May 9th - 15th

Monday, May 9th: we were going to meet Melissa at the strawberry patch but it was closed. We visited a bunch of people today. We visited with Thelma. Went by to visit Ann Owens but she was sick so we didn't go in but talked to her at the door for a little bit. We visited with Brother Saylers. He is almost blind & almost deaf. He can't hear my voice so Elder Sadler has to talk to him (loudly!). He is an interesting man & lonely so he always enjoys our visits. We also went to see Brother Hawkins, Sister McLachlan, Andrew Groberg, Bryce Bateman & Brother Bagwell but none of them were home so we left a note on their doors. I called Jara Barringer & left a message.

Tuesday, May 10th: today was our pday so we ate lunch with Brother Numa at the senior center (lol) and he & Elder Sadler played pool. They had fun! Then we went to Noah's Ark which is located outside of Locust Grove. There were peacocks walking around in the parking lot! I tried to get a picture of them but they kept walking faster & making a noise that really did sound like they were saying "help!" It was really funny! This is a great place to visit! They had one exhibit with a lion, tiger & bear together--they call them the blt! They bonded when they were young & love each other. It is something to see. They have exotic birds that will "talk" to you, monkeys, an ostrich followed along us for a while on the other side of the fence! I think he was hungry! And lots of other animals.

Wednesday, May 11th: I went to the chiropractor. We visited Sister Elmer & had a great visit with her. She is not a member & her husband is inactive. We asked her about taking the discussions & she said that she would talk to her husband about it. We went by & visited with Sister Wilcox for a little while.
Later we had a branch missionary meeting. We have a great branch mission leader, Brother Jones.

Thursday, May 12th: we got up really early, took the missionaries & went to the Temple & then had zone training. It was awesome! We got co-op food from Pam & Ann & took the Cockram's food to the church refrigerator b/c we didn't have room for it all. We went to the Book of Mormon class.

Friday, May 13th: went back to the chiropractor. Delivered a ton of food to the Cockram's. We delivered bdcb to Sister Carver, Sister Johnson, and Sister Kirby. We took a Book of Mormon to Sister Tillman that she had requested. She wasn't there so we left it on the patio (it was a clear day!) later we got a call for Elder Sadler to give Thelma a blessing. She was very upset but felt much better after the blessing. Brother Niles & the Stansells were there also. She is much loved in the branch.

Saturday, May 14th: we had Shundra & her two children's baptisms this morning. It was a great baptismal service! We went & got Elder Walker & his companion, Elder Fia Fia & took them to the baptism b/c Elder Walker helped teach them. On the way Elder Fia Fia told us about his grandfather joining the church & his great grandfather disowned him so his grandfather chose a new name & he picked "Fia Fia" b/c it means happy in Tongan! We thought that was a great story! After we took them home we had a senior missionary couple's get together at the Jimmy Carter museum & had supper. Some were going to the Nashville Tribute Band concert after supper but we were worn out so we went home. We heard that the concert was awesome.

Sunday, May 15th: we went to church. We took Thelma to the Stansell's and had supper with them and Ann Owens. We had a wonderful dinner & visit.

Oh carpenter of Nazareth, this heart that's broken past repair, this life that's shattered nigh to death, oh can you mend them carpenter? And by His kind & ready hand, His own sweet life is woven through, over broken lives until they stand, a new creation "all things new". (George Blair)