"FISHERS OF MEN"

THE OLD FISHING HOLE

Elder Berry finally made it fishing last Monday. The plan was to leave early in the morning and spend the day fishing. The weather didn't cooperate again. Monday morning was very, very cold  34 degrees - too cold to go fishing so they decided to put it off until later in the afternoon. Since Elder Berry couldn't go fishing for the kind with scales and fins we decided to spend a few hours fishing among the Augusta Ward members. We visited Katy in the hospital and she was very discouraged because her doctor told her she needed heart bypass surgery. We had never seen her so discouraged and tried to cheer her, but nothing worked. She even told me I was a little too cheerful and my response was that was my way to keep from crying. She wasn't told when the surgery would be but hoped it would be soon. Since she doesn't have any family in town we volunteered to come sit with her before and after surgery and she gratefully accepted. The next stop was at a different hospital to visit Sandra. Sandra was sitting up in bed and feeling much better after a week long stay in the ICU in a sleep induced coma. Never knew what her problem was but now  undergoing treatment for pneumonia. By the time we finished our hospital visits it was warm enough outside to go fishing and still have enough fishing time before dark.While Elder Berry fished with Danny I visited with Jenny and her three children. Jenny is my sister Patti's son Spenser's wife. What a wonderful visit and I got to hold her little baby. When Patti got off work she came to visit and we all had dinner together at Jenny and Spenser. After dinner Patti surprised me with a birthday pie (peanut buster pie from a popular Augusta restaurant). They even put a candle on it and sung happy birthday. Great time! What do senior missionary couples do who don't have a sister in their area to make them feel special while celebrating special occasions? 

Between hospital visits, visiting less actives, transporting people places and Book of Mormon class that night we celebrated my birthday Wednesday. We had a wonderful, beautiful day with phone calls from family and friends, bouquets of flowers left at our door, cards and letters. Elder and Sister Gowans called and even sung Happy Birthday over the phone. What fun! Good news from Katy on Wednesday after test on her lungs the doctor decided she was too much of a risk for bypass surgery and decided to put in a stint or stints. Katy was in a much better mood today but didn't know when she would be having the procedure, again waiting until the doctor decides to tell her something It seemed that a heavy burden had been removed from Katy. She also had a beautiful bouquet of flowers her son sent who lives in North Carolina. 

We love Augusta although it has been cold and raining most of the week. For two days if it wasn't raining a fine mist was falling. With all the rain the trees are beginning to bud so we are looking forward to a beautiful green and flowery spring. As we were out visiting we saw this house across the street from the apartment building we were going to visit  There are many beautiful older homes like this. 

Driving through an area of down town to visit. We travel through many areas similar to this. Spotted our Elders Pack and Meyer, car elders. They drive their car to an area then bike wherever they go and they put lots of miles on those bikes.

Tuesday we enjoyed the DDM. Since Elder Nash of the seventy will be touring our mission next week there will be a zone meeting in Columbia, and everyone has been asked to write a five minute talk on one of there different subjects and be prepared to give it if called upon at the zone conference. The Elders practiced their talks and the did great jobs, just need a little polishing. After meeting we invited our Elders to our apartment for lunch. We had hamburger patties in the freezer that needed to be used plus I wanted to share my birthday pie with them and since our time is growing short here we are trying to use up everything. One experience we had this week was a learning experience for us. There is a family we have been working with, teaching, encouraging, loving and sometimes get frustrated with because they won't keep commitments since we have been here. I guess you would say Tuesday morning this was a fish we threw back in although we won't give up because we will continue working with them. The wife called and needed Elder Berry's assistance installing a kid proof lock on her front door. Her little children got out one day last week and got in the street and the police were called. She was instructed to put different locks on the front door and the police said they were turning this incidence into social services and they would come out and investigate. Elder Berry and I walked in her front door and her husband and his brother were sitting on the couch in the front of the TV eating breakfast of pork chops, hash brown potatoes, eggs and biscuits. As Elder Berry suggested what should be done the men sat on the couch eating and occasionally looked in our direction. The wife really wanted Elder Berry to go buy the locks and install them for her because she mentioned not having any money. Her husband doesn't work although the Bishop and Elder Berry are constantly encouraging him to get a job, support his family and magnify his priesthood. Elder Berry very kindly finished instructing her, we left, got in our car and drove to our DDM. This time we left the husband to do the fishing (fix his front door for the safety of his children) President Holm is constantly tell us we are the resource not the source. In other words if you give a man a fish you feed him for a day but if you teach him to fish you feed him for a life time.

It was very difficult leaving knowing the locks probably wouldn't be installed but praying this family would do what they needed to do in order to safe guard their precious little children.

Jomo lives in this high rise apartment building and on the ground floor we pass by this section and see this sign. This week we finally took the time, went to the car, got the camera and took a picture. Last week Jomo asked for 4 AA alkali batteries and this day we took them to him.

Friday we picked Sister Lynch up from the hospital and drove her home and got her settled. Elder Berry drove to the pharmacy and got her prescriptions filled before we left her. She was so happy to be home. Carol her neighbor who lives two doors down (member of church) came over to welcome her home. Don't know who was the happiest over the home coming. Carol doesn't drive so Tuesday we drove Carol to the hospital to visit with Sister Lynch and while we were visiting we met Sister Lynch's son. Was glad for the opportunity to meet her son. Saturday evening we got a phone call from Pamela telling us she had an emergency hernia surgery and just got home that evening.so we went to visit and encourage her. This has been a busy week visiting at the hospitals. Friday around noon when we visited Katy she told us she would have her procedure Monday morning and we assured her we would be there, also her son his family and grandson would be visiting Saturday. Katy was so happy and we were thrilled for her. It was noon when we visited and while we were there her lunch tray was brought in but she refused to eat anything. After prodding we finally got her to tell us what she would like to eat and we would go get it for her. Finally she told us she would like a Crystal hamburger with cheese and bacon and that is exactly what she got. We also got some burgers for ourselves and had lunch with her. Saturday when we briefly stopped by to check on Katy we got to meet her family and also checked on her Sunday after dinner.

Sunday was our last Sunday dinner for the Elders, Brother Ficklin, Holly or whomever we invited. It was a sad time for us and we will miss these special times.Since our time is short here we want to spend some time with my sister and her family.

Elder Tippitts and Brother Ficklin (assistant ward mission leader) Each Sunday after dinner all the Elders get their suit jackets off the couch and put them on before leaving. It is just a silly but fun little ritual for one of the Elders to assist Brother Ficklin putting on his suit jacket.

Holly such a beautiful girl inside and out.

We love our friends, family, children, and grandchildren and thank you for making my birthday so special. I loved the cards, flowers, Facebook birthday wishes and phone calls.

Love Elder and Sister Berry

Matthew 4:16-19

TRANSFERS

This has been a rainy week with hard rains that lasted all day and into the night. Monday Elder Berry planned to go fishing with my sister's husband, Danny who is a fisherman. We have been here sixteen months and Elder Berry has been dreaming of fishing with Danny on one of our preparation days. Monday morning we woke to a pouring rain and it rained all day, what a disappointment. Hopefully next Monday will be a fishing day.  When we arrived in the mission field last year we were expecting a lot of rain but didn't get it so this winter has made up for it. We love the rain although it makes it more difficult to get out and about but thank goodness for umbrellas. The weather has been very strange. There will be warm days (mid 70's), then rain and then cool off and the cycle will repeat. Because of the warm weather and rain the Japanese tulip trees have already bloomed and other trees are starting to bud  While driving down the street this tree was spotted. It was absolutely beautiful. 

We had a very humbling experience this week. There is a special young man in our ward that is a convert to the church whom we have had the opportunity to visit. He has some disabilities but is able to live alone and can be spotted walking around town. This young man loves the gospel and blesses the sacrament every Sunday. Since he doesn't drive his home teacher picks him up and drives him to church every Sunday. When we got home from church the Sunday before Valentine day, Elder Berry pulled a little valentine from his pocket (the kind children exchange in school) to show me. It was addressed to Elder and Sister Berry and signed love Jomo.  Elder Berry also told me he was handing them out at church and we were blessed to receive one. That was the most special valentine we have ever received and I'm sure it was a sacrifice to spend part of his meager income on valentines.Elder Berry and I put together a little valentine treat bag and visited him on Tuesday. As we visited we asked if there was anything we could do for him. He thought for a minute and told us he wanted to baptize his sister and asked some questions which we answered then we asked if we could do anything else for him and after thinking for a minute he said he would like four AA alkali batteries for a backup. This Sunday at stake conference Jomo's name was read to become an Elder. We were thrilled.

WEDNESDAY - MISSIONARY TRANSFER DAY

 

This is what the church parking lot looked like Wednesday morning at nine forty five when we pulled in. There were two more rows of cars and trucks not in the picture. This was a big transfer and many ward members from all over the mission transported missionaries, luggage and their bikes.  

Before transfer meeting these bikes are all lined up ready for the new sister missionaries. Some sisters will be biking now.

Good by, God bless Elder Olsen and Elder Potts

Elders Tippetts and Gang loading truck. Brother Sandala a member of the ward assisted with transfer this month. Elder Berry and I were asked to assist the new Spanish speaking elders that were transferred into our zone, North Augusta

Elders Meyer and Park We look forward to serving with Elder Pack

Elder Tippitts and new companion Elder Gang

Sister Steimie transferred from Harlem, Georgia We will miss her! Her new area will be blessed to have her.

Sister Berry with Sister Lundholm who served in Martinez. So happy to see her at transfers

New couple just arrived from Canada. they are living in their beach home I think in Mertle Beach, South Carolina while serving their mission. 

Elder Berry and I literally had a front row seat today in missionary church history. Front row because when we walked in the chapel for transfer meeting the chapel was full except for the front row so that's where we sat. President Holm said all of us sitting in that meeting that day had a front row seat in the Lord hastening his work through well prepared young men and young women spreading the Gospel throughout the world.We testify this is true and and it was was a very touching meeting. The Columbia South Carolina mission received 23 new missionaries, 17 Elders (4 Spanish speaking waiting for visas) and 6 Sisters.  One of the new Elders has heart problems and wears a pace maker, two of the Elders were eighteen and five of the sisters were nineteen. With the addition of these missionaries nine new areas will be opened up.  Not sure but think about seven Elders returning home, three of which served some of their time in Augusta Zone, Elders Holyoak, Isrraelsen, and Sinard. Elder Cardon who came to Augusta the same time we arrived (16 months ago) and served six months here has been assigned as an Assistance to the President (AP) We have served with some of the Lords finest in this mission and are looking forward to serving with Elders Pack and Gang.

We both had a heart attack last week, it came in a package through the US mail and was from our children and grandchildren in Vegas and was filled with love.

THE HEART ATTACK

This weekend was stake conference what wonderful and inspiring meetings both Saturday night and Sunday morning. This picture was taken Saturday night before the meeting started. Sitting next to me is Sister Hobbs,  wonderful lady (convert of about 2 years). She attends the Book of Mormon class every Wednesday. Missionaries sitting all around us.

 Our faithful third companion with Elders bikes in a hospital parking garage.

 Sunday evening the elders rode downtown with us to visit a sister in the hospital. Katy was back in the hospital and was scheduled for a procedure Monday. The high priest usually take sacrament to Katy in the nursing home but due to stake conference and schedules being different the Elders were assigned to take the sacrament to Katy and we were privileged to witness such a humble and sacred ordinance. After visiting with Katy the Elders removed their bikes from our car and went their way and we drove to another hospital to visit Sandra who had been taken back to the hospital Tuesday.  Elder Berry and I visited her Tuesday in ICU and arranged for a priesthood blessing. We also visited Wednesday and Thursday but since Elder Berry had a cold we decided we shouldn't go Friday and Saturday. Saturday Sister Lee from Relief Society visited and Sandra was finally awake and alert and was asking for us. Sunday afternoon we finally made it to visit and while we were there she was taken out of ICU and put in a regular room. Since we needed to get home and finish Sunday dinner we just had a brief visit so promised to come back that evening after dinner which we did. On our second visit that day Sandra was much improved and in good spirits. This week it seems as if we have been on an emotional roller coaster due to transfers; missionary transfers, transfers of special people (whom we have grown close to and love) to hospitals and the trials they are facing and the joys and disappointments we experience as we serve. Through all these transfers we know Heavenly Father is in charge and we will place our trust in Him.

Love, Elder and Sister Berry

HOSPITAL WEEK - VISITING THAT IS

View from window of MCG Hospital

August is Georgia's second largest city with an area population of around a half million. The area is a leading health care center of the Southeast. Augusta is home to the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Health Sciences University along with dental medicine and nursing. There are many  large hospitals in Augusta and the surrounding area with a Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical  Center at Fort Gordon. As we visit all the hospitals in Augusta we have been very impressed with how respectful, kind and helpful the employees and everyone treat clergy. We are always Sunday dress and wear our name tags and can be spotted a mile away. We are so grateful for the respect and kindness.

Sister Berry and Sister Lee (counselor in Relief Society, she is from Las Vegas from our Stake but we didn't know them until arriving in Augusta) We are waiting outside a room until the nurses finish so we can visit Katy.

Monday is usually preparation day but because Andrea's (recent convert) husband was in the hospital that's where we spent most of the day, with her family. Andrea's husband had been taken back to the hospital and was on life support and wasn't expected to live. After twelve hours the family could choose to remove life support and after much thought and prayer that was the family's plan. While we were at the hospital we visited the Nap family (non members). Brother Nap was sitting in a wheel chair when we walked in and we learned they would be transporting him back to the Eisenhower Army Medical Center within the hour so we were so happy we got to see them before his transfer. Brother Nap has been sick since the first of December and had been in and out of the hospital but no diagnosis had been made and was continually getting worse. The first of January he was hospitalized and wasn't expected to live. Elder and Sister Atkinson, the senior couple that served here when we arrived had become close friends with them and continued to communicate with them when they returned home last April. Elder Atkinson called and informed us of their condition and asked if we could give him a Priesthood blessing as that was the desire of Sister Nap. The branch president and Brother Gowans went to the hospital and gave him a blessing. In that blessing he was blessed that he would be transferred to a hospital so that he could be diagnosed and treated and gain his health. He was transferred to MCG Hospital and remained there for a week. We had a prayer with him and his family before we left and before he was transferred. No greater faith have we ever seen in a family and after the prayer there wasn't a dry eye. We know Heavenly Father is aware of all his children and loves us and blesses us. After leaving the Nap family we got a phone call that Katy who lives in a nursing home was in the emergency room of the same hospital and that Sister Lee was with her since she had no family in town so decided to wait until later to visit Katy since Sister Lee was with her. The remainder of the day was spent visiting sick members of the ward in their homes. Monday evening we returned to the hospital and visited with Andrea and her family. Andrea was at peace although her heart was breaking at loosing her husband of thirty some years. The family  was a great comfort and support. We learned that Andrea's husband lived ten minutes after life support was removed. After leaving Andrea's family we visited Katy who was still in emergency room waiting to be put in a room. We had a wonderful visit, with Katy cheering us up. We love the time we spent with her, perfect ending to our day. We had witnessed the joy of healing, the peace and sadness of death, and received comfort from the sick.

Tuesday Zone Training Meeting with Zone Leaders conducting - they did a great job.

 Sisters gave training on ways to better support sister missionaries since we are due to have thirty more sisters within the next few months.

  Standing Accountable - During the meeting each district and companionship stand accountable. 

Tuesday during training meeting we got a phone call informing us a sister who lives in St John Towers tripped and fell face down in her apartment and was taken to the emergency room. Just before the meeting was over we left to check on our sister but couldn't find her in the emergency room at MCG where we were told she had been taken. While we were there we also checked on Katy so we could come back and visit later but were told she had been checked out the night before. That didn't make sense because she was told they were going to admit her and run more test plus someone who was having a heart attack wouldn't be sent home. We found our sister at University Hospital and she had just received discharge orders. When we walked in the room she got so excited and told us over and over she knew we would come. Then she said she didn't have to worry anymore because now she knew how she was getting home. She looked terrible. She had a big knot on her forehead plus it was scraped up, her nose was all scraped up, and her eye had begun to turn black. X-rays  were taken but no broken bones were found. We took one look at her and told her it looked like she had been in a bad fight and lost and we had a good laugh. Elder Berry and I drove her home and on the way got her prescription filled, walked her to her apartment and made sure she got there safely. We were concerned about Katy so drove to her nursing home and were told there she was still in the hospital. Sister Lee from the Relief Society called the hospital, tracked her down and gave us her room number. Katy was found. 

Wednesday we drove Sister Crystal to the hospital for a procedure and stayed with her until the procedure was over, and the doctor reported to us. Sister Lee was at the hospital so she visited with Sister Crystal till she was taken away then we all went to visit Katy. Sister Crystal had to stay in the hospital for three hours so while she was sleeping and waiting for her time to be up Elder Berry and I had lunch and did missionary things. When we got back to the hospital Sister Crystal had just finished lunch and was anxious to leave. We drove her home and had just enough time to drive to Andrea's home and check on her, drive back to our apartment and grab our things and start picking up people for Book of Mormon Class.

Thursday we decided to take a preparation day since we didn't have one Monday. The plans were to drive to Redcliffe Plantation in Beach Island, South Carolina, about a thirty minute drive from Augusta. Of all the luck it was cloudy when we got up so decided to hurry and hopefully get ahead of the rain. No such luck before we left it was pouring but we decided to go anyway. Redcliffe is a 400 acre  plantation and is now owned and operated by the park service. The plantation was used for agricultural experimentation of vineyards, orchards and special crops like indigo and sugar cane. The plantation gets its name from the red cliffs it is built on and the road leading to the plantation is red gravel. It is beautiful and we plan to return when it isn't raining and tour the inside of the house although Elder Berry got the umbrella and grabbed the camera and off he went in the pouring rain and got some pictures while I waited in the car. 

 Stable

Slave house

Friday Sister Lynch invited us for lunch at St John Towers. We had a delicious lunch and enjoyed visiting with her after her fall. By the time we saw her on Friday both eyes were black. Carol another sister that lives at the Towers joined us.We love Sister Lynch and wish we could take her home with us when we leave. She is always doing such kind and thoughtful things for us.  She knows Elder Berry likes salmon so whenever the lunch room serves salmon she always calls and tells us she has something for Brother Berry so we go down and pick it up. 

Saturday we had the opportunity to go the the Columbia temple. Sister Henri and Sister Owens rode with us. This was their second time to attend the temple. We loved visiting with these beautiful sisters as we traveled to and from. The day was beautiful and no rain.

To end the day Elder and Sister Gowans picked us up and we drove to Edgefield, South Carolina to dinner and to see a play. We had dinner at Chef Bob's. The play was a comedy by Neil Simon, The Odd Couple the female version, preformed by a local theatre group.What a wonderful day! President Holm is always telling the senior couples to have a weekly date night so we did this week.

Transfers are coming up Wednesday and Sunday we learned Elders Potts and Olsen will be leaving us. Our ward members will be driving them to transfers as the AP's called and asked for our help. Harlem is being white washed (Elders replacing sisters) don't know where the sisters will go but will find out Wednesday. We will go up and pick up the Elders assigned to Harlem along with their bikes. They will be biking Elders. Harlem is a very rural area with a ward.We are looking forward to Wednesday as we anticipate all the changes that will take place with the addition of more sister missionaries. We love all the Elders who have served in the Augusta District and we will miss Elders Olsen and Potts but are looking forward to Sunday dinner with our new Elders. 

This has been a very difficult week for many of the members we have visited and hope that we may have made their days a little brighter as we serve them and assist them as they draw closer to Heavenly Father. We love being missionaries!

Love, Elder & Sister Berry