Packing up

Critter count, and other counts

No pictures here for obvious reasons.  The totals so far (and we're going to keep counting all the way home) are:

Armadillo, roadkill:  59
Armadillo, live:  1
Possum, roadkill:  5
Turtle, roadkill: 7
Turtle, live: 2
Frog, live:  1
Frog, roadkill:  most visible residue lacking positive identification, due to minimal remaining evidence, thus count not verified
Bags of garbage collected on our exercise walks to and from the gym and beyond:  28
Dozen cookies baked:  46

West Point gets Boiled!!

We couldn't leave West Point  without treating them to our (now famous throughout the Mission) Cajun Boil.  When we learned of the unofficial official non-party party, we volunteered to bring the main course.  It was enjoyed by all.  Here's Elder Johnson and Jerry Moore showing off the brew that's nearly ready.

Carrying the pot - it's Suppertime!

Here's some of our good friends socializing before Supper:  Brenda Pounders, Larry Foster, Cheryl Wilson, Beverly Shields, and Jack Redwine.

Lewie Shields and Larry Foster.  Larry is a Decorated Veteran from the First Marine Division, Vietnam era.  He still loves the Corps, and wears his vest nearly everywhere he goes.

Sister Johnson and more of her friends (when will she ever have enough?).  Sara Beth Crump and  Erin Honsinger are seated next to their mother Sherry Honsinger, who's next to Sister Johnson

Our good friends Cary and Cheryl Wilson enjoying Ba-wol and fixin's.  Br. Wilson is the 2nd counselor in the branch presidency, and Sister Wilson is the 1st counselor in the Relief Society.

John and Beverly Shields.  Br. Shields is 1st Counselor in the branch presidency.

Robert Brown and Lewie Shields.  Robert is the branch clerk, builds racing engines for track and NASCAR, and is quite an entepreneur.  Best of all, he has a full machine shop, and he's been kind enough to let me use it a few times when I've had to debur our tableware, and thread a hole in the Jeep's trailer hitch.

Little Tommy Crump (5 mos) and his favorite friend, Stormy Henderson, Elders Quorum President.. 

Richard Ramsey and Elder Johnson discussing how to divvy up the leftover Boil.  I always make at least twice what will be eaten, and it all seems to disappear by the time everyone leaves.

Alice and Angelika, two of our delightful primary-age youth.

Jesi and Stormy are either resting or playing. 

Br. Shields regaling the group.  Sister Johnson, Stormy, and Beverly in rapt attention.

Amber Ramsey and Sister Johnson enjoying the antics of Jesi.

As you must know by now, the West Point branch is very dear to us.  We love these wonderful people who demonstrate such dedication and commitment.  They continue to be an inspiration to us.  We'll always carry with us the memories of our time spent here.

Howlin' Wolf, the Blues Legend

We got a real treat on July 5th - a personal tour by the curator of the Howlin' Wolf Blues Museum, and the caretaker of his legend, our friend Richard Ramsey.  Here's Richard outside the Museum in West Point.

I can't do justice to the influence that Chester A. Burnett AKA Howlin' Wolf had on the blues, jazz, rock, country, and most other genres of modern music.  Richard has dedicated a significant portion of his life to promote and preserve the memory of this musical giant.  I'll try to get a better description of The Wolf inserted later, but if you're a music lover, Google his name to see what a force he was on all the music of today.  Wolf was born just outside West Point in 1910, and played his music up til the time of his death in 1976.

Richard schools Sister Johnson on the memorabilia of Howlin' Wolf that he's collected.

More of the memorabilia and history in the Museum.

Richard conversing with Sister Johnson on his most passionate subject:  Howlin' Wolf.  The Annual Howlin' Wolf Memorial Concert will be held in West Point this year on August 31.  Unfortunately, we'll miss it, but if we were still in Mississippi, we'd be there for sure.

The Howlin' Wolf Memorial in West Point.

Elder Jones gets retired

Actually, Elder Jones bike gets re-tired.  After several flats due to worn tires and thin Presta tubes, I modified his wheels to take heavy thorn-resistant Schrader tubes, and got him some road tires, instead of the knobbies that most missionary bikes have - to ride around paved roads all the time - go figure.

Anyway, it's smooth riding and no flats for him from now on.

4th of July in Mississippi

The way to start out the 4th of July here is with a Bawbacue.  This means smoked everything, nearly, starting out with chicken.  Note the strategically placed can.  This is usually beer, but in deference to us, a can of soda was substituted.  I can testify that this is one of the finest chickens I have tasted, and this technique may make its way West.

Next out of the smoker is??:

Who'd have guessed Mac and Cheese??  Well, as I've said:  Here in the South they smoke everything.  I haven't had this (at least the Kraft version) for 40 years, due to an unfortunate experience on my mission in Canada.  However, I will again testify that this is the BEST Mac and Cheese I've ever had.  This could win a world prize.

Elders Hatch and Urry are usually where the food is, and today is no exception.  Two chickens, the pan of Mac & Cheese, salad, and a crockpot of baked beans all disappeared.

Here's our hosts and good friends Joel and Glenna.  We love them, their kindness and hospitality have greatly added to our experience here in Mississippi.

Off to Starkville later for ANOTHER 4th of July celebration, hosted by our good friend Geneene Saunders, who invites the whole Starkville branch over for food and fun.  Sister Johnson got to meet up with some of her best friends again.

Couldn't leave out Jai.  He's been playing badminton and eating nonstop, but took time out for a quick photo.

I got a picture with another of our favorite people, Marie.  Do we have anyone who's not our favorite?  I think not.  She's the Mom of the kids above.

Sister Johnson get a BIG hug from Achilles.  The picture is deceiving, he's about 3X her size, and the Dad of the girls and Jai.  Stay tuned for more news about Achilles, Marie, and their family.

After all this, we went home before the fireworks started.  Growing up in Lava Hot Springs and Coeur d' Alene ID, where they have REAL fireworks, we decided to get home and get some rest after a very busy day, so we missed the Starkville display.

Waiting out the rain

What would the South be without summer rains?  Less humid.

We've been having some summer rainstorms that come on quite suddenly, and dump a lot of rain in a short time.  We just got back from rescuing the Elders Jones and Campbell - way out on the east side of Starkville, with a flat tire, no less.  The rain was still coming down after we got them and their bikes back to their apartment, and we drove to our.  We had to wait another 20 minutes in the car before we'd even venture out. 

When it finally tapered off, we both took off our shoes and socks, cause the parking lot had about 2" of water running down it, and we'de have ruined our shoes.  Not the lake forming by the next building.  The umbrellas we were presented from my speaking at EMCC really came in handy today.

After a rain like this, the humidity is near 100%, and mist just hangs in the air.  We're now getting daytime temps around 100F, and experiencing the hot mugginess that southern summers are notorious for.  We seem to be somewhat acclimatized to it.  Mostly it's because we don't have to be out in it very long.  If I was hoein' cotton all day, I'd just die.

Sister Johnson schools the Zone

This week we had a Zone Training Meeting in Tupelo:  the 30 or so elders in our zone, plus 2 sisters, plus ourselves.  Sister Johnson and I were invited to present short segments on our experience in the Mission.  As always, Sister Johnson touched everyone with her sincerity and feeling.

Sister Johnson and the Hendersons

Here's Sister Johnson with two of our favorite people in West Point:  Stormy and Lisa Henderson.  They are the branch Elders Quorum President and the Relief Society President, respectively.  Their commitment and dedication are a great example to us of unselfish service.  Due to the small number of members in this branch, they shoulder a lot of responsibility, and provide many blessings to the members here.

President and Sister Holzapfel come to visit us

Last Saturday, the Mission President and his lovely wife came to visit us in Starkville.  They took us to lunch at The Veranda, without doubt the nicest restaurant in town (we didn't even know it was here).  We are grateful that he took time from his extremely demanding schedule to visit with us.

As they expressed their appreciation for our service, now quickly coming to a close, we responded with our own gratitude for our assignment here, and being able to work with the members, elders, investigators, and friends who have become so dear to us.

Elder Johnson speaks at EMCC graduation

I was invited to give the commencement address to the TIME (Technical Initiative for Manufacturing & Engineering) graduates at East Mississippi Community College.  My address was titled "How To Get A Job".  It was based upon other similar presentations I have made to student and community groups.  I modified a PowerPoint presentation specifically to the needs of these students as they move from school into the workplace.  EMCC graduates are sought after by local and regional industries, as having qualified entry-level skills to move into a technical jobs in manufacturing. 

The administrators welcomed my remarks, from an employer's viewpoint - as representing companies to whom their graduates will seek employment.  I stressed the competitive nature of the workplace and the need to be more marketable and qualified than their peers, in order to start on the career they want.

Students and parents at graduation

Elder Johnson with two of the EMCC faculty:  Dr Jim Huerkamp and Chrystal Newman

A selected group of the EMCC graduates

Elder Johnson presents two model robots to Mr. Otis Taylor, director of the EMCC Workforce program.  These model robots are moveable at every one of their 6 joints, and serve to demonstrate to students the range of motion of industrial robots.

Close-up of the model robots.  The "real" version of these robots has a 165Kg (363lb) payload, and a working radius (reach) of about 2 meters.  Back home at Precision Automated Technology, we use many robots of this size, as well as smaller (3Kg) and larger (750Kg) to provide automation solutions for our customers.

Dr. Jim Heurkamp of EMCC, starting up the Mechatronics test module for me to see.  The complexity of this system is similar to some of those we make at Precision Automated Technology.  Some of the systems we make for airbag component assembly and robotic cake decorating are WAY more complex.

Tornado house

Driving to a service project in Houston MS, we drove by this home that had been nearly destroyed by a tornado in April 2011.  The tornados move Northeast, this is the Southwest side of the house, which was directly exposed.  A tornado is a very violent low-pressure system - it literally sucked the insides out of the house.  It is damaged so severely that it's doubtful that it can ever be rebuilt, though it appears that the owner is giving it some thought.  Most homes in this condition were torn down shortly after the event.

Here's the inside of the house - it appears that this was a new home under construction at the time of the tornado, and that the lower level wasn't completely finished yet.  You can see that the force of the tornado sucked the sheetrock and insulation out.  Curiously, a mobile home that was about 75 yards away wasn't even touched.  Tornados jump and skip around, and do tremendous damage for a ways in their path, then skip to another path.  We have a weather radio in our apartment that blasts (literally) a warning when there is severe weather and the possibility of tornados or heavy winds and rain - scares us to death when it goes off at night when we are sleeping.

A lot of trees were downed or damaged with these series of tornados.  I found out that because of the circular motion of tornados and hurricanes, the trees that are strong enough to withstand the winds are internally damaged because of the twisting, and can't be used for structural lumber - this was the case with the Katrina hurricane as well.  Thus, the trees that can be salvaged are good only for firewood or pulp.

Elder Hatch's birthday celebration

 Elder Hatch just marked his 20th birthday.  Some of the wonderful members in the Columbus ward who think highly of elders Hatch & Urry, and invited them and us to dinner.  These are our special friends Wayne and BJ.  Sister BJ made a lovely Southern dinner for us to enjoy, along with their fine company.

Here's the Birthday Boy with his cake.  Either Sister BJ overestimated our appetites, or she deliberately made about 3 times more than we could eat, so that we could take this delicious
food home with us to eat for several days.  Elder Hatch kept the cake for himself, though.

A photo tour of dowtown West Point, MS

Since our time here is coming to a close, we took a quick driving tour through downtown West Point.  Here's our favorite tattoo parlor.

Bits-n-Pieces, one of Sister Johnson's favorite antique stores.  It's run by our friends Bill and Mary.

Confederate monument 

 Rose Drug Company.  Believe it or not, there are still a few old, traditional businesses still in operation here.

 City Hall

Here's several of the elegant Protestant churches in West Point 

The Ritz.  Formerly a movie theatre, now's it one of the very few nice restaurants in West Point.  Looking down the streets in the photos above - if you took away the modern vehicles and substituted ones from the 50's or 60's, you could picture how it looked that many years ago.