Week 18 September 5, 2016    

        FOUR MONTHS OUT

Lane and I have been on our mission for 4 months already!! Can't believe that is 1/3 of our mission completed. It is going by so fast.

TRANSFER DAY IN RALEIGH

Elder Chiu has been transferred to Beaver Creek and Elder Rawlins will become a trainer of our new Elder.

OUR NEW "GREENIE"

Our new elder is Elder Arveseth freshly out from South Jordan, Utah.

GOODBYE SISTER SALLY

We said goodbye to Sister Sally who heads home to Oahu, Hawaii. She was a ball of fire and had a wonderful happy disposition. We wish her well as she transitions into"normal" life again.

UNLOADING AND LOADING

This is what the Raleigh Stake Center parking lot looks like on transfer day. Much loading, unloading, coming and going, hellos and goodbyes!!

OUR NEW DISTRICT SISTERS

Left to right: Sister Smoot (not new), Sister Hunt from Mesa, Arizona, Sister Beard from Nephi, Utah, and Sister Petersen from West Point.

ONE NEW ELDER

Left to right: Elder Arveseth from South Jordan, Utah, Elder Rawlins, Elder Jones (our new District Leader), and Elder Peseta.

"PDAY"

This Monday the three senior couples went for lunch to the DEAD END SALOON at the Southport Yacht Basin. It was such a cute restaurant all painted in skye blue and salmon paint.

SOUTHPORT YACHT BASIN

A gorgeous sight to see all the yachts lined up in the basin. 

LUNCH

I am taking the photo of the Hydes, Madeos, and Lane.

NEW LOOK FISH AND CHIPS

I ordered fish and sweet potato fries. This is what arrived! That is coleslaw on the white plate with two pieces of white fish and delicious sweet potato fries! It was very expensive but very delicious. 

FUZZY PEACH

Our favorite place to go for dessert is the Fuzzy Peach which serves frozen yogurt. While there this man's shirt logo caught our eye and I asked for a photo! He runs a fishing day camp for kids. It is a non denominational camp. He has kids from Baptist to Methodist and other churches who come to enjoy a day at the river fishing. They start with a devotional and prayer before going to hook the "Big One"!

GOPEL DISCUSSION

The three Elders started a hot gospel discussion with Lane enjoying every minute of it!! I am constantly amazed at how this man studies for hours every day. He wakes up any time from 2:30 am to 4:00 am to study and has such a great knowledge of the gospel. We often have good gospel discussions which is helping me learn as well.

DISCUSSION CONTINUES

The ladies went shopping at Catos a really nice clothing store. The men followed and continued their discussion on the sidewalk.

MISSIONARY WORK

This week was a bit upside down and we did not do a ton of visiting. Monday was PDay. Tuesday we took our two Elders to Raleigh for Transfer Day. This is a whole day affair as it is about a 3 hour drive one way. We left at 5:00am to get there by 8:00am. The Elders had training while we went to get our tires rotated and then me another senior couple, the Junckers, for lunch at Chick-fil-a. We picked up Elder Rawlins and our new Elder and arrived home at 5:00pm. Wednesday was District Meeting in Wilmington where we met the three new sisters. We made five visits in the evening and only got a response from two. One, the non member wife was home so we left a message and another pamphlet (this was our second visit to catch the husband home) and another was a lady we have been visiting on and off for a long time. We just popped in to see how she was doing before going to church for the Elders' Book of Mormon class at 7:00pm. Thursday we made several "no one home" visits but did get in to see a couple who live near the chapel. He is a Baptist and she said she was not a member, but she was on the ward list so we are confused. Anyway, they believe that as long as you accept Christ you are saved and going to heaven. This is what most of the churches teach. I wish it was tat easy!! Friday we spent the whole day at home because Hurricane Hermine was barreling up the coast from Florida and we were expecting high winds and drenching rains. We had a storm watch here in Leland. Well the hurricane was downgraded to a tropical storm. We did not get the high winds but it poured with rain for 24 hours!!! 

Hope you all enjoyed your Labor Day week end. We are loving our mission and the people of North Carolina! We think of you and pray for each one of you every day.

Scripture: Inspirational verses when going through difficult times:

D&C 78: 17 - 18

17 Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you;

18 And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.