Awakening



I love the way the sun shines on the trees. It has nothing to do with this blog, I just like it!

As I sat at the organ Sunday, I looked around at the congregation.  Several thoughts ran through my mind about the branch.  When you live in big wards as we do at home, we don’t appreciate how nice it is until  
The area is depressed economically.  Many large businesses have closed their doors leaving families without work.  So, there is a great need for service here. One problem is lack of transportation so those who drive provide rides to church to those who don’t have a car.  So many of those providing rides hold leadership positions that require them to be to church early for correlation meeting. Either those needing rides have to come early or we have to hustle after the meeting to pick up these members and get back in time for church.

Many of the active members are in the 70,s - 80’s.  One sister is 93.  Most of these have many medical ailments that limit them in their activities. This doesn’t leave too many who can give physical service. Also, if we don’t get more young people here, the branch will eventually just disappear. I also wondered what we can do to help members realize their role, and act upon it to help retain new converts awakening moments when a very strong thought came to me which said, “And what are you going to do when you get home?”  So basically, I see the importance of member involvement here, but ignored it before we came and I need to commit myself to continue my efforts here, and then continue when I get home.

We loved the leadership training broadcast.  What really hit me was the “read, understand, follow” message. This applies to so many aspects of the gospel.  My first thought was applying this to the scriptures. It’s so easy to just “read” them, and I need to go beyond reading - I need to understand them and follow or apply them more to my life.  It also applies to church callings, missionary work, and just being more Christ-like. We have to get information, understand, and then act upon that which we learn. I guess it’s time to get started!



Mrytle Beach

Brother and Sister Weatherford donated a couple of pure bred lab puppies to an auction for Ducks Unlimited.  For donating they were given 2 couple tickets (worth $75 each) to attend the auction in Myrtle Beach which was catered by Outback.  So, we went with them.  The atmosphere was not very comfortable so we visited the puppies, ate and left.  They took us to the beach but it was dark and it was cold.  Guess we’ll have to try later - during the day when it’s warmer.

They had a clam table where you could open your own clams to eat.  This is Bro. Weatherford working on his.  We let him have fun with this by himself - it was enough to observe.

This is one of their pups - the other one was black.  They were so cute and everyone loved them.  When we left they had been held & petted so much that when I scratched him under his chin, he just melted - went to sleep and did not want to wake up.  So loveable!

Sister Weatherford walking down the pier at Myrtle Beach.  You could hear the waves crashing but it was too cold to stay there too long and almost too dark to see.

Roaches!

So, I have now met the famous cockroach that Elder Lovell has told many stories about when he was here on his first mission.  The first one I met fell off an empty grocery sack as I picked it up.  By the time he hit the floor my foot was already in the destroy mode and he didn’t even have time to run.  I screamed, but my knight in shining armor didn’t shine - he kept working on the computer.  However, the next night as we returned, he redeemed himself by attacking the one just inside the door before I got there.  The next night I went back into the kitchen and there was another one - I just about killed myself trying to get him but I won!  I wish I had a video going a few nights later.  The Elders were here and as we stood in the living room, Elder Lovell came in with the fly swatter and attacked the couch and Elder Bethers put a grocery sack on his hand and joined in the fight.  I couldn’t figure out what was going on until the couch was in the middle of the room and cushions were flying. Next came the roach spray.  We found him belly up the next morning (see picture) and haven’t seen any since. (Knock on wood).  I have also discovered another fire ant hill but not until I felt the bite behind my knee.  By the next day I discovered 11 new bites!  Sister Weatherford gave me a lot to look forward to when she said, “ They must find you really tasty.  I feel sorry for you when summer comes.” 

So you can comprehend the size of these things, a quarter made a good comparrison.

Harvest time

It is harvest time here.  Peanut harvest is done, they are now harvesting cotton and soybeans.  Bro. Weatherford is going to take us out so we can pick our own cotton. I love seeing the fields of white cotton - they call it South Carolina snow.  The fields are surrounded by trees - lots of them!

Cotton harvester at work.

Loading the truck.

 The Camillia bushes are blossoming, mums are still in full bloom.  There is such a variety.  It isn’t unusual to see 3-5 trees growing together as one and it makes for a very interesting scene.  Leaves are starting to turn.  The colors aren’t as brilliant as New England, but the colors blend beautifully and give such a peaceful and serene feeling.

This is a scene across the road from our house.  The colors didn't show up as intense as it was, but I still love it.  The tree on the left looks like it has clusters of grapes hanging all over it.

Our kind of folks!

In a lot of ways Marion is like Ririe - it seems everyone is related in some way or another.  It gets quite confusing at times but this is when I feel the Lord has blessed me in that I’m actually figuring out who is who and where they belong faster than I had expected to.  The other day I was feeling like we haven’t been doing as much as we should missionary wise because we really haven’t been given any guidelines as to a schedule or such.  After a Book of Mormon study class, Sister Weatherford asked me to give her a list of who we had visited in October.  After writing them down I realized some of them we had visited more than once, that we really have been doing what we’re supposed to be doing. We have been instructed to work with the branch leadership and helping wherever we are needed and that is what we’re doing as well as going out on our own visiting whoever it feels good to visit.

The previous senior couple gave us a book listing all those they had worked with or tried to work with.  They hadn’t been able to contact one member (Leo) even though they had tried several times.  We usually pick an area and see how many we can get.  We went to Leo’s house first and he had just got home from work. What a special person he is.  Elder Lovell started talking to him about family history and he really got excited. After a long visit we had to leave for a meeting and he said he wished we could stay longer.  We have been out to see him a few times since and really enjoy these visits.  He wants to come back to church and we hope as we continue to work with him that desire gets stronger.

One sister (Angelina) we visited is quite amazing.  She was born with cerebral palsy and spina bifida.  She’s in a wheelchair. When we went to her house there wasn’t a ramp.  We asked her if she would like one.  She told us that getting up and down those stairs was her exercise and until she has to have one, she doesn’t want one.  She then insisted she show us how she does it.  After she gets out of her chair she pushes it down the stairs, scoots herself down, pulls herself up into the chair and off she goes. It was even more impressive watching herself get up the stairs. She would pull herself up a stair or two then drag her chair up to her, then repeat the process until she was at the top.  We were really impressed. 

Angelina - doesn't complain about her situation - just goes and loves life.  She also babysits and takes care of a grand-niece so she can make sure she gets to church.

We’re short on Aaronic Priesthood members so the sacrament is passed by 2 special needs adults. They do really well and it is very humbling to watch them.  We feel so at home here.  There is nothing pretentious about these people. Today as they bore their testimonies, the spirit was so strong and we were drawn even closer to them. 

Just a fun tidbit - a new family has moved into the branch - 4 children - our Primary has really grown!

Halloween party

The Primary, even though small, sponsored a Halloween activity for the children and anyone else who wanted to come.  It was really a lot of fun.  There are some special needs adults in our branch who are amazing.  They enjoyed playing the carnival games and we enjoyed watching them. This was a good time to get to know the members better in a very relaxed, fun way.

This is our Primary Presidency.  They are amazing and my first piano class - so excited to learn.  Left to right: Kara, Lisa and Kellee.  Kara & Kellee are sisters, Lisa is the President.

Here's a couple more spooks.  Elder Lovell - where is your name tag?!