Friday Morning, Oct. 24

It is really difficult to post when things are moving slowly and it seems like an uphill climb. That describes our week this week. We have been working on the paper work for the missionary plan that we want to give to the members this week. Elder Whiting made a form by which they can record their plan of attack as a family and report to the Branch mission leader. We tried it last night on the Z's and they liked it and had a few suggestions. So now, we are going to reorganize ourselves and move forward.

This week we were able to renew friendships with the Ivers as we spent an evening with them and gave them job information and encouragement. Elder Whiting helped them quite a lot with their home they are building and we have tried to encourage them in all they are doing. They have been out to church once and seem to cling to their old patterns. They just don't seem to recognize the connection between the Lord's willingness to bless them and the decisions and commitments they make in their lives, to him and the Gospel. We just keep telling them, but they do not get it. They are good people and need to do some things just because that is what the Lord asks of us. James is without a job right now and Patricia is only working part time at Walmart and is looking for more work. We can't live their lives for them.

We had a good meeting with the district at our meeting on Tuesday. Our Zone leaders were there and ask for a commitment for two new investigators this week. We are limited in our ability to find them since we don't tract, but we will keep trying. Next week is interviews with Pres Smith. He is still running hard and trying to learn those things he needs to know. He is a good man, it has just taken a while to get to know him. They are having trouble getting Senior couples to go on missions right now so we do not have any new couples coming that we know of. We just got an office couple to replace the couple who left. Our couples are not being replaced. We really enjoy the fellowship with the other couple missionaries. This was important to President Warner, but Pres. Smith is very busy just trying to take care of the young missionaries. We hope to get to know him better in the future.

Yesterday we taught Bob and Millie about what it means to endure to the end. We read scripture and used "Preach My Gospel." We had a very good discussion with them. We wanted them to understand it well so that they are rooted in this commitment. They are such good people and have completely turned their lives around. We shared with them a comment Joseph Smith had made about"once having received the light that comes with the Gospel, you cannot go back to the neutral ground you were on before. A person will move just as far down as they came up, as they gained the light of the Gospel." Millie, who was converted and then left it, said "that is so true!" They both used to smoke, drink coffee , etc. They have come a long ways and seem to really enjoy our teaching and sharing with them.

Yesterday we planned Bob's baptism program a week from Sunday. He is so excited, he has invited everyone he knows. If they all come we will have a lot of nonmembers attending. Elder Whiting is going to confirm him and give him the Holy Ghost, and give the talk on Baptism. It was interesting as they talked about who they wanted to do what. They used a good cross section of the ward.

Last night we went to the Zimmermans and worked on the missionary plan and had spaghetti and meat balls. It was good and that is twice this week we have eaten with someone. The first time we took our own food for Elder Whiting, Last night he just ate what there was. He was a little worried but did not get arrythmia.

Today we are going to go out and visit less actives and members and pass out flyers for our "Empty Nesters FHE group," and the branch halloween party which are both next week. We also have a "clean the church breakfast which Elder Whiting and I are doing on the Saturday after Halloween. This is an experiement, we are hoping people will support. More later.