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