Harlem Sisters leaving DDM. Aren't they beautiful? They are beautiful inside and out and are dedicated missionaries. Our church building is located in an area that isn't very safe. Sisters are not to be left in the building without priesthood. We thought Augusta district was the last to leave the building but when we got to the parking lot the Sister's car was still there so Elder Berry and I waited until they came out and got in their car to leave. Got this picture as they were coming out. Worth the wait.
We rushed home had a quick lunch then picked up Elder and Sister Gowans for senior training in Irmo, South Carolina then dinner at the mission home with President & Sister Holm. We had training from 2-5 PM and were trained by President Holm, his two assistants and Sister Holm spoke to us and bore her testimony, then we drove to the mission home for dinner. We arrived back home in Augusta around nine that night. President Holm frequently repeats little sayings and quite often shares some of his own. In our training he talked about being flexible, then quoted, "Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape." I'm sure most of you have heard this quote before or probably even repeated it. As we look back at our week we recognize that there were times when we could have been more flexible and patient. As we waited for the Sisters to come out of the building we were flexible and didn't get bent out of shape because we love them so, they are just so full of goodness. We even took their picture.
While the senior couples were arrive for training two young Sisters serving in Irmo came to greet us. They decorated their T-shirts to welcome us. The young missionaries tell us they love working with the "senior couples" and appreciate us so much. Serving with the Elders and Sisters in Augusta Zone has truly been a joy for us. Picture taking turned into a flexible moment. Picture taking started with a few sisters then grew as more sisters arrived and were invited to join. Finally we thought we had everyone and had them poised but just as we all got to our seats another couple walked in but it was time to start the meeting. What fun to be flexible and watch as different ones joined the group. No one got bent out of shape because picture taking was running into training time, not even President Holm as he stood back and watched
Elder & Sister Stowell
Elder & Sister Ripley
Elder & Sister Gowans
Elder & Sister France (just arrived)
Sister & Elder Decker
Elder & Sister Tower
Elder & Sister Benedict
Elder & Sister Wichmann
Elder & Sister Putnam
Elder & Sister Wakefield
Sister Holm
Oops! What is this young fellow doing at a senior meeting? This is Elder Israelsen, an assistant
Another flexible moment - attempting to take a group picture of all the senior couples, get them arranged, stack up some boxes and then find a camera that has delayed timing. Our camera broke on us so we never got a finished picture and these pictures didn't turn out clear. It was fun!
Monday is our Preparation Day so it started out with a doctor appointment for Elder Berry then clean the car. Before the car was washed, we got a call from a ward member needing a ride to the store, so off Elder Berry went to be a taxi driver. This is good opportunity to teach gospel principles as our passenger is held captive until we reach their destination. The good thing is we have them twice, going to the store then returning them home. Shortly after arriving home another phone call to pick up prescription for another ward member and deliver it to him. Finally got the car washed. A little girl in the ward is having difficulty reading so Elder Berry and I tutor her after school each day, so off we go to do that. We enjoy reading with Amber not only her assigned reading but it gives us an opportunity to read from The Friend and sing primary songs. Amber loves to sing so we down load primary songs on our I-pad with words and music and she sings along. Amber and her mom are returning to activity so this is extra help to stay committed. An Elderly Sister in the ward with health problems has become a dear, dear friend and she needed her grass cut so back home a change of clothes for Elder Berry and off we go for Elder Berry to cut grass while I visit. While I was visiting with our friend I remembered we were invited to a birthday party. Celestine, a recent convert, and her daughter Raven were celebrating their birthday and we were invited to have cake and ice cream with them. (She invited us at church on Sunday and I didn't write it in our calender)We made it for cake and ice cream with Elder Berry wearing his work clothes.
Amber
Raven, Celestine, and Hunter
It seems all the little simple things we attempted to do this week didn't turn out as we planned. We noticed a young man at church that passes the sacrament needed a new white shirt. Wednesday morning we attempted to quickly buy him a shirt so when we picked him up to take him to a ward member's house to get a hair cut we could give him the shirt. The hair cut that should have taken about an hour turned into over two hours, and the shirt was too small. We drove the young man home, went back to he store returned the shirt and finally found a shirt that would fit after going to several stores. This activity took up most of the day but it was well worth it. Other things we had planned will get done another day because we flexed and didn't get bent out of shape. No matter what we do we know we are "only in the service of our God" (Mosiah 2:17). The whole week seemed to follow this pattern. President Holm's message was very timely.
The highlight of our week of course was the baptism of Holly. What a special young lady and so ready to claim her blessings as a member of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints.
Elder Olsen, Holly & Elder Cahoon
Saturday night we enjoyed a ward Halloween dinner and trunk or treat. We had a great time. When we arrived at the church the cultural hall wasn't set up and people were arriving. Quickly Elder Berry and other members hustled and got the tables set up while I helped put table clothes on the tables. This is another time this week where flexibility sure helped
Our ward missionaries. Elders Cahoon, Olsen, Potts & Wilkinson
Elder Berry and I wish to spare you all the details of the rest of our week but let us assure you it was not without much more flexibility."Nothin could be finer than to be in Carolina" and this is certainly the place to be serving and assisting in Augusta, Georgia part of the Columbia, South Carolina Mission. Now that's what we call flexibility. May you find joy as you become more flexible and please try not to get bent out of shape.
Love, Elder & Sister Berry
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!!!
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