.................Jackson, Mississippi Mission ............. Senior Missionary Conference in Gulfport

Far left Elder Vincent and Sister Fran Earnhart (Bishop's Storehouse, from Herriman, Ut), Elder Clair and Sister Carolyn Davis, (Military Relations, married 5 years from Clifton, ID), Elder Sam and Sister Marva Rogers, (Office/Proselyting from Meridian, ID), Elder Jerry and Sister Barbara Matson (Employment Resource from Meridian, ID), next front President Tom Tucker and Sister Annette Tucker, from Twin Falls, ID, behind Elder Rondo and Sister Mary Erickson (Office specialist from Clearfield, UT), Elder Preston and Sister Gill (service missionaries, married 15 years from Wiggin, MS), seated Sister Kathy Goodin (Employment Resource from New Mexico) and me. Between sessions we went for a tour of the coast. We visited the lighthouse in Biloxi, Beauvoir, the home of Jefferson Davis the Pres. of the Confederacy, and the Friendship Oak which is on the beachfront campus of University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Park (formerly Gulf Park College for women), overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. This was a fabulous Conference! My favorite part was a talk by our Stake President President Garrett and a delightful talk I had with our Mission President and Matron President and Sister Brough. Here's a pictures of some of our sisters as we came out of the Baton Rouge Temple on our second day of the conference.

I Am a Child of God

Of our five missionaries only one, Elder Bishop (far left), was called to serve a Spanish speaking mission. His companion and the sisters were all called English speaking. Sister Hills majored in French at BYU and yet was called to speak English in the south. Not exactly what she expected. Just goes to show who is in charge. For the baptism of Maria, an adorable little lady who speaks very little English,all of the missionaries learned and then sang in Spanish I am a Child of God. This is a photo I took of them learning it in the classroom of our center. Sister Goodin and I were unable to attend the baptism as we went to the temple with the Pruett's, a darling couple that moved here about the same time we did. Too many good things happening all at once that day. What a hard life I have.(grin)

Meet Sister Beckstrand

I had a wonderful experience on Wednesday. Sister Beckstand and I went out teaching together. She is from Centerville, UT, attended BYU studying Social Psychology with an emphasis in gender identity and has coached girls softball at Lone Peak High. She has been serving in Clinton, MS and was just recently transferred here to train the new greenie Sister Hills. She is learning the area, and teaching techniques from the remarkable Sister Winters who sadly will be leaving us in 5 weeks. Sister Beckstrand and I had the most incredible visit with a man named David who flung open the door and invited us in when we asked if Grace was home. Grace, the girl who had been referred, was recently married and no longer lives at address. David is here visiting his sister who is somehow related to Grace. David asked us to sit down and asked if we were Mormons. Then he told us how members of the Mormon church had been so wonderful to help his grandma, asking nothing in return. He asked if we would tell him what we believe. He said "There was this man, John Adams that found some glasses, right?" So Sister Beckstand told him that his name was actually Joseph Smith and then beautifully told Joseph's story from memory.I added that even as a child I was comforted to know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ were two separate beings and that they had forms. We talked about the prophets in the Book of Mormon as well as continuing revelation and succession to President Monson. Sister Beckstand then asked him to read from the introduction of the Book of Mormon "We invited all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost." He said "If you will let me have that book I will read it." We told him about the Savior's visit to the America's. He asked what he taught them. She said the same things he taught in Jerusalem and then had him read the account from 3 Nephi. He asked about baptism and authority. So we taught about the apostasy and the need for the restoration. Oh my gosh... the room was filled with the Spirit. His sister returned and he needed to go. All four of us joined hands and had prayer together. We made an appointment to return. As we got in the car she told me that this was the first time in her nine months as a missionary she has ever been asked for a Book of Mormon. It was just simply an amazing experience.

President Thomas S. Monson

My testimony is very personal to me. I have received personal revelation regarding the reality of God's love. I know that Joseph Smith restored the Lord's church in our day,that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is His true and living church. I'm grateful to know that God the Father and His Son appeared to the boy Joseph. I remember when I learned the wonderful truth that they are two separate beings, one in purpose. I love the Book of Mormon and give thanks for the strength it has been in my life. I know that Thomas S. Monson,our current prophet is God's mouth piece to the world. I know that our Father in Heaven speaks to him for the church as well as to each of us individually for guidance in our own lives. I have felt His presents through the special member of the Godhead, our wonderful friend and comforter, the Holy Ghost. It is beyond my ability to express how grateful I am.

Tropical Hibiscus

We have been to see a less active sister twice. I would love to meet her, but she wasn't there either time. She has a beautiful garden in which I took this photo. So it wasn't a complete loss...grin

Teaching with the Little Sisters

We have two new young proselytizing sisters who joined our wonderful Sister Winters. We call them the little sisters. I wasn't sure if we wanted to be called the big sisters or call them the young sisters and be the old sisters. They are kind enough to call us the senior sisters. We are able to go out with them nearly every week. We spent last afternoon and evening visiting part members,less active members,investigators, tracking, and AIing (additional invite, where you just walk up to someone and ask if they would like to learn about the church). With five of us teaching we were able to split up in lots of different combination's to reach and teach more people. We teach in expensive housing areas as well as some that are less so.

Elder Killian and Sister Bishop's Farewell Party Fun

I love this wonderful group of missionaries! We have shared many fun times as well as many spiritual, sacred, hard working times together. Just like a family we took a goofy picture tonight during our farewell party. The party was held in the club house of our apartment complex in the great room where we weekly hold our family home evenings.

Oh, hi there, step right in

Another wonderful day in my messy office. I have only four months left of my mission. I am really going to miss it. Today the center director told me that he's going to come in with shackles and chain me to my desk. And added "then you'll be dragging your desk into the airport".

All my son's came to visit

Here we are getting ready to eat a southern style lunch at the Bayou Country Store. It was so wonderful to see them. As you might imagine, a fun time was had by all.

Grow With Balance

Missionaries from Huntsville and Mobile AL, Slidell and Baton Rouge LA, as well as Hattiesburg MS, all came together to enjoy a very wonderfully planned and presented quarterly Employment Missionary Conference. It was during this conference that I bonded in a very spiritual way with my companion because of something so supportive and kind she said to me.

Fontainebleau State Park

For the Holiday the center was closed. Earnhart's, Matson's, Sister Goodin and I enjoyed our afternoon here before spending Family Night evening together. It's wonderful to be with such a cohesive group, no matter where we are. They truly strengthen me.

Gertrude Bernauer

This is one of my favorite people here. She was the first person I met at church. She came right up and welcomed us and asked what she could do to help us. When she came into the center yesterday looking so cute I told her she looked adorable. She replied "When people look through the eyes of love it's amazing."

This week's Bell Ringers

Sister Matson is our Center Photographer who takes pictures of the bell ringers so I can post them in the Hall of Fame. She made this wonderful collage. The man in the largest picture came straight from work when I called and asked him to come. I didn't tell him we would be taking his picture. He's a great man who actually has worked many years in the dentistry field, but after a terrible dry spell is happy to have a job doing levy construction. He has become a very dear friend to all of us in the center. He's originally from Jamaica and has quite a story to tell. We were all delighted when he came with Bill Cristler to see the Joseph Smith video last week and is reading the Book of Mormon that Elder Matson and Bill each separately gave to him. He graciously accepted both.

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.