Happy Thanksgiving

Just driving down the street, grabbed the camera and shot. Most of our pictures are at least 30 miles an hour.

An example of why the trees are chopped up and why so many homes are without power during storms. The trees get blown over and take the wires with them. The trees are beautiful. The weather here has been warm and sunny most of the time. Yesterday it did rain

It seems every week is so different here teaching and contacting members, inactive and less active members and is very challenging. This Sunday was a busy day. A member of the ward has a fifteen passenger van that he loans to the Elders on Sunday to pick up the new converts and investigators. This Sunday the Elders couldn't get anyone to drive so guess who got to drive the van? Yes, Elder Berry. What an experience. With the Elders directing and a GPS after two trips they got everyone. We were disappointed because most of the people we have been working with didn't show up for church today. The hardest thing for the new converts to do is commit to come to church every Sunday. The rain could have been an excuse for not coming.

This past week we had many wonderful experiences as we visited. Most everyone welcomes us warmly. The Elders invited us to several discussions with them. A young girl they have been teaching and we have been involved with asked the Elders if after she was baptized and got older if she could go on a mission like the "Elderberrys". You never know how you touch people's lives.

Last Sunday, Brother Johnson, a member of the bishopric asked Elder Berry to take one of the young men who passes Sacrament, JoMo Crawford, to get his hair cut with the aid of Tim Jackson, a man we have been working with. Elder Berry picked up Tim Jackson then picked up JoMo then returned to Tim's house and Tim's son cut JoMo's hair. JoMo is about thirty, a convert and kind of slow. He is very dedicated and attends church ever Sunday when the van picks him up. While JoMo was getting his hair cut on Tim's front porch Elder Berry visited with Kenneth Pressley from across the street and three young men who just walked up. Kenneth Pressley is a member and we have been trying to visit but he only opens the door a crack and speaks to us. Elder Berry said he had a good visit with Kenneth Pressley. It seems when all else fails another door is opened. JoMo had long bushy hair but when the hair cut was finished he had a missionary cut. Now the challenge is to get his big bulky jacket off and a walking stick he carries for security.

Sunday is a long hard day for the Elders. We cook dinner for them and is usually after six by the time we get back to the apartment. The past two Sundays I have cooked soup so the Elders have started calling it "soupersunday". Elder Flake our district leader is from Mesa Arizona. He grew up in the ward my cousin Charles Foster lives in. Small world.

We hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! We are excited Jana and family will be here. At this time of year we are thankful to be serving in Augusta Georgia. It is truly beautiful here. We are doing the Lords work and are thankful for this opportunity and hope we will be able to touch lives as we share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Love

Elder and Sister Berry