Heavenly Father provides beauty in Louisiana

Today coming back from lunch we were singin' in the rain. Yesterday we were sittin' in the rain

Today it was a nice rain that cooled us off, which was a relief from our hot temperatures. Yesterday coming home from Gulfport it was raining so hard we had to pull off of the freeway and wait. We actually were unable to see out at all. Quite scary and dangerous really. It was quickly flooding the freeway. Today was singin' rain.

Stake Conference and Get Together

We took the young sisters to Stake Conference on Saturday and then on Sunday we took Ann, her mom Agnes and Patricia,a sister that's just returning to activity. They were both wonderful meetings. We have a most powerful Stake President who is an incredible speaker. He is a meteorologist and so during his talk he reassured us that hurricane Alex will not threaten us. He's been Stake President for 4 1/2 years. He was 4 months from retiring from the Navy when he was called. He told Elder Christofferson that usually at the time of retirement people return to their home town. President Christofferson said "you're not going anywhere". What complete dedication it takes to change your lifetime plans completely. He didn't say this in his talk but my Bishop told me that they told the president that he can't move until he's released. I'm so grateful. President Garrett is an amazing leader. After conference on Sunday all the full time missionaries in our ward went to Earnharts for a wonderful potluck get together. The red drink spill only spoiled it for a second. We quickly got it cleaned up and back to enjoying each others company. We have fun doing our sister pose. Sister Earnhart reassures us that besides looking silly we look thinner. On Monday we took the young sisters back to Gulfport to our Stake Center for interviews. We'll be losing one of our young sisters with the upcoming transfer. I'm sad to see her go. We go out with them often and have become very close. It's amazing how closely we bond as we serve together.

Governors of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama Declare Sunday June 27th a Day of Prayer Over Gulf Oil Disaster

I join with my sister Linda who said "What great leaders you have back there who know who to turn to in time of need."

My friend shares with me

Sister Matson made this fun collage and allows me to use it. A family in our ward invited all ten of the missionaries over for dinner. It's really fun to all be together. Tomorrow and Sunday are Stake Conference in Gulfport. The Stake provides dinner for us before the session tomorrow night. Food everywhere. It's the southern way. In the photo is from top left Me, Elder Smith,from Kamas,Utah, Angela and Kaylyn Easton,Sister Matson from Idaho,Elder Bishop from Arizona, Sister Werb who is a service missionary from here,Sister Winters from California, Sister Wright from Iowa,Sister Goodin from New Mexico,bottom row is Elder Earnhart from Utah, Kaylyn and Sister Earnhart in the center, Tyler and Bro. Eatson. Elder Matson didn't make the cut picture wise this time, the cat jumped in his place. But he was there.

The longest day of the year

Isn't this a beautiful picture of the sky on this special day when the earth's axis is closest to the sun. It's called Summer solstice. My friend took this picture out the car window as we traveled home from Gulfport this evening. She's an amazing photographer.

Beauty and the "Beast"

The news tells us that this will likely be an active hurricane season (June-Oct). We are expecting 12-15 small hurricanes and 3-4 major (category 3 or above) ones. We will be given two or three days notice. We're not sure exactly where we'll go. Today we went for a drive to check out an evacuation route to Hattiesburg. We plan to go back roads as they say the highways take 7 hours to go 70 miles. So we started out from apartment and went down Robert, through the beautiful wooded area. Along the way is this fabulous bridge. When we got home this cute gecko was climbing up our stair railing. He stopped and poised for a picture. The other day I took a picture of this rose in the rain. It is the first rose I have seen here. Really gorgeous.

Crape Myrtle Trees

These beautiful trees are all over town including everywhere in our housing complex

Sacred moments

I had a spiritual experience today too personal to tell about here. I only want to mention that we have been working with a very quiet black non member gentleman who worked in the dental field for 37 years, making crowns etc. when machinery fell on him and cut off part of his foot. Life has gone downhill for him since and he is now living in his car. He was very low and in tears today. I had the privilege of giving him some hope. I'm grateful Heavenly Father allowed me to be an instrument.

Ann in her own home

Ann went to Relief Society with us tonight to a special (what used to be called Enrichment) meeting. The lesson was on Hurricane preparation. When we took her home she invited us in to see her album of what happened to her in Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Her house was completely washed away by the flood from the levy breaking. What a sad thing to happen to such a wonderful lady. She lived in Utah for awhile and then moved back to Marrero where she left her things in storage when she moved here in January of this year. After she moved away from her abusive daughter a month ago she has been sleeping on the floor and had only a folding chair and small stool and small t.v. in her trailer. It was so wonderful tonight to see how she has fixed it up since ward members helped her bring her things up here four days ago. And she has everything so neat and clean. Such a change from the flea infested place she was living in before. I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father inspired me to find this trailer for her. I could hardly speak when I walked in tonight. It is absolutely glorious!

The city of Slidell

My friend Barbara took these pictures from the top of the parking garage of Slidell Memorial Hospital. The intersection is Gause and Robert which we travel often. Gause is the main thoroughfare and Robert is the street our center is on. I like the round water towers around here. Every city has one with the name of the town on it.

Slidell Ward Chapel

I love the portico connected to the side entrance that you can see in the picture of the back of the building. A feature in all the chapels here so people can get into the church without getting wet from the rain.

Confirmation Day

Ann said she felt like a bride being given away by the ten men standing in the circle to confirm her. Then she said I guess they did give me away to God.

The baptism of Ann

This was a wonderful, happy day for all of us! She asked all the missionaries to participate in her baptism service. She was so excited and so were we. The Relief Society room was packed. Earlier in the day the young sisters had come to our apartment to make cookies for refreshments. But to top it all off, after the baptism sister Roque, a member of the ward, surprised everyone by serving lemonade and two fabulous cakes she had made.

Wonderful, fun Career Workshop group

This really was an exceptionally fun group. We met the lady in the black shirt at the job fair we attended in May. She invited her son and the other two ladies (who live in New Orleans) to the workshop. The young man in the white shirt just returned three weeks ago from his mission in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He also lives in New Orleans. I loved working with them all. This was a day to remember.

Meet Chris, Deidra and Joanne

We have had the privilege of being involved with this wonderful family as they learn and grow in the gospel. Chris is a member but left the church years ago. Now he is very anxious to return. As we teach it is amazing to watch the progress of his girlfriend Deidra. They live with his grandpa, and grandma Joanne.

Employment Missionary Conference

Thursday and Friday we gathered together from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to learn and have a wonderful time.

Try a little harder to be a little better

Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds. President Gordon B. Hinckley

Elder Earnhart gave me a mirror, Elder Matson hung it for me. My thanks to both.