Baptism

It may seem at this point that all we have done is play along with getting settled, but we actually have worked. We had the opportunity of attending a baptism for some very cute kids.  The Elders have a teaching pool of three families and we have really enjoyed working with them as well.  We had a day where we had a goal to meet or visit with 5 new people and ended up meeting more than that. Also, as we stopped at stores (still trying to find a couple things for the house - like chairs) and so many people noticed our name tags and it gave us the opportunity to at least let them know why we are here.  Many of them we're sure we'll see them again. We are really enjoying the southern hospitality.  We haven't met an unfriendly person yet!

We also have had the opportunity to transport a missionary to urgent care as he broke his ankle and we took a sister into Florence for a doctor's appointment.  Elder Lovell has talked to many about working on their family history and we helped a member this evening with the new family search.  Many of the people here are first generation members so there's a lot of work to be done for their families.

Our new Branch President has a lot of things on his agenda and is anxious to move forward.  We're having a temple day on November 20 so we're excited about that. He interviewed us on Wednesday night and in that interview, Sister Lovell ended up with 3 new callings: Branch Music Chairman, Gospel Essentials Teacher (for new and non-members - word must've got out as no one showed up for the class!), and Assistant Branch Organist. He also wants to get the cub scouts going.  At this point we only have 2 Webelos.  The hard part is that a lot of the members don't have transportation so it will require some help on that part.  Another fun opportunity is that the Primary Presidency are very excited about learning to play the piano.  We'll start those lessons next week.  There's a grant program where the branch and the members can receive keyboards if they go through the lessons, play in church and have a desire to continue playing and possibly teach someone else.  I think I will be busy.

The three children baptized (middle, left to right) are Kindrick, Ashanti, & Diamonte. The mom, Crystal, and her boyfriend, Anton, are still taking the lessons.  The youngest one is Dashon.  Crystal and Anton are very supportive of the kids, and ask a lot of questions.  They're great people!

This is Elder Thayne with his broken ankle as we came out of urgent care.

This is just one of those scenes we love.  This is where one of the members live.

We are the 3 musketeers - Linda Weatherford, Linda Bell (missionary we have replaced) and me. We are all so much alike and poor Elder Thayne has 3 moms hounding him to stay off of his ankle. We keep telling him if he doesn't listen he's going to marry a Linda so he can continue to be nagged!

Boiled peanuts

Peanuts being harvested - we pulled ours by hand - had to have the experience.

Part of our responsibility is to help the members - so to help payback the Weatherford's for their generosity, we had the opportunity to help them pick peanuts for boiling. (We also wanted the experience.)  Boiled peanuts in the south are like potatoes in Idaho.  The peanuts grow like potatoes, under the ground, and are picked green for boiling.  They are really good, especially when eaten hot.  However, they are to be eaten in moderation.  When Elder Lovell (gotta get used to calling him that) served in the Southern States Mission a "few" years ago, he and his companion were given a 50 lb. sack of raw peanuts, so every night when they came home they boiled up a pan full.  Sorry to say, this was the beginning of his ulcers (peanuts are hard to digest).  He now limits himself.  You can buy boiled peanuts in cans, but Sister Weatherford says they're not as good so she freezes them. They ended up with (3) 5 gallon buckets.  She taught me how to boil them so I did a bucket for her. 

Elder Lovell removing peanuts from the vine.

Close up of the peanuts on the vine.

Peanuts boiling in the salt water.  They're boiled for 1-2 hours.

We have a house!

We have a house to live in!  The Weatherford's evicted their tenants from a little house just around the corner from them just before they knew we needed a place to stay.  So, Tuesday, we were able to unload the car - which was very happy to be relieved from it's heavy burden.  It was starting to complain.  A sister in the ward wanted to get rid of a brass bed, so we inherited it and another sister had an extra mattress so just in case we have company we'll have a bed for them.  It's a cute little house.  We live next door to a policeman so we feel safe, and next door to a little restaurant that has great food just in case we don't want to cook.  The mission office brought us furniture on Thursday so we have spent the rest of the week getting settled. They brought us beautiful antique dresser, a couch which reclines on each end and a recliner chair.  We were glad they fit (just barely, but they fit).

It was really hard to start new with groceries, we had a hard time deciding what to get and it was very difficult buying things I have a pantry full of at home.  It really hit me how much we miss my canning, homegrown meat, and Tupperware to put flour and such in, especially when I pulled a can of green beans off the shelf to put in my cart - that was hard. 

This is our new home.  The address is 713 Hwy. 917 E., Latta, SC 29565 - just in case you feel the urge to send us some snail mail!  (hint, hint)

Visiting & fire ants!

As a senior couple we really haven't been given anything specific to do so as we started the week we decided to just start visiting members and get to know them.  The Relief Society President gave us 5 names, we mapped them out on our GPS and took off.  One member's address was just outside of Florence so we decided to wait until we went to Stake Conference, three weren't home, but we got to visit with one family.  We clocked 101 miles to make the round trip.  Members are spread far and wide.  Guess we'll start trying to take one area at a time.

The adventure of the day was when we stopped in a parking lot so I could turn the converter on (which keeps our computer going).  It was under the seat so I hopped out so I had better access.  All of a sudden my feet and ankles started to burn!  I looked down and they were covered with little ants!  (Later found out they were fire ants.)  I jumped back in the car which put them in the car with me, finally Jim moved the car so I could get out.  I was doing a dance in the parking lot, they were climbing up my leg so I was flapping my skirt and hoping no one was watching.  Jim had to get them out of the car.  I imagine it was quite a sight. After about an hour the burning started to ease.  That evening I was telling Weatherford's about it and they just said, "Wait until tomorrow."  When I got ready for bed, I discovered I was very lucky to have only 14 bites when I could've had more.  Sister Weatherford gave me some great stuff so I really haven't suffered much, but they last forever.

These are just a few of the bites and they are bigger than the ants were. I really watch where I step now.

 

Amazing 1st Sunday

Our first Sunday was a wonderful experience! We introduced ourselves to everyone who came to church (it really was hard for us to step out of our comfort zone to get started but they made us feel right at home).  They were releasing Pres. Blackmon and sustaining a new Branch President. As always, when that happens, it's a wonderful meeting.  Just before the meeting, we met Bro. & Sis. Harvey (later put in as the new president) and he asked where we were from, "Idaho" then where in Idaho.  When we told him, "A little town called Ririe", his eyes got huge and informed us that the missionary who baptized him was from Ririe - it was Gordon Gallup whom we know well.  The world got smaller when in Priesthood meeting, Pres. Blackmon's Dad informed Jim that he also was baptized by an Elder from Ririe - Kenneth Bush.

The branch is short on music people so I will get to do a lot of accompanying.  Sister Harvey and I visited about the music program I was introduced to at the MTC where we teach members how to play the piano so they can play in church even if it's with just one finger.  We're both very excited about it and without advertising, we already have 3 students anxious to learn.  I was called out of Relief Society to play for Primary.  They had 4 children in Primary, 3 were investigators.  We need youth!

We got to meet the Weatherford's, were invited to their house for dinner and spend the evening again.  They are amazing people and are very generous.  We have become very good friends and they intend to give us every southern experience we desire.
 

These are Weatherford's guinea hens. They are so fun to watch. They stay together and love to be close to people and chatter away.

Arrived in Marion

This is the Marion Branch building.  It's a small, 2 phase church - really nice for a bra

nch

We finally contacted the Branch President, Pres. Blackmon.  He met us at the church, gave us a key to the church and the branch list then took us on a whirlwind tour of the branch which consists of about 10 towns.  He explained the road system:  many years ago the animals made paths of least resistance, then came man who followed those same paths.  With the wagons they just widened those paths.  When they started paving, they just paved the paths.  Needless to say, there is no rhyme or reason to their roads.  To add insult to injury, we're having a hard time knowing north from south.

He also informed us that he had a place for us to stay that night, in Bro. & Sis. Weatherford's home who were out of town.  This is their home. Trusting people to open their home to strangers.

Saturday morning we had an appointment to meet the Elders in Myrtle Beach (about 55 miles from Marion) to help their investigator with some family history.  Jim was more than willing to do that and we were able to help him find great-grandparents he knew nothing about.  He was really excited and the Elders were ready to look up their own families.

As for house hunting, the Elders here checked on the townhouse for us (which was close to them) and it wouldn't be available for three weeks.

Journey #3

Just one little apology to Travis for some of our pictures - they were taken through a dirty windshield as most of them were taken in places we couldn't stop - and we wanted to share what we saw anyway.

These vines cover trees, bushes, power lines, fences, etc. and make the most interesting sculptures. Mom Lovell and Linda fell in love with them but Jim wouldn't let us take any home since they are considered a noxious weed and kill any plants they cover. But they are still fascinating!

This is a typical road in the southern states - lined with trees and beautiful.

A cotton field ready to be harvested. I hope to get some pictures of the harvesting which I've been told will probably end real soon.

Wednesday night was spent in Rome, GA where we had to opportunity to visit a distant cousin we have become very close to. She has had some very difficult medical issues since February but looks really good and doing much better.

Thursday we arrived in Columbia where we had our first interview with Pres. McConkie and spent that evening at the mission home. Pres. and Sister McConkie are wonderful and enjoyed our time with them. We will be serving in the Marion, South Carolina Branch for at least 9 months. We will send an address as soon as we find a place to live - we have to find our own but we have a few leads.

Summary of our travels - We enjoyed very much the artwork of this gorgeous earth God has created for us. Whether it be desert, mountainous, or plush with greenery, each area had an unique personality and we loved it. We also felt that the Lord protected us. He gave Linda strength and peace as she drove long distances and in heavy city traffic. We know friends and family are praying for us. Thank you (and don't stop - we need those prayers)!

Journey #2

Just one of those amazing scenes in Oklahoma

Oops #2 - Sunday, in Oklahoma, after seeing many deer and elk warnings, Linda spotted a deer far enough away not to be concerned, then looked up to see one close beside the car. Yup, it ran into us. It hit the back side of the car, not too big of a dent, and luckily was able to jump up and run off. Could've been so much worse.

We spent the night in Guymon, Oklahoma, as this is Linda's maiden name.

This is not one of our favorite scenes but was one we had to endure.

Oops #3 - Monday night as just before reaching our motel in Little Rock, Arkansas, Jim's ears finally popped after the the decent from Vail, CO. As we pulled into the motel Jim said he felt a little dizzy. By the time we got to our room, he was really bad. By morning he was quite nauseated as well as dizzy so we ventured to the emergency room. From 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., they took blood tests, chest x-rays, EKG's, and a CAT scan of his head. Yes, he stills has a brain and he still has a heart. It all came out as vertigo. The medicine they give for that makes him very sleepy, and takes time to get rid of the dizziness. So, Linda had to drive the rest of the way. That included the Atlanta beltway (7 lanes each direction) and into Columbia. She actually did it without any panic attacks! Don't want to do it again.

This is one part of the Atlanta beltway. Here you see when it is only 6 lanes and less traffic.

Journey to South Carolina

It has been an adventure as we have traveled to South Carolina! We have been very blessed and know that we are supposed to be here, otherwise the adversary would not have worked so hard to discourage us in our travels. (3 posts - so as not to bore you all at once).

When we lived in Price, this was my favorite spot as a child as we journeyed between Price and Salt Lake. It's called Castle Gate. The right side used to look like the left side and it would look closed until you came to it, then it looked like it opened up then closed behind you after you went through. It's too bad it couldn't still be that way.

(Left to Right) Sherald, Emma Lou, Linda, Jim

We left Saturday (Oct. 9) morning. The weather was beautiful, the scenery breathtaking. Our first stop was in Price, UT to visit family - Emma Lou & Sherald Law (for those who don't know, Emma Lou is Linda's aunt) and we also had the opportunity to visit Hans Miller (Linda's cousin/step-brother). We had a great visit and it was fun to drive around and see her childhood stomping grounds. Hans still lives in the family home.

The tunnel we are about to enter was at least 1/2 mile long.

Seemed to take forever to get through it.

Many times I've used the phrase, "I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel." Well, this is what it really looks like!

And this is what was on the other side. Notice the freeway -

the oncoming lane is on a different level. It made for some interesting scenery.

The first night was spent in Denver, CO. The motel was easily found, we just couldn't figure out where the entrance was. We went in circles on the freeway about 3 times and finally gave in to ask directions. The store clerk didn't speak English well, but luckily a customer helped us out.

Oops #1 - Jim has medicine that has to be refrigerated - not frozen. We've traveled with it before with no problems, and this was the first time written instructions were attached along with audible instructions. It was put in the freezer which makes the medicine unstable and cannot be used. (The retail price is over $1000.00 but hopefully have it worked out).

At the MTC

This is Sister Samul Elias, the sister missionary from Jordan. We see her a couple of times a day and she always greets us with a big smile.

Group picture of our District with our teacher Bro. Meyer. He is awesome! Our District Leader is Elder Dahlstrom (back row, 2nd from the left) He's a great guy and lots of fun! Sister Willoughby (front row) is a cousin - a Lovell from the Oak City Lovell's.

What an amazing experience the MTC is. The friendships we have formed the very first day will be long lasting. A new program for teaching “Preach My Gospel” is being introduced for the first time this week to the couple missionaries. As we learn each lesson we then have the opportunity to practice teaching to another couple. It is quite comforting to know that even those with PhD’s and/or on their 2nd or 3rd mission, are just as nervous as we are and have the same struggles we have. The scariest part (and a very new part of the program) is when people from outside the MTC volunteer to come as investigators with all kinds of backgrounds. I must say they are very good. We were lucky with both of our investigators - what missionaries call “golden contacts”. As much as we dislike roleplaying, we found it an enriching experience (after it was over). Our teachers are returned missionaries and we find most of them are excellent teachers. They still have that missionary zeal about them.

The food is wonderful (easy to eat too much). Luckily we are on the 3rd floor - no elevator - so we get alot of walking and stair climbing! The young elders helped take luggage to our rooms. It was an awesome sight to see alot of young men in white shirts in a long line across the sidewalk walking toward us coming to our rescue. They (elders & sisters) treat us very well, holding open the doors, letting us cut in line, taking away our empty trays and always greet us with a smile and a “hello” in many languages. It’s impressive as they’re standing in the hall, or walking down the sidewalk carrying on a gospel discussion and teaching each other.

Each night we are mentally tired. We’re grateful that we’re not learning another language as they have 2 hour classes after dinner. We’re done after dinner except for the one devotional Tuesday night which was awesome. To sit in a gymnasium full of missionaries and hear them sing with all their heart is an experience that cannot be described adequately.

Friday is our last day, Saturday we head out for the long ride to South Carolina.

Just the beginning

We arrived at the MTC, Monday, October 4, just before 10:00 am. I must say it was a lot easier for me this time than it was when we brought our children. Maybe it was because I did all of my "boo hoo's" before I came. It's so much easier for couples. We were done for the day by 4:00 with just dinner on the schedule. It is amazing how much you have in common with the other Senior Couples. I won't bore you with the details but will let individuals know who we commonly knew. One highlight, though. Sister Smith, wife of the MTC President and Relief Society President, spoke and told us about a sweet sister from Jordan (Sister Elias) and her conversion story. Sister Elias knew Donna and Steve Colson (Elder Lovell's sister) while they served in Jordan and helped her with her mission papers. We had the privilege of meeting her this evening.