Week of Feb 26, #2

The highlights of this week have been teaching with the elders.

All the elders in our district have invited us to teach lessons to their investigators. When they call on us, there are usually circumstances in which a mature couple is a good resource to use to answer specific questions, or provide a different perspective. Sister Johnson is especially good in these lessons, and really relates well to the women, because of her sincerity and genuineness. We have met some wonderful people this way, and hope to be able to meet many more.

I must tell you about a faithful member who lives in the nethermost part of the branch (congregation). She is a long-haul truck driver for a furniture company, and each week makes drives as far away as Indiana or Massachusetts. Her schedule will not permit her to attend our branch meetings every Sunday, and when she does come, it is a 1 hour drive each way - this after a full week of driving!! It is delightful to meet with her. Each time we go to see her, she gives us pecans from her trees - these are a local treat, and most anyone around here with a home 30 years old or more has pecan trees growing on the property, or nearby. Shelled and lightly toasted on a cookie sheet with a little salt, and they are the ultimate taste treat for me!

We have also been trying to find "lost" members - whose names are on the records, but no one has seen them. We went a 2nd time to a home out in the county, with a well-kept yard and car in the driveway. This time, there was a TV on in the house, but multiple knocks on both doors went unanswered. This is frustrating, we are not able to find out if the person whose name we have even really lives there. I will try to find her name in the phone book, and see if she can be contacted that way. Out here in the mission field, you have to be pretty creative to find some of those who think they are safely off the radar.