DON'T LET THE SMOKE OUT

Tuesday Senior Training & Dinner

You may recall about our pumpkin pie episode on Christmas Eve. As Elder Berry tells the story he always tells the Elders, "we got there just in time, when the pie was taken out of the oven smoke wasn't coming out." We still couldn't eat the pie but all wasn't lost because the pie wasn't on fire because we got there before the smoke started coming out. In other words there wasn't a fire in our oven. After he made these remarks the Elders looked at him really strange trying to figure out what he meant because the Elders have caught on to his sense of humor. One by one as they caught on they gave a little chuckle. Now that phrase "don't let the smoke out" is quoted often. Elder Olsen came in one day and told us he cooked oatmeal for breakfast that morning but he accidentally let the smoke out..He forgot to put water in the bowl with the oatmeal and it caught on fire, burning up the oatmeal and bowl. Elder Meyer, our newest Elder wasn't here when this foolishness started and every time someone says don't let the smoke out, he gets a confused look on his face and says he just doesn't get it. Yesterday we had spaghetti for Sunday dinner. While we were having dinner Elder Meyer noticed he had spaghetti sauce spots on the shoulder of his white shirt. He looked down at the end of the table and said, "Sister Berry look what you did to me." Everyone laughed because I wasn't even sitting close to him and of course don't let the smoke out was said and everyone laughed except Elder Meyer. Then we noticed Elder Meyer didn't have his name tag on his shirt and he was asked about that and his answer was he didn't want to get it dirty. We got a good laugh out of that because it's much easier to clean spaghetti sauce from a plastic name tag than a white dress shirt. Moral of "don't let the smoke out," if you let the smoke out of things you are doing or attempting to do it will go bad or in other words your efforts aren't good enough.

Elder Meyer at the end of table

 Holly joined us for dinner along with an investigator Liz. 

Our Elders are hard working and we can't praise them enough. The car Elders (Elders Potts & Meyer) drive their car to an area, get their bikes off and bike miles as they visit less actives, recent converts and seek people to teach. Friday evening about time to come in for dinner we were in an area quite a distance from our apartment. While we were stopped at a red light these Elders crossed the street in front of us on their bikes. Elder Potts was so re-leaved and glad to see us. They were headed back to their car which was quite a distance from them. The bikes were loaded onto our bike rack, they jumped in and were returned to their car. As we drove they mentioned they talked about calling Elder & Sister Berry and if we were close ask for a ride. They decided not to call, they didn't let the smoke out. We know Heavenly Father watches over our missionaries and is aware of their needs and puts someone in their path at their time of need. We are grateful that we were able to rescue. Our bike elders (Elders Olsen & Tippetts) can be seen biking over the neighborhood and at times we are able to load up their bikes and drop them off. 

ZTM -  ZONE TRAINING MEETING - TUESDAY MORNING

Tuesday morning was zone training meeting. What a joy to attend these meetings with our whole zone, to stand accountable, and to be taught under the direction of the zone leaders and other Elders and Sisters as assigned. 

TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING - SENIOR TRAINING & DINNER

PRESIDENT & SISTER HOLM

SATURDAY EVENING - PRIMARY DINNER - TRIBUTE TO TEACHERS

 Sister Berry and Amethyst

Deacons served the dinner

Children gave teachers rose

Saturday morning we got a phone call from a member of the Primary Presidency asking if we had received an invitation to the Primary dinner. We had not because we aren't Primary teachers although I have substituted. She invited us to join them that evening if we weren't busy, fortunately we were able to attend. The evening was well organized, food delicious and speakers excellent. The best part of the evening was we sat by Amethyst and her boyfriend who is not a member of the church. During the dinner we discussed our beliefs with the boyfriend and Amethyst would say that's exactly what I wanted to say but it wouldn't come our right. We were able to teach the plan of salvation as we ate dinner because we had a captive audience but he was also interested and asked lots of questions. We knew we were invited to that dinner for a purpose but didn't know until we were seated. Amethyst is a  young girl, a recent convert with two small children which we have had the privilege to get to know. There were many people in the room closer to her age but she sat at our table, so we were free to share the gospel. We know this was no accident and we hope we didn't let the smoke out. Before the meeting was over Elders Meyer & Potts called and asked if Elder Berry could go to the hospital with them and give a blessing, so off we went with the elders to the hospital. Earlier Saturday morning these same Elders made a trip to a different hospital and gave a blessing. In the afternoon as Elder Berry was finishing up a service project we got a call from Elders Olsen & Potts asking if we would be able to drive them to Grovetown (to far to bike) to assist with a service project. Elder Berry put his tools away and off we went. During this very busy day we also found the time to knock on the doors of a few less active members, finding only one home and a short visit.

This week as we were searching out the less active we were able to visit a very special lady. The week before we called to get an appointment to visit. She told us she was sick in bed and couldn't get up and answer the door. We asked if we could call back another time and she agreed. Many times we call or go by someones house and are told they can't come to the door because they are sick. Wednesday morning a phone call was made and the lady said we could come visit. We found a very frail, sick lady sitting in her motorized wheel chair waiting for us. This lady joined the church almost two years ago but shortly after joining the church was diagnosed with uterine cancer, and underwent surgery and other treatment. Her name was on the membership list but due to her illness was unable to attend church and no one ever got to know her. Our hearts went out to her. We gave her a short message, and asked if she would like a blessing. She immediately said yes then asked what that was so we explained. A blessing was given and this was truly a humbling experience. We hope to make many more visits.

This has been a wonderful busy week as all of our weeks are! Sometimes it would be easy to stay home but we don't want to let the smoke out, or in other words we want our efforts to be good enough and acceptable and not go up in smoke.

Love Elder & Sister Berry

We have had a lot of fog lately. This is what our apartment complex looked like during Elder Berry's early morning walk. This past week our temperatures have been in the high 70's

 Elder Berry loves to feed the ducks. These ducks were little ducklings this spring.