Week 86 - Dwight

 

Ruthnael & Monica singing their hearts out!

This is one of those weeks that feels like while we were living it that we weren't accomplishing very much because we've both been fighting sickness with flu like symptoms early in the week and lingering coughing and fatigue late in the week.  But, looking back, there were somethings we were able to participate in that feel pretty significant.

For the last month we've been planning a temple trip for yesterday (Saturday) for the new members.  We were hoping to take 7 or 8 for the 1st time.  Unfortunately, Wednesday brought a winter storm that was forecasted to bring 6-8 inches of snow.  In the end, it only brought mostly freezing rain.  But, because of slippery roads, all the processing plants in the area closed down for 2 days.  These closings caused the production to fall behind, so all the plants opened on Saturday to get caught back up. Everyone that had planned to go to the temple was called in to go to work and could not go.

Freezing rain on bushes at our house

Freezing rain, broken limbs in the background

That morning, once we knew no one could go, we went online to cancel our appointments for that day and just before touching "cancel", there was a flash of inspiration.  We have 2 Haitian young women that have been before, but might enjoy going again.  We also have a wonderful young woman that's not yet a member of the Church that we thought might want to go see the temple in Raleigh.  Turn out, they could all three go and so we picked up Wolffencia, Monica and Ruthnael.  They enjoyed the trip up to Raleigh.  After a brief explanation to all of them on the purposes of the temple, they got out their music and started to sing some of their favorite popular songs in French.  We had a great time.  Wolffencia, who is still deciding if she wants to become a member, was really impressed with the temple.  Recently, with some of the changes in immigration policy, she's been worried if news stories are true about ICE coming to her school or church to deport her, even though she currently has a legal status.  But, she walked the grounds of the temple.  She sat in the waiting room of the temple and read scriptures and just enjoyed being there.  As we left she said she has never felt so much peace in her whole life.  

Dwight, Ruthnael, Monica, Wolffencia, Susan

Raleigh NC Temple

Today, we attended sacrament meeting in the Woodington ward for the first time in about eight months.  While we spend most of our time in Mt. Olive working with our Haitian brothers and sisters, our mission president has never recinded our assignment to also work in Woodington.  It was so good to see everyone again and we ended up going to have lunch with our friends the Wards to celebrate their granddaughter Clair's birthday and got to get to know her cousin Ruby better. Had a wonderful time.

Unfortunately, we missed a baptism that took place today while we were out of town.  A fine young man Roosevelt was baptized today.

Elder Bates, Roosevelt, Elder Nordgren

Late in the week we went to see our friend Charlemise because we've been meaning to take the parts over to hook up her dryer vent.  It was a bit complicated but we had the right man on the job!

Plumber Dwight on the job!

The other significant thing that happened on this slow week was that Jean Edrice ordained his brother Christmonor a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood.  The bishop gave us permission to go to their home and to do that.  Then, today, they blessed the sacrament together!  These two guys smile and make us smile more than anyone we know!

Jean Edrice, Christmonor, Dwight

Hopefully we'll get over this sickness soon and get back to 100% very soon.  Sometimes I think we get sick or have difficulties so we can learn to appreciate better when things are good.  Believe me, we do!  But, even being sick doesn't slow down the time - it's going way too fast.  Love you all!