Week 85

Zone Conference is something we always look forward to. We get to see missionaries from three zones... lots of missionaries we've served with in the past and senior missionaries that have become great friends, we get great training, and there's always good food.

Us at Zone Conference

The Goldsboro Zone and the Stevens

Here are a couple non-missionary related items. First for anyone that plays Wordle, I play the daily game every morning. I usually guess the word in 3-5 tries. On Monday, this was my game.

I don't think this will ever
happen to me again. :)

Also on Monday, I opened my Duolingo to start a new week. Each week they put you in a new group. I was surprised to see that I was in the same group as my sister, Karen. We're just a little competitive and pushed each other all week. We ended in a tie!

Wednesday we went out with our young missionaries to visit several friends. This is becoming a regular occurrence. Even though I don't understand much, I really do love watching the young missionaries and Dwight in action. I can always feel the Spirit. Wednesday was also, as always, Haitian Home Evening. This time though, we had a special celebration. It was Elder Bates' birthday. We found out that his favorite flavor of cake is "Chocolate Zucchini." Dwight was all over it. We brought cake and cookies to celebrate. I don't think our Haitian friends were big fans of the walnuts on top of the cake, but other than that, it was really fun! Happy Birthday Elder Bates!

Elders Bates, Nordgren, Hafen, Smithson, & Potter

Thursday, the 13th, we went out with the young missionaries again. That night we went to dinner with our old friends Doug and Paulette Jones. It was fun reminiscing and catching up. I am so sad that we didn't take a picture! For Dwight and I, it was our Valentine's date because on Friday I was sick, and Dwight spent the day with the young missionaries. We/I did get several Valentine's surprises. We felt very loved.

These beautiful flowers came first... 
they are from Elder Bates' family. How
sweet is that?

This came from our "landlord," Sandra.
She spoils us. It's a candy bar bouquet,
a candle that smells fabulous, and 
some fun NC napkins.

The flowers, cookies, and homemade
card are from Dwight. The California
oranges are from his friend, JR.

The young missionaries and Dwight on 
Valentine's Day. This Haitian friend made dinner
for all of them.

Saturday started early for Dwight. He got up at 4 am and went across the street to help prepare for the "Albertson Fox Hunt," an annual event. I can't believe we've been here for two of them. Anyway, Dwight helped cooked breakfast and then helped cooked hush puppies for lunch.

Anyone want a hush puppy?

Also on Saturday we had three baptisms. I was still not feeling well, but I had to go. Our friend Provilene was baptized. She's one of our friends that we have been involved with from the beginning. She asked Dwight to baptize her. Today during church they were all confirmed and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. (After church we had another baptism.)

In 2019 our stake president, Frankie Jones, was in a meeting with Elder David A. Bednar. President Jones shared something he remembered from that meeting. He said, "Elder Bednar was asked a question while participating in a training in Africa by a member of a bishopric. The bishopric member told Elder Bednar that they really needed to stop baptizing so many people because the confirmations took all the time in sacrament meeting and there was no time to give talks. Elder Bednar replied, 'the only reason we have those crummy talks is because we're not baptizing enough people!'" 

We have worried about that before--not leaving enough time for people that have prepared talks. After hearing Elder Bednar's (probably not meant to be quoted) comment, I don't feel so bad. Today the confirmations took time away from Elder and Sister Potter's "crummy talks"! 😁 

Desca, Provilene, Susan, Dwight

Elders Nordgren & Bates, Desca, Provilene, S & D

Elder Nordgren, Marie, Elder Bates

Elder Hafen, Davidson, Jonel, Elder Smithson

Elder Hafen baptized Odoth today after
church. (Elder Smithson, right)

Sunday evening we were invited to Jennipher and Roger Edwards home for dinner. Their daughter, Elizabeth is going on a mission trip to Costa Rica next week, and they were giving her a farewell party. Jennipher's brother, Jeff, was there. I haven't seen him in years. He looks exactly the same as he did when he was a kid--except for the long beard. ;) We had a great time visiting with them. They are such a wonderful family.

Dwight, Roger, Elizabeth, Susan, Jennipher

This is a quote from President Nelson that I used in my talk today, "“There is no limit to the Savior’s capacity to help you. His incomprehensible suffering in Gethsemane and on Calvary was for you! His infinite Atonement is for you!”

We love you all!

Sister and Elder Potter