BE PURPOSE DRIVEN

 After a busy morning last week we made it to Cracker Barrel for lunch. Thanks Grace and Tony!

Today (Tuesday) we were antied as the missionaries call it. Elder Berry and I were at a Sisters home talking to her and encouraging her to attend the temple the next day with three sisters in the ward. This Sister went to the temple for the first time in November and hasn't returned. When we drove up a repair man was making repairs on her apartment. Not long after we got there the man knocked on the door and asked the sister if she would help him replace the screen on one of the windows. The lady went in the other room and was gone for a short time and we could hear them talking but not what they were saying. When the lady came back she said the repair man ask if  that was Mormons she was talking to and if so don't listen to them. He also asked if he could come in and talk with her and the Mormons. What an experience! He had a very distorted understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He told her the only thing she needed to do to be saved was to believe in the atonement of Jesus Christ, there were no more prophets, no more revelation and many other things. He pulled a little Bible out of his pocket and proceeded to get us to read or read to us a scripture but he wouldn't turn to the scriptures we suggested. The lady told him she was a member of the church and that we weren't trying to convince her of anything because she believes the Church is true. We all boldly bore our testimony of the atonement, faith and works, prophets, of the Book of Mormon and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored on earth. He didn't give up easily. The only regret we had is we didn't stay calm enough, this was a really smooth talking and convincing man. After the man left the sister said he had a cold look in those beautiful blue eyes. What she was describing was a lack of the spirit.  On the fourth Saturday of each month we have a mission wide conference call. Saturday President Holm's message to all is to be more more purpose driven. The more we think of others the more purpose driven we will become, we will increase in faith,we will have power to touch lives, we will have more confidence, we will have more desires to do right, we will be better in teaching, planning and our faith grows more. The repair man was purpose drive. His purpose was to cause doubt, disbelief, and loss of faith.It should have been no concern to the repair man who was sitting in the lady's living room but when he knocked on the door he was invited in. In life we sometime invite the enemy in and if we aren't purpose driven and grounded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ we could have doubts and even loose our faith, there is "opposition in all things" (2 Nephi: 2-11) .

If you look real close you will see a squirrel sitting on the edge of the roof. This week as we were driving by Elder Berry spotted the squirrel, turned around and took this picture.When we first arrived in Augusta we were fascinated with all the squirrels. They could be seen everywhere, running across electrical wires, scampering up trees and jumping from limb to limb, clinging on the side of buildings and on the roofs of houses. We were fascinated with the squirrels so we went to the store and bought bags, and bags of peanuts, placed them on our patio, waited and watched and took lots and lots of pictures. We had more fun until we learned more about the squirrels and the damage they do to homes and property. As we were driving in an apartment complex Elder Berry noticed this squirrel sunning on the top of a building. It all looks very innocent.  

Elder Berry zoomed in on the squirrel and if you look closely you can see a small whole in the corner where the boards meet.The squirrel lives inside the attic of this building. Once inside he does hundreds of dollars worth of damage, even chewing through electrical wires which causes home fires,  at times exterminators even need to be called in to get rid of  families of squirrels in the attic, and they even destroy gardens and potted plants. We didn't recognize the damage or danger these friendly little fuzzy creatures do.As harmless as these little squirrels look they can cause homeowners grief. We innocently fed these little creatures until we learned of their destructive ways. In life we need to be aware of the hidden dangers we encounter. If we are purpose driven we will be able to recognize the dangers no matter how harmless it may appear.

St John Towers, downtown Augusta - Assisted living for Seniors 

Three sisters in the ward live here

Krystal restaurant is only in the south and we eat here often. Tuesday after DDM meeting we took the Elders to lunch here because everyone needs to experience the Krystal at least once while on their mission. At dinner Sunday we learned what they really thought about the Krystal. Elder Berry grilled hamburgers and each Elder ate two big burgers with the works. While they were eating, smacking and licking their lips one of them said, "this is what a hamburger should be, not a once in a lifetime experience with the Krystal." We do allow everyone the freedom of speech and choice but we don't have to agree. 

This week it seems we have operated a taxi service and hopefully assisted many in helping them to improve their lives. Thursday we drove a person to practice taking his GED test so he can pass it in a few weeks and then be able to apply for jobs so he can support his family. We will do this until he takes his test. The bus service in Augusta is terrible plus they don't have bus fare. We drove another man to his destination but dropped him off and he had to get his own ride home. Holly accompanied us to visit Katy in the nursing home and loved every minute of it. Now Katy will have someone else from the ward to visit her when we leave. Thursday evening we drove a sister to the stake center for addiction recovery class, who is attempting to overcome smoking. Another sister who was scheduled to come with us cancelled because her daughter was sick. The sister who did attend just loved it and was so excited about the class and is looking forward to attending again. This sister was scheduled to be baptized Saturday but her mother went in the hospital with this awful flu and so the baptism was cancelled because her father (recent convert) was to baptize her and wasn't able to make it. Another sister and her two sons were to be baptized but was cancelled also. Saturday was a very disappointing day for all of us.We look forward to this coming Saturday as we anticipate the baptisms of these wonderful people. As our service is quickly drawing to a close in Augusta we hope that we can become more purpose driven, that we will have the power to touch lives for good.

Love, Elder & Sister Berry

One of Elder Berry's favorite scriptures: 1 Nephi 3:7
".....I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."  So set goals and be more purpose driven and you can accomplish what you set out to do.