Week 36 - Dwight

 

Susan Drives!

This past Monday was the 246th day of this mission and Susan had 2 mission firsts that day!  She had her first hair cut AND, wait for it..........she drove the pickup!  Since I had no interest in going to a beauty parlor, Susan drove herself!  Ain't she cute!

Sister Kali Benson & Companion

Tuesday we got the treat to drive to Leland (near Wilmington) and take Susan's sister Karen's granddaughter and her companion to lunch!  We've been looking forward to meeting her for months and finally got a chance to hang out.  Afterwards, we stopped by the Battleship USS North Carolina Memorial (WWII).  We're helping plan a trip in May for senior missionaries to tour the ship and wanted to stop by to get some information.

Battleship USS North Carolina

Tuesday afternoon we went with Judy to pick out blinds for her new house. That night we got to visit with Brother and Sister Tommy and Myra Heath and were amazed at their stories.  So thankful that we get to meet and get to know so many wonderful and interesting people.

Wednesday morning we put up Judy's blinds.  Was mostly fun, except I had to screw a bunch of screws in by hand because I couldn't find the proper screw bit until the job was done.  We're so spoiled!  I spent most of Wednesday afternoon and early evening with the missionaries in Mt. Olive.  A couple of appointments fell through with some folks that we really like.  We had a great meeting with Jean Claude and Marie Guetty and we finished our lessons with them and then he had his baptism interview with Elder Reinhold.  It went great!

Somewhere in our travels this week we stopped at Food Lion, twice.  Not sure why that's so significant except that's the grocery store that was a disrupter in the grocery business when we were young married and we went there all the time - just a good memory!

District council was on Thursday this week and will be changing to Thursdays from now on - not sure why.  That afternoon we spent a couple of hours with Alex.  He's almost ready to come back to Church.  Found out that day that the son of one of our friends was in a serious car accident, along with his wife.  She was fine, a few bruises, but he had some pretty serious head injuries.  He was moved from New Bern to Greenville, but made some quick improvements.  Now, they don't have a car until the insurance is settled, so we went to pick them us because he was discharged today.

Friday we worked on some stuff at home and got treated to having dinner with our good friends the Joneses and the Wiggins in Mt Olive.  Always a fun/lively group to be around!

Saturday we invited several in the Haitian community to come to the baptism on Sunday.  Went over to see Evens in Warsaw and invited his family to come - and they did!  Was so good to seem them all today, including his big sister Marie Yolene!

The highlight of the week was Jean Claude's baptism after church meetings today.  Almost the entire things was in French and Creole.  I even learned how to say the baptism ordinance in Haitian Creole!  The whole thing was amazing and ended a beautiful week.

Although Jean Claude is in his 70's, his baptism is a new beginning, a new birth for him.  He seems so excited.  He said today that since he's been coming to church, he feels good, his blood pressure is down and he loves it.  With the help of Jesus Christ, every day is a chance for a new beginning, a new birth.  His atonement and repentance are the keys that give us this opportunity to start over again, as we strive each day to become something better, a little closer to becoming like Him!.  I know that He lives and because of Him each of us can start over, again, right now!  We love you all!