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.
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.
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
No comments:
Post a Comment