Tennessee Southern Belles

One of the four stakes that I have been assigned to serve is Memphis North. The Memphis 1st ward in that stake invited us to give them a presentation on Welfare and Employment for their fifth Sunday meeting. It's 379 miles away, but we were delighted to go. And what a treat it was! The story is too long to tell here, but they have had 70 converts in the last 18 months. Yes that's right 70 in one ward. The sacrament was passed by six precious black deacons, all who have been members for less than a year. When they are baptized the Young Men's President asks them their shirt size and then gives them a white shirt and tie that they wear proudly. It's a beautiful sight. Sister Goodin and I stayed with the family of the counselor in the Young Men. We were pleased to be invited to a birthday party while we were there. We had such a wonderful time. Southern hospitality is alive and well.

Relaxing after a few stress filled days

After working in the center this morning we had the afternoon off. Our p-day is sort of split in half with working half a day Friday and half day Saturday. About 1:30 the Earnharts picked us up and took us for a drive through gorgeous wooded area to a pizza place for lunch. We stopped to enjoy this museum and to give Elder Earnhart a change to sleep for a few minutes. We drove around the cute town before we continued on, stopping for frozen yogurt before heading home.It was a much needed break for all of us. Missions are wonderful but sometimes very taxing. Details intentionally excluded.

Look how adorable this is

As I went into my office this morning look what I saw out the window. Sister Werb, the church service missionary that works in our center had decorated my garden.

From serious gospel reflection to just plain fun I love these missionaries and my experiences with them. The Earnharts are wonderful to gather us together to share our uniting missionary spirit, enjoy each others company and have lunch after church each week. We work hard and play hard. That's the making of eternal friendships.

I come to the garden alone

Yesterday I needed a place to pour out my heart to God. My friend Fran told me that going to the garden helps her feel the Spirit. That is also true for me. But my garden is far away. And to sit outside here in Slidell weather is a crazy thought indeed. And so I decided to open up the blinds and make my office window the window to my garden. So I sat inside with a box of kleenex. It was there in 'my garden' that I had experiences too sacred to share. And today the ultimate answer came out of the mouth of the Gynecologic Urologist I saw. I no longer have blood in my urine and so I'm fine. I don't even need to have the cystoscopy done. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father. I know a miracle when I see one. I want to acknowledge that I know from whence this came. I've had some wonderful experiences lately. I am overcome with this one. I can feel God's love and there is nothing greater than that.

Skirt Burning Party

What a wonderful group of missionaries. Sister Matson brought 1/2 banana's and 1/2 granola bars to represent 1/2 finished. The Earnharts brought a huge watermelon.

Record breaker

From the news today. ... Record high temperature set at Slidell ... a record high temperature of 100 degrees was set at Slidell today. This breaks the old record of 98 set in 1986. Note: With the heat index it's 115 degrees. I'm here to tell you with the humidity,that is hot! When we step out of the air conditioned car our glasses immediately fog up so much that we can't see. And we're going out in two hours for the burning skirt ceremony, a mission tradition celebration for my mission being half over today. I gave the closing prayer in sacrament meeting. After church we went to the center so I could register an Employment Specialist from Memphis, Tennessee North Stake. He’s a neurosurgeon and is very busy and so set our appointment time today. I was happy to oblige. It was great talking to him. He’s planning a Community Career Workshop in September and asked me to come. I hope I can.