Week 73

It seems like I have been sick forever, but as this week went on I felt better and better. The best medicine was seeing grandkids on Friday and Saturday. I should have done that two weeks ago! :)

We took quite a few pictures this week, so mostly I'll let the pictures do the talking. The only things we did that we don't have pictures of are a few visits and service activities. Monday we took our super cute and fun friend, Charlemise to work for orientation. Dwight had to go in to translate for her. Her blood pressure is still a little high, so on Tuesday we took her to the doctor before work. We're going to get her taken care of. Charlemise is here in the United States pretty much alone. She is our friend, Alin's wife's (who is in Haiti) cousin, but she doesn't have any close family here. She went to church last week for the first time. It was stake conference. She told us on Monday that every talk it felt like God was speaking directly to her. It's funny, because I felt the same way.

We also don't have pictures of our visit with Clifton Stanley of the Woodington Ward, our Ruritan Club meeting, or of Dwight helping Alin buy a car and trying to get insurance. There are some problems with the title because the buyer before him didn't know what he was doing. Trying to explain all that to someone from a different country with different laws who has never owned a car... let's just say it's an ongoing process. Alin also needs to get a NC driver's license before he can get his car licensed. I guess our next activity will be helping him study the driver's handbook. :)

We visited with sweet Monica. We taught her a lesson. Then I gave her a piano lesson. That was awesome! She really wants to learn! Another senior missionary is going to give her lessons every week. She is so excited.

Goldsboro Zone at our 3-Zone Zone Conference.
I love all these people!

Me and my companion
at Zone Conference!
I love him, too! :)

We stopped by to say hi to the Faison kids.
We hadn't seen them in a long time because we're
always in Mt. Olive.

Elder Bates and Christmonor... I love
watching Christmonor learn!

Saturday, we weren't here, but our cute friend
Ruthnael was baptized. She was confirmed
today. She is a super smart, fun girl. She is
helping her mom learn English and the Gospel.

Friday and Saturday we went to Beaufort to spend some time with Jacob and Alyssa's families. This weekend was the Beaufort Pirate Invasion. There is a house in Beaufort in which the pirate Blackbeard is said to have been a guest in 1709. The house still stands. Beaufort recently won the title of "Coolest Small Town in the USA" according to a travel magazine. It really is a cool little town.

Clara, Von, Sullivan, Elayna, and some pirates.

A sneaky little pirate :)

The cute pirates in front of their ship.

Dwight and me at the pirate show

Von with mini sand legs :)

Alyssa and Jacob making dinner... we trained
them right! :)

Thank you Jacob for these beautiful photos.

This weekend was perfect for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. I was so thankful for time spent with family (the healing time spent with family). I was also thankful to see some of the beautiful world our Heavenly Father has given us. It reminds me of a song I learned in Primary.

For the Beaty of the Earth, by Folliott S. Pierpoint

For the beauty of the earth,

For the beauty of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour

Of the day and of the night,

Hill and vale, and tree and flow’r,

Sun and moon, and stars of light,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of human love,

Brother, sister, parent, child,

Friends on earth, and friends above,

For all gentle thoughts and mild,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

We are thankful for our Savior Jesus Christ. We are so thankful to all of you for your love and support. We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

We love you all!

Sister and Elder Potter