NO MORE STRANGERS

We spent Monday morning at Augusta Housing Authority with a sister in the ward who is handicapped (wheel chair) who has a very modest income and will soon be evicted from her home. Over the past few months we have been her legs and searched out housing options for her but now time has run out and she hasn't been successful in finding a new place to live. Most government housing has a waiting list to get on a waiting list. This sister thought she was on a waiting list but we found out Monday she isn't on any list so they placed her on one and told her, even though she was a priority, it could be six months or  could be over a year before she can  be placed in public housing. We left there truly discouraged. We were also given a list of temporary housing which is run by charity groups but nothing was available on that list either. Our hope is that something will become available before she has to leave her house, we are praying for a miracle.

 Wednesday morning we woke up to storm warnings but today was a day we had been looking forward to all week because we were going back to visit Connie in Adrian, Georgia. The Waynesboro Elders called and asked if we would be able to drive them to visit her again, so we were able to work out a good time for all of us. The trip to Connie's house is about ninety miles one way but we were looking forward to meeting with Connie again and sharing the gospel with her. She is such a wonderful lady and so prepared, humble and excited about the message of the restoration, the plan of salvation and the Book of Mormon. Wednesday morning as we pulled into the Elders complex in Hephzibah to pick them up the phone rang and it was the Elders informing us with much disappointment that Connie had just called and would not be able to meet with us. With great disappointment we turned around to head home but stopped to make new plans for the day. Since we had nothing pressing to do and the day was clear of appointments we decided to take a drive to Waynesboro, the county seat of Burke County, Georgia. Elder Berry had relatives that came through Burke County so we decided to go have a look about.

 Hephzibah is about a twenty minute drive from Augusta and that is where the Waynesboro Elders live although they serve the Waynesboro area almost a twenty minute drive away. 

 As we drove to Waynesboro we took the county roads instead of state highways and just wondered our way until we arrived in Waynesboro. Following are some pictures we took and want to share. This morning as we started our trip the skies were gray and there was a fine mist falling and as we traveled sometimes it would rain or just be very cloudy (black clouds), then the sun would shine briefly and then everything would repeat again.

 Notice the three wooden crosses in front of the church. This was really charming

 This sign was on another church as we drove along the highway and decided to turn around to take a picture.

This picture is for you David

During the month of January we had very warm weather, sometimes in the high 70's so the Japanese Tulip tree has been blooming since mid January,. they are beautiful

We weren't able to have our Book of Mormon class Wednesday night as all church meetings were canceled due to severe storm warnings. A storm with high winds and pouring rain was scheduled to hit Augusta during our meetings. The stake president called all the wards and advised them to cancel all meetings.In the morning as we drove we watched the clouds and listened to the radio to keep up with the weather reports and learned that many towns northwest of us had sever damage by the storm that was headed our way. After making phone calls to our class members we went to the store and bought milk and bread as that was all we needed in case of an emergency. Shortly after the storm hit three of our Elders came to our house. They got soaking wet as they ran from the car to the apartment. They said it rained so hard they couldn't see the road so decided that better head home and park the car. It was almost eight o'clock when they got to our house so we gave them banana bread, milk and fruit. We called the other Elders but they didn't answer our text until they needed us to pick them up. They got stranded on their bikes a distance from their car and rode to the nearest less active ward members house who gave them shelter. Elder Berry went to their rescue. When he returned we were relieved that all were safely home. The storm only brought hard rain and no damage. We were blessed. Wednesday evening was special for our zone because the young missionaries were having a "big lift" prior to a special fireside Thursday evening "No More Strangers".The traveling missionaries came to our zone along with the zone leaders and paired up with different districts and made an extra effort to visit and teach and invite to the fireside. Our district Elders had the zone leaders working with them and so we had six elders to worry about instead of four during the storm.

About every three months or so every zone in the mission has a special fireside called No More Strangers and ours was Thursday evening. This is a zone wide fireside for investigators, less active members, recent converts and members are encouraged to bring friends.President and Sister Holm are there, meeting and greeting along with the stake president President Squires. This meeting was one of the most special missionary firesides we have ever attended, the spirit was strong. Two recent converts bore testimony and told of their conversion. One speaker said he had tried to stop smoking for years but when he learned of the word of wisdom he didn't have any trouble stopping smoking because he was doing it for God and it worked for him. Sister Holm, President Holm and President Spuires spoke, what wonderful talks and so full of love and wisdom. Elder Chapman played a beautiful hymn on his violin accompanied by the piano. The title of these firesides is taken from Ephesians 2:19 "Now therefor ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God"  Our zone leaders organized this fireside and all the Elders and Sisters worked hard following the plans, greeting and ushering guest into the chapel in order to ensure everyone have a spiritual experience.

 Elders Chapman & Bailey - Elder Chapman  on the left played the violin

Elder Berry held the i-pad in his lap and took these pictures and no one was even aware pictures had been taken 

Thank goodness for banana nut bread

 The Relief Society gave us a list of  less active sisters that needed a visit. One sister wouldn't return our phone calls so we just drove to her house and knocked on her door, no answer. A few days later we went back and her grown son answered the door and told us his mother was in bed asleep. That morning before we started visiting for the day we put three loaves of banana nut bread in the car to give to whom ever we felt inspired to give them to. When we walked up to this sisters home we took a loaf of the bread. I had it in my hand in plane sight so I handed it to the son and asked him to give it to his mom. When we got back in the car I mentioned to Elder Berry I regretted taking the bread because she wasn't even attempting to see us. One week later (this Friday) we went back to visit this lady, knocked on the door, the son answered, had a big smile on his face and in the background we heard a voice say, "Is that the person who made that delicious banana nut bread?" We were invited into their home and had a wonderful visit and were invited to return. When the bishop read our report Sunday he said he was surprised that we were invited in. 

Of course the highlight of the week was the baptism of Gladys and her three boys that was baptized Saturday. The Elders worked hard along with the assistance of Holly to teach this family.

This has been a special week with many spiritual experiences, many hours spent at the hospital and visiting less active Elders in the ward as we are all saints in the household of God.

Love, Elder & Sister Berry