming week. We are taking the sisters from Kinston and staying with a senior couple in Virginia Beach. Trying to stay busy and be a blessing to the branch and missionaries. I guess we did help them out a few times this past week.
Hope this finds everyone well and enjoying warmer weather! We were at 69 today! Felt wonderful. Now to just stay there for awhile (like 5 months!). Love to each and every one of you. God loves you and so do we! Elder & Sister Steffler
p.s. Aren't the cupcakes cute that the G1 sisters made for us?
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Feb. 1
February already! Let's finish January first. Last Sunday we had a tender mercy happen. Dan happened to pick up his phone and take it to church – something he never does. During a meeting he got a call from Scottie. E. Steffler was so touched by it and so thankful that Scottie had reached out to us. He had to call Deana when he got home. She had gotten a call from Jessica, too. She is being a good sister watching out for her brother.
Monday we started walking again – and shopping! Our frig was full, for awhile (actually most of the week). A lot of the food was for break the fast today (Feb. 1). Sam's had blackberries and strawberries that looked pretty good and didn't cost an arm and a leg, so we bought a bunch to make jam. Also bought 25 lbs of rice; it was only $1 more than the 12.5 lb. package. Pork was $1.98 lb so of course we bought some of that. Had an unusual dinner appointment: the G1 sisters fed us! It was a first for us (and for them). We love both of them and have done several things to help them, so they wanted to thank us. Had a game of Family Feud at Family Home Evening and most of the youth had a good time. Then they played volleyball until who knows how late.
Tuesday instead of the YSA elders doing a practice lesson on us, we did a practice lesson on them. We had a lesson planned for that night so we got to practice. Then we showed the elders how to make strawberry jam – and they helped! We gave them a container and E. Siddoway wrote Broccoli on the lid so the other elders in their apartment wouldn't eat it! Had a couple of members to supper and a short lesson on Book of Mormon and finding people for the missionaries to teach. They left and we had our investigator and a female member come for a lesson. It went really well. She wants to be baptized, just does not want to set a date. So we will see.
Wednesday we walked in sunshine! It was wonderful. Still breezy and cold, but the sun felt good. Got haircuts at the beauty college; mine looks better than Elder Steffler's. For institute, Bro. Walker bought Moe's food for everyone. It is a Mexican restaurant and the food was pretty good. Had an increase in attendance! Our investigator was there and afterwards asked for another lesson!
Thursday E. Steffler was feeling punk so I let him sleep in. Then he walked me to the fitness center and I did a work out and he sat in the club house. Then we made a batch of blackberry jam. He felt good enough to do that. I sent a text to the YSA elders that I had some brussel sprouts left over if they wanted it. They didn't catch on, so finally I texted that it would go good with their broccoli; 5 minutes later they were here! So gave them some jam and half a loaf of bread. They noticed E. Steffler was still in his sweats in the recliner and asked if everything was ok. They offered to give him a blessing and he accepted. He says it is easier to give a blessing that to accept one. He is use to being on the giving end. He felt good enough later to get cleaned up and help with the two members that came to eat. Had a good lesson afterwards. One member had given her BOM away and the other had her dog chew on it, so we gave both of them another book.
Friday was my day to feel punk – must have been a weird bug of some sort. No fever, just achey and yucky. My eye sockets ached. Felt good enough to finish reading D&C 88 commentary. Great section on light and truth. It is like on the doctorate level as compared to the basic elementary level.
Saturday a tender mercy. Picked up Tyrei and went to Washington to find an inactive member and home teach him. Wrong address, but the phone number was right, so I called and he gave me his new address. So Tyrei and E. Steffler got 100% home teaching in January. On the down side, a basketball game had been scheduled for 3 p.m. and it was changed to 1 p.m. but we did not know about the change. No, we did not drive to Kinston to find that out, but one of the members did know and we had called to see if he was going. Oh, well. So the two members planned to hang out together and come to church today, and they did! The members we were going to feed canceled, so we have a bunch of leftovers again. It's all good.
I can't believe I'm looking forward to a little more warmth in the weather. I will look back of this day and remember when I thought this; I know I will.
Is it still snowy out west? I see storms coming across the mid section of the US and head up to New England (Weather channel), but not much about out west. Nate and Tina and their two girls had birthdays – they also enjoyed a cruise. Thanks for posting some photos ! Sorry about the kidney stone. Those can be so painful. Sounds like about everyone is busy and that is good. Do the important things first (prayer, scriptures & church) and there will be time to do all the other things. Remember the Lord and He will help you do the rest. (Sounding rather preachy aren't I?) But it works! We love all of you and know that Heavenly Father does too. Have a great week! Elder and Sister Steffler
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