WE ARE SOWING

Wisteria grows wild in the woods and is planted in yards. In the woods it wraps around the trees and covers low growing bushes. It just takes over everything. It is also grown in woods but has to be trimmed and cut back or it will take over everything. The wisteria is beautiful.

Spring in Augusta is absolutely beautiful. It rained most of the day Friday and Saturday. Each time we left our apartment you could almost seem to see the trees leaf out. In two days most of the trees are green. Monday we found a neighborhood with the most beautiful dogwood trees and azalea bushes in full bloom. We quickly took some pictures because of time but returned Saturday but the azaleas had lost their flowers and was just green bushes so we didn't get our desired pictures.

The missionaries have sown many seeds in Augusta "in tears and love and prayer." Our calling as senior missionaries is to find the "seeds by idle hearts forgotten." This week we had the opportunity to seek out and get to know an inactive convert. Sister Eubanks was at Church for two Sundays in a row recently and then she didn't come back. She met us at the door with a cigarette and never attempted to hid it or put it out. Sister Eubanks has a car but when she came to church for those two weeks she said she walked. We asked her why she walked when she could ride. Her response was that her doctor told her she needed to walk more. She said on the way to church she stopped at the Waffle House and got a cup of coffee. As we visited on her porch she told us about her conversion. Basically she joined the church because she attended a ward Christmas party while investigation the church. The cultural hall had surround sound and a film was shown of the Tabernacle Choir. She said she had never heard or seen anything so beautiful and fell in love with the choir and its music. When the missionaries left she neglected to nourish her seed and fell into inactivity. We learned that she still reads from the Book of Mormon occasionally but she got to a part she didn't understand so she stopped reading. She didn't understand the difference between priest and priestcraft and if it was bad. We got our Book of Mormons out, read the scripture and explained it to her and explained the difference and that priestcraft was bad. She was satisfied. We invited her to come back to church and asked if we could come back and visit and read the Book of Mormon with her. We told her about Conference this weekend that she would not only be able to listen to the Tabernacle Choir but to hear the Prophet speak. We offered to pick her up for all four sessions and she excepted our invitation. Upon leaving Sister Eubanks house we drove the distance to church and it was two miles and a half. We were disappointed that she wasn't at church yesterday. We have so many members that don't have cars and need rides and we help as many members as we can get to church.

Our Ward Mission Leader's father-in-law is a Seventy and he visited in our ward yesterday. When the lesson was over in High Priest the subject was brought up about the lack of transportation and the inability to get the members to church who desired to come to church. The Seventy got his scriptures out and read from the Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 22. This is his interpretation: "Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people; and they shall bring thy sons in their SUV'S and thy daughters shall be carried in their vans." In the past we have watched as the suv's and vans left the parking lot on Sunday half full. We are thankful for his words of wisdom and insight. Yes we are "sowing daily sowing" and we hope that we can redirect our seeds to life eternal.

This is count down week. We are looking forward to seeing our children this weekend and spending a week with them. Blake, Hallie, and Lex we can hardly wait for lots of hugs!

Love, Elder Papa and Sister Nana Berry

DON'T WAIST ANY TIME

Augusta District-L Brother Ficklin(assistant ward mission leader) Elders Bogden, Caldwell, Ultra (Philippine), Abankwa (Africa) Sunday evening after dinner at our apartment.
Elders knocking on doors Sunday morning wake up call.

Savannah River

Dam on Savannah River

Spanish moss covering trees along the Savannah Rive

Dogwood up close. The dogwood trees are in full bloom and they are beautiful.

Pink and white dogwood

Sister Holm and Sister missionaries

Transfers loading up and heading back to Augusta.

Elder and Sister Lovell - returning home in 3 weeks

Elder Holyoak last good-by

Elder Ultra and Elder Law(zone leader)

Elder Cardon going to his new assignment

Transfer day is lots of work for Elder Berry

Elder Hunt instruction Sisters about cars

Sister Bodine office

On the way to Columbia Wednesday morning. We drove in fog most of the way

Loading up at the apartment in Augusta for the trip to Columbia

"Don't waist any time " was the advice given by a missionary returning home as he bore his testimony for the last time as a missionary in the Columbia South Carolina Mission. We enjoy transfer meetings because we get to hear the testimonies of the missionaries returning home and the missionaries just beginning their mission. One Elder returning home to Tonga bore a very powerful testimony and said it would be hard returning home because it just wouldn't be the same because his mother wouldn't be there to greet him but he knew she had watched over him as he served. Later President Holm gave some remarks and told everyone that the Elders mother had died while he was serving his mission. His mother's last words were "Please tell my son to finish his mission." President Holm said it was the hardest thing he ever did was to deliver such news to one of his missionaries and he and Sister Holm spent the night with him. What faith and testimony on the part of both son and mother and the son honored his mother's desire.

Some time we just waist time saying what if. We had the opportunity to visit an inactive young man who is a convert. He doesn't come to church because he doesn't have a ride. Before he joined the church he went to many different congregations and he said that their teachings were all different and build upon what men believed and not on Christ. He asked the question What if our church divided and someone started another church, what would we do. We reminded him of the things he had been taught and how our church was organized and Christ was the head of our Church and always would be. We explained many other things and read srciptures with him. He still asked what if. We told him it would never happen and bore strong testimony. We asked if he was reading the Book of Mormon and his response was when he was inspired to do so. We committed him to read from the Book of Mormon daily.

We waist time because we don't know how to communicate. Saturday a sister was to be baptized. She has been have problems with her teeth and had to have some teeth pulled but said she would be able to be baptized anyway. Saturday the Elders tried and tried many times to call her but she didn't answer her phone. Finally they drove to her apartment and her son answered the door and said his mother wasn't there and she wasn't getting baptized and closed the door. The Elders were confused,thinking her family was interfering, and didn't know what to do so they filled the baptismal font in hopes she showed up. Thirty minutes after the baptismal time she hadn't come. The Elders asked Elder Berry and me to go check on her before they let the water out of the font because she wasn't responding to them. When we got to her house a granddaughter answered the door and said her grandmother wasn't home. We asked how long she would be gone and where she was? We expressed our concern for her because of her teeth and the health problems she was having and we just wanted to make sure she was OK and not in the hospital. The lady stuck her head around the door and was happy to see us because we had accompanied the missionaries teaching her. She said she was doing better but still had stitches in her mouth and didn't feel like getting baptized today but she would next week. Why didn't she just answer her phone and tell the missionaries? She invited us to return with the missionaries because she liked the way we explained things (I think it's really an age thing). We called the Elders and told them to pull the plug. Telling the truth would have been much easier and saved a lot of time for everyone.

Sometimes when we think our time is wasted it really isn't. A young man came to church yesterday that we visited when we first arrived in Augusta. He is a returned missionary but has become inactive. Elder Berry has had different people contact him. We have been involved in other things lately and haven't contacted him. Yesterday at church we looked behind us and there he sat on the back bench in the chapel. I'm sure he was there because of his desires and nothing we had said or done but he was where he needed to be.

This has been a busy and exciting week. We are thankful for the new Elders who have been assigned to Augusta and look forward to serving with them. We will try not to waist time missing our Elders who have moved on although they will always have a special place in our hearts. We are counting down the days until our family visit in April

Love, Elder and Sister Berry

TRANSFERS

Saturday baptism- Mykeria Campbell by Elders Muhlestein. Mykeria is 13 and her mom was baptized about 4 months ago.
Baptism Sunday after meeting-Beth Offenbacker by Elders Cardon and Holyoak. Beth had friends who were members of the church in California. She met the Augusta missionaries at a friend's (less active) home decided to take the discussions and was baptized. The friend's husband is taking discussions and he and his wife will be transporting the Elders to Columbia Wednesday for transfers. We accompanied the Elders on some of the discussions with Beth.

Spring has arrived in Augusta. This is what we see outside our sliding door dogwood and azaleas.

Elder Muhlestein, Elder and Sister Berry

Elder Muhlestein came to Augusta from the MTC and only stayed for one transfer. He will be leaving Wednesday. He is quiet and shy but is growing out of that. Elder Muhlestein is a great missionary and will do good where ever he goes. We will miss him.

Elder Holyoak, Elder and Sister Berry

Elder Holyoak is our District Leader. He will be leaving Wednesday. He told us it was strange at first having a senior couple in his district but it has turned out to be a wonderful experience.
Elder Holyoak was here for only one transfer so we were surprised when we learned he and Elder Muhlestein both will be leaving.

Elder Cardon, Elder and Sister Berry

Elder Cardon was in Augusta when we arrived and this was his first area to serve. He has been here about 6 months so we weren't surprised when we learned he will be transferred. We have loved serving with Elder Cardon. All these Elders will be great missionaries no matter where they serve. They have strong testimonies and great knowledge of the gospel and bear such mighty testimonies. Their parents would be so proud of them and they are bringing honor to their families.

Zone Transfer Dinner. Some of the missionaries leaving.

Grovetown District. Elder and Sister Atkinson, all their Elders will be leaving except Elder Clark. Elder and Sister Atkinson will be going home in April. They serve Grovetown Ward and are Military Relations at Fort Gordon

Grovetown Elders

Augusta District-Elder and Sister Berry, Elders Holyoak, Caldwell, Muhlestein, Cardon

Elder Caldwell will not be leaving Wednesday. Elder Caldwell was the Zone leader when we arrived in Augusta. Now he is a trainer and has trained Elder Muhlestein. He is a great missionary and it is amazing how he can get around in Augusta. Elder Caldwell has been in Augusta for over six months and we were expecting that he would be transferred. There may have been a little disappointment and surprise over this transfer but we have talked with Elder Caldwell and we all have a testimony that the changes President Holm made is what the Lord wants to happen. We have a unique situation with converts, getting them to church and keeping them active. Elder Caldwell knows all the converts and what most of them need to be strengthened in the gospel. Plus he is a whiz directing the van. We have gone on discussions with Elder Caldwell and are amazed at his ability to teach the gospel with such clarity. We are happy that we will have at least 6 more weeks with Elder Caldwell and are looking forward to three new missionaries.

Elders Law (zone leader) and Elder Caldwell

This past week we visited many people in the Augusta Ward, some active, some less active, some with only a child that is a member, one that is now in jail, and some addresses the member has moved and we don't know where they went. We have had many wonderful experiences and heard inspiring stories of conversion. Sister Owens conversion: Sister Owens was confused about which church to join and had visited many churches. There are so many churches here and they all preach such different things and they don't live what they preach. One evening she sat in her bedroom and prayed to Heavenly Father and asked him to tell her which church to join. Three days later about 8pm on a Sunday evening she got a knock on her door. When she opened her door there stood two white young men dressed in suits. They told her who they were and asked her what she had been praying for recently. She had forgotten about her prayer and didn't understand what they were talking about. They told her she had been praying for a specific thing and they were there in answer to her prayers. Then she remembered her prayer and she knew from that moment and has never doubted that her prayer was answered. The missionaries were invited back, she was baptized and has been active since. The amazing thing about this story is that Sister Owens lives on the 6th floor of a huge apartment building. The building she lives in was once a grand hotel in Augusta but has been converted into apartments

One family we have been visiting is the Smoot family. This is a young family with four beautiful children and members of about a year. They have had medical problems, car problems, a death in the family and a new baby. They are less active so we visit them often and give home evening lessons, play games and bake cookies. Elder Berry has helped and advised Christian with van problems so they will have transportation to church on Sundays. When they come to church they usually only stay for Sacrament Meeting then take their little family and go home. This past Saturday evening we visited, had a little lesson, committed them to come to church and stay for all the meetings so their little girls could attend Primary. We promised them their home and family would be blessed as their little girls learned the gospel as taught in Primary. Elder Berry committed Christian to stay and attend Priesthood meeting so he could be ordained to the Priesthood and have the power and authority to bless his family, to be a home teacher and serve others. This past Sunday the Smoot family did not attend church. We were sad because we want them to claim their blessings but we will not give up and continue to love, visit, teach and encourage.

Sunday we had a young couple come to church for the first time. They were the Spanish missionaries investigators. The girl wore "Daisy Mae short shorts" and had a Starbucks coffee cup in her had. A member of the Relief Society presidency took her to the clothes closet and had her put on a skirt. Evidently this upset the Relief Society Presidency so they had a little chat with the Bishop. The Bishop called Elder Berry and me out of Sunday School class and gave us a little lecture about talking to "our missionaries" and making sure they inform investigators what is appropriate attire for Sunday worship. Yesterday at the Zone transfer dinner we talked with the missionaries. The Spanish missionaries had talked with their investigator since Sunday. The girl was embarrassed but not offended and will probably come back. The missionaries learned their lesson. Living in Augusta I guess as missionaries it is necessary to continually remind investigators what is appropriate dress for Sunday worship.

Transfers are this Wednesday and we will be loosing three of the missionaries from our district. We are sad but know they are going where the Lord wants them to serve in his vineyard. We look forward to meeting and serving with three missionaries new to the Augusta area. Elder Caldwell is staying here and will be a great help to the new missionaries and Elder Berry and I will gladly assist when called upon. We are thankful they didn't take all four. In a letter from President Holm yesterday he told us he was sending an Elder back who has served here before. So Wednesday up to Columbia we go to participate in transfers.
We are counting the days. In two weeks our Vegas family and Alabama family will visit us during spring break! We are so happy senior missionaries can visit with family while serving. We are anxious for them to experience Augusta and the south. It is truly a choice place. Flowers and bushes are blooming and by the time the family get here everything should be in full bloom.

Love, Elder and Sister Berry