Wind and rain kept us off the beach.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
January 25
A week in review:
On Sunday Jan. 18 we went to 9 a.m. church to greet an investigator who could not make the 11 a.m. meeting because she had to work. Well, turns out she could not make the 9 a.m. either. Had branch council even with the branch president and his family gone to Utah to visit (long weekend at school). Took brownies to entice the singles to stay for all 3 hours; had quite a few who did! Had dinner at the Paries home with the YSA elders. I love Sis. Paries and her meals; she really knows how to put on a spread. She said it was just soup and salad – don't believe it! Homemade chicken tortilla soup with 2 kinds of salsa; baby greens salad with almonds, cheese and pomegranate seeds; ginger cake with a pear sauce over it. All to die for. That evening the G1 sisters came by to borrow the key to the family history room; the G2 sisters came for a blessing (gloomy rainy days do not help depression!).
Monday I organized our spare bedroom. There are still piles of papers, but they are organized into groups. Found lots of things I had forgotten about. Missionary correlation before FHE. Played human battleship – about 5 games of it. The singles had fun; then stayed and chatted (fellowshipped!) afterwards. Our investigator was there and had a good time talking with girls.
Tuesday was sunny and in the 60s. Got a call to give a blessing to the other set of sister missionaries. Then had the YSA elders for a practice lesson and lunch. Both looked more relaxed. They were trying for 15 minute lesson, and went over, again. Made omelets and toast and jam. Had two sister members for supper – the start of our missionary meals where we feed the members instead of visa versa. Made spaghetti and green salad, with bread and jam, strawberries and Nutella. Had a lesson with them. Read more of D&C commentary and a couple of conference talks. Talked with Lena and Teezha has pneumonia and feeling rotten. Got caught up on all the happenings in their family.
Wednesday was a lazy day. Made chocolate chip oatmeal cookies for Sunday and that's about it. Had a practice lesson with G2 sisters. Went early to institute so I could practice piano. Ended up having to play for institute! Elders were late from their dinner appointment. Stevon lead the music and gave the spiritual thought. Sis. Walker was back and had 16 – 4 new attendees.
Thursday made a batch of bread so I could take some to Nags Head for the Senior Missionary Couple Retreat. G1 sisters came by to borrow some oil – just in time for warm bread. Visited with Joanna and read same lesson as last time. She was having a bad day; we tried to succor her as best we could. Stevon came for supper; his brother would not come, even for teriyaki chicken. He is trying hard to become an elder; gave him a BOM to give away.
Friday had district meeting and had everything packed and almost to church when I looked at my phone and the G 1 sisters had called to ask for a ride to meeting. So went back to pick them up; still early. Good meeting; role played 5-minute plan of salvation. We watched G2 elders and YSA elders; both did good. Took sisters home then headed down 903 to Nags Head. Stopped to see Sweetie (a G1 sisters investigator), since we drove right by her door. She told us about her job hunt (unsuccessful). At Nags Head we were assigned to a beach house that was 3 stories high; we chose the bottom floor – and there was an elevator! Had 22 people in attendance. Snacked and had supper and a program. Got to learn about some of the other couples; good spirit. Played Dominos with some of the couples (and more food, of course) then went to bed.
Saturday woke up to blustery wind, rain and tide up; hardly any beach to walk on, if we had wanted to. Temp was in the mid 50s but with rain and wind, no thanks! Pres. and Sis. Baker provided breakfast of yogurt banana splits; yummy and my bread toasted with honey butter. Had a group photo, cleaned up some and headed out. Stopped at NC Aquarium in Manteo; pretty impressive. Had lots of fish, a white alligator, snakes and a shark tank; 3 kinds of sharks, largest about 350#. Had two divers in the tank who conversed with us writing on boards. Very interesting. The black and white pole disorients the sharks, somewhat, for protection. The sharks are fed 3 times a week and the fish 5 times, so none are very hungry. Got home and unpacked and laundered the towel we had dirtied and read some scriptures. Our bed felt really good. Filled up the car, again, and the whole trip only cost about $21 in gas – nice.
So another week gone by and a busy one coming up of feeding members and teaching our investigator (again!). We love the gospel and being on a mission. We don't miss TV or radio (my novels, maybe a little) and love reading scriptures. Try it; you'll like it! May the good Lord bless and keep all y'all this week. We love you. Elder & Sister Steffler
Saturday, January 24, 2015
Sunday, January 18, 2015
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
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Jan. 11
Another week before the branch members return, so it was pretty slow, as far as missionary work goes. Jan. 5 was Rylin's 4th birthday. Four years ago Maike watched Collin and Ashlyn so I could be with Tina when Rylin was born. Lots of water under the bridge since then! Said good-bye to Elder Bauman; they were on their way to Walmart to find something for his future wife, so he could tell her he thought about her on his mission. (His brother said he had to do that!) FHE was a little thin; I was surprised that it was held. Only about 10 came; played Smurf.
Gassed up the car Tuesday for $2.14 gal. I saw on facebook that it was under $2 in Idaho! Great. Elder Steffler's doctor appointment with the cardiologist went ok. He lost 3 lbs (over the holidays, even!) and blood pressure was low. His doc told him that when the bp is too low, you can feel tired and not have enough energy, so she cut one of his heart meds in half. Got a text from our investigator and she wants another lesson! So happy. Made a batch of bread and invited the elders over for warm bread and honey butter. Each threesome ate a loaf! They were in threesomes because of transfers. Finally saw G2 sisters and gave Sis. Whetten an Indian trinket. She chose a hair clasp, beaded of course. We loaned our GPS to Sis. Hansen so she could find her way back from Virginia after the training meeting. Sis. Whetten is taking hers with her to Franklin, VA.
Taught Sarah the plan of salvation Wednesday. She said the closing prayer and it was awesome! Got a perm at Mitchell's and E. Steffler got his hair trimmed and got our new president books spiral bound and front and back pages laminated. Elder Siddoway and his new companion, E. Lewis from Mesa AZ, came for supper and bread – another bread convert! We are now friends on fb with about all the missionaries that went home Monday; so fun.
Thursday was our coldest day yet; 14 degrees and we went walking, only about half a mile before we stopped so we would not get frost bite. Went to the movie "Into the Woods" because our appointment fell through in the afternoon. A musical with four or five fairy tales woven in together. Kind of crazy. Started hemming a skirt that was given to me. E. Steffler got on the floor so he could mark it; what a sweetie. Got it hemmed. Finished reading Alma and started on conference talks.
Took G1 sisters with us to district meeting. Got to meet all the new missionaries. E. Hiraldo is the new district leader, his new companion is E. Martinez from Caldwell, Idaho! Hermana Fields is in a zebra companionship (she is Spanish speaking and her companion is English speaking) and is from Utah. Elder Williams (from Utah) is companion to E. Hunter, zone leader. Only two companionships did not change. We role played presenting the restoration in 5 minutes. It is really hard to do! Then we practiced different methods of introducing a lesson (to get rid of the awkward "let's get started"!). Had a missionary correlation with Taylor Given, who is back from Disneyworld (he worked there during the break). It was good to talk about some of our problem areas. Made another batch of bread. E. Siddoway said that my bread is "holy" or "sactified" because it feeds the missionaries! Started listening to a download from E. Bauman on Skousen's BOM lectures. Outlines the historical background so you can understand why they did what they did. Also, the language. The brass plates were written in Egyptian; they needed it so they could remember how to write Egyptian, not so much for the spoken language. Names in the BOM were of Egyptian origin. Lots of things I did not know.
Saturday we walked the path behind the park because next week it is going to rain most of the week and we won't want to walk it then – too muddy. No deer this time, but still lots of things to see. I have been reading the Bible, word for word! Have read Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Joel, Obediah, Amos and Jonah. So interesting. Each prophet had something to say about the latter days. Also read all the life story of Ezra Taft Benson in the new presidency book. If you have not read it, I encourage you to; he had a marvelous life. And Flora just wanted to marry a farmer – and he ends up president of the church! His agricultural background benefitted people around the world. From Skousen we learned that Lehi and Sarah had at least 4 children in the wilderness! Very interesting.
Another week gone by. Good to have branch meetings today. Off to a good start for the new year. Happy birthday to Nate tomorrow! Love all my children and grandchildren. Hope you have all had a good Sabbath. We love all y'all. God bless. Elder and Sister Steffler
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