Milledgeville Ward Conference

Unexpected Happenings

This week we have been busy visiting many of our people who have not come lately, as we thought they might not know it was Ward Conference.  Our chapel was full for the meetings today.  One lady, the Grandmother of the young woman who was baptized last Saturday, invited her Womens Auxiliary group from the American Legion.  There were twelve of them in their navy uniforms.  One funny thing about it was that I wore all navy today too.  All I needed was a red, white and blue scarf instead of my yellow one, and a hat with VA insignia, and I could have been taken as one of them.

Our meetings were especially inspiring with our Stake Presidency and Stake Relief Society Presidency speaking and teaching in the auxiliaries.  The guests were used to participating vocally as they do in many of the Southern denominations.  The women seemed to feel comfortable participating, so our meetings besides being motivating, were really interesting and a bit more vibrant.  Most stayed for the potluck dinner after.  We are always amazed at the volumes of food that magically appear without making specific assignments, as we do out west.

By the way - here is Doug collecting all the spilled garbage from the dinner as we came over for our walk this morning.  The can had been set up for pick-up today,  but must have been upset overnight.  Doug is rescuing it - good Samaritan, or avoiding the walk - what do you think?  This was to be his first day back walking!

Georgia War Veteran's Home

After our meetings, we went to the Veteran's home to check in with Bill and take him his Scriptures.  He had been asking us if we would bring him his "papers"  and for a few days we couldn't figure out what he wanted, as he has no papers.  He would get discouraged and say "never mind" as he could not think of the right word.  Finally we guessed right.  Doug had given him his own set of scriptures in a special carrying case.  We thought he might have trouble managing their thin pages with his lack of dexterity from the stroke, so we had taken up a missionary copy for him to use for awhile.  We should have realized how important they were to him, knowing that all his possessions fit into one small box.  He was so pleased to have his "books to study" sitting on his shelf.  His lesson books for Gospel Principles and the Life of Joseph Fielding Smith were also in his case.

This is the Russell Building where Bill and Loran live on the 3rd floor.

We also met a new member who lives on his floor.  Loran introduced himself and said he belonged to our church.  He then took us to his room and showed us his Baptism and Priesthood ordination certificates proudly framed and displayed on the wall of his room.  He said he had tried to talk to Bill to tell him that he was one of his "Brothers"  and would help him in any way he could.  The touching thing about that is that Loran is blind and has had both his legs amputated.  He is very independent, and somehow gets himself around the building.  He takes his meals in the dining room which is downstairs two floors.

He told us that he has two brothers who are Baptist Ministers, so he experienced a lot of opposition when he decided to join the church.  He is bright and articulate.  He used to work on Newt Gingrich' (Speaker of the House) staff.  He joked about being one of the only black republicans at the time.

Our ward lost track of him when he left the area for his first amputation.  They didn't know he was back living in the home.  He is such an intelligent, courageous man.  We feel it will be a privilege to get to know him better and to help him become reconnected to the Ward.

One of the secluded areas throughout the grounds that is wheelchair accessible.

Adventures

Each day brings interesting discoveries.  Last week we found a family who lives on a private road that is not on the GPS or the Google Maps.  Doug got the idea to go to a Real Estate Company in Sandersville,  thinking that it was a new subdivision or something.  They got interested in helping us find the address, and had three people checking their sources.  We finally found the property listed on a County Tax Assessor's Map.

The people who live there own 41 acres which includes a beautiful lake.  Wish we had thought to take pictures.  They are the only home owners on the lake.  It is a beautiful, secluded spot, yet so close to the city.  They have two sons who were baptized many years ago, when the boys were staying with their grandparents.  The mom has since remarried, and neither of the parents are church members.  There are some tricky situations.  One son is at college; the other lives at home now, but the parents attend another church.  At least we know what happened, and can report back to the ward - they are more than just a name on the list.

March in the Mission Field

Shanteria's Baptism

I guess the baptism Saturday is some of our happiest news.  Shanteria is a lovely 9th grader whose grandmother is a member of our ward.  She has been involved with Early Morning Seminary and Young Womens all year.  She is very bright and has been a dedicated student.

From Left:  Elder Cawley (California), Shanteria - 9th Grade, Elder Loper (Idaho)

Doesn't she look happy?  We really had nothing to do with the baptism, but we are all part of the team so we claim all the happy moments.  Again as with our last baptism, the YW and their leaders were the real teachers.  Shanteria has such a wonderful family.  We hope they also will recognize the blessings and growth that  have come to Shanteria and will want the same in their own lives.

Shanteria's family.  Her Grandma in our ward is the lady in blue on the left.
She usually wears fluffy, glitzy things and spikey hair.  She teaches Relief Society.
I hardly recognized her.  Would you believe she is nearly 67?
The children are Shanteria's siblings.  Her Mom and Dad are behind her on the left.
 Her other grandparents behind on the right.

The Elders who taught her, are the ones in the top picture.  We are nearly to transfers, so may lose one of them.  It is strange to see them go in and out of an area so quickly.


Macon Zone Meetings
This shows our zone at last transfer.  There were some large changes.  I think I already mentioned splitting the zones in another post.

Sisters on the left are special friends.
S Bradford,  S Hathaway, from Gray and S Snider,  S Porter from Dublin

The other half

One of our Young Elders lost his Mom to cancer, but decided to stay out in the field, as she would have wanted.  I'm sure he has had some difficult times, but he is out here faithfully serving.

One last picture so you can see Elder Williams (centre).  He is brand new in every sense.
He has been a member about three years and is new from the Missionary Training Center.
He is full of enthusiasm and ambition.  We think he is a great addition to our zone.  

We have interviews this Friday, and are trying to work in our Apartment Inspections in the next two weeks before transfers.  We have seven apartments.  It is interesting and a nice change of pace to spend a few minutes with each companionship in a more casual setting. We find out a little more of what is happening in their areas.  That is eight Elders and six Sisters that we get to know a little better than we otherwise would.

"Bill" - Update
We are still trying to figure out how to get his bills paid.  We are hoping his communication will improve, so he can go with us to the bank to get bank drafts or something to go directly for his utilities, etc.  They know him there, so they may take his scribbled signature, if they don't think we are trying to bilk him out of his money.

Bill in his new place in the Georgia War Veteran's Home

The only personal things he had when we cleaned out his house, were these two old rather tattered pictures of his parents.  He was adopted as a young child in Germany.  We put them in this frame to preserve them and hung them up in his room at the Veteran's home.  We also put up the only pictures we had of him, so his spot would seem a little more homey.  He seems grateful.

St Patrick Day's Dinner

Our friend Robin is always bringing us new foods to try, and often suggests we have dinner with some of the other investigators.  We are trying to get her connected with other ward members as we don't want to take time to be as good a friend as she needs.  One day she brought us a roasted chicken from Sam's Club and some freshly grated parmesan to broil on fresh tomatoes.  Another time she brought chocolate silk pie.

Robin

This week she came by with a big corned beef roast.  We had never cooked one, but Doug dutifully looked up a recipe on the internet, and we had a great corned beef and cabbage dinner to celebrate the 17th of March.

 One of our guests - Bonnie who teaches voice at the local college, could not come at last minute, but our High Council visitor that day was a friend from the Dublin ward, and he came over for dinner.  It was pouring rain, and he had a meeting in Macon that evening, so was glad to stay for a bit with us while the rain slowed down.  We had a wonderful Gospel discussion that lasted through the entire meal and longer.  It is often when you least expect it, that there are opportunities to talk about things that really matter.

The Van
Our faithful old grey van that has gone nearly 200,000 miles, did not quite last out the mission.  We were just coming home from the Church where we walk one morning last week, and turning into the driveway when the motor began to bump and bang, and we knew it had thrown a rod.  We decided in the interest of time, money, and loyalty - Doug's to his beloved van- to have it fixed (new motor).  We didn't want to rush getting a new car.

Luckily someone in our ward runs a used car place.  His mechanic found a good used motor and installed it within the week.  We had a rental sedan for a few days and were both glad to get back in our "luxury" van.  We felt like royalty, once more, in our high regal seats, looking down at all the poor folk who drive fancy sedans and sports cars.  Sedans are not very useful on our country roads out here in Georgia.