Week 64 - Dwight

 

Terry/Jolayne, Dwight/Susan, Kevin/Tami, Reed's wife Kay and Parley's wife Sheila, Gary/Wanda, Donald/Linda (missing, Craig's wife Reva)

This week we spent quite a bit of time with my family.  We are eight children, with my oldest two brothers (Craig and Reed) and the brother just older than me (Parley) all deceased, the remaining five of us got together at my brother Kevin's and his wife Tami's house in Duck NC, near the beach.  Wanda (Gary) is the oldest living sibling and Linda (Donald) is next in age to her.  Terry (Jolayne) is next to Linda in age.  Kevin (Tami) is the youngest and is just younger than I am - so I'm the 7th of the 8.

I caught a "Spot" and a couple of other fish while at the beach.  My friend JR was jealous!

Just before the storm!

Early this week we had a tropical depression hit that brought a lot of rain.  Not sure how much we got, but some areas of coastal NC got 30 inches!  

We had an amazing time together with my family, hanging out with nothing in particular planned.  They came in from Arizona, California, Utah, Texas and Virginia.  We talked and reminisced about family memories and good times, played a little pickleball and corn hole and probably ate too much.  It was just a good time to be together and feel the love we have for each other.

Despite our time with family, the missionary work did go forward!  Early in the week we learned of a Haitian couple that moved into the ward.  They are an answer to many prayers!  They are young (mid 30's) and have one little daughter.  Each of them served a mission in Haiti years ago and have strong testimonies of the restored gospel.  He speaks English, as well as French and Creole, and they have a car!  We're gonna help them find jobs and more appropriate housing.  They were at church today and everyone seems to love them - we are so excited!

Haitians and missionaries at Multicultural Celebration

We've been preparing all week for our stake multicultural celebration that was held in Goldsboro last night.  Many of our Haitian members and friends attended.  There were a lot of people and the food, from many cultures around the world, was delicious - !  One Haitian family brought a lot of  food!  

I've had many thoughts as we spent a little time with our family, a couple stick out.  1.Family is precious, and time with family is precious.  2. While we were energized by the visit, we were also anxious to get back to our full-time missionary labors, because we have a calling and we know right now, this is where we need to be.  Jesus Christ is our Savior.  We love Him and we're so glad that because of Him, families are forever!  Love you all!

Week 63

 

We spent Monday and Tuesday with our son, Joshua and his family in the mountains of North Carolina (Blowing Rock). We stayed in both sides of a duplex that had adjoining doors. It was perfect. It was private, on a little river, and the weather was cool enough for blankets around the fire at night. The picture below is a little dark, but had to be included. In the back you can see Dwight being quite animated as he tells the grandkids "a Vermit story." When our kids were young, at bedtime I would read to them, then Dwight would tell them a Vermit story. They can all still quote the beginning of each story... "Once upon a time, a long time ago, far far away, there lived (pause for effect) a Vermit. Not just any old Vermit; he was a big, ugly, mean looking Vermit. But he wasn't mean. He was nice." Then Dwight's imagination takes off. It's fun to watch this tradition carry on with the next generation.

In front of the duplex

On Monday we went to Grandfather Mountain where they have all kinds of things to do. We stopped for a picnic, visited the Mile High Swinging Bridge, and my favorite--an animal sanctuary, where we saw black bears and cougars. I LOVE black bears and cougars. They were beautiful!

Mile High
Swinging Bridge

I could have watched this cougar all day!

Later we went to Linville Caverns and toured a cave. I've been to Carlsbad Caverns before, so I didn't think this would be very impressive, but it really was. There were so many cool formations.

Thomas, Cari, Dwight, Sam, Susan, Joshua

Thomas, Nana, Sam

Before we left on Tuesday, we went to a place where the boys could "pan for rocks." Afterwards we had a lesson on the different rocks they found. In the picture, we all look kind of bored, but it was really interesting. My grandpa was a geologist, so I kept thinking about him as we were learning about the various specimens. They found several rocks that can be cut to make jewerly... even three rubies!

Wednesday was Alyssa's birthday, so we ran up to Raleigh for a birthday celebration. She thinks she's getting so old. She turned 32. I'm going to be twice that next month! :) If I'm not old, she's definitely not old!

Birthday girl and Elayna

lighting candles

Thomas running through
birthday picture... perfect!

We had a four-zone Zone Conference on Friday. Elder Massimo DeFeo and his wife were here. The mission hasn't posted the group photo yet, so I'll just post our zone photo. We had a full day of spiritual feasting.

Goldsboro "Lovesboro" Zone

We had some good lessons and visits this week. One was with one of our new Haitian Sunday School teachers. The young elders and Dwight helped him make sure he was ready for his lesson. He taught today and did great. He's a natural. It's like he was made for such a time as this. All of the people we teach and visit have their own talents and strengths. It's fun to watch them grow. The more comfortable they are around us, the more we see the real them... their personalities and the things they like and don't like. Even not speaking the language, I feel closer to them all the time.

English class is a highlight of the week. I love
interacting with these wonderful people.

We are truly spoiled. Not only do we have wonderful people to teach and visit, we have the best young missionaries in the world. Our district, The Mt. Olive District (lovingly referred as the Pickle District), couldn't be better. I love them so much! We work closely with the Mt. Olive Elders who are quickly becoming proficient in Creole. They are so dedicated and work so hard! And we see the Albertson sisters often since we live in Albertson--- I have no words. Thank you parents for raising such amazing children. This was left on our door today. It says from the Pickle District, but I'm sure the sisters did it. :)

We are so grateful for the experiences we are having here. We love the people in North Carolina. We love our ward members and the new people we meet. We love our family and are thankful we could spend some time with some of them this week. We love you and are thankful for your support. We love our wonderful missionaries. We are most thankful for a loving Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Without Them, I don't think we could love all of you so fiercely.

Sister and Elder Potter

Week 62 - Dwight

 

Albertson Ward Building

The Albertson Ward building of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has had many additions and changes over the years.  In another edition of the blog, I think I'll show all the pictures of the church building as it has changed to what it is now.  I think it's been about 70 years since it was first constructed.  This is the ward I grew up in.  My family's home sits about 100 yards to the north.  We were there Saturday night for an Ice Cream Social and Tabernacle Choir Concert Watch Party.  At one point I walked down the hall by the baptism font, the one I was baptized in just over 58 years ago!  I still remember that day, that moment, when my dad baptized me and how I felt afterwards.  I was 8 years old.  So many memories!

Elder Bates, Elder Hansen, Steeve, Dwight, Susan

Anytime we have a baptism, it's the highlight of the week.  Steve was baptized and confirmed today.  BTW, we had 34 Haitians at church today and 6 that usually come were not able to be there.  This miracle just keep growing!  Also, Anseleine and Strauss, the wife and son of a new member, Alin, who are still in Haiti, went to Church for the first time today at a ward near the temple in Port-au-Prince.

Anseleine & Strauss in Haiti on the way to church

Susan and I have been studying Haitian Creole on Duolingo.  We've been seeing words like, Rara, Toubadou, and Kompa.  We knew it had to do something with music and asked our Haitian Friends and they are all dances!  They played the Haitian music and did a demonstration.

Aly demonstrating Rara dance

Alin dancing Toubadou with his wife (in Haiti)

We played a little game this week and chose our favorite houses of the week.  We are completely unified in our efforts to do missionary work and in loving our family and the Lord, but we have different tastes in so many different things - from food to houses to cars and certainly movies!!  We are unified on BYU sports however!

Susan's favorite house of the week

Dwight's favorite house of the week

We have been blessed to spend some time with family this week.  My sister Linda is still here and our son Joshua, and his family, are here on vacation.  We love being here on a mission, but we do miss our family and it's good to take a little break and spend time with them.

Richard, Kari, Dwight, Susan, Linda, Donald, Doug, a friend, and Judy at Yummy Orient Chinese Buffet - Sounds sketchy, but is really good!

Susan, Sam, Dwight, Thomas, Josh and Cari

This week, like them all recently, has been busy and interesting and full of activities like, teaching, interviews, baptism, more teaching, transporting people in many directions, (snuck in a BYU football game), and spending time with family and friends we love dearly (a really fun day with Sandra and the young sister missionaries and some complex days with JR who's heath challenges seem better one minute and worse the next).  Through it all, we just continue to be amazed that we're really here!

Today at church as we were with the Haitian Group after sacrament meeting, I just felt an overwhelming love for these people.  They are so humble and eager to learn more about God's plan for them.  They are excited for whatever is coming next.  We sometimes don't know what's around the next corner as we continue on this adventure, but we're sure it's going to be wonderful, if sometimes hard, and we can't wait!  We love you!

Elder and Sister Potter

Week 61

This week was full... lots of the regular stuff and some new/fun things. For example, Monday was really different for us. We normally have lessons planned for Monday afternoons, but since school has started, our schedule has changed. We were free to join the young missionaries for their District P-day. It was so much fun. We played volleyball! (My kids are probably thinking "we" means Dwight. I actually played for the first time in years. I found it much easier on my knees playing in the gym than in our backyard!) Dwight and I spent many hours in the 1980s playing volleyball and basketball in the that gym (Albertson Ward). Such good memories. After several games of volleyball, pickleball was set up. We had to go before those games started. Maybe next time.

I love this group of missionaries!

Dwight is still doing "social work." He's still helping people fill out sponsor papers to get Haitian families joined with their family members here in the United States. He gave another driving lesson with me and Monica (a friend we're teaching and step-sister of the driving student) sitting in the back seat laughing and trying to hide our fear. :) This week he added something new by helping Jason (the driving student's, Saindeline's, son) get into Headstart.

Monica and Jason at a lesson

Saindeline, today at fast and testimony meeting, stood up and bore her testimony with such confidence. I had to swallow back the lump in my throat. The Spirit was so strong even though I didn't know what she was saying. Then Dwight started to whisper to me what she was saying. It was so sweet. She talked about her faith in God and Jesus Christ and in the Restored Gospel. She talked about going to the temple last week and the deep feelings she had there that she didn't know how to describe. I felt like a proud mother. 

Saindeline at church today

We went to the temple this week with Gregory Harper. I agree with Saindeline. There is a such a wonderful feeling at the temple. It's hard to describe.

D & S and Gregory

Dwight took this beautiful picture of the temple
with the Crepe Myrtle still in bloom.

Sometime this week Dwight went to his friends house to help him with some things he can't do on his own right now. His friend recently had surgery on his foot so can't get around very well. One of the things Dwight did was put together a new vacuum cleaner. Then he used it. His friend sent this picture in a text with the following message: My new cleaning lady! LOL!

Dwight, "the cleaning lady"

We had a wonderful lesson this week with two brothers. One has been a member for a couple of months and the other has recently started learning. They are both amazing people. Their smiles light up the room, but the spirit they bring with them is even brighter. I can't begin to describe how I feel as Dwight and the young missionaries teach. I understand more than normal and can make comments without asking what is being said. They are truly remarkable young men. In the first picture they are working on family history. Then we taught about the Plan of Salvation.

Our worn out Plan of Salvation lesson board

As many of you know, before we came out here, we had season tickets to the BYU football home games. We would tailgate before the games with our family and friends that live in the area. Dwight would cook something yummy and everyone would bring sides. We would sit and visit, eat, play corn hole... lots of fun. Yesterday was BYU's home opener and we received this picture:

Caroline and a bunch of my family

I was momentarily a little envious, but I love what we are doing here. I love the people in that picture with all my heart, but I know we are family forever. Right now, I am helping other people find the joy I have in knowing that all those beautiful, wonderful people are part of my eternal family. Yesterday, we were blessed to be part of another baptism.

Elder Hansen, Elder Bates, Judeline and her sister

After Judeline's baptism, Saindeline was singing the chorus to "I Am a Child of God" in French. Then Judeline started singing. I said, "These two need to sing in sacrament meeting." Dwight translated what I said and asked them if they would. They both said "yes" with enthusiasm! We are currently getting them on the schedule to sing! These new members are strong and are not afraid to share their testimonies or their talents. We are so grateful to be a small part of the Gathering in this part of the vineyard. We love our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ!

We love you all!

Sister and Elder Potter

Week 60 - Dwight

 

Saindeline, Edgard, Aly, Elder Bates, Jean Edrice, Paul-Edmond, Alin, Elder Hanson

One of the really fun things we get to do is go with new members to the temple to do baptisms for the dead (See 1 Corinthians 15:29)  It's especially fun when you get to go with 6 new members!  This weekend was filled with a temple trip on Saturday to Raleigh and then rush back to Goldsboro for stake conference and then back again to Goldsboro on Sunday for stake conference.  The really fun, or interesting?. part was stopping at McDonalds between the temple and stake conference on Saturday and, in the interest of time, I ordered dinner for everyone, but the register didn't know how to handle 18 McDoubles, 8 small fries, 7 sodas, and 2 waters - so the manager had to come take the order!

I predict there will be a Haitian Branch of our Church before the end of the year in Mt. Olive.  That work continues to roll forth and it's amazing!  Three were ordained Elders today after stake conference and we're close to the minimum numbers of members to create a branch, so I just think it's coming soon.

Other than the eventful weekend, this week had a lot of highs and lows.  My buddy JR had his foot operated on and that was tough on him.  He's home and recuperating, but in a lot of pain.  We had dinner with family and the young missionaries twice this week, once at the Albertson bishop's (she's my 1st cousin's daughter), and again today at my niece's house where my sister Linda is visiting.  Linda is here because her brother-in-law Kenneth Heath's funeral was last Sunday.

Susan and the Sistas

Our friends the Wards also had a death in the family.  His father died and we attended the funeral this week in New Bern.  

Our Haitian friend numbers just keep increasing and we're involved with the young missionaries visiting and teaching and feeling blessed by the experiences.  With all the people interested in hearing and accepting the gospel message, we've needed to regroup a bit on how we're organized, but think we're headed in the right direction. Susan and I are teaching 5 beautiful young women and girls.  One is Monica and the other 4 are in the same family - Wolffencia and her 2 sisters and a cousin.  Their parents are not ready to learn about the restored gospel, but they're glad their daughters are interested.

Wolffencia, Alandjina, Marie, Leila

We got to hang out with our Ruritan Club members this week for an hour or so.  We're already planning the Albertson Stew Fest in November.  We attended last year and it's hard to believe that it's coming around again already.  Time is flying way too fast!

Albertson Ruritan Club Meeting

Visiting with my cousin, Lynetta Barnett Young, this week at her home, I couldn't help but think of all my family that has lived right here in the area where we were sitting and talking.  My father, and undoubtedly, his father and grandfather, were born within a few hundred feet of where we sat and were all buried a few hundred yards away.  My great grandfather and his son helped to start the Piney Grove Baptist Church near by.  My grandfather helped build a little church for the early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in that same community.  There is so much of my family history right here in this little community of Albertson - of course, including myself born and raised here.  After being away for so many years, it's hard to express how I feel being here right now.  The fact that we're serving as full-time missionaries, walking the same ground as my forefathers, returning home to teach, in my native language (Southern English) and a foreign language I learned 45-47 years ago in a far away land just blows me away. I know God lives.  He is our Father. He knows the details of our each of our lives.  We love you and thank you for your love and prayers.

Elder Dwight and Sister Susan Potter

Week 59

Happy 42nd Anniversary to us! :) On our anniversary we took a Haitian friend to Raleigh to take care of some residency/legal stuff. While we were in Raleigh, we went to see Jake and his family and Alyssa. We took Clara a way-over-due birthday present. We hadn't seen them in way too long and had a fun but short visit. While we were there Jake mentioned that his dad needed a haircut... so he got out his clippers and gave Dwight a haircut! I think we'll go to Jake's every time Dwight gets a little shaggy, so I don't have to ever play barber again!!!

Dwight's new haircut :)

We taught a 17-year-old girl and her two little sisters this week. We had a great lesson with them. We discovered that the 9-year-old girl can't read; so tomorrow when we go see them, we will teach them a gospel lesson. Then we will do some reading practice. I bought some of my favorite easy readers, and we're going to have some fun. All the girls came to church today and waved and smiled when they saw us. Little things like that make my heart swell!

We also taught Monica. She's our adorable 12-year-old friend. She set a baptismal date on Wednesday, but when we went to see her on Saturday, she told us her dad wants her to wait until she learns more. I'm good with that. I love spending time with her teaching her about Jesus Christ. We have also been teaching her and her step sister English.

D & S and Monica

Dwight took on another challenge... teaching Sandeline (Monica's stepsister) how to drive. I sat in the back seat. She did pretty well. I was only scared a couple of times. :)

We visited Jimmy and Penny Holmes this week. When our daughter Alyssa was a little, Penny would hold her during church. She'd give her gum. She constantly doted over her. When we moved to Utah, we gave Penny a framed picture of Alyssa. While we were at her house, Penny went and got that picture that is still on display. I showed Alyssa the picture I took of Penny (below) and she said, "I remember her. She gave me gum. I think it was Doublemint." It was! 

We love our young missionaries. We always talk about the Elders we work with, but we have some amazing sisters as well. We leave Otter Pops in our outside freezer for the Albertson sisters, so they can cool down whenever they want. They sometimes get Otter Pops and then sit at our picnic table in the shade. We're usually not home when they come by, but sometimes we catch them!

This is a picture from our district group chat. Sister Memea's face makes me laugh every time I look at it. The post said, "Your ward can't agree on what their ward boundaries are, so they give you a map."

I'm not sure if the red or the blue is
the official Albertson Ward boundary.

Speaking of Albertson... here is something I saw this week right outside our house. Ewwww. I had to look it up to see what it was. It's a red velvet ant (it's really a wasp) the females are wingless. The one in the picture was about an inch long. They are also called cow killers... not because they can kill a cow, but because the sting of one feels like it can kill a cow. The venom is not very dangerous. Wow! Aren't you glad, if you didn't already know, that you've learned something about a scary looking bug?

Also, I thought this was interesting to anyone that hasn't experienced NC backroads. Some of them are very skinny! We were following this hay hauler, and it was a little scary passing it.

With all the rain we've had, the Neuse River got pretty high. It's starting to come down some now. This picture was taken on Tuesday.

We had our last temple prep lesson with Judy. She'll be ready to go to the temple soon! We've visited the Lafortunes, the Pierre Louis', Alex, and so many others. Dwight helped put up closet bars and tried to put up some more blinds in one of our friend's houses. The wall were made out of block and he hit metal and a black widow came out of the wall. I'm sure the details of that are wrong, but when he was telling me about it, all I heard was black widow. Ewwww again!

A highlight this week was the baptism of James and Makendy. They are awesome young men!

Tonight we had our senior missionary devotional. My sister Karen invited her friends Elder Evan and Sister Cindy Schmutz. Elder Schmutz served a mission in North Carolina as a young missionary. He told a story from when he was a mission president in the Philippines about a family with several children and their conversion. He played a clip of the older daughters singing a primary song that I remember singing with my sisters. It was beautiful. I felt a love that I can't explain for this family I've never met. What I can try to explain is that as we serve others and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ through word and example our love grows for the people that we serve. And somehow our love grows for people we don't even know.

We love you all!

Sister and Elder Potter