Christmas In Georgia

I have missed my family a great deal this week but I have not been sad...I have been grateful. The highlight of Christmas was being able to g-chat with most of my children and their families Christmas Eve when they gathered at my house. Did my heart good as I talked with everyone there from the youngest to the oldest. They are my treasures. I heard from so many of my friends by card or email and it was such a lift. I continue to be carried by the friendship, support and example of good people. Our friend and co-worker, Brenda, had complications from a routine surgery, so we spent Friday afternoon at the hospital with her and today went to her home down the road in Sugar Hill. She is much improved. Friday morning we went to the temple...the perfect place to be Christmas weekend. After we left Brenda Friday afternoon we went to Stone Mountain Park to see the 2 million lights...breath-taking. We also saw the night parade and then went into the theater to see Polar Express in 4D. That was done very well....Disneyland-ish. Saturday afternoon we took Catherine out for Christmas Eve dinner at 2:00. Justin was not able to come for the best of reasons: he has a job. He paid his tithing shortly after being baptized and just as we expected, he found work. Catherine is starting her second week of work. They are being showered with those blessings that are the reward for obedience and faith. It is such a joy to watch. Sunday our friend, Laurinda and her daughter, Courtney came to church with us and then later at 4:00 we went to her friend, Cherry's house for a Jamaican Christmas Dinner. Are you ready for the menu: turkey, fish, oxtail, lamb, curried chicken, sweet and sour chicken, meatballs, sweet potato souffle, celery casserole, stuffed mushrooms, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, grape salad, pepper- tomato-cucumber salad, beans and rice, dumplings, cheeseball, and for dessert: rum cake (we passed), lemon pound cake, brownies, and cookies. AND....you don't just begin dinner, eat and then it's over...no....people came all night long and were still coming and eating when we left at 9:00! Lovely people who didn't seem to mind we were the only white ones in the bunch! We certainly loved it!
My heart is full as I realize that everyday is Christmas for me as I think of the Savior, consciously try to represent Him well, constantly seeking help from Him and Heavenly FAther as I serve these good people, repenting and trying to improve and be more like Them. I couldn't love Him more at Christmas than I do each and every day of this blessed life as a missionary. I am most grateful.

A Jam Packed Week

Tuesday and Wednesday found us down the road in Powder Springs teaching a two day workshop to 15 people, and what delightful people they were: Charlie Baggett, Nick Pritchett, Jose Gomis, Mike Holmes, Dave Colby, Ron Bass, Kristy Malone, Maricela Harn, Narcos, Joyce Green, Alex Westin, Starla Williams, Seth Hardin, Christ Cordulack, Naycole Sai. We have a teacher, HR student, appraiser/inspector, architect, remodeler, accountant student, two SAP ladies, meatcutter, Business Administration student, salesman, bi-polar genius,and an accountant and three day convert! Got home at 6:30 Wednesday night in time to pick up Catherine for a meeting with the Bishop to get a referral to Developmental Services for employment help. Thursday we had all day training and then that evening we had a PRONET meeting in Sandy Springs. It was a super networking meeting, so whenever they were short a person, I got the nod to sit in the circle. I loved meeting these people! Joel, who is one of Karen's favorites, has a full time job and is also an entrepeneur with three businesses: finding leads for software, facebook application for providing gifts to people by searching all entries for clues, picking up the $500 boxes to return to Cable Companies...besides, he is a gem of a man. Friday: training half a day...work the rest. Seth called wanting me to look at his resume and also to let me know he has an appointment Monday afternoon with the Rome Braves, a minor league team, and this without using any of his contacts!!! LaShonta couldn't keep her appointment because she doesn't have any gas money, but has been working with me over the phone and email working up resumes for a full time job to care for her two year old while she completes her Bacheor's degree in the evenings online. I called Jamshid with a job lead only to find he found a job as a mechanic!!! What a thrill...he was in such a panic when he came into our office several weeks ago. I had put his name on the prayer roll. I put Seth's on today and should have added LaShonta's, but will next week. Friday was a bit of a rough day so after work I went Christmas shopping to keep my mind occupied. There was a sweet uplift, and that was receiving emails from Natalie, April, Bonnie, Dani, Jennie Stanfield, Valerie Kunde, a text from Marissa, a call from Rory, a card from Jill Lichfield, a handmade ornament from Davis, and a whole packet of notes from members of the Meadow Springs Ward sent by Ellen Sly. The tenderest of mercies! Fell asleep working and awoke at 3:45 a.m. so I got all my family's cards and packets ready to mail with their checks and odds and ends gifts. Also got my email Christmas letter out. We went to our usual 9 a.m. temple session where I did the work for Mary Ann Slauter, one of Sister P's relatives by marriage. Friday night Jarron and Dani and other family members were in the temple. Saturday morning Tiffany and Bruce were doing the initiatory work for 50 ancestors on the Mitchell side. After the temple a half hour line at the Post Office, but I got all of Christmas mailed! To the store to buy some fruit to take to the Ward Christmas Party that night. A few hours at home to putter and off we went. So nicely decorated, a tasty breakfast was served, and the kids got to see Santa. Catherine and Justin came, so that was great! Elders Salomonson and Nelson were there to fellowship them and others. Justin paid his tithing and will be getting a call on Tuesday for an interview at the new Chipotle, and then will follow up with McDonalds as well. Party over, but not before Sister P and I had our pictures taken with Santa! To Walmart for Sister P to pick up photos while I called Sonya to see if she still was going to church with us tomorrow in Conyers, but a second voice mail in as many days, so....probably not. Home to do some laundry, email a Christmas letters to my home Bishop and to my Stake President. President Meyer and his executive committee had sent me a Christmas letter with each of their testimonies and encouragement. So appreciated, being far from home. Icing on the cake....Amanda is pregnant!

Keeping Myself Humble

The first Saturday of the month Sister P and I usually sign up to clean the church. Choosing to clean the bathrooms keeps me humble...VERY humble. It is a great deal more painful when Heavenly Father humbles me, so I try to take care of that myself. I am not into pain! We signed up in Relief Society but did not show up on Brother Stice's list that Saturday, but those who were on the list did not come! I am sure they had good reasons, but if not....they need to clean some bathrooms!

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A Thanksgiving Day to Remember

Our friend, Laurinda Williams, who is a client of ours at the Employment Center, was the first to invite us for Thanksgiving so we had the privilege of going with her to her non-denominational church, Hope and Life, to help assemble meals to distribute to those in need. Pastor Tony's parents live in Grandview down the road from home in Washington.


Laurinda with Sister Peterson and I are creating "pulled turkey". There were 521 meals prepared...all the trimmings. There were tables and tables and tables with people working on ladling food into styrofoam containers.


We drove caravan style with two large trucks to an apartment complex housing refugees from many countries.

We are sorting donated clothing.....bags upon bags upon bags. The community is wonderfully generous with their donations and the receivers were very appreciative. This lady in the photo is going to come in to our ERC to get help finding employment. I learned later that some picture of me sorting clothing was on the evening news...I hope they got a great shot of my name tag! It was an honor to be with all of these fine people who did so much good this day for those in need.

Felix is a family friend originally from Puerto Rico...a fine man and stalwart friend to Laurinda. Sherrie is a talented friend who sewed Laurinda's window coverings. She also made much of the meal this day...delectable. She also is a foster mother.


Back at Laurinda's home for a delicious Thanksgiving meal: turkey, ham curried chicken, rice and beans, collard greens, spicy green beans, sweet potato soufle, stuffed mushrooms, 3-pepper salad, corn bread, black bean salsa, costa rica punch, lemon cake, chocolate cake....yes, really! All of that! We were supposed to walk half-way around Stone Mountain, but ended up saving that for another day. We did bring the two copies of the Book of Mormon that Laurinda requested. I missed being with my family today....but since I couldn't be home with them, I was most grateful to be here in Atlanta, with some of the best people I know, doing good and making great memories.

Gladys Knight McDowell!

Friday and Saturday nights we took investigators to a series of firesides presented by Gladys Knight and her Saints Unified Voices Choir. It was a fabulous experience and gauging by the audience's reaction there will be many who will join the church, especially among the African Americans present. The missionaries were gathering request cards right and left and I am assuming it was because the testimonies Sister Knight and her husband, William McDowell, bore were so powerful and convincing. It was a privilege to be a part of it all. Two of our investigators filled out cards, one is waiting until after her finals mid December, and the other two asked us to bring copies of the Book of Mormon to Thanksgiving Dinner! This is thrilling!
Elder Gonzales, our Area Authority said that all senior missionaries are to be at Zone Conference, so that is where we were this past Wednesday. From President Satterfield: In training years ago when he was a member of a Stake PResidency, there was an Area Seventy doing the training who had accomplished some stellar successes when he was a STake President. Afterwards, President Satterfield went up and asked him how he did it...what was the magic bullet? His response: "We only did exactly what they asked us to do."
From Sister Satterfield on the power of being positive: Two frogs were hopping through the forest when they fell into a pit. They started hopping with all of their might trying to get out. Another group of frogs came and looked over the edge, and upon seeing the depth of the pit, yelled out, "Why don't you quit wasting your time trying to hop out of this pit....you will never make it...why don't you just lay down and die! One of the frogs believed them, quit trying to get out, laid down and died! The other frog hopped even harder. The frogs above yelled to him...you are crazy punishing yourself like that...you are never going to make it. Just give up, yell the frogs...you are going to die no matter how hard you try. Well...that frog finally was able to get out of that pit! When asked why he didn't believe those frogs who told him it was impossible for him to get out, he responded, "I am deaf. I thought they were cheering me on."

The Happiest Day of My Mission

Yesterday, November 12, 2011 at 11:00, two wonderful people were baptized...Catherine Herbst and her son, Justin. There are no words to describe the joy I felt seeing them come up out of the waters of baptism, new people who are as clean and pure as the day they were born. A new life and a new start...they were glowing. You have to be older and have heard and seen a lot of people's life stories to appreciate just what it means to have your sins and guilt washed away...to be truly repentant and forgiven...to have hope that you can have a different life from the one before, especially if you have been a victim of abuse or have made poor choices. Change, purity and happiness are a real hope and I am grateful for this precious gift for each of them, all made possible by Heavenly Father's Plan of Happiness and Redemption, and the Savior's role in accomplishing the love and mercy of the Atonement. After the baptism we took Catherine and Justin, Elder Nelson and Elder Salomonson, and Rahab Bola who was going out with the missionaries, to Hibachi Grill Buffett for a celebration Luncheon. Elder Nelson is an exemplary missionary. In a matter of fact way he said in response to the conversation at our table, that there is not one day of his mission he would live over --that he has given his best every day. It is the "two years to serve, and the rest of your life to think about it" mentality....no regrets. Saturday was a glorious day and one I will cherish always.

The Week in Review

Another one of our Career Workshop candidates found work....but it has been a long two months of hard work on Sasha's part. She got her dream job through networking as the workshop teaches since it is the number one way people get jobs....hand offs! So thrilled for her and appreciative of her saying that learning there are methodical steps a job seeker has to take to find that job made the difference for her. Laurinda found a part time job, Pamela got school funding through the DOL's Workforce Investment Act....my first referral and she actually received money! We reworked Bola Bosomba's resume and wrote a nice cover letter and....he has an interview MOnday morning. This is a man who is working on his second MA degree --this one in Public Health. He is from the Democratic Republic of Congo and there worked for the government in the Dept. of Family Services educating families on the prevention, cause and treatment of HIV/AIDS. He once saw a man in the final stages of AIDS who was convinced that he was ill because of evil spirits and was seeking a cure through a tattoo. This had been Bola's motivation to do something about educating his people. We worked up a Curriculum Vitae for an internship with W.H.O. so he can be actively involved in that work once more. Sister Peterson missed two days of work as she was very sick with a cold but is starting to mend. I received special Heavenly help Friday evening and it went like this (from my journal): Sister P has been sick the last two days and I stayed after work a bit to make a phone call and to print some things out, when the phone rang. It was Daryl, my supervisor, saying he had left his coat in his office. He asked how long I planned to be there and I said as long as he needed me to, so he called his wife to see if she could pick up his coat on her way home from work, but I am supposing she had already left for home, since Daryl said he would be driving back to get it and would be there in about an hour. I suggested I meet him halfway, which we did as he was almost to Alabama. I said a prayer and asked for protection, to be able to find the meeting spot (the GPS was with Sister P) and to return home safely. It was bumper to bumper traffic going and coming, but I found the right exit and met them just fine. On the highway heading home with the traffic still heavy I saw out of the corner of my eye a car moving right into my lane. I screamed and instinctively moved into the left lane without even looking. Fortunately, Heavenly Father was protecting me as no one was in that lane to the left or I would have been sandwiched. So grateful...I am still saying prayers of thanks. Saturday morning I was cleaning toilets at the church and in walks Bola to mop the floors behind me! I gave him a big hug and then met his wife, Balonda, who was standing behind him. It's such a great life with all of these good people around you to go through life with! The best for last....Catherine and Justin and the missionaries met at our apartment for lunch and two discussions so they can have their last one Tuesday before their baptismal interviews on Thursday with the Zone Leaders, then their baptisms on Saturday at 11:00. Much credit has to go to Elder Nelson who has his own story to tell, but who is my hero. He genuinely loves the people, knows the scriptures like the back of his hand, and brings the spirit to the discussions. He is also exactly obedient. One Saturday C & J and the elders were invited to our apartment for lunch and a discussion and were to be here at 2:00. The elders were here on time, but C & J were held up for an hour. Elder Nelson and his companion stood on the porch on a chilly day until C & J arrived because the mission rule is: If there is a woman in the house but no male age 12 or older, the elders may not enter, even if the two women are missionaries and old enough to be his grandmother! We would never ask them in knowing the rule, and they were content to be on the porch while we stood in the doorway and made our plans for the discussion. Obedience yields power! I also have to give some credit to Mormon.org. Catherine said to me when she arrived that on the way over Justin said that he was not ready to commit to baptism and needed more time to think about it. I had my laptop on the counter and was listening to MoTab and had the screen on lds.org. Elder Nelson clicked on Mormon.org, and I suggested he show Justin the video clip of Kevin, the professional skateboarder who is also the son of a single mom and....a Mormon. Justin seemed very surprised that a skateboarder (as he is too) could be a good Mormon. Justin had said before that he didn't feel like he fit in. He also watched a segment on a professional female world champion surfer...she too a Mormon, naturally. Next thing we know, Justin is committing to baptism and gave a beautiful closing prayer. I feel so incredibly blessed to know these two wonderful people who are about to be blessed beyond their wildest expectations...joy for each of them. This is why I am a missionary.

Keep Up, Sister Mitchell, Keep Up

The great news is that our investigators are progressing towards their baptismal date of November 12th. We were traveling to another stake today but were happy to hear Catherine and Justin were at church and introduced to a new family. She texted me and said it was a beautiful day at church and she enjoyed the hugs. The Patriarch and his wife spoke, and his remarks on Patriarchal Blessings really resonated with Justin who wants to get one. Elder Nelson assures him that he can after he is baptized. We are praying for him tonight as he is at a Halloween Party with his friends...his old friends with old habits. Also, along investigator lines, Lorena is a non member who took our Workshop this past week. At one point she read from the D&C and then during the break asked for a copy of the book. When Sister P got her a BoM, she said, she preferred the Doctrine and Covenants because she liked how they write. She also asked it was possible to visit our church as she likes the feeling at the ERC....she likes how the people are treated and looked after. She said it is different here. So....we are skipping a Sunday of travel and are going to take her to the ward she would be attending were she a member of the church.
We have started our ward/branch visits to the Powder Springs Stake and will be on the road six of the next seven Sundays. The big plus this time is that the Stake Employment Specialist is the former Stake President who we are accompanying on these visits. We love having the priesthood smooth our way and give us counsel. We also have a two day Career Workshop we will be teaching in the Fayetteville Stake a week from Tuesday, and then another in the PS Stake the first week in December. We four missionaries in the office are also putting our heads together to see what we can do further to help our non professional candidates get jobs. The interviews are not coming, so we had a brainstorming session a week ago, have been pondering, and now will come together again to see what we can come up with. We are considering a mini job fair....
It is interesting that my two most discouraged candidates both have Masters Degrees in English....but no hard skills. They are both working to remedy that with a series of computer classes.
Halloween in tomorrow night and I am thinking of all my favorite little ghosties and goblins who will be trick-or-treating tomorrow night back in Washington, Oregon. and Utah. I love and miss them all.

Bits and Pieces

One of our candidates learned about the principle of fasting, and applied it for the first time in her life as she is discouraged about not being able to find work. She has a Masters Degree and is a fledgling author. She fasted a week ago Saturday, and last week we found her a part-time job that just happened to come across my desk. She is one of the three ladies who has accepted an invitation from us to attend Gladys Knight's Fireside next month.
On our way to the temple Friday at 4:00 -- we were going as an office -- Sister P hit the curb of a tight round about and knew instantly there was a problem. Two men came running as they heard a loud noise, which we didn't hear, and knew someone was in trouble. Toung changed the tire, which had a 2x4 inch hole in it, and then Rick, who was riding a bike, led us to the Chevron he has been frequenting for 32 years. We were on a side road, so were very grateful these two knights in shining armor were there to help. Rick thought we were nuns!
I received a letter this week from Adomas Riauka, my 80 something second cousin of sorts in Lithuania. Tomorrow I will scan the letter at work and send it to my computer so google can translate it for me. He sent me a picture of him and his son at the grave of his dear Janine, along with a small wooden ornament -- a shirt with Lietuva written on it (Lithuania). Chad said he would go with me to visit him after my mission. Sigita, a professional genealogist in Lithuania found the marriage record of my maternal great grandparents, so now sealings can take place. It has been a long search over many years, and I am most grateful.
The weather is turning rainy so now instead of walking each evening, we are going to the exercise room where I am using the recumbent bike and Sister P is using the treadmill.
Today, one of our candidates overslept and missed attending church with us, which she very much enjoys and feels she needs. Every Sunday for the last four weeks a challenge has presented itself resulting in her not coming....we discussed how Satan operates like this. She gave her copy of the Book of Mormon to her son, so she has requested another for her. She has been listening to the "Woman at the Well" CD and feels a great uplift from the messages.
One candidate I am working with called me during church and left a voice mail saying there was an article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution on Mormons that she thought I might be interested in! She has taken an interest in the I'm A Mormon ads....now if she will take an interested in becoming one herself.
Last night at Dr. Basra's invitation we attended the G6 Summit, a concert of ancient Sikh music performed by musicians from six countries. One goal of the Sikh religion is to promote brotherhood and peace throughout the world. Very simply stated, I could see where my Sikh friends could be transported (their words) by the music and lyrics, but since the words were Punjabi, I could only sense devotion. I thought of the significance of the Lord's design for the gospel's going forth to every people in their native tongue.
It is going to be difficult for me to return to the Tri-Cities and see nothing but white faced people after coming to love and appreciate the goodness of my special friends who come from many different cultures and persuasions.

Ethiopian Festival

A week ago Saturday we attended an Ethiopian Festival on our way back from President and Sister Satterfield's. Sister Peterson is working with Abby Makonnen who is wearing the white dress, and I am working with her husband, David. David is a Quality Assurance Engineer who for the last four years has been working at a warehouse. Several Fridays ago he showed up for work and his key card would not work. Welcome to the new pink slip! I met him several hours later when he came to the Employment Center to start the job search process all over again. The Ethiopian Community built a church several years ago, but with the downturn in the economy and many of them losing their jobs, they are having trouble paying the mortgage, so they hold fund raisers like this to help out. The next day they were holding a talent show, but the proceeds were ear-marked for Ethiopia to help the people there. David and I had a nice gospel discussion...he is an orthodox Christian.

These Ethiopian ladies are carding wool the old fashioned way. Notice neither of them are wearing glasses!

President and Sister Satterfield

Saturday before last President and Sister Satterfield took several hours out of their busy mission life to host a bar-b-que for the senior couples in our mission, plus Sister Peterson and I who are the only single sisters serving here. President and Sister S. have only nine short months remaining before they return home to Pocatello, Idaho and to five children, all of whom live within a few blocks of them. It has been a privilege to be at several zone conferences and see first hand the absolute love and devotion this wonderful couple has to those young missionaries in their charge. They lose sleep over them much as they would their own children.


Part of the festivities that afternoon included being part of a golf cart caravan (three) riding for an hour and a half the paths of Peachtree City. The city was designed by three Delta Air Line pilots and it is beautiful. The paths are wide enough for two golf carts to pass each other. You need a map to navigate the paths. Everyone drives golf carts to work, shopping, church, etc. If you drive by the highschool you will see golf carts, not cars filling the parking lots as kids do not need a license to drive a golf card so long as they stay on the paths. Pictured with is are Elder and Sister Gibson who are assigned to our Employment Center with us. They are delightful! Sister S. told us to wear jackets on the trail as it gets cool whizzing along....so I minded, but took off my jacket later on as the weather was especially nice. The paths were virtually deserted as there was an Air Show being held that afternoon, so you know where all the Delta people were!

Our Dr. Tejpal Singh Basra

Dr. Basra invited us one last time to a Sikh service as he will most likely leave this week for his new job in Virginia. He specifically wanted the picture taken so that the G6 poster in the background, advertising an International Music Night, could be seen We aim to please. Also that evening we met the lovely and gracious Prabhjot Kaur, a retired principal from Punjab who is here visiting her son and his family, welcoming her first grandson/grandchild. She taught English most of her career and sent her children to Christian Schools. Her husband is a Civil Engineer, her son is a physician and her daughter-in-law is a computer engineer. In the course of our conversation I mentioned that we were missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and asked if she knew any LDS people. She said there was a church down from her home and they went there every Christmas. She has written articles on women in Sikh religion, so I think I must send her Daughters In My Kingdom. I think she'd appreciate it, don't you? The Sikhs are kind loving people who feel it is their mission to establish the brotherhood of man. They would all make equally lovely Mormons, and Dr. Basra would make a very effective missionary!

A Day In The Life...

Career Workshop Day - our seventh, so you think we would be prepared for anything, right? A. did not return today for the last day, as I predicted, as this kind intelligent gentleman was frustrated by the slow pace of our class since we had sweet R, who has a learning disability. M has serious issues that are being addressed through counseling and medication. He was a star athlete in high school, went to several years of college, served a mission, but something happened there that caused him to "trip out". President Allen does not know what happened, but he had to come home, despite the Mission President's best efforts working with him. M never spoke one word, drifted out of class for most of the day, but while in class would start giggling at nothing. Elder Gibson took him next door to Family Services for a short meeting before returning w/a referral form for the Bishop so they can work with him. During lunch I met D, a tall black man who has a heart of gold and who is looking for work. He was thrilled to finally have an email account,(which we had just set up) be registered on our website, have hope renewed, be invited and accept an invitation by another candidate in the office to accept a Book of Mormon and be picked up on Saturday to watch Conference. I invited him to go with the Gibsons to the Gladys Knight Fireside in November, as they were looking for someone to invite and he readily accepted. I invited M, another candidate in the office to go with Sister P and I to the Fireside, and she accepted as well. Dr. Basra called during dinner and invited us to Sikh Services Friday night to which a "humpty dumpty black man who is a coach is also going, along with a woman who asked to attend and who was told, "perfect, as two sisters are coming also". On our walk, we saw D, so I was able to give him the pass along card I have been carrying each walk for the past week, sending him to Mormon.org to check out Kevin, a member who is a professional skateboarder! Catherine texted and said she would call later as the kids got in trouble and her parents were over. Sigita, the Lithuanian genealogist I hired to find my maternal ancestors, said she found birth, baptismal and marriage dates after 30 hours of research which she would send me upon receipt of 240 Euros, which I am happy to do....most grateful. I think mother must be helping on the other side. It is only 10 p.m. so there is plenty of time for something else to happen today!

I'm a Mormon Campaign coming to Atlanta!

We received an additional set of elders in our ward today in anticipation of October's launch of the church's "I'm A Mormon" media campaign which had a successful run in New York City. Once the stats were in, the church learned that 54% of all active Mormons were asked questions about the church after seeing IAM. The members here in Atlanta, unlike the ones in NY, are being prepared to respond to the questions from their non-member friends and acquaintances. Elder Ballard, who was here recently, told us that the Lord has prepared tens of thousands of people to accept the gospel, now we all get to find them, and IAM will help. Elder Perry said that since 1830 the church has been conducting missionary work essentially the same way and it is time to turn a corner. Technology is what is going to allow us to bring the gospel to the Chinese people and others, including these people in Atlanta. We are to engage them in meaningful caring conversations, easy to do, and then hand them, if it seems appropriate, a Mormon.org pass along card with the name of one of the members whose video is on the website, or our name and phone number, or whatever else seems the thing to do. On Mormon.org they can chat with missionaries at the Provo MTC, learn more of Jesus Christ, see FAQ's We all have our marching orders!
Last night our Apartment Manager, Angela, went to the General Women's Broadcast with us. She got it....she said women have a mission to perform. We are hoping she wants to go to church in which case we will go to Marietta to attend her prospective ward with her.
C came to Sacrament Meeting today and was enthralled by every speaker and with the truths she heard. So grateful. She registered with Labor Ready and goes in at 8:30 tomorrow morning to see if there is any work for her.
After C exhausted clothing and food sources with no luck last week while sitting with me in the office, we gave her some money for a used pair of jeans and work boots and for food. We are going to invite her and her son, Justin to come for pizza and a meeting with the missionaries, which she has already expressed an interest in. She is often needed nights by her parents, so we will see. She and I were having a gospel discussion the other day and were discussing baptism. What I have always been taught about baptism's being symbolic of the old creature dying, and then coming up out of the water as a new person, born again as it were, pure and clean before God. I was overcome with emotion thinking of C and of all she has suffered, the guilt, the abuse, and what it would mean to her to in an instant be healed of all that as she is baptized. It was so sublime and loving that I could hardly handle the joy of that moment yet in the future for C. How grateful I am to the Savior who's sufferimg makes that day possible for her and for us all.

A Simple Sweet Thing

Yesterday the power source to my laptop went out so I ordered a new one, but in the meantime had a mountain of work to get done, so I asked permission of my Director to come in to the office and work after hours. I assured my companion she did not have to come. Daryl gave his permission which I was grateful for as in the past he said I could not be here alone at night. Plenty of stories of muggings and the like. After dinner I returned and settled in, just me, Pandora internet radio/Mo Tab, and my work. About 10:00 I hear a man talking, coming closer to my office. I was cool as a cucumber and not the least bit alarmed, and no need to be. He was in the building checking out something in the storehouse and I remarked I was relieved to see he was not a serial killer. He needed to be let out through my door as the alarm system is tricky. Very pleasant man....he left, I went back to work thoroughly grateful for this opportunity I had to get the work done despite my computer's being out of commission. This morning I am called to the front desk, and there is the gentleman in a white shirt and tie....a former Bishop, I am told! So...the sweetness of the whole experience does not escape me. Last night, to feel the spirit, when I don't realize I am feeling it because it is in the form of calm, peace, no question of being alarmed....but present nonetheless. I am so grateful for these sweet simple almost unnoticed manifestations of reassurance and constant care from my Heavenly Father even when I am not aware it is happening...so grateful.

Full Hearts

Today is 9-11-2011, the tenth anniversary of that unbelievable day of the Twin Towers and the demonstration of courage of everyday Americans who gave their lives to save others. To honor them and to show our love and pride for our America, we flew two flags from our balcony. We also watched on the computer the special program with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Tom Brokaw. He was correct....the word to take away from this was "grace".
C came to church today and once again our prayers have been answered: she was walking with no ill effects from her injury and she felt the spirit of Sacrament Meeting from beginning to end. She could only stay for this one meeting . Elder Nelson and I spoke at length of her situation. He is going to most likely be transferred soon and wants to arrange for several sisters to fellowship her. I agree as I think Daryl is going to be sending us out again on Sundays very soon to promote our services among the stakes. I encouraged Elder Nelson to fast and pray that C will get employment so she can move out and establish a happy healthy home. She is doing all she can to accomplish that.
Yesterday we went to the temple and did initiatories. The spirit was strong, not because the women were present, but in verification of the truthfulness and power of these ordinances; also as a witness that they were indeed performed anciently. I cherished the experience. The last name I did was Mary....born in England in 1638...and her I felt. Before going in, I recognized Vicki who had been a lady I worked with at the ERC. She waited for me and invited Sister P and I to go to lunch with her at the Dekalb Farmer's Market...one of our favorite places. Vicki had shared with me a special experience she had relative to General Conference many years ago when her daughter was young and rambunctious. Those were the days when we all met at church to watch the proceedings from Salt Lake. She found herself wondering why in the world she was there when all she was doing was struggling with her lively daughter; she stayed however and was able to hear James E. Faust's talk on something like "Keys That Never Rust". In his talk he mentioned a small group of people who sought refuge in the Alps from the Catholic Church. Vicki's grandfather was descended from these Waldesians. The founder of the group came to realize that it was possible for a man (or woman) to receive revelation directly from God without the need of a priest. He and all who thought as he, the Waldesians, were branded as heretics and fled to the caves of the Alps. Whenever some of them were discovered by the "catholic militia" or whatever their name was, the cave entrance was blocked, a fire was built and they were smothered alive. Elder Faust's mentioning them in his talk that day was a witness to her that HF was mindful of her as an individual and there would be something said specifically for her.
Received an interesting call this week from a Major Denise Smith, a former military MP who recently moved here from Florida where she was the Executive Director of a Private School for troubled kids. She sent her resume for review and also sent me links to her websites. Am also working with a 62 year old grandmother

Labor Day in Georgia

Rain from Hurricane Lee and a tornado watch, but we were undeterred as our holidays are few and far between. We began our day in the kitchen with me making Mexicali Corn Dip and Sister P making pepper jelly. Then off to the Bishop's Storehouse to fill orders for the trucks going out on Tuesday. Back home to change into skirts and off for our adventure. I put some pass along cards into my purse and said a prayer that I would be able to hand some out. First stop was Office Depot so Sister Peterson could buy a backpack on wheels for her p 72 hour kit. As she was checking out I spotted a Hispanic woman standing waiting for someone, so I walked up to her and started chatting. I asked her if she had a family and when she responded in the affirmative, I offered her a pass along card that allowed her to send for a free DVD with ideas for creating a more loving family, which she accepted. Come to find out she has lived in the Yakima, Wapato, Sunnyside area of Washington state! My prayer was answered and she was the only opportunity the remainder of the day! Off to Kohl's so I could buy an umbrella as I lost my other one or it was stolen from work, as were my inexpensive pair of sunglasses. An expensive camera was also stolen, but that was someone else's error when they neglected to lock it up one night before the cleaners came. We looked to see if Ashley was working, but she wasn't, perhaps she got the new job she was seeking at a store in a mall closer to her home. We also looked for our clerk we like to visit, but she was not on the floor where we could see her. To the store for Sister P to purchase her fruit for the dinner at Karen's later in the day where I saw a BOGO on mayonnais, so I took advantage of that. I looked for someone to chat with, but did not see anyone so off we went to downtown Atlanta. We drove around and found a free parking spot and were glad we had our umbrellas as the rain was steady. It looks as though most of Atlanta had the same idea we had as the rain drove people indoors for Labor Day doings. It was a wonderful couple of hours as we saw beautiful creatures including dragon sea horses, an albino alligator, strange fish, and were able to touch a sting ray as it swam by. Sister P got a nice shot of a swordfish swimming overhead and we also saw the whale sharks feed. Interesting that the largest creatures in the sea eat the smallest ones...plankton! How do they ever get enough?...they are so large. Several hours later we were off for home to cut up the fruit, grab my appetizer and off to Karen's where we had a delicious meal and pleasant conversation. It was sad not to have Jay there but we were glad she did not have to be alone the first Labor Day without him. Home about 8:30 when Sister P started nodding (and so did I) after a very nice day. Grateful I could hand out a pass along card....I am sure it was to a person who Heavenly Father had marked to receive it. We were also grateful we encountered no difficulty of any kind, including tornadoes! I began writing in my journal once I settled down, but fell asleep until 4 a.m. and now it is 5 and I hear the rain pelting the window. Will sleep for an hour and then off we go to another day at the ERC and very grateful to be a missionary.

Cleaning the Church

Shades of home...being able to clean the church. We were there this morning with a couple and a gentleman formerly from Africa. Brother Panda is one of our clients as well. If I could put my two cents worth in to the powers that be, I would have the Young Men provide a Service Project of cleaning the bathrooms! Can you tell who had that unsavory assignment today??? It has been a good week at the ERC with our numbers setting a record with 68 placements recorded this month. Not all of them are those we have placed, but also those we have discovered have found jobs, which is still a great thing. More of our former Career Placement Workshop people are getting work and attributing it to the principles learned and applied from the CW, so it is satisfying to see them applying the formula and securing the blessing! C is working hard to find a job despite the pain she is in from, I think snapping a tendon based on her hearing a snap when the heel of her shoe caught in the step, (as she was coming to church with us last week). She has a doctor's appointment Tuesday. Her therapist told her she was basically raised in a mental institution. She feels hope through her faith and we are grateful she is coming to church with us again on Sunday. I miss my family!

August 29, 2011

I want to remember, and have Karen always remember this day - to mark it on the calendar. She was talking with me about some of her feelings and apprehensions now that her husband has died and I told her that I knew there were many good things ahead of her. By far the most important portion of that conversation was my statement's being ratified by the spirit. Gratitude!

Full Days, Weeks and Healing

We taught our sixth Career Workshop this past week where we trained the Gibsons, our wonderful new missionary couple at the ERC, and also the Connors who are church service missionaries assigned to the Raleigh, South Carolina ERC. Delightful people....we learned much from them. Several of our past CW clients have found work, so that is very satisfying to see the principles applied and the blessings received. Friday we had an office party for Sister P as it was her birthday. She doesn't like sweets and only wanted a peach, so that is what I sliced on a plate with a dollop of cream and a cherry. The rest of us had ice cream, banana pudding, and black-eyed pea salsa. Now doesn't that sound appetizing! After work we went straight to a co-worker's house to clean as she and her husband have bought their first house and need to get out of their rental. Her husband, Scott, said to us, 'I hope this doesn't offend you, but you are like our mothers!" We felt highly complimented as both of their families are states away! We had an opportunity to be mothers again on Saturday when we attended the sealing ceremony of Vincent and Marilyn. Vincent works next to us in the Bishop's Storehouse in the Warehouse. His mother is inactive and could not be at the temple nor the reception, so once again, we were highly complimented to be "mothers" there for him and his lovely bride, Marilyn. We care a great deal about Vincent so it was wonderful to feel the spirit as the ordinance took place so we could know this was right. This is their second marriage and both have children, so there will be some adjusting. Church was very tender today as C and her son came with us for the first time. C was adopted as an infant and has suffered at the hands of abusers ever since childhood. When she came to the ERC for the first time she mentioned in the course of the registration process that she was visiting churches trying to find the one right for her. I will state the obvious,Heavenly Father is very much with this amazing woman. Her experiences would have turned a normal person bitter and hard, but her heart is very tender and compassionate. From the Opening Hymn in Sacrament Meeting to the closing song in RS and everything in between: Reverence, Love, Personal Revelation, Prophets, The Sabbath, The Sacrament, The Atonement, Pain, Becoming as a Little Child....it all resonated with her; she is feeling love and welcome and truth. We, with C are meeting with the elders Wednesday evening at church. Elder Nelson was hoping Justin would come to Young Men's that evening. I am eager to hear how he felt about his experience today. People may wonder how I can say Heavenly Father is watching over C when He allowed horrible things to happen to her. I am sure I have no glib answer, but I do have my opinion and it is this. Before we came to this earth, we lived in bliss with our Heavenly parents...perfect love, but we were children, not living the kind of life our Heavenly parents live. We were given the opportunity for that kind of exalted life, but it meant leaving an unimaginable place of light and love and in effect, jumping into "darkness"; coming to earth to fulfill that portion of Heavenly Father's Plan of Happiness that requires a body, learning, testing, and acquiring the attributes of Jesus Christ. It is my opinion that in allowing C her agency, Heavenly Father said to her, "this is the plan I have detailed for you; it will involve suffering as others use their agency exactly opposite to my plan of love and kindness. If I always intervene and prevent improper use of agency, prevent suffering, there is no agency. No one can prove themselves or develop through overcoming, because there is nothing to overcome." What would make C choose such a painful plan? It is difficult to imagine what would be worth that kind of suffering only because we cannot remember our pre-mortal life with Heavenly Father. If the veil were lifted and we could glimpse that life, we would make the same choice I believe C made....She would go through anything to have the chance to live together forever exalted in the Celestial Kingdom never to be parted. Anything! If we could see....it would not be a test...faith would not be required as it is now. A loving Heavenly Father has brought C to a place where the gospel can be introduced to her....and it rings true. She is about to be able to choose to be completely and forever healed through our loving Savior and through His Gospel.

A Conference with an Apostle of Jesus Christ

Today was one of those days with an experience you don’t even think of dreaming about. We drove to Fayetteville for an hour and a half missionary conference with Elder M. Russell Ballard of The Council of the Twelve Apostles. The congregation was extremely reverent while waiting for the meeting to start in anticipation of hearing from a special witness of Jesus Christ. “Reverence Invites Revelation” was written on a sign in the hall. Elder Ballard brought with him Elder Gay, a Seventy who served as a Mission President in Ghana.

Highlights from Elder Ballard’s remarks:

Elder Ballard called a missionary companionship out of the audience to teach him the first discussion as if he were an investigator, including reciting from memory Joseph Smith’s testimony of the First Vision. I was able to recite the words in my mind along with him. We were instructed to memorize this in the MTC so I was happy for that missionary that he had been obedient and could fulfill Elder Ballard’s request with confidence.

· We must accelerate! We have to move! Heavenly Father is discouraged over the condition of the human family. (Elder G: It’s about the last days and about gathering.)

· The Rescue, conversion and reactivation, always begins not with what people know, but with what they feel.

· This is a war! The War in Heaven did not end with the expulsion of Lucifer and his hosts; it rages today in the hearts of men. (2Ne:28)

· Lucifer will do anything he can do to eliminate unity between missionaries and members. (Elder G: No mission will reach its full potential without engaging the members.)

· The full time missionaries are a very important part of the ward council.

· When investigators visit the auxiliaries, myths are dispelled.

· Bishops should take responsibility to see that Sacrament Meeting is a spiritual experience every Sunday with the focus being partaking of the Sacrament in remembrance of the sacrifice of the Savior. He has been in Sacrament meetings where the only mention of Christ was in the Sacrament prayers and in the opening and closing prayers. We should teach and preach of Christ so Sacrament Meeting becomes a sanctuary, a holy place, a spiritual experience.

· He has given more thought than probably any other member of the Council of the Twelve as to why so many people drop out after the first discussion: we do not teach with understanding. The investigator does not grasp the principle of God’s being his literal loving Father in Heaven. They are off in left field asking some fantastic question. Missionaries should respectfully bring the discussion back to the principle of a loving Father in Heaven with a Plan for His children.

· Don’t scare people off by committing them to baptism with the first discussion; rather say to them, “ as we teach you, and as you begin to know these things are true, we are going to invite you to be baptized.” This opens the door and introduces the thought of baptism.

· Missionaries, don’t try to do this work on your own; focus on trusting HIM. Let Heaven assist you by having a prayer in your heart all day. Great and marvelous are the blessings when They are involved.

· The Lord, Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father are marvelous wonderful gentlemen – They only come when they are invited.

· Measure the success of your missionary work by how strong the stakes and wards are.

· Be the kind of missionary your mother thinks you are.

· We are on the Lord’s errand; it is the greatest privilege anyone can have, to be His servant. May we serve Him well.

During the closing hymn, #319, Ye Elders of Israel, there was a verse where all the missionaries stood up during the hymn and then sat down at the end of a verse and continued singing. Before the closing prayer, Elder Ballard stood up and asked the audience to not begin practices that are not the order of the church. He said, “Stake Presidents, Bishops, take care of this.” He stated he hoped no one was upset with this but that part of the assignment of the Quorum of the Twelve was to go throughout the church and regulate it, making sure all was done in accordance with the guidelines.

Elder Ballard stated that they kept us in the meeting a half an hour longer than planned and that they had to be at a Young Single Adult Conference at 5:00, so….he asked everyone to lift their right hands in a certain position and then shake it….he said, “Good. Now I have shaken all of your hands.” There were gathered in that meeting, under one roof, every priesthood leader with the keys of Rescue for that Coordinating Council…stake presidents, bishops, branch presidents, missionaries, ward mission leaders, and none of them got to shake Elder Ballard’s hand, because he had to leave at the conclusion of the prayer; however….two missionaries who did not hold keys were able to shake Elder Ballard’s hand, and that was Sister Peterson and myself. Before the meeting began, as Sister Peterson and I were by the water fountain, Elder Ballard came by and when he saw us, asked to shake our hands. As I sat in the chapel before the meeting began thinking of what just happened, I realized that when I shook Elder Ballard’s hand, I was able to look into his eyes and hold a level steady gaze, completely at ease and most grateful to be shaking the hand of an Apostle. This has significance only to me because I am very conscious of my faults that I have to do battle with everyday and I am constantly praying to Heavenly Father for help in overcoming them. How can I be the missionary I should be when this battle is ever with me? This tender mercy with Elder Ballard, an Apostle of the Lord, Jesus Christ, helped me realize that I am acceptable to Him as a missionary with no cause for guilt because of my struggles with my imperfections. It was extremely humbling to recognize that Heavenly Father is aware of my struggles and chose to reassure me in such a magnificent way…an experience I will cherish always.

Newest Little Ward Member

Little Antoinette Dikia was only a few days old when this picture was taken. A call went out to the sisters in the ward for help as her mother and grandmother had nothing in the line of baby items to care for her. You know the members of Relief Society responded, as today for her blessing she was dressed in a beautiful yellow dress and was a little angel throughout.

Heavenly Father Loves All of His Children

I had one of those "tender mercy" experiences today when I was asked to look over a gentleman's resume as he had an interview later in the afternoon. It was a highly technical resume and he mentioned that someone in this office awhile back had recommended a book to him called, Ace the IT Resume which he used. Guess who that someone was?! How he organized and presented the material made perfect sense for his situation, but not the way we ordinarily construct a resume. We made one minor change and he was off, but not before he looked at my name tag and remembered I was the one who recommended the book. After he left I went back to check the notes on his account, and sure enough, there was a note I had entered June 23 with the title of the book. Now those of my family members who are reading this will readily agree that I have trouble remembering things....especially after I sleep on them. I do remember however, recommending that book, as I had JUST learned about it that day. Had I learned about it say two weeks earlier there was a good chance I would not have remembered it. Heavenly Father was watching out for Brother Murphy and today he was giving me a sweet experience that reassures me that really all He needs is a warm body and He will do the rest. He loves His children!

A Humbling and Sad Last Few Days

Thursday when my immediate supervisor, Karen Findlay arrived home from work, she found her husband had passed away. She is broken-hearted and so are we. Although he has been ill for a long time, and has been in unrelenting pain for just as long, it was still truly unexpected for her. Saturday morning she and her son (newly called Branch President) and her daughter (newly hired as a Counselor at a private facility in Boston) went to the temple together. She emailed this morning and said she is just beginning to feel a measure of peace, barely. She said something that several other people have mentioned to Sister Peterson and myself, that I had not thought of, and that was that perhaps one reason we were called to this mission was that Heavenly Father knew one of our colleagues would need us for having gone through this experience ourselves. This must make Karen feel very loved by her Heavenly Father, and that is the way He loves and cares for us all. I am so grateful.

The Plantation at Stone Mountain

Saturday morning after attending the 9:00 session of the temple, since it was cool, and since it was our P-Day, and since we have season passes to Stone Mountain, we went to see the Plantation on site. There was a great deal more to see than just the Plantation House - very enjoyable!
This is the Plantation House, the Dickey house, which was moved to this site along with all of the other buildings. They removed all of the porches and stairs, divided the house into four pieces and then moved it. Quite a feat. It is a beautiful home and has over 6200 square feet.

Instructions for greeting the animals. Another sign says that if you have been out of the country in the last five days, you have to take extra precautions so as to not give the animals hoof and mouth disease.

This is the upstairs dining room of the Dickey House. Notice anything unusual about the mirror on the wall? It is convex so as to reflect more of the candlelight around the room.

This child's toy horse is actually covered in horse hide and comes off of its base to roll around on wheels.

These are marbles in a slave's cabin which was not much larger than the doctor's, although a great deal more sparse.


This is the log cabin belonging to Dr. Powell whose daughter, Amanda was the basis for Margaret Mitchell's Scarlet O'Hara in 'Gone With The Wind". Sister Peterson and I are eager to go to the Mitchell Museum and see if we can learn more.

A Marvelous Hour Together

Bonnie, McKay, Carter, Chloe and Quinn flew through Atlanta on Saturday, July 9th, so Sister Peterson and I were able to get a gate pass and spend some time with them before they flew on to Washington. It was wonderful watching THEM walk through the gate....it seems like six months have passed since I have seen them...oh, it was great! I saw a fun slide show of their time at the OBX with their good friends, the Blakes. They even brought me birthday fudge! Chad and Caitlin flew out separate from the family so I missed seeing them. I have a question? AM I SHRINKING???

Treasure #25

I can hardly believe this little one is going to be over a year old the first time I get to cuddle him...if he will even let me by the time he is walking/running around the house! He bested his daddy in the weight department: 9 lbs. 13 oz. to his dad's 9 lbs. 9 ozs. Way to go Reese! Way to go Dani! Way to go dear family!

The Fourth of July

Sister Peterson and I volunteered to help in the Bishop's Storehouse this morning. This is the sight that greeted us when we pulled into the parking lot. This is one long building that houses, starting at the far end in the picture, CES, Family Services, then us, the Employment Resource Center, then the Bishop's Storehouse. It seems that sometime over the weekend an 18 wheeler turned into our parking lot and hit a water hydrant somehow. I suppose there were tracks or some kind of evidence that led the director to that conclusion. The CES and Family Services portions of the building are flooded, but the rest of us are alright, gratefully. With all of this sand coming up from underground the concern is for sinkholes, so we will see what happens from here. It was a pleasure working with pleasant people this morning and there will be some happy people in Alabama when their month's supply of food rolls into town tomorrow.
Dr. Basra invited Sister Peterson and myself to go see the Hindu mandir which was built in 2007 not far from our apartment. We had to take a rain check as Karen Findlay, our immediate supervisor invited us over for dinner today. It was very nice to meet her husband, Jay and their son and daughter-in-law, Josh, Natalie and baby Joshua. Jay was a rancher for 30 years, a stunt man, a bull rider, and now has 66 surgeries under his belt. He is in constant pain and we feel so badly for him. He is a gentleman and a doting grandpa. He was the Director of Temporal Affairs for the church for many years before he had to take a medical retirement at age 56. Karen is simply an amazing woman who takes good care of him, works, and keeps everything humming while being a loving grandmother and supportive of her son and daughter-in-law. It was a delicious meal and so nice to be in a family home again. It is thundering and lightening outside, so I don't know how many fireworks are going to be going off tonight. I love my country and am grateful to be living in a land of liberty.

Enjoying Our Fellow Residents at the Bar-b-que

After attending the temple at 9 a.m. Sister Peterson and I ran a few errands and then went to the Apartment's First Annual Resident Bar-b-Que. We volunteered as servers and were able to meet everybody who stopped by for a hamburger or a hot dog. These are our two handymen, Walter and Fred. We were able to clear up some misconceptions with one lady who thought we were similar to the Amish. She wants to go to Salt Lake and see how the Mormons live and meet some of them. We told her she already knows two! After three hours we started to wilt a bit so we called it an afternoon and headed for our cool apartment. Dr. Basra dropped a DVD off at our office about three brothers who were raised separately by a Hindu, a Christian and a ???????? We watched it with English subtitles and enjoyed the storyline, recognizing it was the strong family theme that made Dr. Basra feel we would like it. After dinner we went to the church for a baptism but realized the message that came to me through a Relief Society email was for a baptism in my home ward!!! Oh, dear, it seems we got all dressed up just to pick up our mail! There was the very nice birthday package from Marissa and family! Rory called today and Hudson "talked" to me a little bit. Marissa had sent me an email about Celestial Education for our children as opposed to the public school system. Since it is P-day, I watched half of the video and found it most enlightening. Also in the birthday package Marissa sent was a ticket for me for $70. I remember the situation with my being from out of state and not knowing the area, I pulled out of a turn lane only, into a straight through lane so I wouldn't be forced to enter the freeway. Caught on camera! Don't they realize people from out of state do silly things like that? There wasn't any traffic coming! I got an email from President Satterfield letting all the missionaries know Elder Ballard is coming to our mission in August!

A Day of Surprises

For being on the other side of the country far from my family on my birthday it was a wonderful day which actually began the day before with a card and call from Natalie . She called me again first thing birthday morning....a very nice way to start the day. I found a card from my ERC friends under my laptop before I left work yesterday and this morning I found a card and gift card from Sister Peterson to Applebee's. Such fun! It was a normal busy day at the ERC but I did find three people who had gotten jobs, so, Happy Birthday to me...one of the best gifts. I was working with one of my favorite candidates, Geizi, when I saw Brother Hainey walk in with a watermelon which I thought was strange since Friday he and his wife are off! A few minutes later my companion told me the office was waiting for me for a surprise birthday party! I had to explain to Geize why I had to cut short our time. This picture includes Paul Hainey, Karen Findlay, the birthday girl, Sister Peterson, Barry Carson, Fran Hainey (foreground), Jacqueline Lovel-Lantz, Melaney, and in the photo, my supervisor, Daryl Blount. I had no picture of his daughter, Kelley who is a volunteer and just an A+ girl. Karen made a delicious pound cake and Jacqueline furnished the cut up fresh fruit, and of course...Elder Hainey brought the watermelon! There was a phone call for me during the festivities.....when I picked up the phone it was Daryl and Kelley singing Happy Birthday to me! Sister Peterson and I worked until 5 and then went to Applebee's for dinner. Near the end of my meal the waitress said someone wanted to pay for my meal! It was one of those twilight zone type feelings as I looked around the restaurant. Who here could possibly 1. Know it was my birthday and 2. Want to pay for my dinner?! It turns out that Geize was there for dinner and saw me come in. Hence the picture below of sweet Geizi.

This is Geizi Almazan-Sanabria, and she doesn't know it yet, but she is going to be a Primary President, a Young Women's President, and a Relief Society President. She lives very close to Heavenly Father through prayer, scriptures and obedience. Today she accepted a Book of Mormon. It is so clearly evident how Heavenly Father is orchestrating her life and bestowing many blessings on her including a good man for her husband. She knows how to determine what is truth and what she should let go of, so I am expecting the spirit will witness to her of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon as she reads it. Geizi has her MBA and is working towards her CPA so she can have her own business, have children and be home with them most of everyday. It is such a privilege to know her.

My surprises continued as we arrived home and I found a package from Rory and Cambria. It is official....I am truly a missionary as I got a care package!!! It had some chocolate!, a box of granola, a beautiful candle in blue blown glass to remind me of the ocean, some blue dishtowels, and a glorious photo frame with three pictures of Hudson, one of which is with Cambria! Adorable! I also received letters and notes from the Robertsons and from the Creers, along with a gift card to Target. The Creers also called and left me a message singing Happy Birthday. Derek called that evening and Dani texted. Today from Marissa and family I got a beautiful framed picture of the children taken at Howard Amon along with snowflake pictures. Chad texted saying Bonnie and children would be in the ATlanta airport next SAturday with a layover. We will be there! Sister Satterfield, the mission president's wife called and left me the nicest message...makes time for the individual missionary. I have felt very blessed by family and friends.