Sunday, Oct.12

What a Sunday we had today! It was very busy and then suddenly it ended. It was a very joyful experience, I have to say, (as Laura says.) Missionary Committee Meeting was first with the Zimmermans. We talked about the Saturday Breakfast to get people to clean the church. Bro Z. was definitely not in favor of that, even though we had already introduced it to the Bishopric and they were excited about it. It may have been a power struggle on his part because it originated in the meeting with the Bishopric where he had not been invited, but we had. He was pretty upset about it and went around with the Branch Presidency when we got into PEC. (We just kept our mouths shut and let them "duke" it out. Now that I think about it, it was funny. The final decision by the Branch President is that we would do it the first time and then we would see how that goes. The Zimmermans say that it will work once, but then not again!!! If we work together, who cares?

We also introduced to them the idea of having a missionary training class taught during Sunday School where we taught them out of "Preach My Gospel." In the beginning Bro Z. opposed this also, but as we talked and listened, he seemed to soften a little. We'll see. How do we get this branch off dead center? It is difficult.

After Missionary Committee we went to PEC. It was a full house and we just kept quiet and let them solve the things they had to talk about. AT least the Branch Presidency was beginning to try to move on some things. Hasn't happened, but you never know. I left early because I needed to give the last Missionary lesson to Taylor Steel who is being baptized next week. We got about half way through with she and her Grandmother and it was time for church to start so we went in to Sacrament meeting.

Elder Whiting and I were the speakers in church so we needed to sit on the stand, which I don't like. But I survived. We had a pretty good turnout at church. Elder Whiting talked about the Atonement and I talked about Faith and Missionary Work. The Spirit was very strong, but I'm not sure that the members were willing to hear the level of the talks being taught to them. I'm coming to realize that these people are not really ready to feel the Holy Ghost and perform at that level because they are so caught up in a lower level of Performance. There are two families who are quite well known in the community and have been there the longest. They sit on one side of the church, and everyone else sits on the other two sections. They kind of separate themselves from the rest. It seems to be a seniority thing, I'm not sure. They both have families that live in the ward also and they all gather together and leave others out.

During Sunday School and Primary I went to Primary and accompanied them on some of their Program songs. Their accompanist is going to be gone for a couple of practices. I also snagged Taylor and finished her lesson and then also taught Kylie her last lesson and gave both of them the books we had made for them. Elder Laub was there to interview them for Baptism and finally we were through.

We were excited to go back to our apartment because Kevin was coming very soon. He arrived about 45 minutes later and we were so happy to see him. It was so enjoyable to visit with him and hear all about his family. Kevin is here for a training seminar in Dallas. We had dinner and then went around Corsicana and delivered the leftover Brownies that I had made for Dinner to families in the Branch. It was such a great feeling to have family here and touch them and hear about them. Thank you, Heavenly Father.