31 May 2015

 

For our P day last Monday we went to see "Tomorrowland" starring George Clooney and Hugh Laurie (House). It was pretty good for a PG and not a cartoon! Worth seeing, we thought. It was a holiday, after all. Still had FHE that night; played Disney or Prophets – quotes that we tried to guess which said it, and the name of the show/prophet for extra credit. The two teams came out pretty close. I only knew a couple of them.

Had to pick up G2 sisters and bring to our apartment for their lesson and lunch Tuesday because their car was getting some minor body work – scratches and dents mostly. Their 15 minute lesson the Word of Wisdom lasted about 30 minutes; they need to work on that! One of their investigators smokes so they want to teach that lesson soon so he can stop smoking. Then we took them to their next appointment. They were going to walk to the church (about a mile) and pass out cards and talk to people; they said they talked to a lot of people. I asked them how many blisters they got; they said a few! (Thursday we took them to the garage to pick up their shiny new-looking car.) Then we went to the beauty school so I could get a perm and E. Steffler got a haircut. Neither was very good.

Humidity was about 87% with temp 75 when we walked Wednesday; I was huffing and puffing by the time we had walked our 1 1/4 miles. We read BOM with a member and helped her with some groceries. Finally rained; but the humidity stayed high. First institute lesson for the semester and our teacher was sick, but one of the branch members taught it and did a good job. Bought pizza and doughnuts; only 10 members plus 4 missionaries and 3 adults. Not much of either left over!

Thursday we met with a potential and she was excited to come to church Sunday. She even has a car! Then we went hunting for less actives in Kinston to see if they would be interested in coming to YSA branch and meet other YSA. Struck out. Except one member had moved to Raleigh and was in the military! But we had a delightful visit with a member who lives about 20 minutes south of Kinston in Pink Hill. He was struck by a car about a month ago and received a fractured pelvis and elbow. He is still in a wheelchair most of the time and enjoyed the visit. His mom drives him to classes he is taking at the community college and his dad drove him to the temple Saturday to help with baptisms.

Friday for district meeting we talked about the atonement and giving 15 minute lessons. We read several scriptures about the atonement. I don't think anyone can truly understand and appreciate what the atonement means in our lives. I read a 25-page commentary that my brother Kim sent, and I'm still sure I don't completely understand all that it means. I know that it is central to our salvation and everything in the church hinges on the atonement. We tried a couple of 7 minute lessons and it is really hard to get everything covered. Elders Terril and Ferguson were in attendance (APs) for splits with zone leaders. We fed the YSA elders that night. I made bread and sent them home with the remainder of the loaf and a container of jam.

Saturday we taught the Plan of Salvation to a YSA-aged member that attends a family ward. Then met the Zone leaders and APs for lunch at Cheddars. Also sent a loaf of bread and container of jam with APs; we love Elder Terril! Then to the church to change into nicer clothes to go to the temple. We took two sisters with us; there were six sisters and one brother who were baptized. You need seven elders to handle all the position for baptizing and confirming, so three elders from Raleigh/Durham helped us. One of them took the photo after the baptisms. Then most of us went to the Soo Café and had Korean BBQ and the Cheesecake Factory; so glad it was a cheat day on our diet! It was so fun listening to the two sisters chatter back and forth and sing all the way back to Greenville. It was a delightful trip!

We are enjoying our time more as we stay busier. We already have three appointments for the upcoming week plus FHE and Institute and a senior couples retreat in Norfolk, VA. So another busy week. Looking forward to visits from my sister and Dan's cousin who lives in S.C. Love going through facebook and seeing family and friends engaged in good things. Enjoy the first week in June and God bless each and every one of you.

Love, Elder & Sister Sister

Strawberry picking

With sister missionaries

May 25

The big highlight of Sunday was that Elder Steffler and I were asked to talk – and everything in the natural order of things got out of whack! I did not even think to write my blog until this Monday morning! But we did do a couple of memorable things.

Last Monday we went strawberry picking – first the two of us picked two flats of berries, then with the sisters we picked about a pound basket. Then they all came to our apartment and we made strawberry jam. Made two batches from the first flat and sent a couple containers home with each companionship. After a brief rest, Elder Steffler and I made two more batches with the other flat. We have enough jam to keep us happy for awhile!

Tuesday was our first practice lesson with Sisters Glaser and Olesen. Sis. Olesen will be an awesome missionary; she is eager and ready to serve.

Had an unusual district meeting this week – on Wednesday instead of Friday because of a mission-wide training for district and zone leaders at Chesapeake headquarters.

Had to do a rescue mission for one of the members. She had locked her keys in her car, so we took her home to get the other set. Her children arrived just as we did, so her daughter was going to run her back to her car to retrieve it. Better than paying for a locksmith! I'm glad we are available to help with problems like that.

Friday evening we got a call from the 1st counselor in the branch presidency asking if we could talk Sunday. We said of course. He was going to text us the topic that evening. It wasn't until Saturday afternoon when I called to bug him that he actually sent it. So we spent the rest of Saturday preparing our talks. It was nice to pull our the talks that I had copied from general conferences in 2014 and had organized according to topics. We both found other talks to support our topics.

We took the YSA elders to Logan's Steakhouse for dinner Saturday evening. They do make a good steak! G1 sisters stopped by with a potential investigator to give us because she was 20 years old. So Sunday evening we found her house, but she was not at home. Just as we were leaving, her sister pulled up the driveway. Said she was with her friends. It is Memorial Day weekend, after all. Not many folks at home.

So, our talks went okay. We had maybe 12 or 15 YSA attend, but that was okay. Some had gone to a regional YSA conference and had stayed to go to church there. But we took Hawa for sacrament meeting then took her home so her aunt could take her to see her little boy. She was pretty excited about that.

Hope this week has been a good one for everyone. Bill got a job in Logan and starts June 1. Will see how that plays out, whether they move or not. And Deana went to church Sunday! So we are feeling blessed. Hope y'all are too. We love all of you!

Elder and Sister Steffler

May 17

As you can see in the photo below, transfers were this week. Said good-bye to Elder Lewis; he has been with us since January; headed to Roanoke Rapids as district leader. He is a solid missionary. Said farewell to four missionaries in our district and hello to four new ones. One sister is training so we will get to do practice lessons and feed them once a week. That will be fun. Elder Terril, who was here last year, is Assistant to the President and helps with transfers. It was good to see him again – plus I took a loaf of bread to transfers to give to him.

I did get three Mother's Day cards on Tuesday; thanks Lena and Eliza. The one from Lena's kids said: Know what I love about grandma hugs? (Inside) Free refills – whenever I want them! So cute. I love that.

Tropical storm Ana gave us a few days of rain – some of it intense at times. The strawberry guy at the farmer's market said they had to throw away 80% of what they picked Thursday, but the new berries coming on are good. We are picking tomorrow!

One of the big highlights of the week: we decided to go on a diet! Hope to have off the 10 lbs I have gained on the mission by the time Karla (my sister) comes to visit the first week in June.

Helped an investigator get to lessons and meetings. She is coming along slowly. Also read BOM with our member friend and took her grocery shopping. No, she does not have a car, but she does have three boys who like to eat – twin boys aged 6 and a boy who just graduated high school. He has a hollow leg!

We met the sister missionary who we had previously met at Palmyra last year. We were there in July and this sister was in the performance and had already received her call to serve in the Virginia Chesapeake Mission. She had asked every senior missionary she had met if they had been to Palmyra. She was pretty excited that she finally found us!

Farmer's market was pretty incredible this week: strawberries, tomatoes, beets, purple cauliflower, zucchini, grass-fed beef, eggs and peaches. Note – all on the diet! Hurrah! But we get a cheat day, so we had a burger and fries at 5 Guys for lunch and fed the elders for supper last night. Then we started our fast; so much to fast and pray for – family, missionaries, investigators.

We feel so blessed for this time here. I try not to feel guilty that we are not out knocking doors like the young missionaries do. But we would only last one day! So we try to support missionaries and members whenever we can. And we need to go hunting for young adults who are hiding out and really need the gospel. But they really like their sins! If we can get them to look at their lives from an eternal perspective, sometimes that helps them get back on-track. We love them. And we love our family and pray that the Lord will help them through their trials and strengthen them. God bless all y'all. Elder and Sister Steffler

Good bye

Elder Lewis transferred to Roanoke Rapids May 13.

Raleigh Temple

My mother's day gift from my eternal companion.

May 10

Don't you love the photo of Elder Steffler peeking through the tulips! G2 sisters brought us the plant and to tell us Hermana Fields is transferring to Roanoke Rapids and will finally have a Spanish-speaking companion. Elder Lewis, who was a new missionary in January, is also going to Roanoke Rapids – as the district leader! Sister Glaser is training, so that means we will get to have practice lessons with her and her new companion. That is always fun.

The weather was perfect at the beginning of the week – sunny, not too hot or humid, a breeze. Then Ana came onshore and the last couple of days have included occasional downpours. The kind where you get soaked to the skin in about 15 seconds! We got caught in one of those Saturday after we taught a lesson to a member. She even loaned us her umbrella! Rains are suppose to continue through Tuesday, with a high of 91!

Got to talk with all of our kids, which is always nice. Even got to Skype with them so we could see their smiling faces and children (dog, in the case of Ed). The older grandkids didn't get too excited to talk with grandma and grandpa, but the younger ones were pretty excited, especially the three 4 year olds!

We finished up institute Wednesday with Section 138 in the D&C. The commentary that Kim sent us was way interesting about the spirit world. I want to read it again just to savor and remember everything. What blessings are in store – we have no idea how much the Lord loves us and is willing to share with us.

Thursday we went to the temple. The photo is at sunset about 8 p.m. Lovely way to spend the evening – my Mother's Day gift from my eternal companion.

Went to the farmer's market Saturday for the first time this year. Fresh strawberries were our #1 favorites, as well as salsa, hot sweet dill pickles, humus, tomato and zucchini. Would like to go pick our own strawberries, but will have to wait out Ana.

Looking forward to meeting new missionaries this week. And to see who shows up at church the 17th! With school out and students going home and to summer jobs, it could be rather sparse. But there are students returning home from BYU, too, so should see those.

Hope y'all have a blessed week. We love you and thank you for your prayers in our behalf. Elder and Sister Steffler

Happy Mother's Day

Flowers from sister missionaries and cook (see apron) my eternal companion.

May 3

Just had a great stake conference with Elder Falabella of the Seventy in attendance.

But first, our week:

Last Sunday we had the regional broadcast at the church. Good talks on conversion, forgiveness and growth of church in the East. Elders Hale and Anderson have both lived in the area and gave good talks. We watched online the priesthood session at general conference; good talks on priesthood and its responsibilities. Pres. Monson bore a powerful witness. Made some low cal brownies that were really yucky! Even Nutella and ReddiWhip could not help them – into the trash. Got a link to a letter about an Elder Ricciardi; he was a trainer and it was written by a missionary he trained and what he had learned. Very interesting.

Monday we finished reading the letter (it was 21 pages long!) and did the conference reading for the week. Hawa is back wanting to go to church. We took her to the conference Sunday and to FHE Monday. She likes playing volleyball. YSA elders taught her a lesson about the Book of Mormon and encouraged her to read it. She accepted a June 20 baptism date. Had another lesson Wednesday before institute. Had about 20 at FHE; a good turn-out.

Tuesday a little chilly; in the 70s with a breeze. After reading with a member we went on a YSA hunt: had two new names show up on our roster, so we decided to try to find them. One was in Chicowinity; the gate was locked, a Beward of Dog sign and the phone was out of order. The other we called; her mother answered and she does not live at home any more and mom did not know where she was living. So a big zero for our efforts, but at least we tried!

E. Steffler's allergies or whatever started acting up again; he felt puny and blew his nose all day long, so we stayed in most of the day. Did some housekeeping. Had pizza at institute; it was delivered in the middle of our lesson with Hawa! Institute was about the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. Another new investigator came with the Givens. She is from Roanoke Rapids.

Thursday we walked in a light drizzly rain; I had had enough after half a mile and went to the car, but E. Steffler wanted to finish and got poured on! Received weeks 14 and 15 in D&C from my brother (thanks Kim!) and we read week 14 about the martyrdom.  We both felt punk all day. I guess that means we should not walk in the rain!

Friday we noticed a wet spot on our carpet by our kitchen table. So we contacted maintenance; the girl next door had moved and in the process the pipe to her washing machine was cracked and it was leaking. He had to cut out the sheetrock to get to the problem. We ended up with a huge fan to dry up the carpet – it took two days! District meeting was good; read D. Todd Christopherson's Worth of a Soul; very good insight. Role played how to handle 3 situations: not interested, rude and someone bashing our religion. One of the sisters said she had talked to someone who said they had a lesson once a month in her church on how to handle Mormon Missionaries! They learned a chant and were told what to say to the missionaries, like our Jesus is not like your Jesus! Fed YSA missionaries; we try to do that weekly. Had a good discussion after eating.

Saturday I did a cool water aerobics while E. Steffler basked in the sun – in sweats and hoodie! He was still not feeling good. Made Frito salad and macaroni salad for Sunday. Spanish elders asked for a ride to stake conference in Kinston. The only way we could do that (because we were already committed to take Hawa) was for me to drive, Hawa in passenger seat and the Spanish elders and E. Steffler sharing the back seat. Just a little cramped! Yes, I had to drive to Kinston and back – and I didn't even come close to being in an accident. When we picked up Hawa, she was dressed in jeans (our bad for not telling her it was church dress), so while she changed clothes, the Spanish elders spoke to three different people and had success with one. They were committed to making their goal! The meeting had good thoughts about the Sabbath and remember to keep it holy, and why. Elder Falabella is from Guatamala. Most of the meeting was Q&A; interesting.

So today we met in Minges Coliseum on the campus of Eastern Carolina University. It is huge. Had no problem finding a spot to park and a place to sit. Will tell more about the meeting next week.

We were fasting for the missionaries today – that they would be able to meet their goals for Miracle May. Interesting that Nampa 10th Ward was fasting for the missionaries today also. I just feel the spirit testifying that the Lord wants us to help people to come unto Christ. Our whole purpose. We love the gospel, our family and our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. May the Lord bless each of us to feel that love is our prayer. Elder & Sister Steffler