New Missionaries / Tuttles at the Temple

Saying Goodbye is Hard

Elder Brownlow back right

We have been here long enough now to know and love the young Elders and Sisters, so it is hard to see them go.  We thought we might keep our Elders in Dublin, as this is Elder Brownlow's last few weeks in the mission, and he is in the middle of teaching several families, but he is going to Millegeville a bit north of us.

Sister Lanier,  Las Vegas and Sister Tateanna, Manganeti, (Micronesia)

Sister Tateanna was transferred from Cochran. We thought we might lose both.  Sister Lanier has been here as a trainer for six months with varied new companions.  She said she has not had any contact with other young sister missionaries since last May when she transferred to our District.  She is a great person and missionary.  Their work is partly why our District looks so good in the statistics.  We are delighted that she is going to be here a while longer.  She goes home in January.

It was Elder Nunjez's birthday, so we celebrated with lunch together at Dairy Queen, after our District Meeting, and brownie cake made by the sisters.

Elder Nunjez  (21st birthday) and Elder Shenck front right

We lost another Elder a week or so ago.  He was diagnosed with Wegener's Disease which requires cancer-like treatments and can be fatal without immediate intervention.  He left suddenly and Elder Shenck came in his place.  He joined the church in San Diego as a 19 year old, and is amazing in his gospel knowledge and insight for one so new.  His companion Elder Nunjez will be going home just before Christmas.

President Harding said not to worry, we are receiving fourteen new missionaries this transfer, and more the following.  By next year, this mission will have 80 more missionaries than are serving now.  There seems to be an urgency to give everyone here the opportunity to hear the Gospel and be invited to become a part of Christ's Church.  Are you feeling that missionary spirit everywhere?

You who have not been involved for awhile should track down the Elders at any meetinghouse, or through (Mormon.org) and ask for review lessons, so you can remember what you once felt and knew to be true.  Do it for yourselves and for your families.

Don't wait!  None of us know what lies ahead, and being part of the Gospel brings so much direction to life.  It also brings comfort and peace even in the midst of adversities.  It is important for us all to take advantage of the atonement in our own lives; be active contributing members of the church; have the necessary ordinances performed here, so we can all be together after this life.

So many people we see here think that because they were once baptized and still love the church, that is enough.  They don't realize that so much more is expected, and so many other blessings await their continued diligent service, and their obedience to Christ's teachings.

At the Temple in Atlanta

We have just returned from the temple with some ward members (the Tuttles), who have returned to activity after many years away.  We are so happy for them, and have seen their lives change as they have prepared for the blessings of the temple.

They are a great couple. He drives a Big Rig at 75 years old, and she drives the school bus.  Imagine us trying to follow them through the crazy traffic in Atlanta, so we could find a place to eat together 45 minutes south of the city.   It was a definite shut-eye-ride for me.

from left:  Ward members who enjoyed the day together

 Rex and Alycia Boland, Robert and Marylee Tuttle, Will Baxter and his mother Deborah Carter, Sister Castleton.  (Elder Castleton could not run fast enough to get in the picture).