So much to do and so little time left!

I honestly hadn't realized how little time we have left until I started trying to fit in all the temple trips, visits and family home evenings.  I am so glad we'll be back in December to tie up some more loose ends.  We spent a couple of hours cleaning the Graham's place.  They had no water, electricity, or air conditioning so it was a really hot time.  The temps have been in the mid 90's, but the heat index has them around 103 to 106.

It Angela's dad's house, where she kind of grew up.  The ward had donated a dryer so far, we're looking for an electric stove.

We came back on Friday when the power was on and Elder Quincy helped fix a water leak from the water heater and then he dedicated the home for them.  It was so hot in this living room that I was dripping wet by the end of the prayer. Good thing we love this family so much!

So the no cuss club from last week has been a great success!  Tammy said that she's been swearing less and less each day!  This week we were fewer in numbers and had a great lesson on Forgiveness. They have a family member they are all struggling with forgiving.  It was powerful!  

We are excited because we found out they are sending more missionaries to replace the Elders! 2 Sisters! So we'll have 4 Sisters in the ward!  

Everyone wants to have us to dinner or take us out for lunch before we go!  They are so sweet, but we'd rather just meet and talk.
It was Sister Gray's birthday Thursday and Elder Bingham's birthday Saturday, so we had a birthday lunch after District meeting Friday morning.  Fun stuff! Elder Anderson has wanted to go to the Cleveland museum, so we took them there after lunch.

these pictures are of snow in Cleveland!

We had a pioneer ward pot luck dinner Saturday night.  It was fun.  We had a couple of investigators come.  Br Bright showed the "Only a Stonecutter" video and talked about how each new convert is a pioneer in their family. He had us all turn on our Family Tree app and use Relative Locater. Everyone who's done family history was related.  Most about 10th cousins, but some 4th and 5th.  It was a fun way to get people excited about doing more research. Br. Tucker wanted his picture with us.

Luke has been struggling since his boys left!  We have hardly seen him.  He missed 2 Sundays in a row, so we were thrilled when he finally answered our text and we saw him today.  We had gone by his house and left a note on his door thinking his phone was turned off. We talked to him, read some of D&C 121 and watched the Prince of Peace/ Faith.  He read us his patriarchal blessing and said how much it helps him.   He could use some prayers!  

James Farmer was called to be  a ward missionary today and gave the closing prayer in Sacrament Meeting!  Elder Anderson is leaving us tomorrow and leaving Texas on Thursday.  We  hoped he stay with us til Thursday, but it was not to be.  We had a fun dinner for him today.  He requested biscuits and gravy.  I thought, "no way", but I said ok.  I found an easy breakfast casserole recipe and it turned out pretty good.  

We had a good scare when Br Roberts had to go to the emergency room this morning, but he's doing ok  He had a bladder infection and dehydration.  He'd been out in the super hot weather Saturday all day picking okra!

  There were 2 baptisms in the Spanish Branch today!  Br. Martinez, who was just ordained an Elder and whose family was sealed in the temple a couple of weeks ago baptized and confirmed his son, Christopher and Elder Bingham baptized the boyfriend, Ruben Gonzales, of a sister in the branch!  

Elder Anderson is a hard one to lose!  He is a master teacher.  He has the best analogies to explain difficult concepts and really loves the people he teaches.  He has a scholarship to the U to be on their debate team, so he's very good at ,well, debating.  I shared his insightful, hilarious talking scale a while back.  Transfers are seriously the worst part of the mission!

This poor flower reminds me of

Beauty and the Beast. I wonder if its just hanging in there and will suddenly drop its last petal when we leave Cleveland!
Poor Bridget's almost ex-husband has been making her life difficult because he doesn't want her to bring the girls to church.  She invited him to come to our new member lesson with her Wednesday night so he could see for himself that its good and not evil. He didn't show up!  Her poor little 6 year old has been in tears about it all.  She told Bridget Saturday that she didn't want to come to her church today, but Bridget brought her anyway, and of course she loved it, and said she had even more fun than last week.  We're all praying for the dad's heart to soften, and that he'll sign the divorce decree and stop making things so hard for them.  So feel free to join in!  I am reminded every day of the power of prayer!  We have been guided to people and have heard the phrase; "I really needed you to visit me today" many times.  I know it softens hearts and can change us as it brings the Spirit into our lifes.