17  29 August 2016

CAROLINA BEACH

Our senior missionary friends were busy this last "PDay" so Lane and I spent a wonderful 3 hours on Carolina Beach. The day was warm and so was the sea.

SAFETY IN THE SHADE

The sun was really hot so Lane and I sat on our new beach chairs in the shade of our faithful old black umbrella. Here Lane is holding the umbrella with Carolina Beach in the background.

SEAGULLS 

The seagulls hung around us because Lane kept feeding them our cookies.

DISTRICT MEETING

Companionships preparing presentations at our last District Meteting.

ENJOYING LUNCH

Here the sisters and elders are enjoying bbq pulled pork on torta rolls with salad and fruit. We also had key lime pie for dessert. Once a month Lane and I provide lunch for everyone. The missionaries must have enjoyed the food as there was very little left over. Thank you Costco!

PIGGLY WIGGLY

We learned from members that the Piggly Wiggly is the place to buy our meat. It is all freshly cut and of good quality. I love the cute name.

OUR CONDOMINIUM POOL

We try to spend an hour at our condo pool every week to get a little vitamin D and exercise. The water is pleasantly warm and we enjoy floating around on our pink and blue noodles.

FAITHFUL FRIEND

Just in closing, our faithful little friend now swims across the pond to meet us when we visit him. This is not usual and we are sure someone is feeding him and he thinks we have food for him. As he gets bigger this may become a problem. We still have not seen the baby alligator which is said to be in the pond?

MISSIONARY WORK

We have fallen into a pattern with our missionary work. We have found very few folks home in the morning and that late afternoons and evenings are our best time to find anyone to visit. We also make a few visits to active members so that we can get to know everyone in the ward. Armed with an outdated ward list we pick a number of addresses to call on and then set off in our faithful Santa Fe with our GPS on my cell phone at the ready. We find many of those listed on the list have moved away. We try to get new addresses but most of the time no one knows where the previous residents have located to. This week we did find a young couple that we want to start visiting. We found the young man home. His work requires 3 days on and 3 days off. We caught him on one of his days off. He is a returned missionary and invited us in. We had a good discussion with him and he admitted that they had discussed starting to attend church again. She was raised in the church and her dad was a bishop. We did not get to meet her as she was at work. We will visit both of them in the coming week some time. Hopefully we can have some success helping them get their lives back on track. We also got to see a retired lady we have been trying to visit for some time now. She was happy to see us and we answered a few questions she had about the gospel. She also told us about her children who are all inactive. We returned the next day to visit two of them but found no one home. We will go back again. We met an old man who lives quite far out in the woods who has not been to church for 5 years and he said he was not interested. He was like a hermit living by himself with no friends. What a lonely life. We offered him a packet of cookies but he said he had diabetes and wouldn't be able to eat them. We left him one of our pamphlets with our name and number, in the event he needed our help with something. On Saturday we felt like we needed a bit of an uplift so we baked bread and delivered loaves to two active families. Today, at church, we found out that our Elder Chiu has been transferred to Beaver Creek, near Raleigh. He has been in Leland just over 4 months. Tuesday we will be leaving at 5 am to take our two missionaries to Raleigh for the transfer. Elder Rawlins will get a "greenie" companion, fresh out of the MTC!

President Monson Quote: "May we ever choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong."

Week 16 August 16, 2016

CHOIR

The missionaries and Elder Martin and I have joined the choir. We sang in church this past Sunday and Sister Child made corsages for everyone.

ELDERS' QUORUM COOKOUT

The Elders Quorum organized a softball game and cookout this Saturday. Our two Elders enjoying the hotdogs, hamburgers, salads and desserts. They live in a small house right across the road from the ballpark. This was like an extra PDay for them.

INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY TRIBUTARY

This is a tributary of the Intracoastal Waterway which runs past the bottom of Venus Ganey's property. The 3000 mile Intracoastal Waterway runs from Boston along the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico Coast, around the southern tip of Florida then follows the Gulf Coast to Brownsville, Texas. Isn't that amazing!

VENUS GANEY

Venus is a widow in her 80s and we visit her from time to time. She is the sweetest person and we enjoy our time with her. 

FISHY FISHY

This PDay the senior missionaries went to lunch at a restaurant on the Cape Fear River that serves really good seafood. I had a salmon sandwich with goats cheese and pesto. It was served with sweet potato fries. Yummy!!!

VIEW OF THE DOCK

The restaurant had a deck area overlooking these boats tied up alongside on the Cape Fear River.

LUNCH ON DECK

Left to right - Elder Madeo, Sister Madeo, Sister Hyde, Sister Martin, Elder Martin and Elder Hyde.

FUN PLAQUES 

These fun plaques were up all over the restaurant walls and solicited some smiles from the patrons. 

A.S.A.P.

AS SOUTHERN AS POSSIBLE

MISSIONARY WORK

We had our usual cancellations and "not home" visits but did have good visits with some home bound and less active members. Our friends, Babs Oxendine and her husband, have moved from their trailer to a camp sight in Wilmington. We have some new members moved in form Vernal in Utah. The Rohns consist of Mom, Dad and three children. Dad works in the oil fields and is away a lot of the time. He and the oldest son, Greg, were away when Elder Martin and I paid a visit to the family. We enjoyed getting to know Juanita (Mom), Tristan (son) and Samantha (daughter). Nita is the secretary at a local school, Tristan is an avid golfer and has won a number of tournaments and Sam is going to Middle School this year. They are a fun family. We also paid a visit to our friend Venus Ganey (photos above) and took a walk down to the bottom of her gorgeous garden on the Intracoastal Waterway. Our appointments with Ruth were cancelled and rescheduled for this coming Wednesday.

SCRIPTURE: Alma 42:15 And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also.

Week 14/15 August July 31 - Aug 10

NORTH CAROLINA MISSIONARIES

Elder Martin and I are so blessed to be in this beautiful part of the USA! We serve in Leland in North Carolina which is an area covered in trees! It is very hot but very beautiful! 

NEW SISTER - SISTER SMOOT

Sister Smoot (Highland) is a new transfer to Wilmington and Sister Sally who only has two weeks left on her mission before she heads home to Hawaii.

NEW SISTER - SISTER STREETMAN

Sister Donaldson's new companion is Sister Streetman (Arizona).

NEW ELDERS

Two new Elders - Elder Jones on the left is from Centerville in Utah and Elder Peseta is from Hawaii.

RUTH DIAZ

We are teaching a wonderful lady, Ruth Diaz, who lives in our apartment complex. She is very religious and interested in what the Elders are teaching her. We have given her two lessons and have an appointment for a third lesson this Saturday.

"P-Day"

We had lunch at a new Provision Company restaurant. It is at Supply, a city near to Southport. We drove over a beautiful bridge as we crossed the Inter Coastal Waterway. This waterway winds its way all the way down to Florida!

YACHT BASIN

The Provision Company is in a yacht basin with many beautiful boats tied up on the river.

LUNCH AT PROVISION COMPANY RESTAURANT

Nancy, Peggy and me in the restaurant. It is an open air area where you can enjoy the cool sea breeze while you eat. I had the yellow fin tuna salad again. It is always delicious.

HOLDEN BEACH

After lunch we sat on Holden Beach for an hour or so to enjoy the Atlantic Ocean and all the holiday makers swimming and jumping over the waves. I picked up a few "clam" shells on the beach. Peggy and Nancy on the right and Lane on the left. We sat under the umbrella as the sun was very hot.

SUNSHINE, SEA AND SAND

Lane and me enjoying the sunny weather at the beach.

DISTRICT MEETING

We had fun at District Meeting doing role plays. The different groups had to pretend that they were meeting investigators at the "bus stop", "eating snow cones", "walking the dog" and a group "hanging out".

ELDERS ROLE PLAYING

Elder Jones being approached by Elder Chiu and Rawlins.

SISTERS ROLE PLAYING

Sister Donaldson and Streetman contacting Elder Rawlins walking his "dog".

GROUP HANG OUT

This was a group of "university students" hanging out and being confronted by Elder Jones and Peseta.

MISSIONARY WORK

We are working with the Elders to teach a lady called Ruth Diaz who lives in our apartment complex. She is Spanish speaking and has taught Spanish in the North Carolina schools for many years. Her English is very good although she has a broad Spanish accent. She is now retired. She has always been religious and comes from a religious family. She attends one of the Evangelical churches at the moment. She has had contact with Mormons during her teaching career and was impressed by what they had to say, so she knows a little about our religion. When the missionaries presented the Plan of Salvation she was so excited and said she had learned things she had been wondering about for 35 years! She is reading the Book of Mormon and had some questions for us about the Book of Moroni. The Elders have given her an English and Spanish copy of the BOM. We have a third meeting with her this coming Saturday. We have also been visiting with another young lady who has been inactive since she was a teenager. She has had some great struggles in her life but has found her way back to the Savior. She now attends the Methodist Church. We had a good 2 hour meeting with her, going over the apostasy and restoration, and will continue to visit with her to discuss the fullness of the restored gospel. The Elders and Lane and I had a delicious dinner with Danny and Tammy Skipper this past week. We really enjoy going to members for dinner as we get to know the family on a "one on one" basis and develop a closer relationship with them. 

One thing Elder Martin and I have come to realize is that there are so many people struggling with children who have no desire to attend church or follow the Savior. Many have been raised in the gospel, completed Seminary etc. but just want to go their own way. It is so sad as we know the importance of our choices are going to affect our eternal lives. President Monson has said that this life is our ONE SHOT at mortality. This is our final exam before judgement and our choices are critical. 

Moses 1:39
For behold, this is my work and my glory - to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

Week 13, 1 August 2016

LAKE WACCAMAW, GOD'S GIFT TO NORTH CAROLINA

The three senior couples paid a visit to Lake Waccamaw for our P-Day outing this week. It was such a beautiful little area with the huge lake, swamps, a canal, gorgeous homes and plenty of magnificent trees with the graceful Spanish Moss swaying from the branches. This photo was taken on the wooden dock that stretches out into the rust colored water of the lake.

LAKE WACCAMAW

You can see the wooden dock and the lake in the background. We had a seafood lunch at a restaurant overlooking the lake.

                                                                  SPANISH MOSS

Spanish Moss is a plant that grows on the branches of trees and lives off the moisture and minerals in the air.

WACCAMAW CANAL

This is the canal which runs along the edge of a huge swamp. The road follows the same path as the canal. We stopped to look at the turtles, alligators and birds which call this area "home".

BALD HEAD ISLAND

We were very fortunate to be invited on a second P-Day this week. Bishop Oliviera and his wife Kathy invited the senior missionaries to sail on their yacht to Bald Head Island. This was a wonderful opportunity to visit this famous island. This is Bishop tying the yacht to the dock. 

A SAILING WE SHALL GO!!!!

Here we are leaving the port to sail across the Cape Fear River. The journey took a little over one hour. The day was extremely hot but the sea breeze was refreshing and kept us comfortable. The only way to get to the island is by sea. There is a ferry that travels back and forth. It costs $25 for the trip.

 PORT

This was the port from which we sailed out into the river. There were some beautiful boats tied up to the docks. This is how the rich and famous live!!

LANE AT THE WHEEL

Each of the Elders took a turn to steer the yacht. Lane at the wheel enjoying the feeling of being in control. The boat has a sail as well as a motor. The motor is used when exiting and entering a port. If the need arises you could use it out at sea as well.

BISHOP OLIVIERA AND KATHY

Proud owners of the yacht. They absolutely love sailing and you can see the enthusiasm bubbling out of them as they skipper their baby!

SIX SEATER GOLF CART - MODE OF TRANSPORT

The only way to get around the island is to hire a golf cart or a bicycle. We obviously chose the golf cart so that we could all pile in together for the jaunt. Part of the island is thick with trees and one drives through tunnels of green with thick forest on each side. Homes are tucked at intervals between the trees. Part of the island has some sparse shrubs, a golf course and many million dollar homes, especially along the water's edge.

BALD ISLAND LIGHT HOUSE

This is Carolina's oldest lighthouse. Built in 1818, after the banks under the foundations of the original  lighthouse (1797) eroded, Old Baldy is still in use.

THE PROVISION COMPANY

This was our second visit to the Provision Company on the Southport waterfront. After our return trip we were hungry for seafood from our favorite restaurant. 

SHRIMP AND CRAB CAKES

This is what I had for lunch. It was delicious but, as most of my friends know, I don't do "spicy" or "peppery" and the prawns were steamed in a peppery sauce. 

DISTRICT MEETING

We have two new sisters and two new elders in our district. Sister Smoot is in the turquoise top and hales from Las Vegas, Nevada.

DISTRICT MEETING

Our second new sister is Sister Streetman from Highland, Utah (far left). Elder Peseta (close right) is from Hawaii. The second new elder is Elder Brazinsky (not shown) who is from Montana and is our district leader's companion and they were not at this meeting.

MISSIONARY WORK

We had our usual "not home" visits this week but did, however, find Rebecca home and had a good conversation with her. Lane was able to clear up a few questions she had and we will visit her again. We had the name of a young mom to visit. We contacted her on our 6th try. She stepped neatly outside, closed the door behind her and told us she was not interested in the church, this before we had chance to say anything to her. So sad to see some folks who don't realize the enormity of their choices. We gave her our card with our phone number on it and told her to call if she ever needed anything. I don't think we will be hearing from her any time soon. We drove the Elders to an address 45 minutes away to deliver a Book of Mormon that had been requested on the internet. Eletha was a black Baptist lady and she kept us there for over an hour. We did, however, not get many words in edgeways as she happily dominated the conversation. The Elders will turn her name over to the Shalotte elders for further contact as she is out of our area. We visited Babs who was busy moving but had tooth surgery and was not feeling very well. We also went to see Sister Honeyman who had a toe removed from diabetes complications. She is doing as well as can be expected. Tuesday night was RS Craft night and I attempted to make a red, white and blue wreath. It is not finished but I will post a photo when I eventually get time to complete the project.

On Saturday evening we were invited, with the Elders, to eat with Brother and Sister Ellenberg. Brother Ellenberg is the second councillor in the Bishopric. Sister Ellenberg served delicious stroganoff with cheesecake for dessert. After dinner we accompanied the Elders to an appointment with Ruth Diaz who lives in our apartment complex. She is from Guatemala  and speaks Spanish. Her English is very good too. She taught Spanish in the elementary schools in North Carolina for many years and is now retired. She is somewhat familiar with "Mormons" as she has had work associates who belonged to the church. She had only praise for them. She told us she had been wondering about "Hell" lately. As she was swimming in the pool she wondered what the Mormons taught about "Hell". As she looked up, lo and behold,  she saw our two missionaries talking to a young man they have been teaching. She went home and soon there was a knock on the door. The missionaries had traced her out! She made an appointment for them to come back to teach her and hence our visit on Saturday night. We were there for 2 hours and will visit again next week. She seems to be a "golden" contact.

Scripture

"For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God: yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors." (Alma 34:32)

Years ago we had to memorize this scripture in Mutual and used to recite it at every meeting. Truly this life is our final test, our graduating exam and we must not procrastinate the day of our repentance.

Press forward with faith and a perfect hope in God.