Week 27     October 31, 2016                  HALLOWEEN 2016

PDAY IN WILMINGTON

Our three senior couples visited the Wilmington Broadwalk.

ELIJAH'S

We had a delicious lunch at Elijah's on the broad walk. I had the tuna steak sandwich and Lane had fish and chips.

MARTINS

Lane and I on the broad walk.

OSEY SAUNDERS

Elder Rawlins and Elder Arveseth with Osey Saunders who was baptized last week on Saturday. The Elders tracted Osey out and we were so excited that he has chosen to be baptized! We know he will be richly blessed following in his Savior's footsteps.

LANE AND ME WITH BROTHER OSEY AND JEFF HOLLIS

Lane and I with Osey Saunders and Jeff Hollis who assisted the missionaries in teaching Osey and had the privilege of baptizing him.

RELIEF SOCIETY MURDER MISTERY DINNER

Relief Society sisters gathered for a fun dinner and mystery murder. We were given clues to a murder mystery and had to figure out who the culprit was.

TRUNK OR TREAT

 
Our two missionaries really got into the spirit of Halloween by doing their own "Trick or Treating"!

STAR WARS COUPLE

Lane and me practicing sword fighting in front of the missionaries decorated trunk.

CHILI COOK OFF

Our ward had a chili cook off before the trunk or treat. It was fun fun fun!!

PIRATES AND PRINCESSES

The Bowman's in our ward hosted a fantastic Halloween party at their home. They certainly went all out with the decorations! There was also great food. This pirate at the entrance to the property advised you that you had found your destination. There was a whole front garden full of witches, ghosts and ghouls.

WELCOME

This gentleman was at the front door to greet the guests! They had skeletons dancing in a circle in the garden and a huge blow up slide/jumping castle for the kids. Everyone was dressed up for the occasion.

HURRICANE MATTHEW

Lane and me standing on the back steps of the home we were sent to help clean up. The members were divided into teams and sent to different homes affected by the flood waters from Hurricane Matthew.

LOST!

Mary, the widow who owns this home, has lost not only the home but almost all of her belongings. FEMA has offered her $6000 for her home! She had no flood insurance.

RUBBLE

This is what the roadway looked like in front of the house. Everything was dumped in a mountain of debris waiting for the city to come and collect it and take it to the dump.

MISSIONARY WORK

Once again we had a first hand view of where bad choices can lead one. We traveled down a backwoods road looking for an inactive member. Our GPS lead us to pull up in the drive of a treed property with a rather old home and a shed. There were a number of persons coming and going from the shed. Outside they had a large bonfire going. One of the men, an older man, made his way slowly and hesitantly to our car. With eyes barely open he asked what we wanted. We told him the name of the gentleman we were seeking. Lo and behold, he was IT. He was very friendly but one could see he was under the influence of something, not sure what! We chatted with this lost soul. He had not been active for many years and had been in and out of prison 8 times. He did not elaborate except to say he was currently on parole for cutting someone up real bad! We invited him to church but know the invitation fell on deaf ears. Such sadness in our world. It breaks your heart to see the path that some folks follow. A path that leads to unhappiness and incarceration.

On a happier note we witnessed Osey Saunders' baptism. What a wonderful time for him. He is going to be an incredible member of the church and has a strong testimony.

This past Sunday was different. We attended sacrament meeting then headed home to change into work clothes and then met back at the chapel. We were divided into teams and assigned to different projects where folks needed help cleaning up homes and properties damaged by the rising waters of the Black River which rose 22 feet as a result of Hurricane Matthew. Our team went to a little wooden house which had been under 3 feet of water. Mary, the owner, is a widow. She stood confused and devastated as we emptied her house of its contents and then started ripping out walls and floors. The rubble, consisting of plaster board, wood, kitchen sink, furniture, clothing, books etc was piled high on the side of the country road in front of her home. I heard that FEMA had offered her $6000 compensation!! She had no flood insurance. I am not sure what she will do, whether she will sell the property or try to rebuild. As we left after the cleanup, we drove home with a prayer in our hearts for Mary and the other folks who have lost so much in the wake of this disaster.

SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK (Courtesy of my granddaughter)

"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." (Joshua 1:9)

Week 25/26    October 18/24, 2016

FISHY FISHY

Wonderful seafood lunch! I had blackened tuna sandwich with sweet potato fries.

LOVE THE ATLANTIC

The Atlantic Ocean is so warm with no rough crashing waves like the Pacific in California. I would love to have a long swim in this ocean.

GOOD FRIENDS

Peggy Hyde, Nancy Madeo and Maureen Martin - three senior missionaries loving the sea, sun and sand.

THREE COUPLES ON PDAY!

The Madeos brought their canopy to the beach. We asked a lady sitting near us to take our photo relaxing at Caswell Beach, in the gorgeous, warm, fall weather. 

OSEY SAUNDERS' BAPTISM

Elder Rawlins, Osey Saunders, Jeff Hollis and Elder Arveseth before the actual baptism.

TESTIMONY

After his baptism Brother Saunders bore his testimony. This is unusual, but he has such a strong conviction that he requested to bear his testimony.

REFRESHMENTS

After the baptism we had refreshments in the RS Room.

PDAY AT WILMINGTON WATERFRONT

Three senior sister missionaries on the broad walk in Wilmington. It was a glorious day and we were enjoying the warm fall sunshine.

THREE SENIOR COUPLES

Madeos, Martins and Hydes outside the restaurant on the Wilmington Broadwalk.

ELIJA'S RESTAURANT

This is Elijah's. We had a delicious lunch. I had the usual tuna sandwich, Lane had the fish and chips.

MISSIONARY WORK

We had a couple of interesting experiences this past week. First we were requested to visit someone in jail. It was a sad tale we heard of choices that have led this person down the wrong road and now they face up to 40 years behind bars. One thing we have confirmed on this mission is how critical our choices are to our future. Second, we were at Costco buying lunch. Lane put a $10 note on the counter and before the clerk could take the money a young lady standing next to us handed her credit card over and said she wanted to pay for our food! We were stunned! It turns out that the young lady is an inactive mormon, recognized our badges and wanted to do us a good turn. After expressing our gratitude for the unexpected gift, we proceeded to eat our lunch together. After a life of being fully active in the church this lady went through a divorce. It was a difficult time and she moved with her two children to another town. Because of the trials she endured she became inactive. We told her that this meeting was not a coincidence! We knew that we had been put in her path for a purpose! We told her how important it was that her children be taught the gospel while young and that if she returned to fellowship it would bring her peace, comfort and stability in her and her family's life. We bore our testimonies to her. She was very receptive and gave us her address and phone number and we in turn passed that on to the two sister missionaries in her area. They have an appointment to visit the family and we also have a date to take them out to lunch in a weeks time. God works in mysterious ways. We always pray that we will be lead to those whom we can help. The third blessing was our second baptism in two weeks! The Elders tracted out a wonderful family. The head of the family, Osey Saunders, was impressed to let the missionaries into his home when they called. They commenced teaching them and that was the beginning of the end! He was soon studying, reading and researching the gospel himself and received a strong witness that it was true. He was baptized this past Saturday, confirmed on Sunday and now starts a lifetime of learning and progressing in the gospel. We are hopeful that his wife and grandson will soon follow his example into the waters of baptism. 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK:

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18)

No matter what our weaknesses or sins are, the Lord will forgive us if we will repent and follow Him.

Week 24, 10 October 2016

CASWELL BEACH

Out and about on Pday after Hurricane Matthew. The sea was calm and we walked and picked up a few shells. You can spot the seaweed on the beach, the only sign of the rough seas for which Hurricane Matthew was responsible.

BURNEY'S BAKERY

Our favorite place we visit every Pday, Burney's Bakery, had their sign demolished by the hurricane.

SUNDAY DINNER

The Goodsen family invited us to dinner on Sunday Evening. Our two elders on the right! Sister Goodsen in the turquoise tshirt.

Sorry about the "extras" in this photo but it gives you an idea of the damage in Southport on the Cape Fear River. These are two of our favorite restaurants during the storm.

UPROOTED

This is a huge tree in a ward members home that was toppled over by Hurricane Matthew.

SAVED BY THE BELL

The tree fell right next to the house and only damaged the back porch. The family is still waiting for the insurance adjusters to come and assess the damage before getting the tree removed.

BELLAMY MANSION HISTORICAL MUSEUM

The Hydes are leaving us in about 3 weeks and they wanted to visit the Bellamy Mansion Museum. We went with one other senior couple on a tour of the house. It was home to a Dr. Bellamy, his wife and ten children.

SLAVE QUARTERS

These slave quarters at the back of the property housed about 10 slaves.

BACK PORCH

The house was built during the late 1850s - early 1860s and was used by the Union Army as their Wilmington Headquarters during the Civil War.

DINING ROOM

This is a photo of the dining room with the table laid ready for dinner. The tour lasted almost two hours and really gave you feel for what life was like during those years.

MISSIONARY WORK

Every week we have many unreturned phone calls and text messages besides those who are visited and have no interest in returning to church. We met with the Relief Society President who gave us the names of 25 sisters about whom she knew nothing. She wanted us to find them so that she could assign Visiting Teachers. We set out with our list and, par for the course, found 10 had moved, 12 not interested, 1 that will accept VT, 2 we were not able to find. It is amazing to hear the stories they tell about their lives and tragedies!! Divorce is a huge factor in so many lives, marrying outside of the church and attending other faiths. Most believe that all is well and they will still go to "heaven".  We are looking forward to a new experience this week. The mission office contacted us with a request from a member in Utah, to visit his ex son-in-law who is in prison here in Leland. We are going to visit him on Tuesday morning to hear another sad tale of a life gone wrong. We are truly having an amazing adventure which is teaching us, more clearly than ever before, how important faithfulness to the gospel and commandments is to our happiness.

 THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK (courtesy of Lane)

"The convincing power of the Holy Ghost is so great that there can be no doubt that what he reveals to us is true. Through the Holy Ghost the truth is woven into the very fibre and sinews of the body so that it cannot be forgotten."  President Joseph Fielding Smith (Doctrines of Salvation)

WEEK 23 OCTOBER 3, 2016

FUZZY PEACH PDAY

Today we had hamburgers at Eric's Grille, then Burney's Bakery, then Fuzzy Peach.

CASWELL BEACH

One of our favorite things to do is to visit the beach on PDays. There must have been tons of fish as there were numerous fishing boats out, pelicans diving for food and schools of dolphins swimming by. All seemed to be after the same thing - fish!! It was glorious enjoying the beauties of nature.

TRI-ZONE MISSIONARY CONFERENCE NEAR FAYETTEVILLE

Our Tri-Zone Missionary Conference was held in Fayetteville at a farm belonging to President Caplett, who is in the mission presidency. It was gorgeous with plenty of trees and a lake.

MISSIONARY CONFERENCE

Everyone sat in a semi circle under an outside structure with a roof to protect us from the sun. There was no sun, however, only thick clouds. There were several thoughts shared before President James instructed us. We finished the meeting with the departing missionaries baring their testimonies.

LUNCH

We were served white chicken chili on chips with lettuce, tomatoes and guacamole. In the photo (left to right) Junckers, Peggy Hyde, Sister Jan James, Vaughn Hyde, Lane and me.

FEEDING OUR FACES

The seniors enjoying their lunch.

SENIOR PHOTO

This is a photo of all the senior missionaries attending the conference. Lane and I are on the extreme right.

FIRST CONVERT BAPTISM IN A YEAR

Elder Rawlins and Arveseth with Sarah Conner who is the Leland Ward's first convert baptism in about a year.

BAPTISM

Brother Jeff Hollis baptized Sarah with the two Elders as witnesses. The baptism took place at our ward chapel.

             ELDER RAWLINS                                                   ELDER ARVESETH

BODIE AND KAYLA

Bodie Hollis is a returned missionary and he and Kayla are close friends. We are hoping that the missionaries will be able to teach and baptize Kayla as she is not a member at this point.

SARAH'S FAMILY

This is Sarah with her fiancé Blaine Hollis, her mom and two sisters. Sarah's family are not members but are supportive of her being baptized.

HURRICANE MATTHEW

Lane and the two Elders, Rawlins and Arveseth cleaning up a members yard after the damage done by Hurricane Matthew. The same little wooden house I have posted previously.

UPROOTED TREE

Just down the road from the little wooden house we came across this massive tree that had been uprooted.

ROOTS

The other end of the uprooted tree.

TWO STEEPLES

The Baptist Church down the road from our Chapel lost its steeple. We joked that next to the Baptist steeple is the steeple of the TRUE CHURCH.

SERVICE FOR THE RED CROSS

Lane helping the Red Cross, carrying out cots from the temporary shelter at the local school and loading them onto the truck.

MISSIONARY WORK

Three important events occurred this week. Firstly, we had our Tri-Zone Missionary Conference at a farm near Fayetteville belonging to President Caplett who is a counselor to the Mission President. It was a gorgeous venue with a lake, a bridge, pagodas and a river flowing through. We all had a wonderful day. The young missionaries plus all the seniors from 3 zones attended. We started with a meeting. There were a few shared thoughts and talks then instruction from President James and Sister James. The local ward Relief Society fed us white chicken chili with grapes and mousse for dessert. In the afternoon the young missionaries were divided into teams and participated in competitive games. There was an egg and spoon race, sack race, three legged race, pole race and fishing in the lake. We ended with a talk from President Caplett and testimonies from missionaries who were leaving for home in the near future.

Secondly, our two elders had their first baptism. Sarah Conner was baptized by Brother Jeff Hollis. Elder Rawlins gave a talk on the Holy Ghost and Elder Arveseth said the closing prayer. Sister Hollis had organized a beautiful cake and other refreshments afterwards. It was a happy celebration.

Thirdly, we had the arrival of Hurricane Matthew to the south east of the USA. After making its way through Haiti, Matthew hit the Florida coast then made his way up through Greorgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and then up to Virginia. It was the worst storm to hit North Carolina in 10 years and we did get the most damage of all the states. Originally he was supposed to veer away from us out to sea, but at the last minute he swerved inland and did his damage. We were in one of the luckier 

areas, in that we did not get major damage. Cities and areas west of us were very badly hit. We have had 19 deaths and there was about $10,000,000 damage done all in all. Matthew hit on Saturday into Sunday  morning. Our church services were cancelled so we picked up our two elders and headed out to see where we could serve. We called on a few ward members and checked on two of our single sisters. We helped clean up debris but on the whole most of our members' homes were spared. We headed over to the local high school which had been used as an overnight shelter. We assisted by sterilizing cots, then folding and loading them onto the Red Cross truck. Later we took the elders home, fed them and took them to their digs. 

Quite an eventful week. It was our first hurricane and we lived through it safely protected from harm and danger for which we are very grateful.

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK: I remember this scripture was the theme for the year when I was in Mutual many years ago.

"Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers." 

Love to all our friends and family.