We had Zone Conference this week and Sister Drake assigned us to make a list of 10 things that bring us joy and to post it in our apartment. I got to experience all of these things this week!
I love it when the missionaries are low on miles because they need us to drive them to more of their appointments. We love helping them teach their investigators. There's a new rule in the mission field; no more zone meetings and when there's a zone conference there's no district meeting that week. Perhaps my complaints about all the meetings getting in the way of the work reached the ears of someone? At any rate, we found ourselves without a meeting Friday morning for the first time in forever and no set plans, so we decided it was time to keep our promise and visit Sister Kentish. She lives about 2 hours away in Newton, Texas, so we had this beautiful drive up there and me with nothing to do, but listen to Hank Smith and take pictures.
Br. Roberts has a rental property he calls "2 Below". The last renters really trashed the place. Luke's brother kicked him out of their house. He's been staying with a few members and living out of a garbage bag. I loaned him my huge suitcase, because living out of a suitcase is much better than living out of garbage bag, right? Anyways, Br. Roberts offered his rental to Luke. So Saturday morning 8 of us spent 5 hours cleaning it and its ready for occupation now. It was one of the most disgusting things I've ever cleaned! Rodent nests in every drawer, rotting fish in the fridge, food and trash left everywhere, and lots of dog poop and mouse poop everywhere. It was a fun service project with all of the Cleveland ward missionaries there in spite of the disgustingness. I have never been so hot before! It was 89 that day, no air conditioning and it was super muggy. Good preparation for the heat of summer which is right around the corner.
It sits right on this little marshy lake. There are alligators in the lake, but we didn't see any.
This huge 8 year old was baptized on Sunday after the block by his dad. I'm guessing Br. Colbert is 300 pounds. He is a great dad and is currently the Nursery Leader! Gotta love that!
We took the Sisters to dinner at the Morales' on Sunday night. A great way to break our fast for my niece, Aida. Antonio told us the story of his life and wow! He was kidnapped from Guatemala as a teenager and taken to Mexico. He ran away and got lost in the forest, where he lived without food or water for 3 days and nights. He found a road and turned himself over to the border patrol. He got to Texas, illegally a while later, and this week he was able to get his Social Security card in the mail! Today he's taking the driving test to get a license. And he can work legally here for the first time in the 8 years (not sure about that, so I'm guessing) he's lived here. So happy for them!
More of our drive to Newton. This is Twin Lakes.
We found Sister Kentish. She didn't know us at first, she has dementia, but after looking at our badges and realizing we were from the church she started remembering us. It was such a relief to find her happy and well cared for. Her attitude and outlook has changed drastically. Her son, who was enemy number one before, is now her hero. He visits her every week. He took her home over Mother's Day week-end and she was so happy to see her puppy!
The nursing home is clean and friendly and she's locked into the area she's in, but its for her safety.
Jasper is a cute little town.
We drove through a cool storm.
This terrible wreck scared me some. They were still cleaning it up when we drove back by it 3 hours later.
This bridge over the Trinity River was cool.
I send Book of Mormon (usually) reading assignments to an investigator, 4 new members, 2 reactivating members, and a couple of active members every morning. I do it first thing in the morning, before I get up, as I'm still laying in bed. I told Elder Quincy that it just doesn't get better than that, doing missionary work in my pajamas in bed. Sometimes I get lots of replies and questions and end up spending half an hour laying there "doing missionary work".
Our investigator, Christina has been released from the hospital! She's still got a lot of work to recovery, but its really a miracle she's alive at all! We're praying she can get married and baptized July 1st , as planned.
Timothy and Odell were ordained as Priests in the Aaronic priesthood yesterday! Ashely and Sonya taught the 11 year olds in Primary for the first time. Angela Graham did the Wednesday night Achievement Day girls activity this week! I so love seeing them serve! We got to the 2nd step in our Addiction Recovery Meeting Thursday night and all 3 guys from our ward were there again! They all felt the Spirit telling them to talk to the Bishop. One of them did Sunday!
Elder Quincy went fishing last Monday and they kept 103 of the hundreds they caught. It took them almost 2 hours just to filet them! He has probably caught more fish in Texas than he's caught in Utah now. He's out there again this morning and Thursday morning President Drake and Sister Drake are coming up to fish with them!
This was the first Sunday I remember without an investigator in our ward. The Spanish Elders brought a guy into our Gospel Principles class though. Bridget and Christina were both sick, and the others just didn't make it! We'll be going to the temple with Odell and Tim next week! Hopefully Jaycie and Tammy will make it, too.
My first fish.Jack and Steph flew in from Seattle with their kids on Friday. After church Sunday, we were able to have time with them, the Kendalls and Jason's family at the Kendalls. We celebrated Jane's 6th birthday, Mary's 1st birthday and Heidi's 4th. Tomorrow we get to play with them all day!
