WARRIORS

We love this picture. It is hanging in our office above our computer. We don't know who drew it but hope to learn more about it. As we serve with the young Elders we think of them as the Latter-Day armies of Helaman and they are the Lord's missionaries taking the truth to the world.

   

Two warriors (Elder Caldwell and Elder Bogden) 

Elder Bogden, Brother Ficklin (assistant ward mission leader) Elder Caldwell, Elder Ultra and Elder Abankwa

Wednesday is transfer day. This is our last Sunday dinner with Elders Caldwell and Abankwa. Elder Caldwell has served in Augusta for over six months and proclaims the gospel with boldness. Elder Abankwa has only been in Augusta for six weeks so we were surprised with his transfer. He has been called to be a zone leader in another zone. He is the hardest working, most dedicated missionary. Elder Abankwa comes to us from Africa and he is truly teaching the gospel to the world. They will be missed but it is time for them to move on and fight the Lords battle in another part of our mission. We are happy we will have the opportunity to serve longer with Elders Bogden and Ultra. They are mighty warriors.

Elder and Sister Atkinson loaded up and ready to return to Idaho. They have served in Augusta for twelve months and have lived in this little trailer. They have been the Lord's missionaries and they have left their home and family to assist the soldiers at Fort Gordon.

Elder Atkinson hitching his truck to the trailer. Elder Berry just had to get this picture.


The Stevens Creek missionaries helped the Atkinsons pack their truck and prepare the trailer for travel.

Packing up

The Atkinson's trailer before take down and hooking to truck. This was the Atkinson's home for a year.

The following pictures were taken at the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden in Columbia, South Carolina.

Tuesday we drove Elder Harris to Columbia for Spanish missionary training. First we drove to North Augusta, South Carolina to pick up Elder Harris and his companion Elder Thompson then drove to Aiken, South Carolina and dropped Elder Thompson off with the Elders in Aiken for the day then to Columbia for the meeting. Elder Harris and Elder Thompson are in what they call a Zebra, that is where a companionship speaks different languages. After dropping Elder Harris off for his meeting we had five hours free. Since we don't speak Spanish (only Southern and there was no training for us) we decided to spend some time at the zoo. President Holm encourages the senior couples to take time and visit sights in our mission. The zoo which isn't large and gardens were beautiful. About five PM we headed back to August to put all the missionaries back together again. When we arrive back in Aiken, South Caroline it took over an hour to meet back up with Elder Thompson then return him and Elder Harris to North Augusta, South Carolina and finally back to Augusta, Georgia. We had a twelve hour day but it was great

As we were walking through the gardens we saw this vine which looked familiar from our childhood when we lived in the south. We took a closer look and sure enough, a May pop vine. May pop is a fast growing vine and it grows along fences or up trees. The may pop is one of the hardiest passion flowers and grows wild in regions that commonly freeze during winter. The vine dies back to the ground and pops back to life the following season, hence the name may pop. The fruit is edible and the flavor is variable but some of fruits are said to be quite good. As I remember as a child we went looking for may pops and enjoyed eating them.

From the pictures we posted this week it looks like all we did was play. Serving a senior mission at times seems like play and it brings us great joy. We did spent three days finding members that are on the ward list. Two of the people on our list never lived at the addresses we had and the phone numbers that were listed were the phone numbers of the people that actually lived in the houses. One person said he had lived in the house and had the same phone number for six years and knew nothing about the person we were looking for. One door we knocked on there was no answer so we left our cards and started walking back to our car. The driveway was long and we were parked on the street. Before we got to our car we saw the front door open and a lady reached down to pick up our cards because they fell to the porch. We turned around and headed back and the first thing the lady said to us was that she was Jewish. We asked if she knew the name of the lady we were looking for. She did but the lady we were looking for no longer lived there but her son did. We asked for the new address of the lady. She wouldn't give it to us but said she would let her know we came by and she would have her call us although she was on vacation in Florida. Another visit this week was much different than any we have had yet. We drove to an address and went up to knock on the door. The sign by the door read: "Do not knock. Call me on my cell phone." We didn't have a phone number so we couldn't call so we decided we better not knock on his door. A neighbor was outside watching us so we asked if that person still lived at that house. The neighbor told us he still lived there but was at the doctor. He told us when we came back not to worry about the sign just knock. Saturday we went back to make contact with the man and invite him to church. The house has a carport that has been converted into a shop with tools laying on tables for sale. Two rugged looking men were sitting outside by the tools. No sooner than we got out of the car one of the men told us in a very demanding voice to get back in our car and leave.  Elder Berry asked if the person we were looking for was home. The man told us he wasn't home and he wasn't going to talk to us anymore. Elder Berry just walked a little closer, stood there and asked him a question about the tools. The man turned his back and told him he wasn't going to talk to him and just get in your car and leave. So we did. Elder Berry took his time getting back into the car while I held my breath. It's hard being a warrior when you are demanded to leave someones property but Elder Berry stood his ground and did not let the man intimidate him. Needless to say we didn't have the opportunity to invite the man to church Sunday. We have had some wonderful experiences this week. Several weeks ago we visited an inactive convert and had the opportunity to answer some of her questions about the Book of Mormon. An anti Mormon had talked to her against the Book of Mormon telling her she didn't need to read the "Mormon Bible" because we only need one Bible and other things. When we left we asked if we could come back and she said she would be happy for us to come back. I called about two weeks later to make an appointment and she was very cool and said she had been reading her Bible and was not really interested in a visit. Last Friday while we were taking another sister to the grocery store and in an area we usually don't shop we saw this sister in front of the store. I went to her and she hugged me and seemed very happy to see me and that I had recognized her. We are thankful for all the opportunities we are given that open doors to share the gospel. As we visit around the ward we are welcomed into many homes and have the opportunity to share message and pray together. As we quietly go about serving we look at the Elders and Sisters working so hard and boldly and we know they are mighty warriors serving in the Lord's Army.

Love, Elder and Sister Berry