Dec 4, Thursday

Wow, what a week this has been! This will be a week never to be forgotten. I cannot believe it was only a week ago that we were in Austin enjoying Thanksgiving down there. It seems like a month.

We have had an adventurous and torturous week. The only thing that could somewhat compare was our move from Boise, except this was a picnic next to that move. Thank goodness for the Hansens who helped us so greatly. This is how everything fell into place:

On Monday morning we were pretty well packed and ready to go except for the things we were going to leave in the apartment for the next missionaries and the few last minute things to do. Bro and Sis Hansen, (she came with him to have a day away from the office and get some chocolate at the chocolate factory for Christmas presents,) were there by 10 a.m. By 11:30 we were all packed and ready to go including all of the items we were going to leave in the apartment. They told us to bring everything so we threw it boxes and brought it. Even the apartment was spotless except for the carpets which have always needed cleaning.

We stopped to pay our internet bill, to get some lunch, and to get some chocolate for Sister Hansen at the chocolate factory. Then we drove like mad people up the freeway, past Dallas, to Sherman, TexaS. The Hansens were there a few minutes before we arrived. They called us and sort of prepared us for what we would find. When we pulled up they were hauling old and worn out furniture out of the apartment to the dumpster across the street. We climbed the stairs and walked into the apartment to a sight not even comprehendable. Every single room was trashed. There was filth everywhere. Clothes, belongings, junk was everywhere. The toliet was black and moldy; the refrigerator was full of moldy food that had not been thrown out for months, the oven and stove were filthy, etc. etc.

Sister Hansen was already sweeping and cleaning out the bedroom. I started in the bathroom. Before we could even consider unloading our things, we had to get all of their things out of the apartment. (One Elder had to go home because of his health and the other was quickly transferred to another area.) For an hour or so we just bagged up and hauled their stuff out to the dumpster. We were fortunate that the two District Elders were there to help us too. They did a lot of the carrying things up and down the stairs.

After a while the Hansens told us they were leaving to go back to Dallas and the Elders left to go to their appointments. It was not such a great feeling to be left with the mess, but by that time I was in to the refrigerator and the stove and the kitchen. Elder Whiting and I did the best we could, made our beds and went to sleep by 9 p.m.

The next morning the District Elders called us bright and early to remind us that we had District meeting that day. We were up by 6 a.m. unpacking and cleaning, etc. The District Elders have an interesting apartment right in downtown Sherman. It is on the top of one of the businesses there on one of the main streets. It kind of looks like an old gymnasium because they live in one huge room with a bath rooom off to the side. The floors are finished like a gym. We went over there to get our area books and learn about our area. We found out that we will be doing the English speaking and they will be doing the Spanish speaking of both wards here in Corsicana. In addition we also have the Bonham ward which is about 30 miles away.

After receiving our area books we gathered the other Elders and went to Cheddars to eat before our meeting. We had the zone leaders and the AP's visiting that day so there was a few of us. It was fun to be with all of the Elders. I'm sure we were with some of the best Elders in the Mission. They were very focused and worked well together. Sherman has trditionally been a great area for Baptisms. We had our meeting, which was excellent, and then came home and worked some more. The Elders wanted us to go right to work, but we told them we were going to get our apartment in shape first.

Our first meeting was Wednesday night at the Sherman Ward Building. We had our missionary committee meeting and then sat in on a discussion with Blake. Elder Kelly gave the lesson. Blake is a 19 year old friend of one of the members with whom he works at the movie theatre. He is very interested in the church and has already prayed to know that it is true. Last night he committed to Baptism in 2-3 weeks. That was just an amazing experience to watch the Elders work with him through the spirit. We both enjoyed it very much and the spirit was very strong.

Today we left early to deliver a media request to someone who was not home and tried to see a ward member that was not available. But we dumped more stuff off to the thrift store, dropped our application off at the office and a couple of other little things.

This afternoon I have been resting because my knee has been having problems. Elder Whiting took me to the Chiropractor yesterday. He confirmed that it was my back causing my knee problems. The problem is that it is so swollen I can hardly walk after this move. I am going to have to stay off from it so I will be good to go next week. Dr. Ryder told me that my back was all twisted out of shape and that had caused the problems with my knee. He adjusted me as much as he could, gave me some exercises, told me to ice it and would see me next week.

We were fortunate to be able to meet some of the ward members last night and one Bishop. What nice people! We know that we are going to love it here.