Week 40 - Dwight

Jordan's Family

 Another generation gets introduced to Paul's Place Famous Hot Dogs!  So many memories from my childhood are brought back every time we visit this place.  The hot dogs are good, yes, our grandson Mikah even said it was his best meal yet. But it's the memories of traveling to Wilmington to visit my Aunt Doris with our family that make me smile.  We used to stop here all the time near Rocky Point, NC.  It makes me miss my dad.  I guess he loved hot dogs - I do too!  When we used to sell vegetables on Saturday morning to the folks in Kinston, we'd stop at a place on highway 11 on the way home and get a footlong hot dog!  Ah, the memories!

Ordered onions, got cheese, but still good!

Jordan, Mandy, and family came to NC this week to visit and we spent as much time as we could with them and had a very busy week.  We continue to teach Haitians in French, including Alin in Goldsboro on Monday with the Goldsboro II missionaries.  Super nice guy that left his wife and child in Haiti as he's trying to find a way for a better life and find an escape from the mess in Haiti for his family.  That afternoon we took Evens and his wife and daughter to Raleigh to look at a car as she's pregnant and they have nothing to drive.  They're still waiting on work permits and trying to get by in the meantime.

We've been helping the Mt. Olive missionaries teach (on Whatsapp) Gaelle, a Haitian single mom.  She's trying very hard to improve her situation and Susan took this photo of the phone propped up on a small statue of Jesus.  Susan commented, that Jesus really is watching over her.  Gaelle agreed!

Visited with Sister Susan Howard in Woodington Tuesday night.  She lost her husband about a year ago.  She gave us a treat of Strawberry Shortcake, which also brought back a lot of childhood memories, as that was the go-to dessert anytime we had a BBQ or celebration dinner.

Wednesday was a jampacked day.  District council meeting in the morning with the young missionaries, then some visiting in Mt Olive early afternoon, including our old friends Joe and Jewell Whitfield.  Then we pickup the Sister missionaries in Goldsboro to head to Raleigh.  We got to see Jordan and Family, as well as Jake and Alyssa and their families at a celebration for our grandson Von's birthday.  Then we ran to dinner and went to the temple where a new member was able to do baptism for deceased relatives for the first time.  Got home pretty late after all the activities.

Family Gathering at Von's Birthday Celebration

The birthday boy (Von) takes a swing!

There are 12 Spanish Speaking Sisters, 9 were at the Temple!

Chancey visits the temple for the 1st time, with her husband and Hermanas

Thursday we spent most of the day with Jordan's family at the NC Aquarium, past Wilmington, at Fort Fisher.  We hit the beach for a bit (too windy and cool) and visited the Fort Fisher site.  Stopped at Paul's Place for hot dogs on the way home.

Jordan & Family at NC Aquarium

Andrew & Bella observe a SHARK!

This extinct Megalodon Shark could eat us all!

Dwight w/grandkids - Canon at Fort Fisher

Friday morning and afternoon was more teaching of our Haitian friends Alin and Jean Claude.  Then we headed to Raleigh again to spend the evening with family at the Durham Bulls baseball game.  It was sad to say goodbye to Mandy and Jordan and the kids.  So glad they came and we got to see them after being here over 9 months!

Saturday and Sunday have been wonderful with our Church's General Conference where we got to hear from the prophet and 12 apostles and other Church leaders.  Between session we ran to Warsaw to help the Lafortune family finish buy a car and today I was able to take someone, that could not get conference at home, to the church in Goldsboro.  We watched a session in French.  It was great!

This week we have been reminded just how important family is.  We are so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father, that included in His plan for us that families are forever.  Seeing family come and go was good yet sad.  Because of our Father's plan and the atoning grace of Jesus Christ, we may be separated in life and in death, but that separation is but a moment and we'll be reunited, never to be separated again.  We love Jesus, we love all our family and we love you!