For the last three weeks the Elders have been visiting a beautiful young girl who desires to know more about our church. She doesn't want any lessons, she just wants to know about Mormons and what makes them special. She served in the Army and is now a civilian working at Fort Gordon Army Post. She works with many men and women but two young men stood out above everyone else. They are married and have small children. She said these two young men just had a glow about them, they don't use profane language, are always courteous, kind and don't smoke,etc. She was so impressed with them and finally one day as they were talking they told her they were Mormons and members of the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints. She of course wanted to know what is a Mormon so they began to tell her some of our beliefs and suggested she have the missionaries teach her the gospel. As a young girl she went to a church but when she became a teenager she stopped going because the Pastors couldn't answer her questions. She said she stopped praying and until this day she will not pray. Because of her earlier experiences she didn't want anyone teaching her the doctrine of a religion, push her toward baptism and make her say prayers. She just wanted to know what makes these men so different and special. She eventually invited the Elders to her home for dinner with instructions that they would answer questions she had and they were not to teach her any lessons. After the Elders first visit they reported to us that although they didn't formally teach but through Holly's questions were able to share the plan of salvation. The first Sunday Holly attended church was fast Sunday but she went home afterward. The second Sunday she attended Sacrament meeting, stayed for Sunday school class then went home because she works nights and had to get some rest before going to work plus she had a cold and wasn't feeling very well. That Sunday she invited Elder Berry and me to dinner with the Elders. She also invited a couple that are helping the Elders fellowship her to her home for dinner the following week. The Elders invited Holly to come to our Book of Mormon study class we have on Wednesday evenings and she attended the class last week. Thursday we had lunch with Holly and the Elders. She was very gracious, we enjoyed a delicious lunch but as we visited she let us know she didn't want to be pushed or rushed, she wasn't sure if she was ready for religion in her life but just wanted to know what makes us different. The only question she had for us this visit was "Why does everyone cry and do you have to cry to be a member of the church?" She explained to us that she isn't a very emotional person and very seldom cries. In her church attending days when she was younger she couldn't remember anyone ever getting emotional. The first church meeting Holly attended was a testimony meeting. Many touching and emotional testimonies were shared and tears were shed by those sharing and those listening. We explained that when the heart is filled with feelings of love, tenderness, or truths that are being spoken we feel joy and it brings tears to our eyes because the spirit is testifying to us that what is spoken is true. We assured her the tears she saw were tears of joy. After Christ was resurrected and visited the Nephites and seeing their faith and devotion he told them "Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full. And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it." (3 Nephi 17:20-21) Sunday we attended Stake Conference and there was a great outpouring of the spirit and many tears were shed. Because a change was made in the Stake Presidency, after ten years, we had two general authorities, Elder Corbridge of the Seventy and Elder Parker, area authority. I sat by my sister Patti and she could have used a whole box of Kleenex if they were available. The things we were taught were true and they brought great joy, comfort and tears because we could feel the great love our Savior has for us.The experiences we have are very humbling. For the Saturday evening session of stake conference, we drove two sisters who have been members less than two years. One sister went with a heavy heart because just that morning her mother had told her to leave her house and never come back as long as she was a member of the Mormon church. The other sister has very heart breaking family problems. As we left the meeting the sisters countenances had changed and one sisters said she saw angels. Because of what they saw, heard and felt they knew Heavenly Father knows them and is aware of their trials which gives them hope.
Tree in our apartment parking lot and if you look close you will see touches of yellow on the tree. After the first frost the leaves on the trees will all turn brilliant colors. Can hardly wait.
The weather is starting to change here. It's getting a little cooler, the days are a little shorter, and the leaves on the trees are beginning to change colors. We have had lots of rain. This week hasn't been as productive for us as usual because Elder Berry has been trying to get over a cold and bronchitis. Thanks for antibiotics and rest he is feeling much better. Elder Berry did drive a man to work most mornings last week. Tonight his wife called and told us he has a bike to ride to work but needs an inner tube for the tire and would Elder Berry come over and have a look at it tomorrow. Reading between the lines Elder Berry could you come over and fix the bike. Tomorrow the bike will be repaired.We are excited about our Book of Mormon class for recent converts and investigators. Each week it grows. The Elders teach it and they do a wonderful job. We take turns reading and discussing what has been read and how it applies to our lives. We know this class will strength them in the gospel and bring them closer to Christ and help them as they struggle with their challenges. We feel sure that the class helped a sister who was taking the missionary lessons decide to get baptized sooner than she planned. Our challenge is getting everyone to class that would like to come. Our faithful third companion (our car) only has three passenger seats. As we serve and read from the Book of Mormon with those we visit we can feel and see the difference it makes in their lives.
We are following the Grovetown Elders to a teaching appointment. They have a couple scheduled to be baptized this Saturday but first they need to get married. If a couple have six hours of marriage counseling by a clergy the license cost less and this couple is living on a limited income. Enter Elder and Sister Berry. The Grovetown Bishop gave us permission to give instruction so for three days we visited them for two hours each day and discussed with them marriage and family relationships as designed by our Heavenly Father with the aid of film strips and scriptures. We covered finances, budgeting and the importance of tithing and blessing that come from tithing and sacrifice. The couple were very receptive and we look forward to attending their baptism this Saturday. As we were packing up to leave the last day of teaching, the couple ask us how much we charged for counseling because they have family members that need to hear exactly what we discussed with them and they can afford to pay.
Elders Oson and Stever taking five after Sunday dinner
Tears are not always tears of sadness but also are shed because of joy and when we have special experiences in our lives. Tears are a good thing and are nothing to cause embarresment as we share our deepest feelings with others. No Holly, you don't have to cry because you can have these same feelings without tears but the time will come when your seed has grown and you have a testimony the tears will come.
Love, Elder and Sister Berry
