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.