CHEERFULLY DO EVERYTHING

We were on a conference call with the mission president Saturday with the rest of our zone. Elder Holm told us we should cheerfully do everything so we did that very day. We drove to Akin, South Carolina for a reenactment of the Civil War and we did it cheerfully. Akin is a small town east of Augusta and every year they have a reenactment of the Battle of Akin. Everyone who participates wear costumes and live in tents of that time period. People come from all over to participate and watch. We have a family in our ward (recent converts) who participates. The day was beautiful and we had a wonderful time.

Friday was a rainy cloudy day. Around noon a big storm came through and blew over some trees. A tree in our neighborhood blew over on some power lines and we were without electricity for about twelve hours. We with one set of the Elders were visiting a new contact when the storm hit so we were safe and just got a big rain where we were. The other set of Elders was in the worse part of the storm but had just gone in their contacts house when the storm hit. When we returned home about 8pm the power was off in our house and the Elders so Elder Berry and I went to Walmart and bought some lamps for them and us. The Elders were just returning home when we drove up with their light. Good timing.

This past week we experienced a wonderful miracle. The Lord truly answered many prayers. We are so thankful for people who live in other areas of the country who helped us with advice, it was followed and that assisted in our miracle. The bishop in Colorado visited our ward member in jail and attended court with him and witnessed the miracle and went the extra mile and made sure the ward member returned to Georgia to his family. The way members of the church work together all over the world isn't a miracle but the work they do and service they give creates miracles plus lots of faith and prayers. Thanks to everyone for the cheerful manner in which you helped.

As we serve here in Georgia we see many miracles. President Holmes tells us that obedience brings blessings and complete obedience brings miracles. We encourage the recent converts to experiment with this promise by attending Sacrament meetings ever Sunday and staying the entire three hours. Today was a disappointment as some of the families weren't there. Friday we visited with a beautiful young family. We baked cookies together and gave them a lesson. The whole family just drank in the message we gave. They are children in the gospel and they need to bring their children to church and learn and grow together. Friday night when we left their home we were sure they would be at church today. Today we were sad because they weren't at church to claim their blessings. We will cheerfully keep going back because we love them and they love us and they need to hear our messages. Each Sunday is a challenge and it takes great skill and lots of work getting investigators and recent converts to church. Some come because they desire to come others because someone knocked on their door and woke them up. We and the Elders look forward to Sunday night to get together, have dinner, and discuss the events of the day. Tonight Elder Berry reminded us that while the things we do all day are good we need to remember when we walk in the chapel why we are at church.
We are cheerfully looking forward to a new week and its challenges. Thursday will be zone conference with the mission president. We also have some discussions with the Elders. This is the Lord's church and this is His work and we are grateful to be a part of it.

Love, Elder and Sister Berry