Senior Missionary Outing to Cyclorama

On a Saturday earlier this month Elder and Sister Gibson picked us up to go to the Cyclorama at the Atlanta Zoo where we met up with most of the missionary couples serving in our mission for our monthly outing. The 16,000 sq. foot painting standing 40' high depicts the Battle of Atlanta and was very impressive, but the truly amazing part was that the audience rotated around the painting while a narrative played, telling the story of this battle that was the turning point in the Civil War. The painting was originally commissioned for $1100 as a campaign "poster" for a military officer planning to run for the presidency. The "would be candidate", after surviving the war, died of pneumonia two weeks before the painting was finished, so he never even saw it. Today, that painting is worth $23 million. Before finding a permanent home here on the grounds of the Atlanta Zoo, it was transported on wagons after being rolled into sections and displayed throughout the south. After leaving Cyclorama twelve of us tried to eat at Gladys Knight's Chicken and Waffles, but there was an hour and a half wait. The restaurant was located in a seedy section of Atlanta, which surprised us. "No weapons" was etched on the window! We opted for Plan B and went to The Varsity across from the Georgia Tech Campus. It is a famous Burger and Fry place...I enjoyed the company, but the food was not that great. These days I am used to wheat berry chili, baked sweet potatoes, almond peanut butter, home-made pizza made with a coconut flour crust, and lots of salads....but I am not strange!

Adventures With Nana

This is my friend and client, Nana, the daughter of the former Ambassador of New Guinea. We invited her to lunch and let her choose the place...."Bahama Breeze" complete with a steel drum band! Macy would appreciate that....I enjoyed the music, the food, but mostly I enjoyed Nana. She grew up in a privileged world of chauffeurs, servants, obeisance paid to her, the best schools, living all over the world...everything. She graduated from college, married an internationally famous soccer star, had a child, adopted a child, divorced, and built a $60K a week real estate business that came crumbling down in 2008. Nana is a wonder, and is working very hard providing for her children. She is a devoted conscientious mother. She is also a truth seeker and invited us to attend a Bible study class she attends Monday evenings at a friend's house 30 miles away. I asked her if she would get permission first if two missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints could come. It was fine.This from my journal: ….Sister P and I had dinner and dashed out the door a little before 6:30 to head for Bible study in Dacula at Lee Ann’s. Lee Ann met us at the door and after greeting us asked what church we belonged to. I responded, “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints” and she said, the Mormons? Yes, I said. She said that when Nana asked if we could come she misunderstood who we were and that she was Christian. I said, “Great, we are too”. She said she had a difference of opinion with us, so I asked if she would feel more comfortable if we did not stay. She was gracious and said that we were welcomed to come in and join them. As we went in and sat down and met Timi, her friend, there was such a good spirit present, and we could readily see that these were two good women, and that LeeAnn was devoted to learning about and becoming like the Savior. She sacrifices each week to study and prepare a handout so we can learn too. At one appropriate point in response to a question I was asked directly, I was able to bear my witness and testimony of the Savior and His Divinity. I felt the Spirit and I hope and pray the others did as well. I had put three copies of the Book of Mormon in my purse, but left them right where they were. We had a great discussion centering on Joseph of Egypt. At the end of the evening, LeeAnn invited us to return next Monday if we wished, and we do. Nana has never studied the Bible, so she is eager to learn. We had prayed that Heavenly Father would use us and lead us to someone who would accept the gospel. Now, we pray we will do all the things necessary to be humble, to study and learn and be prepared to share the gospel so truth will be recognized and received.

Please pray for us, Nana, LeeAnn and Timi.