Turning the Corner?

Last Sunday, we began seeing some changes in the branch attitude that gave us some hope for our work here. But we weren't quite sure if we really saw it or imagined it. Suddenly we felt like maybe we were loved and accepted. Today, Aug 30, confirmed the feelings that we felt last week. As we have talked about it we decided that in each of our areas, it takes about 2-3 months to feel the welcome wagon!!!

On Friday night, Pres Smith, the Elders quorum president held a get together, which has been the 2nd activity since we have been here. We have been begging for activities, so we made up some of our own invitations and delivered them personally to our people and personally invited them. It ended up that there were more of our people than our regular attenders!! Besides the Elders quorum Pres, the ward mission leaders, and us, and one other couple, the rest were all less actives or non members that we have been working with. I think we proved a point that we need activities.

This week we taught ALyssa the first two lessons and she came to church for the first time. We also taught Marilee Fisher the first lesson, and Eric the first lesson. Tomorrow we teach Efrin the first lesson too. If any of these people see things thru, we will be able to baptize them perhaps in a couple of months. We will see.

Our Hispanic families have kind of fizzled out. They are just not very commiting in their attitude, When we go there, they are not home and are not returning our calls.
Missionary work is difficult because we have to keep plugging regardless of what happens, with faith. But Heavenly Father has blessed us immensely and we are grateful.

We went to the Riska families for dinner tonight. It was yummy, and we sang and played the piano and talked a lot. They are certainly nice people.

Diana's baptism in Sherman got postponed for a week, so we will go there next week. Sister Kelly is having us over for lunch afterwards with all of the other missionaries. We are hoping to see Mark while we are there. We understand he has been having a tough time.

Tomorrow is preparation day. We have one lesson in the morning, a Drs. appointment for me, and a family home evening presentation in the evening. The Mcintier family's kids came running and asked us when we were coming again. They were excited when we told them we were coming again for FHE. The Bishop asked us to keep coming to see them even though Adam has been baptized. They are a blended family and need extra love.

That is the thing that we are hoping that we are providing in this branch. The members that need extra attention are being provided a little bit extra. Hopefully in the process, we are educating the other members also. So many of them are converts of a few short years.

We can't believe that a new week is starting again tomorrow. Time just keeps flying by. I've never seen two years fly by like these have.