Finding the lost sheep

Our branch surrounding West Point is about 60 miles square. There are approximately 100 members, spouses and children of record on the branch roster. Weekly attendance has run from 18 to 27. There are some on the records that no one in the branch has ever seen, or heard from, so Sis. Johnson and I have spent some time trying to locate and contact them. Some addresses are nonexistent or can't be easily found. Some people have moved. A few are not really happy to see us, having not sought any contact with the Church for many years. But a few are really overjoyed that someone has sought them out.

We met a sweet sister in Aberdeen who is poor, has health problems, and doesn't really have the means to come to Church and participate. But she was so glad to see us. She lives with her 77 yr old mother and 99 yr old grandmother, and they are all delightful. We will continue to see her on a period basis.

We met another kind brother who has lived in the area for 2 years, but hasn't made any effort to get involved - for no particular reason. He has a good history of activity in other areas he has lived, but is now retired, has had a few relatively minor health problems. We did not get to meet his wife, who is also a member, but we will be back to see them, with an invitation to join with us in activity and fellowship.

The picture is of a Confederate cemetery in Okolona, MS. The battle of Shiloh was fought a ways north of here in 1862, nearly 150 years ago. Some of the Confederate wounded were evacuated by train to Amory, where there was a field hospital. Over 800 of them died while here, and are buried in the old cemetery. Just seeing the rows of headstones made me think what a futile and terrible endeavor that war is, and what a waste of lives. During the Civil War, over 212,000 were killed in action, total dead 625,000 (the majority of these died of wounds, disease, terrible unsanitary conditions, etc), and 412,000 wounded but did not die. To see "only" 800 headstones made quite an impression on me, and this is only a very tiny fraction of the deaths and tragedies. Before we leave, we should get a chance to see some of the battlegrounds, and learn more local history of the events of the Civil War.