Sat, July27

Saturday was an okay day. We were still a little bummed from the whole week falling through, but we kept busy. On Saturday morning we made brownies and took a loaf of bread up to Bob and Millie. Millie is mostly on pain killers and they have not done anything to her arm yet. We talked to them for a few minutes and came home. Millie was needing to take a pain killer and we needed to get out of their hair.

We came home and got the ingredients ready for Leon's famous peach cobbler for the 24th of July celebration at the church Saturday night. Sister Sears brought two of her dutch ovens and he cooked them right outside the kitchen doors. They turned out really good and everyone loved them with the Bryers Ice Cream we brought. About 25 people showed up and we ate and visited and just enjoyed everyone. Hollie and the Graham Family came, along with about 25 other people.

Sister August, who is a lady who lives in our apartment complex kept having people go back to the food line and sneak her brownies. So later we took her a plate of the brownies we had made. Early this morning we took the rest of the brownies and left them on the doorstep of the people who live in the apartment next to us. Luckily there are no dogs around running lose.

This day was the day of days!!! Today we understood some of the reason why we had such a rotten week. It started off as a normal today. We were excited, but afraid to be too excited because of the week we had. We just did not know what to expect!!!

After shaking hands at the door with most everyone, we went and sat down by the Dillion family who was sitting on the back row. Holly was not even there yet, so we did not know whether she was even going to come. We had the opening song and prayer and were in the middle of announcements when we saw Holly come in with her husband and baby. Yay, whew!!! Then another couple of minutes and in walks Bob Cornell all by himself. He left Milly home convalescing, (who is the member,) and came to our church by himself!!! A few minutes later and in walks the Ivers family who have not been to church in a very long time. (We met with her this week and talked to her a long time about her testimony and the church.) Not only them, but they had their son and grandchildren also with them! After the Sacrament meeting, in comes Julie and her Mom and Sisters.

We were so overwhelmed by the tremendous blessing of it all, we just smiled from ear to ear. We just felt so much love from everyone and for everyone. The Branch President talked today on Forgiveness. He gave such a great talk and was very open and caring with everyone. It was really great to bring things out into the open and hopefully resolve some concerns. Many were saying, they felt the talk was just for them. I guess we all needed to hear it.

After Sunday School we had a good Sunday School lesson and he further talked about being offended and forgiveness and the scriptures. We ended in Relief Society with a good lesson on Tithing. The spirit was very strong in all of our meetings. We just felt the Love of the Lord in all that happened.

After Relief Society, Holly and her father-in-law changed their clothes, Bro. Z had filled the font and we were ready to go. Brother Z conducted the meeting and Adam and Holly and their baby sat on the front row with his father and mother. Hollie's family are rather antagostic towards the church, none attended. Holly Jo's husband gave the opening prayer. His mother gave the talk on Baptism.

Sister Sears gave the talk on the Holy Ghost. she is such a caring lady. She talked about how Holly had married her favorite person, Adam. She gave an excelled and personal talk to Holly. I accompanied a sister who sang the baptism song and then Hollie was baptized. After she was dressed, Elder Whiting confirmed her and President South welcomed her into the branch as did the Relief Society.

One of the neat things that happened was that Bro. Cornell stayed for the Baptism, as did Julie and her family. We are hoping it isn't too long until we can baptize both of them. We were so grateful and full of the spirit, we almost didn't want to go home. When we got home we just sat and talked about it all. What if we hadn't come on this mission, we would have missed all of this!!
The funny part about it is that I cannot adequately explain the feelings about all that took place. We can feel the branch growing in their ability to accept and love one another. What a blessing it had been for us to have helped in some little way or to have been the Lord's hands.