Week 54 - Dwight

Kanarra Mountain Fire near our Cabin

Fire fighting over our cabin

Same plane drops payload of retardant

We don't normally get overly excited or worried about events at home, but lightening struck the woods near our family mountain cabin on Friday evening and for the last 2 days fire has seriously threatened our family retreat.  Helicopters and airplanes were constantly dropping fire retardant near our place.  Not sure we are "out of the woods yet," but so far so good.  While we had our concerns and have heard from family and friends with constant updates on the situation, we continued to work and meet and teach our friends and have left it in God's hands.  We did say a prayer or two, but that's about all we can do.  We feel what we're doing here is too important to allow this to sidetrack us from our mission.  And so, we press forward.

Haitian Group - Mt Olive Ward

Our Haitian Group continues to grow, almost unbelievably!  We had 24 of our Haitian friends at Church today.  One of them, Alin, gave a beautiful talk in Sacrament Meeting.  Thirteen of them were non-member adults.  We have 5 baptisms scheduled for this coming Saturday!  They are so humble and appreciative and ready for the Gospel of Jesus Christ!  Among them is where we're spending most of our time.  I think it's fair to say that I speak French better now than I did 45 years ago on my mission in France.  Kind of a miracle in and of itself.  We love these wonderful brothers and sisters!

Goldsboro Zone w/Pres & Sis Stevens

Assistants teaching at zone conference

Our zone was one of  three zones that attended our zone conference this week in Mt Olive, because our stake building was being used for a youth conference.  It's always a treat for us to go to zone conference and hear from all our mission leaders and feel their love.  We told President Stevens that we want to extend our mission until the 1st of June next year, so that's now officially in the works!

Couple of other fun events this week.  I took a break Friday and went with my buddy JR to lunch at Lovicks Restaurant in Kinston, home of the famous Dough Burger.  We had the fish and shrimp (so much for the famous burger.)  Also, we went to see our friend Alex.  Alex is so kind and appreciates our coming to see him.  He said that a million dollars paid to each of us could not repay what we have done for him!  While we know he is sincere, we feel like we are the ones that have been blessed to know him and to see how he has changed some things to bring happiness back into his life.  Lastly, after a little scare at our house today when the walls were "sweating" and our wonderful landlady Sandra came to help us check it out (attic fans needed to be switched on to cool the attic down), we had 5 sister missionaries over for dinner.  Had a great time!  They are amazing young women dedicating 18 months of their lives to the Lord's service and doing a great job!

Goldsboro Zone Sisters-Dinner

One day early this week on my morning walk, instead of seeing the geese (mom, dad and four goslings) lying by the pond, they all came flying in and landed on the pond together.  I wasn't smart enough or fast enough to get a picture.  It was kind of amazing and a little sad, because I knew we wouldn't be seeing much of them anymore - in fact, I haven't seen them since.  It's been fun watching them grow.

I've read several times this week in the Book of Mormon the account of the visit of the resurrected Savior, Jesus Christ, to the ancient inhabitants of the Americas.  One thing has touched me particularly.  After he introduced himself, he invited all those present (about 2,500 men, women and children) to "...come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world. And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come."

His invitation is to each of us to come - one by one - and have a personal relationship with him.  We love him and know that he lives!  Love you all!