Southern Storms & April Temple Trip

Keith (Left) is deaf mute & did his first
baptisms for the dead. He loved it.
Sister Woodard (3rd from left) was happy
to start temple work again for her family.

We didn't realize how much danger we were in until we started receiving phone calls from home to make sure we were okay.  We had heard that there were chances of severe weather for Saturday afternoon so thought it was still okay to attend a session at the temple in the morning.  So, we loaded up our car early and went to Columbia.  After the baptism session, President Harvey said they were headed home because of the oncoming storm.  We asked the sisters who were with us if their faith was strong enough to stay and without hesitation, they wanted to stay. We felt very special because it rained alot while we were in the temple. When we got out it was sunshine. We stopped at Cici's Pizza (pizza buffet) because it would be quick. While we were eating the rain dumped down, but the sun came out again when we were finished. Then it changed -about 20 miles out, it was as if we caught up to the storm. The rain was heavy, lighting and thunder were close, but didn't last too long.  The rest of the trip was light showers until we got close to home and then it came down heavy again.  The rest of the day was mild.  We found out later that a tornado touched down just a couple miles from where some of our members live.  It's very interesting that most severe weather stays on the west side of Highway 95 and we live on the east side.  We were told this evening that there were more than 200 tornadoes in this storm, more than they have had in one storm.  More than 40 people were killed.  Most of the damage was in North Carolina. We feel so blessed!  Our branch is safe, we have not heard of any damage.

Thank you so much for concern for us, for your prayers and your love.  We love all of you.

Temple Trip #3 & 4



Sister Eva Young with her parents and 2 sisters.


Each time we go to the temple the members are taking family names.  This has made our Branch Temple trips very personal and very spiritual.  Sister Eva Young (in the wheelchair) caught the spirit when her sister, Lisa, went back to the temple. This day, she went for the first time. While there she was sealed to her parents, her Dad was sealed to his deceased parents, and his brother and sister were also sealed to his parents completing that family unit.  It was a beautiful day.






Sister Scott is the one in the middle



Our next temple trip was a lot of fun when Sister Scott (90 years young) decided to go with us. While waiting for the sealing session, we visited the baptismal as the Weatherford's grandchildren were there. Sister Scott went with us and while she was sitting there, she was invited to do some proxy confirmations. She was delighted! We had a sealing session full of family names while a couple of sisters did endowments. Others at the temple had just one couple or one child to have sealed and asked if they could join us.  It became so full that we only got half of our names done and President Harvey had a pile of names and only got one done. I have had the privilege of taking one of Elder Lovell's deceased cousin's through all of her ordinances.  Each time I have felt her presence so strong that emotions were very evident (I know, I cry easily anyway). This time I could feel her anxiety with each sister sealed and the sigh when her name wasn't presented. By the time it was her turn, my emotions were on the verge of sobs.  Elder Lovell was the same throughout the sealing of the whole family. The spirit of the temple is really spreading through the branch. More are getting their recommends and others are working towards them.  This will really be a blessing for the branch.