Thurs., Oct 9

Okay it has been a while since I have recorded anything, but honestly I have been on a downer this week. I think it is part of missionary life. I did get my haircut on Tuesday by Penny. She did a great job on my hair last time, but not so great this time. She kind of hurried through it. So I trimmed the sides myself and I am going to go back in and have her stack the back a little today or tomorrow. She is a nice lady but she hurried too fast.

District meeting on Tuesday was good. Elder Whiting gave a talk on taking time to listen to the spirit. It gave me some things to think about. I know that I need to do that a lot more. The Chamberlands were there and it is always great to interact with another couple. They are enthusiastic and nice to be around. We are all waiting to see who gets transferred this week. Our district supervisor has been in his area for 7 months. The Chamberlands just got here, so they will not be moving. We are hoping that we will be, but because we have three baptisms coming up, it may not happen.

President South was happy to see us and we really wanted to have a good honest talk with him, but we got a major schmooze job from him. When we told him that we were to the end of our labors with the branch list, he just kept telling us how much he appreciated our work and needed us here. When we told him we didn't have much to do, he ask us if we would start finding employment for others whom we could bring here to build up the church, (from out of state.) He didn't know who that would be, but he wants to build up the branch with outsiders. He also invited us to branch presidency meeting on Wednesday night to talk about missionary work.

We told him that they really needed young missionaries who were able to find new people to teach through going door to door. He said, "no", he preferred the seniors. We were somewhat let down because our mission president said we needed to talk to him. Later that day we got a call from a member of the Branch presidency asking us to speak in church on Sunday. Oh well!! We will carry on and do whatever the Lord wants us to do. The problem is that the members of this branch have not given us one referral!!

Alisha and RC Richards came for dinner on Tuesday night. They are such young kids and so naaive. We had a good dinner and then visited with them about their situation of not being married and living together. We really encouraged them to get married and finally told them that Heavenly Father had to withhold his blessings and there could be not progress in their lives while they are doing this. We also told them they could have to face a Bishop's court. I can't remember everything but it really caused them both to stop and think because they do want to go to the Temple.

RD would marry Alisha in a minute, but she is holding back because she wants a wedding that her family can participate in and a dress and everything. Finally we suggested they go to a Justice of the Peace and get married secretly and then have their big wedding in May, (that's when she wants to get married,) with her family. Amazingly Alisha started coming around and agreed to do that. It was just so great to see the spirit work in their behalf. They have to wait until next week, but they are going to get married next week and let her mother be their witness in Dallas. They are moving to Dallas this weekend. We wanted to go to their ceremony, but really it is better that her mother be there.
Promised blessings are so great and Alisha had no idea that she was offending the Lord with what she was doing. Yay!!!

Wednesday night we went to the Branch Pres. meeting. We talked a lot about missionary work. I hope that Pres. South was not Schmoozing again! He does that a lot and then does not take action on what he says. Finally after three months they are talking about callings for people who should have had callings long ago. But at least they are facing that now. How can this branch progress without people working together?

We asked the Branch Presidency if we could have a Branch Breakfast once a month and clean the church. It will not take long and would allow people to fellowship together; and lastly everyone can receive the blessing from doing it if they want to. They heartily agreed because it takes the boogey off their back about getting the church cleaned. We have the time to do it and it is not a hard job. So yay for everybody!!

I am grateful for the time I have had here because I have grown so much in the Gospel. It has been a low key area and has allowed me time to study and grow. I still have a lot of growth to make, but I have progressed and that feels good. If we don't get transferred, it will be a slow time after our baptisms, but we will press forward.