HIS WILL, HIS WAY

District Development Meeting - Grovetown District & Augusta District

Elder &Sister Gowans, Sister Berry at DDM

Tonight we got a phone call from Annette asking us to pick up her grandchildren from her house and drive them home. Annette doesn't have a car and depends on others. We have no idea where the children's parents were. Annette also keeps her grandchildren over the weekend so she can take them to church with her on Sunday. The van picks them up. Her children and grandchildren aren't members of the church. By the time we got Annette's call it was getting late, we were preparing for bed, to relax after a long day and it sure was hard getting back out. It would have been easy to say, where are the children's parents? As we serve we invite others to come unto Christ, and at times when we are asked to do things we really would rather not do, we have to pause and think what would be the Christlike thing to do. We are here in Augusta serving the people and we should do His Will, His Way, sometimes without questions. President Holm uses these four words frequently as we (all the missionaries) meet in training. He reminds us we are here doing His Will, His Way and then he repeats these words three or four times.for emphasis. As we were driving the children home we asked them to share with us what they learned in Primary. One little girl started telling us what she learned and it went something like this: Nephi was a Book of Mormon Prophet. Some good people were telling the bad people that Jesus was going to be born in thirty years. When he was to  be born there would be light for three days and no dark. The bad people were getting ready to kill the good people because they thought the time had past but there was three days of light so the bad people's mouth fell to the floor. All the children told us what they learned and we were impressed at how well they had been taught and that they remembered because these concepts aren't taught to them except when they
attend primary. We enjoyed visiting with them.

Transfer time has come around again. Wednesday Elders Phillips, Agular, and Lee will be leaving. Elder Cahoon will be staying. Transfer time is always hard because we love these Elders and Sisters so much. Augusta Zone will have many changes. Sister King from Harlem will be going home, three Elders from Grovetown will be transferred and most of the other districts will have changes. Elder Abankwa one of our Zone Leaders will be leaving. We wish our departing missionaries God speed and welcome our new missionaries with open arms. We know whatever changes are made that it is His Will, His Way

  Last Sunday dinner with Elders Phillips, Agular and Lee.

Another change that was made today is that the Missionaries will no longer be responsible for planning, and assisting with the van transportation on Sunday morning. The van belongs to the ward mission leader and he furnishes all the gas and loans it to us to get investigators and recent converts to church who don't have cars. Each week Elder Berry drives two Elders around town in our car knocking on doors getting a count of those who are coming to church, then calls the van and tells them to pick up or pass over.  Two Elders ride in the van assisting the driver. Although the Elders make many phone calls on Saturday night and get commitments for  rides, when the van arrives on Sunday morning some still change their mind. The van makes two trips around town picking up . We spend an hour every Saturday night planning the van route and making phone calls. This takes precious time from their busy schedules, plus all the time that it takes on Sunday. Missionaries purpose is to baptise and the wards responsibility is to fellowship and assist the missionaries. It was decided that the assistant ward mission leader along with the Elders Quorum and High Priest would be responsible for the van and getting members to church. The goal is to eventually get the ward members to pick up those who don't have transportation and eliminate the van. There is one ward member that makes a trip around town picking up members drops them off at church, picks up his family drives to church, then picks up a handicapped lady and her son who lives near the church. Another couple picks up two ladies who don't drive and they do that faithfully every Sunday. We need more ward members to follow their example. Elder Phillips is our District Leader and he is the one who approached the Bishop about the change. The Bishop eagerly gave his approval so today after three weeks notice the Missionaries handed over the van. Elder Berry did offer to assist the Elders, High Priest and Ward Mission Leader as they begin this new responsibility. As we, the district talked about, and Elder Phillips, our District Leader, made the decision concerning the van we know it is "His Will, His Way" so the missionaries will be free to use their time serving as they are called and the ward will be able to assist the missionaries and fellowship the converts. We are grateful for our Ward Mission Leader's generous assistance and his support and for the experiences we have had. We are also grateful for a wise District Leader that had the ability to make this decision, plan to make it happen and most important to be here on his last Sunday in Augusta Ward to announce the change. Elder Phillips you did a good joy! We stand all amazed and are proud to be led by such dedicated Elders.

As Elder Berry and I were driving around town this week we followed this van so decided to take a picture while stopped at a light. Many churches here have a van/vans or even buses.

Four year old Miriam came to Crystal's  baptism with her family. Miriam fell in love with Crystal. Miriam wants to sit with Crystal in sacrament meeting so Miriam's mom invited Crystal to sit with their family during Sacrament meeting. Miriam recently turned four years old and  last Sunday her family celebrated with a special dinner. Miriam was given permission to invite a few friends. Her first choice was Crystal. Although her parents tried to convince Miriam that Crystal was an adult, that she should invite children her age, she still insisted on Crystal. Crystal was invited but Miriam wouldn't join in any games because she wanted to sit on Crystal's lap. Crystal spoke in Sacrament meeting today and did a good job. Elder Berry and I along with Elders Lee and Cahoon visited with Crystal Saturday evening. We invited her to practice her talk on us but she told us a few things she wanted to say and mentioned she wanted to speak from her heart. She also said she wanted to tell a little about her life and how the church has helped her. The topic she was given was the ninth article of faith. We asked if she had read and studied from church magazines or other books. She told us she really had not but said since she had spoken before groups many times so she felt confident in herself. Elder Lee got really nervous and suggested very strongly that she let Sister Berry help her write a talk. Again Crystal told us she wanted to speak from her heart but she did ask us how to begin and end the talk. We were happy to help and again we offered to assist her but she thanked us and told us she could do it. When we left we were very nervous. We knew Crystal was very capable of speaking to large groups but we were nervous about what she might say in a sacrament meeting. Before leaving we suggested if she wanted to tell a little about herself not to go in great detail. We all prayed hard for Crystal Saturday night. Crystal gave a good talk on Sunday, it wasn't long, her thoughts were a little unorganized, she did tell about her life but not to much and she did speak from her heart. We are proud of Crystal. She has only been a member since June 20th. Another recent convert Kathy spoke in church Sunday also. She did lots of research and prayed hard as she prepared her talk. Elder Berry and I went to her apartment Friday to help her order temple clothes. She asked us to look at her talk and tell her if it was OK or not. We had a dinner appointment and didn't have time to be of help but promised to come back the next day which we did. Her talk was on the 13th article of Faith. She did a great  job Sunday and bore a beautiful testimony. Two inactive ladies we have visited before were at church today. One sister is moving from the ward and the other sister is a school teacher but decided to come but didn't want lots of attention. It's so unpredictable who will come back to church and if they will return the following Sunday. Some of these people have good home teachers and visiting teachers and a great desire to return. Some return for financial assistance and have problems living the gospel. We love them and are happy to see them no matter what reason they come to church. Hopefully they may hear something that will enable them to have a change of heart. As missionaries we promise these people blessings if they will do "His will, His Way" their lives will be blessed.

Last Wednesday was a car day for us. It started by Elder Berry and I driving a Sister to College that morning then at one o'clock we pick her up from college and drive her back home. While Lee Ann was at school we decided to bake cookies to take to members who have recently moved into the ward. Just as we got home Elder Lee called and needed a ride to the dentist. Elder Lee is a bicycle Elder. Elder Berry picked him and Elder Cahoon up and drove them to the dentist. Before Elder Berry got home he got a call from Lee Ann and she was ready to be picked up from school. She got out early. Elder Berry drove to the apartment picked me up, we picked up Lee Ann and drove her home. Just before picking up Lee Ann we got a phone call from the Grovetown Elders needing a ride. Because they had to make two trips to Columbia in their car this month they have run out of miles. They tried calling ward members but no one was able to help, We dropped off Lee Ann then drove to pick up the Grovetown Elders and take them to the area they would be working in for the day. Grovetown is very rural and things aren't close together. Just as we were picking up the Grovetown Elders our Elders called from the dentist needing to be picked up. We drove the Grovetown Elders to their drop off area then rushed to pick up Elders Lee and Cahoon from the dentist. We finally made it home and got some cookies baked but not many delivered. President Holm tells us we are to assist the Elders in their service. This particular Wednesday morning we had no appointments and were available for the Elders when they needed us. We know this is His work and we strive to do His will, His way."  Cookies can always wait, they are nice but not necessary.

Love, Elder and Sister Berry



The 4th Missionary having a bad day