Sisters, Elder Berry (Our Grandson) and his companion
Seattle Washington Mission
We would like to share a thought from our grandson this week. Elder G. Berry is serving in the Seattle Washington Mission. His letter was very inspiring and we also love the picture he sent. Elder G. Berry wrote that he and his companion were studying from Preach My Gospel and they read that we need to be Christlike missionaries, not just do missionaries things. That started them to "thinking about their desires as missionaries. In life if we desire something we think about it, if we think about it it will happen, so if you desire baptizing you will think about baptizing and then you will baptize. This really goes for anything in our life. If we desire to do it then we will begin to think about it and then those thought will turn to action. It made us realize that we need to direct our thoughts more toward baptizing and our purpose as a missionary.If we direct our thoughts toward Christlike things we will all begin to be more Christlike." He wrote , "it really made me think about what my thoughts were and am I directing them to where they need to be."
Crystal with her daughter and granddaughter
Crystal is a perfect example of directing her thoughts to more Christlike things. Recently Crystal was baptized. The more she studies and learns the more excited she gets. She lives the gospel and desires and receives blessings from her efforts, and recognizes those blessings. Because of her desires and change of heart and efforts she is having more success in her work. Before Crystal was baptized at the end of a discussion she asked us to pray that she would get to see her four year old granddaughter whom she had never met. Crystal was recovering from a difficult past and because of this had become separated from her two children for many years. Crystal was very doubtful that her daughter would forgive her and allow her to see her granddaughter. Many months ago we said that prayer and because of Crystal's efforts in living the gospel, reading, studying and serving this weekend her daughter came for a visit and stayed with her in her apartment. Crystal's desires and thoughts of reuniting with her daughter lead her to action.She lived the gospel, changed her life and opened the door of communication with her daughter. This weekend we rejoiced with Crystal. Heavenly Father truly hears and answers prayers and blesses us with the desires of our heart when we live the gospel and strive to be more Christlike.
Elder Phillips, Brother Williams and his sister Sister Hobbs
Saturday morning we woke up to dark clouds and heavy rain. It rained "buckets" most of the day along with thunder and lightning. It was so bad we had to get our rain coats out but we still got wet. Although it was a dark and dreary day outside, the bright spot of the day was the baptism of Brother Williams.
This has been a rewarding week for us. One sister called and was very excited and wanted to share an experience she had while reading the scriptures. We went to visit and rejoiced with her over her new understanding of receiving inspiration while reading and studying the scriptures. This sister is going through a very difficult time in her life and Elder Berry and I have been encouraging her to read the scriptures, attend church, and live the gospel. We promised her with the help of the Lord she will receive the ability to handle her challenges. Her challenges are far from over but she is coping much better. When we first met with this sister she was weeping and so full of grief she could hardly talk. She told us since our visit she has been prompted to read the scriptures more and has been responding to those promptings. By reading the scriptures and applying them to her life she has received inspiration and hope.
Monday evening Elder Berry and I were leaving our apartment to visit some families and take them some banana nut bread. We have a less active couple that live in our apartment complex that we and the Elders have been working with. This couple weren't on our visit list but we decided to stop by, say hello and give them a loaf of bread. The husband had arrived home from work shortly before we knocked on the door. He invited us in and we found his wife crying so uncontrollable that she couldn't talk. We finally learned that she received a call early that morning from a relative in Washington State that her aunt had died suddenly. After some time of talking and trying to comfort her we found she had other issues that were bothering her. We shared Alma chapter 40 with them. We promised them if they would come to church every Sunday, live the word of wisdom and serve in callings they would be blessed with the desires of their heart. We didn't say these things to them but were inspired to say them. Elder Berry and I have been set apart to be missionaries and were given the power and authority to promise blessings. Receiving these blessings depend on the desires, thoughts and actions of those to whom they have been promised.
Today in Sacrament meeting Brother and Sister Cliett, converts of eight months, gave talks. They both gave such beautiful talks. We have shared many events in the lives of the Cliett family. They are a perfect example of a family that has the desire to live the gospel, they learn the things they need to do and then they do them. Simple things to us like not shopping on Sundays and going to church every Sunday and staying for three hours are all things they have had to adjust in their lives.
Another experience we had was very humbling. A sister who is a convert of two years got her temple recommend and plans to attend the temple soon. The stake president asked her who would be her escort. The sister thought and thought and couldn't think of anyone to ask. Finally the stake president suggest she ask her visiting teacher or home teacher's wife. She doesn't have a home teacher or visiting teacher that she is aware of. This sister asked Elder Berry and I if we would be her home teacher and asked me to be her escort when she goes to the temple. This sister has such a strong testimony of the gospel, the Book of Mormon and Prophets. She quietly comes to church every week with Sister Hobbs, they sit in the back of the chapel and are hardly noticed by other sisters in the ward. This sister is truly an inspiration to us.
Friday was Zone Conference in West Columbia, South Carolina. We arrived in West Columbia 8AM about the time the Elders and Sisters started arriving. They had to drive their cars because they had
to be inspected. The Elders and Sisters were all moaning and groaning because this trip took up too many of their miles for the month which means lots of them will have to take to a bike. While the Elders and Sisters were in meetings getting instructions on car safety, apartments all the senior couples helped inspect the cars. The husband and wife working together as a team, one inspecting and the other making the inspection paper. After inspecting the cars we joined the Elders and Sisters for Zone Conference. We had an enjoyable time as always and learned much. The theme of the conference was to become more powerful teachers by study and prayer, teaching by the spirit, with power and authority and promise blessings. We studied from Preach My Gospel and did lots of roll playing. President Holm's plea was to be better missionaries, study harder, teach better. He encouraged us to be our "best self, give it all you've got and don't quit until you've got nothing left, treasure up knowledge, control what we are thinking rather than let others plant their thoughts and views in our minds and hearts. President Holm promised many, many wonderful blessings that would go throughout the missionary's life if they would serve with all their heart, might, mind and strength. The meeting ended all to soon at 4PM. Since we were in Columbia we decided to attend a temple session before returning to Augusta. It was a long and blessed day and we gave it all we had and were thankful for our bed when we returned home about 10PM.
Elder Caldwell who served 6 months in Augusta returns home in 3 days.
Sister King and Sister Roos, Harlem - Sister King will return home at next transfer
Sisters King, Roos, and Lusk. Sister Lusk served in Augusta Zone when we first arrived.
We always sing to show our appreciation for those who provided our lunch
We love this work, it is very challenging and we are given strength beyond our own to accomplish this great task. We testify that all missionaries everywhere can become better missionaries through our desires, controlling our thoughts and working until we have nothing left. And we along with Elder G. Berry agree that we can become more Christlike and our lives will change for the better through our desires, thoughts and actions no matter what stage of life we are in.
Love, Elder and Sister Berry
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