Week 95

I have been a little nostalgic this week. It all started when I was given a picture of Dwight and me at what I think was a Gold and Green Ball (anyone remember those?) circa 1988-ish (about 37 years ago). All week I've been thinking of past memories from North Carolina and the new memories we have made during the last two years. Several times I have started to cry thinking about leaving. Then I swallow the tears and think I need to save those until we are actually leaving, and now I need to continue to enjoy the time we have left.

Then: Susan and Dwight, Goldsboro Stake Gold
and Green Ball, (1988 maybe)

Now: Dwight and Susan, Goldsboro
Stake Center, 2025

This week was jam packed with our normal activities and also with some pretty special experiences.

We visited friends, did some teaching, took our friend to have another eye surgery, "carried" (that's Southern for "drove") some young women to a stake activity, went to dinner with friends, went to Raleigh for Zone Conference, and the next day went to Raleigh to go to the temple, and filled our truck up with gas more times than I can remember.

At one of the lessons, the girl we were teaching handed me her baby. Oh my goodness, that baby was adorable. She seriously looks like a baby doll.

Look at that hair!

What a little baby doll!

On another visit we dropped by our friend's house without telling him we were coming. We hadn't seen him for a while and wanted to check on him. We found out it's probably best to let someone know you're coming. He opened the door a crack because he was only wearing basketball shorts. He told us to come in and ran back to his room. It was probably 80 degrees in his house, but he came out in a winter coat. It turns out he was doing his laundry, and he didn't have anything else to wear. Obviously, we didn't stay long or we would have had to take him to the hospital for heat exhaustion. 

Christmonor sitting in his 80 degree
house in his winter coat. :)

One night we were out with the missionaries, and we went to someone's house who ended up not being home. All of a sudden I see one of the young missionaries bolting across the street. There was a Haitian man washing his car. It turned out to be a great conversation (I didn't understand much of it), and he said he wanted to come to church and for us to come back! Our missionaries are amazing. Their goal is to talk to everyone--and they just about do. In the next picture, one of the young missionaries is talking to someone on the street while Dwight and the other young missionary knock on this door.

I love watching the missionaries at work.

On Saturday we took five new members to the temple to do baptisms. We had four young women and a brother. It was a great day. The temple is always so peaceful, and the workers are so patient with us as we help our new members that don't speak English and are having a brand new experience. It was wonderful.

Desca, Susan, Brinette, and Monica
before going in the temple. 

Elders Bates and Nordgren, Wilgimps, 
Becky Maples, Susan, Dwight,
Ruthnael, Desca, Monica, & Brinette

It's tradition for Dwight to buy dinner for everyone
after the temple. They wanted McDonalds.

We had Zone Conference this week. As always it was fun being with the young missionaries and learning together with them. This time we got to see our friends the Herrings from Albertson. They were recently called as service missionaries over housing and cars in our zone. We also saw Elder Pedersen, our grand nephew (Dwight's sister's grandson).

Dwight, Susan, Roxanne, Squinky

Dwight, Elder Pedersen, Susan

Elder Corbitt of the Seventy came and taught us. We also had a special meeting with him and the Mission Leaders for all the senior missionaries. I cannot write here all the wonderful things we heard and felt, but during the senior missionary meeting, I don't think there was a dry eye. I know our Heavenly Father knows us personally and knows exactly what we need. I know Jesus Christ atoned for our sins and our sorrows--I feel His love every day. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth. I'm so grateful for our opportunity to share His Gospel.

We love you all!

Sister and Elder Potter

Week 94 - Dwight; Count Down Week 9

 

BR Jolayne, Susan, Tami, Sheila, Wanda, Linda; FR Terry, Dwight, Kevin, Gary, Donald

I grew up, one mile down the road from our missionary home, as number seven in a family of eight kids.  We're now five living.  We've lost my two oldest brothers, Craig and Reed, as well as my brother Parley who died at only 56 years of age while serving a mission with his wife Sheila in Russia in 2012.  This past week everyone decided to come to North Carolina and we had a great time hanging out with them for several days.  We played games, played pickleball, ate and talked a lot.  I even took a couple of hours to go fishing.  It was so good to see everyone and reconnect with these family members we love so much.  While we took a few calls from the missionaries to help with their lessons, we were anxious to get back to being with them and our friends every day!

Masters of the court!

Kevin, Sheila, Dwight, Tami

Dwight, Sheila, Tami, Kevin, early morning donut run!

One of many great meals!

The big catch!

Two weeks ago, we started counting down our final 10 weeks as full-time missionaries.  This week was week nine.  We're not counting down because we're excited to finish, but because we want to take advantage of every day of every week that we have left.  It's coming way too fast!

Today, we really felt like missionaries again.  Sadly, we missed the baptism of 9-year old Alandjina while we were gone, but we were able to participate in her confirmation today.  Her big sister, Wolffencia, prayed at the baptism service that she would soon be able to be baptized too!  Also, we were able to attend the baptism and confirmation of 19-year old Belliard Joseph today.  The bishop invited him to prepare to serve a mission!

Leila, Wolffencia, Marie, Alandjina, Susan, Dwight

Susan, Belliard, Dwight

We're planning a trip to the temple for this coming Saturday for several of our new members to do baptisms for our deceased relatives.  Today we spent about an hour with several, helping them download the Family Tree app and start to build their own family tree.  The Church's Family Tree app is amazing and can be used by everyone whether they are members of our Church or not.  Its goal is to build one family tree for the whole family of the earth, from Adam and Eve to us and everyone in between.  You can download photos, stories, videos, voice recordings and other memories so that any other family members can enjoy them.  Family is so important and we want to be linked to all of our family members forever.  We got a good start on their family trees and we're excited to go to the temple Saturday.

Dwight, Susan, Brinette, Provilene, Desca - showing off their family trees!

This week we've had a lot of focus on family as we've spent time with those close to us and as we helped others find and record family names for their family histories.  Today, we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  He lives!  He lives and because He lives, we will live again too!  Because of Him, not only will we live again, but our hope is that we will live as families for the eternities.  "God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son!"

We love you!

Elder and Sister Potter

Week 93

This week started out with "Mexican Monday." We went to lunch at a Mexican place in Kinston that our friend, Jim Walker, takes missionaries, friends, and/or employees to every Monday. This week it was just him and his wife, Cheryl, and us. It was a lot of fun visiting. They are leaving this month to go on another six month mission to Nauvoo. We'll probably stop by and see them on our way home. Good luck Elder and Sister Walker!

Cheryl, Jim, Dwight, Susan

On our drive back to Albertson, there was a tree limb across the road in the lane we were not it. There was a hill and a curve very close to that limb, so I said, "We need to go move that before someone has an accident." By "we" you all know who I really meant! :)

Here "we" are moving the limb to
save lives! Go Dwight!

District Council this week was on Tuesday because it's transfer week. I always hold my breath when transfers come out. I don't like it when we get attached to missionaries and then they leave us. Luckily with only seven Haitian Creole speaking missionaries, we don't usually have much change. Everyone in Mt. Olive, even the English Elders stayed the same. Yay!

A little peak into District Council

Tuesday we had to go to the airport to pick up Dwight's sister, Linda and her husband, Donald. We went early so we could take our grandson, Von, his birthday present. We got lots of hugs and laughter in the few minutes we got to stay. 

Sullivan, Nana, Von, and Clara

Also because of transfers, P-day was on Wednesday instead of Monday. Dwight took his friend fishing for P-day. When he goes on these little trips with his friend, they always start with prayer and have a little gospel discussion as they drive.

Dwight with his big catch of the day

Thursday morning, Dwight took our friend Leccius to have cataract surgery. That was the easy part. Before that could happen, Dwight had to help him get medical coverage, eye appointments, and special drops had to be ordered. I can't even imagine being in a foreign country, not speaking the language, and trying to get all that done without someone to help. It made me so happy today to see Leccius at church with clearer vision (at least in one eye--the other one gets done in a couple of weeks).

Leccius after surgery. He looked
much happier today.

That night we went to dinner and the temple with our long-time friend, Gregory Harper. At the temple we saw the mission president and his wife with four missionaries that were going home the next day.

At Longhorn Steakhouse in Apex--we need 
selfie practice.

Before going into the temple--
Dwight, Susan, and Gregory

Hermana Fuenmayor, Susan, Hermana Maxey,
Dwight, and Gregory

Saturday we had to got to speak in the Morehead City Stake Conference. The Stake President is a friend and has heard our mission story and wanted us to share it. We stood up together and spoke. It was actually kind of fun. Our good friends the Johnsons (who are from Delta, Utah) are serving in that stake. When the mission split, they got taken to the other mission. It's always fun to see them!

Elder and Sister Johnson and us

Last weekend I posted on the Mount Olive and the Albertson Wards Facebook pages that we have friends that need dining tables and chairs. This week our carport looked like a garage sale because so many people responded. We have been picking up and delivering furniture (and not just dining tables) all week. There are so many people that want to help. We are so grateful for all of the support we get.

Dwight loading furniture

 

All loaded and ready to go

Jennifer and her baby really appreciate
their new table and chairs.

Today we went to dinner at Kari and Richard Dupree's house (our niece and her family). After dinner I was chatting with the younger children when they started blowing bubbles. I told them, "You know if you turn the ceiling fan where it blows in the other direction--up instead of down--those bubbles will fly." Here is the result.

Adelyn and Logan

In real life those bubbles looked
really pretty. So much fun!
Sorry Kari :)

Amongst all these amazing activities, we got to be involved in several lessons with both sets of young missionaries. Those guys never rest. The people we visit with each week are amazing. Today in Sacrament meeting three of our Haitian new members bore their testimonies (two in English--it was very sweet). I won't deny that I teared up a bit.

I am so grateful for the opportunities we've had and look forward to the miracles that I'm sure will happen in the last two months of our mission. We have been so blessed to serve here at this time.

We love you all!

Sister and Elder Potter

Week 92 - Dwight

JR at home watching General Conference

 We always look forward to General Conference weekend. Today we had a group of our Haitian members and fiends out at the Church to watch the 1st session of the day together.  Yesterday I hung out with my friend J R and watched one of the session at his house.  Today right after the morning session we had four baptisms.  Marc, a friend of a new member, Leila, the little sister of our friend Wolffencia, and Ernesley and Olgerry, little brothers of Brinette.  It was a beautiful service.  These kids are amazing!

Elders Nordgren, Bates & Reheis, Wolffencia, Leila, Marc, Elder Hafen, Ernesley, Olgerry, us and Brinette

This week was full of usual and unusual missionary activities.  Sister Thigpen in the Mt Olive ward lost her husband in February and we went by to see her and help her complete her tax returns for last year.  We ended up going to Smithfield to help two Haitian friends open bank accounts because they were off work that day and the more local branch of the bank had a pipe burst and was flooded. 

Friday we took a Haitian couple to Goldsboro to help them get their marriage license.  The worker at the county registrar's office offered me a job!  Apparently they have a lot of Haitians coming in for various services and they struggle to know what they want or how to communicate with them.

Wednesday I took a p-day with my friend JR to go fishing.  We enjoyed the day, but caught no fish!

JR at Topsail Island

The young missionaries call us several times a day to help with lessons, if we're not already with them.  We spent a couple of nights in Mt. Olive and Goldsboro with them this week.  It seems to me that nearly everyone we talk to loves Jesus Christ and is so interested in hearing about His restored gospel.  It's so easy to strike up a conversation. We met one guy and I thought, based on outward appearance, that he would not really be interested in learning more.  He surprised me.  Not only was he interested, but he already know so much about the teachings in the Bible.  We had a great discussion and will be going back.  It seems that these people were prepared for these times and we feel blessed to be here with them.

We have our official release date.  It's June 16, 2025.  We'll be leaving North Carolina in 10 weeks.  We're grateful for the time we have left and will make the most of it.  We're not sure how we'll manage the emotions of leaving so many people that we love, but we'll try to not worry about that until the time comes.

We love you all.

Elder and Sister Potter