Friday, Aug. 12

Elder Whiting and I got up and walked for a mile this morning. The exercise feels so good to my legs. We ride in the car a lot and they do not get used enough.

Tuesday night at Ladies Night out we had a nice dinner with several sister from the ward. We just talked and visited and enjoyed each other. We had one non member there and some less active ones also. Hollie came, it was so good to see her coming out. We are trying to get her integrated into ward activity. She is such a neat girl.

Wednesday morning we went to visit a girl by the name of Angie Perry. She came to church for the first time last Sunday and we got her name and address with the assignment to visit her from the Branch President. It was about a twenty minute drive out to their home. She had already told us her husband was on disability with headaches and stuff. We found their house, it was pretty run down, with junk around. We knocked on the door and she invited us in. There was an old couch with somebody lying on with their head covered and no chairs. She found us some chairs and then she said they sat on the floor. There was a heavy tobacco smell.

Eventually we found out the person lying on the couch with his head covered was her husband. He kept peeking out at us every once in a while, but we couldn't quite see him. After about 25 minutes, he came out of the blanket. It was a person!!

We talked to Angie about everything. She believes"the Gospel is true, but not the only true religion, there are many of them." She had orignally told us they had moved here recently, but it appeared they had lived here for many years. She has three children they are trying to get back from the state. She met this guy who saved here from her last husband while she was living with him. She was one mixed up dude!!!

As I sat there, I kind of glanced around while we were talking and there were several cats running around, kittens and other, (we found out later there were 9 of them.) But I started seeing dozens of flies, bugs, cockroaches and other things. She was sitting right down in the middle of a nest of them. Angie started talking about the indians and how they had their 10 commandments and blah, blah, blah. It was really weird. We finally got out of there when we could. Maybe a welfare wantabe? We felt queasy all day long from all those flies and cockroaches and animals. I'm sure there was a lot we didn't see too.

After we left Angie's we tried to find another family who lived out that direction, but after looking for some time we gave up. Every day is an experience and I'm grateful for them because it helps me to appreciate my blessings.

Yesterday we went to the Cornells and taught them. We went back to the basics and reviewed and reviewed until finally we think we had a break through of some things that Bob did not understand. Yay!!! We knew there was a cog that was missed somewhere and we just kept going through scriptures and adding more and more. Finally the light came on and he began to connect things for himself. It was a good experience to be used by the Lord. After we had our lesson we all went to Waxahachie and went to the pasta place where we love their soup and salad and breadsticks. It was really yummy. We also got to see country that we had not seen before. It was beautiful scenery.

Sister Luce went with us to Holly's house last night. We read with her in the Book of Mormon many passages that talk to us about coming to Christ and the purpose of the Book of Mormon. Holly is very sharp and picked it up easily as she has almost finished the Book of Mormon. Her son, Micah, was there and cause some distraction, but it was good to visit and care about her. Sister Luce added a good dimension too.

Later we went to Walmart to prepare somewhat for Hurricane Ike who is headed this way. We purchased more water, batteries, groceries and a flashlight. We are supposed to get some pretty strong winds and lots of rain. We haven't heard if they are still going to have general authories and all four stake conferences. The hurricane is suppose to hit Dallas pretty good also.