Cape Lookout

Learned about Harkers Island from a native islander.

Wild flowers

Can you tell where we went from the flowers? Visit http://danandkayesmission.blogspot.com to find out!

August 30

As you see from the photo, the sisters in the branch had an enrichment night this week and we toasted marshmallows and made s'mores. Also did a little game with M&Ms so we got to learn a little about each sister. We had 15 in attendance, and that is a lot for us!

For Home Evening Monday the branch bought Jet's Pizza. They make a really good BBQ chicken to die for. I'm not sure what they do, but the dough is thick and chewy and the BBQ is sweet, but they also make good regular pizza, too. Had about 35 young singles attend, a few were nonmembers and some recent converts. Good turn out. That makes me happy!

We fed four sets of missionaries and three sets did practice lessons and the other set gave a good thought that lightened our hearts. They are all getting bolder; we can tell from week to week that they are improving. Made a batch of cinnamon rolls and fed them to the missionaries all week; of course we had to eat with them . . . Not a good idea; no more baked goodies!

The temperatures have been moderate all week: high 80s in the day and low 70s in the night. Not much rain, either, which helps the humidity stay moderate. The swimming pool water is even cooling down! I love it! Elder Steffler, not so much. August usually gets 6 inches of rain; only a little over 2 inches have fallen this year and the lawns and fields are looking rough.

Friday after district meeting we went to a senior couples retreat. It started in New Bern (about 45 min. away) where we had a catered meal and meeting at a motel where we all stayed. Had 11 couples attend. Had a talk by the 2nd counselor in the mission presidency, testimonies by the two wives of the counselors and then a discussion led by Pres. Baker with the help of his wife. A talk by Elder John K. Carmack, "Lord, Increase Our Faith." The disciples asked the Master how can we increase our faith. He answered it by relating the parable of the unprofitable servant. (Luke 17:7-10) It is a very good talk with great insights. The one I really like is this: No matter how difficult and impossible the circumstances we face, we must retain the attitude that we are still in the Lord's debt. Just keeping the commandments, while laudable, may be enough to maintain our faith but not enough to increase it. We must continue sacrificing and serving with no thought of reward. We do it out of love and gratitude for the Lord, to whom we owe everything."

Some very good observations. I was kind of hoping that we could serve a mission -- then rest! (JK-ing) I have learned so much on this mission. Had a chat with President about when we will be going home. He invited us to come to the mission home with the 5 other missionaries who are going home this transfer. There will be supper and a testimony meeting. Then we can head for home the next day. So we will load up everything Monday the 14th and head to Chesapeake! All of a sudden, it seems very close!

On Saturday the group took the ferry to Cape Lookout (see photo) where Pres. Hancock, 1st counselor in the mission presidency gave a talk about the church in Harker's Island. He has also written a book and gave each couple a copy. His wife made a clam bake for us with clams, shrimp, chicken, potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn on the cob all steamed together. Homemade rolls to die for and molasses cake or fig cake for dessert. All yummy! We gave each of them a mission hankie to show our appreciation. Traveled home and crashed. Being out in the wind and sun really tires you out, it does me anyway.

Today for church, since it was the 5th Sunday, we did not have branch council, so we had missionary correlation instead. A good turnout for church again. I could get use to this! Next week is Labor Day weekend, so maybe the attendance will not be so good. Two of the talks today were by members returning to BYU-I this coming week. The third is a returned missionary from the Salt Lake South mission, Spanish-speaking. He is Hispanic, so no problem with the language. There are several romances going on that are fun to watch. Only one has set a date for the wedding in November. We will see how many others finally get down to popping the question!

Had a yummy dinner today at the Paries. Sis. Paries is 2nd counselor in the R.S. and Bro. Paries is on the high council over the missionary work. We had lasagna with the YSA elders also, plus a yummy peach cobbler. How many times can I say yummy before it loses it meaning?

That wraps up our week. Only two more entries before we head for home! Yikes! We love all y'all and look forward to seeing you again soon. God bless. Elder & Sister Steffler

Aug. 23

Wow! Another week gone by; not too many left! Already have our sacrament meeting talks assigned: Oct. 11 at 11 a.m. in the Ruth building and we talk here on Sept. 13. So two talks to think about. I laid awake one night just thinking of all the fun things we have done while we have been here in North Carolina. You will have to attend one of the meetings to find out what I decided!

Last Monday we got our "last" haircuts and "last" oil change in our car. I made banana applesauce bread with the leftover bananas from Sunday; 3 large loaves to give away. Now that we are feeding 3 sets of missionaries weekly, we decided we needed to be serious about our meal planning so we have the right ingredients and don't have to run to the store every day. We fried up a large amount of chicken on Tuesday then made chicken salad with what was left and that worked for 2 more meals. So this week was pretty easy. FHE was a pool party at the Libbys in Ayden. They have an above ground pool that is pretty big. I took one of the loaves of bread. We were sitting around chatting while the kids were playing in the pool, and something started chewing on me. I thought it was mosquitos but I didn't get wheals, and it burned something fierce. So I may have gotten into some fire ants. I didn't see them, but when I saw a mosquito adding to my misery, I told E. Steffler we had to go. Stopped by Walgreens on the way home to buy something to stop the itch. Never did swell up, but they itched for several days and I had to keep rubbing the cream on them. One of the branch members got his thumb caught in machinery at work and might need surgery to reattach the tendon. Not good!

Tuesday it rained off and on all day. Our appointment canceled so we went shopping. I was glad that I had my umbrella and that it was not raining when it was time to haul the groceries into the house. The YSA elders are doing service this week by helping students move into apartments. I printed off some of the flyers with all the info about the branch on it so they could hand them out.

Wednesday the G2 sisters practiced Plan of Salvation; that was nice because we had heard Restoration several times last week. Sarah, our long-standing investigator is back in town to attend school and we tried getting together with her a couple of times. Finally got to meet-up with her Friday. It was so good to see her. She is reading the Book of Mormon occasionally; I encouraged her to read 3 Nephi where Christ visits the Nephites. She has been spot reading and hadn't read that yet. Also took her the last loaf of banana bread to share with her roomies.

Had an institute planning meeting; trying to gear up for the start on Sept. 9. Big changes coming on this front. I need to train Bro. Brimhall the 1st counselor how to keep the attendance in WISE.

Fed G1 sisters lunch Thursday. It was the trainer's one year mark. We didn't know that when we invited them. They had missed coming over to see us, teach us and eat with us. So it was nice. Sent many leftovers home with them. When you get tired of eating something, just give it to the missionaries; they are always happy to get food! Bought birthday card for a pair of twins – their 8th. Decided to take the cards to their house and got stuck in a line of cars; must have been more than 20 lined up at a stop sign and cars coming like crazy the other way. Anyway, we got the cards delivered. I think it was the evening for parents to meet their kids' teachers; it was crazy traffic. I have noticed the traffic in general is picking up due to ECU students returning.

G2 elders could not come for a practice lessons Friday because of exchanges. But district meeting was good. We always enjoy meeting with the missionaries and learning from them. They are so stalwart and faithful. Talked about using the Book of Mormon in conversion. Went over a talk by Pres. Benson, Flooding the World with the BOM. I kind of remember that. I remember he was the prophet that got us reading BOM with the family – again.

After our walk Saturday we stopped at the farmer's market. Always something interesting to buy, and you know where it was grown and that it has to be fresh. Had a nice chat with our nonmember friend who lives in our apartment complex. She just returned from visiting her son and his family in Utah and had to tell us all about it. She sang our praises to them about us. A little embarassing. Took Our Search for Happiness by M. Russell Ballard for her to read; excellent booklet on what we believe as a church. She had to give us cake to eat (a matter of hospitality, she said). We wrote a few words in the front of the book and we gave her our home address so we can keep in touch. Then I made oatmeal fudge cookies to share after the 3-hour block on Sunday. Sometimes bribery works! And it did today! All 40 cookies eaten. We had as large a group as I have ever seen at the meetings. It was great. Plus an investigator and several returnees to school.

E. Steffler has gone to a stake priesthood meeting in New Bern (about 45 min. away); hopefully he got a ride with someone. If not, hopefully someone is riding with him. New Bern is more centrally located than Kinston or Greenville in the stake.

Three more weeks and we will be on the road. We are planning on taking at least 2 weeks to sightsee on our way home. We want to see Gettysburg, Kirtland, Nauvoo, then follow the Mormon Pioneer Trail home as close as we can get without getting out of the car and walking! We bought a map that tells every stop, so hopefully there will be markers and visitors centers along the way. We were told by Sydney Jensen's family last week that Nauvoo takes at least 2 days and 3 would be better to take all the tours and learn about the history. So, we will see. If we don't do it now, I doubt that we will ever get another chance.

So, have a good week. Keep on keeping on. We love all y'all! Elder & Sister Steffler

Aug.16

Don't know what I did, but this is somewhat an idea of what we did a week ago.

A wonderful week getting to know all the new missionaries in Greenville – practice lessons and food! Let's just say we heard the Restoration lesson several times! The first distracting question always trips them up, but they catch on pretty quick. (It looks like a young boy seeing ghosts because they are not on the ground!) The new trainers are learning quickly, too. Not that we are trying to trip them up; you never know what some investigator will say and you need to be on your toes to bring the discussion back where you are in charge.

We were also in charge of the meal on Sunday – mix & mingle, linger longer, meet & greet. We haven't come up with a definitive name yet. Break the fast was such an easy name. We had taco bar/taco salad and everyone loved it. A nice array of desserts doesn't hurt either! Greenville 2nd meets before us and they had ward conference, so there was a lot of food in the kitchen and a little confusion about whose was what. (Ward conferences always involve food because of the distances that stake officers have to travel.) And it didn't help that the meeting went 35 minutes over! Pres. Walker likes to give his whole talk. The clean up went on longer than usual, but we had some good helpers. So glad we didn't have to do it all!

We are enjoying reading the Book of Mormon as a mission and marking doctrine and atonement. I sometimes feel like I'm playing musical pencils! I have gained a deeper love and appreciation for that book during our mission. Wish I had paid more attention to it before. And I don't want to stop reading it when we leave this mission, in just one month now.

We feel so blessed to know all you wonderful missionaries and RMs. We had a great visit with Sydney Jensen and her family – had to feed them bread and jam just so the family knew Syd was not lying about how good it was! It was a delightful visit!

Hope y'all have a blessed week! We love all of you. Elder & Sister Steffler

Sydney Jensen & family

Had a lovely visit with a former missionary & her family August 10.

Temple trip

Young singles at the Raleigh Temple to do baptisms.

August 9

What a wild week – trips to Virginia and Raleigh – all good!

Last Sunday we met a new move-in for the branch. It was a sister that Sister Glaser knew from Smithfield. Also another sister from Greenville 2nd Ward visited with a couple of her friends from Ayden. It was a hallowed Sabbath.

In preparing for a "good-bye" brunch for S. Glaser, I discovered I did not have milk. Elder Steffler came to the rescue and ran (drove) to the store to get some. Can't make crepes without milk! So we cooked link sausages and crepes, but the G2 sisters did not show up on time, so we fed the G1 sisters. G2 did finally show up – they had stopped to help a "homeless" man (who would rather have money than food!) and I cooked fresh crepes for them. Had to say good-bye to S. Glaser; kind of sad. She was in Greenville when we first arrived. She and her trainer had to find a new apartment so we could have theirs. And they helped us haul all of our "stuff" into the apt. Good memories.

Tuesday took YSA elders out for our last lunch with the elder going to Albertson. Gave them back the electric griddle we had borrowed, plus leftover crepes and package of links. They were happy! Made a batch of bread and shared some with Spanish elders and gave them the rest of the loaf. I know how to make missionaries happy!

On our walk Wednesday the temp was 75 degrees and 100% humidity. Yup, we got sweaty. Had a visit with the new move-in; she is a junior majoring in marketing and is pretty excited to be here. Got the car cleaned and the tank filled for our visit to Virginia tomorrow.

Up at 5:30 Thursday, so no exercising. Took two elders with us to the mission conference. There were 186 missionaries and 9 senior couples at the conference. I took two loaves of bread and we gave them to missionaries who had served in Greenville; they were pretty happy. From the opening song How Firm a Foundation to the closing song, what a spiritual high was felt by everyone. The rafters rang with missionary voices singing praises to their God. Sis. Baker spoke of serving with joy and optimism. Pres. Baker spoke on teaching simply and powerfully and briefly, then get out of the way and let the Spirit testify. We are made clean through keeping our covenants. Focus on why we keep the Sabbath Day holy. In the glossary of terms at the back of the pamphlets, only atonement and ordinances are listed in all three. Does that tell you of their importance? Faith and repentance are acts of agency. Without ordinances people cannot have the power of the atonement in their lives. Just a few of the thoughts I jotted down. The mission is reading the Book of Mormon together beginning Sunday and are encouraged to used different colored pencils to highlight doctrines of Christ and the Atonement. Got a new hard-covered BOM. Then to a park for a pig pickin! The temp said 85 but the real feel was 104! Sweltering! Brought back the two Kinston sisters to the church where a member picked them up to take them home. What a day! Long, hot, tiring and joyful! Loved it.

Friday was zone meeting with rain off and on all day. Four new missionaries were introduced; three in Greenville and one in Kinston. Practiced the BOM lesson and signed up for the new carpet cleaner that each zone now has. Went shopping and managed to haul all our groceries in during a lull in the rain – nice. Fed the YSA elders supper and got to know our new YSA elder. Then they role played the Restoration. I only tripped them up a couple of times! E. Steffler says I do it on purpose, but these questions just kind of pop out of my head, like the Catholic church claims it gets its priesthood authority from Peter and also the three main apostles that Christ chose, was the James Christ's brother?

Saturday we tried out the carpet cleaner and E. Steffler really worked hard on some of the stubborn spots. Then we met at the church to take YSA members to the Raleigh Temple for baptisms. Had three stuffed in our back seat and listened to the chatter all the way there. What's said in the car, stays in the car! Wonderful time with the spirit so strong. Two of our members had family names and that made it even more special. Afterwards had the ritual picture taking and Korean BBQ chicken. Still made it home by 8 and yes, we were exhausted.

Good Sabbath at church; good talks and lessons. Now to get the blog and emails all sent out! Hope this finds y'all happy, healthy and enjoying the summer. School starts soon (spoiler)! Love all y'all. Elder & Sister Steffler

Death cake

Sister Glaser going home Aug. 3.

Dancing

We dance only when shamed into it by a YSA member!

Aug. 2

A nonmember read The Bishop's Wife and said she had learned something about the church and wanted a Book of Mormon to learn more, so we bought her a large print one. So Monday we went to Barnes & Noble and bought a copy so I could see what she had learned from it. It was an interesting mystery and there were tidbits included in the story for those who did not know about Mormons. I still want to take Our Search for Happiness to her; M. Russell Ballard does a much more thorough job of explaining what Mormons are all about! Not a lot showed up for FHE, but we picked up a member who did not have a car. I hadn't noticed that we had a cooling trend until it started to warm up again: nights in the upper 70s and highs in the lower 90s.

Tuesday we had to read our new books (E. Steffler found a Cussler he had not yet read). So that took most of our day. We did try to visit some potentials and an inactive but struck out on both accounts.

Wednesday we had our final lesson with G1 sisters then went to eat at Cheddar's. Good times and good food! Sister Blackburn is well on her way to becoming a bold missionary. Spent all afternoon preparing for the meal for the YSA before institute: creamy chicken enchiladas. We made four pans and had a large salad. Most of the salad was gone and all of the enchilidas! If we had made six pans, they probably would have been eaten them, too! Another good lesson of how to incorporate the conference talks into our scripture study. Sister Walker does a good job. I have been copying each talk and making a binder by subject heading – thanks for the idea Sister Jasperson (Jamie).

Met with a new branch member Thursday who had just graduated from high school in Michigan and is living with her sister and brother-in-law in Winterville. She plans to attend BYU-I in January and is an active member. Nice to find a new member who wants to come to church and not hide out! E. Steffler and I switched books and read most of the day.

Friday at district meeting I took a death cake for Sister Glaser who goes home Monday. I don't know why she was surprised; I kept asking her what her favorite cake was. I ended up making a chocolate banana applesauce cake. Course we had to take pictures! Took the district leaders, Elders Pugsley and Funk, to Cheddars for lunch. That evening we drove to Woodington for the Moody reception – and it wasn't until Saturday! The sealing was Friday with the reception the next day. So Saturday we went to the yard sale that Heidi and family were having, then to visit an inactive member down the street – not home, at least, no one came to the door. Then looked up two inactive members who said they had not been members since they were little. But we left them a flyer inviting them to our activities. Then, drove back to Woodington to attend the reception and it was very nice. It is hard to make a gym look decorated, but they did an excellent job. Elder Steffler even asked me to dance after Amanda Keating said he should. I guess he was shamed into it! Got a photo to prove it. Can't remember the last time we danced, it has been that long!

So today we had a spiritual experience at fast and testimony meeting. Good testimonies. And good lessons, too. Our 24-hour fast is going longer than usual because of the reception last night. With transfer calls Saturday, I realized this is our last transfer! Only 6 more weeks. There will be three missionaries training in Greenville! With 31 new missionaries coming into the mission, they have to go somewhere, and three will be in Greenville. That is awesome.

Hope this finds everyone well. Congrats on the new car, Wickards! We love all y'all! Elder & Sister Steffler