SPIRIT AND POWER

This past week was transfer week which is always a sad but joyful time. Sad because we lost two of the Elders in our District. Elder Caldwell who has been with us in Augusta since we arrived six months ago was transferred. Elder Abankwa, our District Leader who had only been here six weeks, was called to be a Zone Leader so of course a transfer for him. We were sad because we enjoyed working with them so much and learning from them. Elder Abankwa is such a hard working and dedicated missionaries. Elder Caldwell is bold and bears a powerful testimony. We are joyful for them and the opportunities that await them in their new areas as they bless the lives of those who are prepared to hear their message. We are also joyful for the opportunity to serve with two choice Elders who have been called to serve in the Augusta Ward by inspiration. As we experience each transfer we can see the hand of the Lord as Elders are transferred in and out and we love each one of them. We are joyful to serve with Elders Cahoon and Phillips. Elder Cahoon is our new District Leader. Transfers are every six weeks and we have eight more transfers to experience these sad but joyful feelings. Attending transfer meetings is always a joy because we get to visit with or receive messages from Elders we have served with. The transfer meeting begins with testimonies from the new Elders, Sisters and Seniors who have just arrived from the MTC, then testimonies of Sisters, Elders, and Seniors who are returning home. The chapel is full of missionaries from all over the mission awaiting their new assignment and companion. As we sat in the chapel with all these missionaries we could feel their spirit and their power. Sister Lewis, a senior sister who will be returning home, bore a beautiful and touching testimony. She mentioned the power and spirit she felt as she watched and listened as the opening hymn was sang, Come, All Ye Sons of God. The third verse was sung much louder and with great power. "Repent and be baptized, and have your sins remitted. And get the spirit's zeal, oh then you'll be united. Go cast upon him all your care; He will regard your humble prayer. And bring you home to Zion to praise the Lamb." Many ward members transport missionaries from all over the mission to these meetings and are touched by the spirit they feel. We are thankful for them and their service because many of them start early in the morning and don't return to their homes until late in the evening depending upon their location in the mission. Two senior sisters Sister Lewis and Sister Bodine who serve in the office and Brother and Sister Hadley are returning home. We received one senior sister, Sister Rothman who will serve in the office. Five of the senior couples and two senior sisters who were here when we arrived are or have returned home and there have only been two couples and one sister to replace them. The good news: although Elder Abankwa is leaving our district he is remaining in our zone as a zone leader.

Each week is so different and each day brings wonderful experiences. This is a run down of our week. Monday Elder Berry repaired a widows lawn mower (ward member) and was grateful for the opportunity to be outside and have some tools in his hands. Monday was transfer dinner for the Zone. This dinner was sad because Elder and Sister Atkinson wasn't with us here but the Elders enjoyed begin together as they said good-by to those who would be transferred. We made two trips to Columbia this week. One trip was made Tuesday as we drove Elder Harris from North Augusta, South Carolina up for a training meeting because he has been called to be a new trainer. The second trip was made Wednesday for transfers. These trips bring us great joy because it gives us the opportunity to get to know the Elders in our Zone better as we visit with them in our car and we can feel their spirit and power.
This week we had the opportunity to meet a family that is not active. They were baptized almost two years ago and received much help and support from the ward. A ward member provided them with a car and they received financial help but when the financial aid was not provided anymore they became less active. As we talked they said they weren't happy with the church anymore because when they needed the ward the most they turned their back on them and some one had pointed out some things in the Book of Mormon that upset them (anti Mormons are everywhere and eager to pounce on recent converts). As soon as the lady mentioned the Book of Mormon her son (about 11 years) blurted out "it says in the Book of Mormon the reason they were black was because they had been cursed") Hopefully we were able to correct that misunderstanding and are looking forward to visiting them again. It is very interesting that as we are out and about people notice our name tags and have many comments. Mormon is more common now that Mitt Romney is campaigning. As we talk we ask them would they like to learn more and 99% of the time their prompt reply is "We're Baptist!" As we visit and talk with people we hope they can feel the spirit and power of our calling as we feel the young missionaries when we are in their presence. A tender mercy this week we must share. We were looking for a sister and wasn't having any luck. We knocked on the apartment door (no one was home) and a neighbor from next door came out and told us she didn't live there anymore but the cousin did. The Elders went back later and a person answered the door and told them she didn't live there but they still got her mail. One evening at the last minute we decided to take dinner to a sick family so we stopped at at chicken restaurant. The girl taking our order noticed our name tags, got very excited and told us her mother was a member of our church. We asked her name and it was the woman we were looking for. She told us her mother was in Florida and would return in two months. We have found that as we are out and about and meeting people the door is opened for us to receive needed blessings.

Missionary service is a powerful tool to bring others to Christ. We encourage you to have the missionaries in your homes so that you can feel their spirit and power and it will bless your lives. (D&C 58:27) "..men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness."

Love, Elder and Sister Berry