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