Week 99

I was looking at this week's pictures and had to double check my calendar to make sure all these events were actually this week. We started out by leaving the house early on Monday morning and heading to Wilmington and the Battleship USS North Carolina. We had another senior missionary trip to this location. All the missionaries (except us) weren't here for the trip last year. It was easy to plan because Dwight had done it all last year. After the Battleship we went to Fort Fisher to eat lunch at the beach. We had a great time getting to know some amazing couples.

Elder and Sister Berglund and Us on the ship

Susan sitting in the Captain's chair

All the senior missionaries and one young service
missionary who came to serve with his parents

Elder and Sister Berglund (Eagle's Nest Camp
missionaries) and us. They attend the Mount Olive
Ward with us and have been very helpful with
the Haitains--driving members, piano playing, etc.

When we were done at the beach, we headed to Raleigh (2 1/2 hour drive) to celebrate our granddaughter, Elayna's, birthday. She had a "Wicked" themed party. She loves singing along with Elphaba and Glinda. It was fun watching Elayna and her Potter cousins play together.

Elayna with her fancy "Wicked" cake

Tuesday we had several lessons during the day with Provilene, Geremene, Maria, Wolffencia, Desca, and Brinette. I love all of these girls! That night we went to dinner with Doug and Paulette Jones. They are an awesome couple. It is evident how much they love each other. We had a fun evening with these wonderful friends.

Doug, Paulette, Susan, Dwight

After dinner we attended our last Ruritan Club meeting. We've enjoyed getting to know the people of the community of Albertson better. We will miss this group.

On Wednesday we left early to pick up friends in Mount Olive and Goldsboro and then headed to the temple. One of the ladies that came with us is not a member of the Church. She came with Jean Claude. She walked around the temple and then sat in the waiting room. When we went to get her, there were three temple workers (one was the Temple President) trying to communicate with her. She was given VIP treatment. The Temple President gave her a magazine all about the temple with lots of pictures. She felt very loved. Later that afternoon we took two people to the doctor and went on visits.

Wilinka, Dwight, Susan,
Jean Claude's friend and Jean Claude

Thursday we took Geremene to Goodwill to help her buy some clothes. She seemed to really enjoy our shopping trip. Everything she tried on she wanted to buy. That day we also had several visits in Mount Olive. We had to hurry back to Albertson for our last fish fry at Sandra and Melvin Dixon's home. We didn't know it was going to be a "say good-bye to Dwight and Susan" dinner. They gave us awesome Albertson tee shirts. They also made a fun gift. It's a piece of wall art made out of boards from the old church for which Dwight's grandfather donated the wood. The plaque on the board says "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Established 1907, In memory of Needham Tyndall Potter." What a thoughtful gift that will be treasured.

Melvin, Dwight, Susan, Sandra

Dwight and Susan

On Friday morning we went to say good-bye to a dear friend who passed away. Noreen was a talented pianist who was ALWAYS willing to help anyone with special musical numbers for church and other things. We worked on many songs together. I remember helping her move into her new house 35 years ago. She was kind to everyone and had a quiet grace. She taught a few of my kids piano lessons. She and her husband Paul had chicken houses when we lived here so many years ago. One day Paul went to help Dwight and his Brother Parley with our greenhouses, so I helped Noreen pick up eggs. We first went to the chicken house that she normally worked in. It was amazing how calm the chickens were. I'd stick my hand in a nest and the hen would scoot over and let us take the eggs. Next, we went to the chicken house that Paul normally worked in. That house was noticeably noisier. Those chickens tried pecking at me every time I stuck my hand in a nest. I asked Noreen why her chickens were so calm and Paul's chickens were so mean. Her answer was something like this, "Chickens learn from their caregivers." The chickens in Noreen's house learned that she was kind and gentle and responded in kind. I bet if you asked anyone that knew Noreen, they would say she was a kind and gentle person who loved to share her talents. We love you Noreen and will miss you! Paul is also very kind--just maybe not to chickens. :)

Noreen Fredriksen

Later that morning Dwight took his friend fishing. Sadly he didn't take any pictures. I stayed home and caught up on laundry and other things that went undone this week.

Saturday morning was Wolffencia's baptism. I love that girl so much. At one of her lessons this week, we were finishing up, and she said, "Wait, I have a question." Then she proceeded to ask how missionaries are called, and other questions about being a missionary. She said, "I can do that. I want to do that." Who knows, in a year, she may be getting a mission call.

Elders Bates and Nordgren, Dwight, Susan,
Leila, Wolffencia, Marie, Alandjina,
 Elders Hafen and Reheis

Saturday afternoon and evening we had a Haitian Group celebration at Eagle's Nest. We were celebrating one year since the Group was formed. There were lots of Soccer (Futbol) games played, friendships strengthened, paddle boats ridden, marshmallows roasted, and good food eaten. (Unfortunately, not many pictures were taken.) One of our friends even tried out the golf cart. We decided that was a safe way to learn how to drive.

Eagle's Nest driving lesson

Paddle boat fun

Today Dwight and I spoke in church. When we got home from the activity on Saturday night, I finished writing my talk. I was done at 9:00. When I reread it, it just wasn't right. I needed to start over. I deleted the talk before I could talk myself out of it. I can't remember ever doing that before. I've changed parts of a talk, but I have never started completely over. When I finished writing last night, I felt so much better about what I was going to share. I'm glad I listened to the prompting I received.

After church today, we had the privilege of taking our friend Alex to get his Patriarchal Blessing. What a wonderful experience.

I am worn out all over again writing about all the things we did this week, but I wouldn't change a thing. I loved spending so much time with so many of our friends. I love the people in this area more than I can say. They are part of my heart. I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father gives us opportunities to serve and love His children. He could take care of everything on His own, but he allows us, His imperfect children, to help and grow.

Thank you all for your support! We love you!

Sister and Elder Potter

Week 98 - Dwight Count Down Week 5

Jean Claude, 1st Haitian new member in Mt Olive

On March 10th of last year, Jean Claude (76) was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the first Haitian new member in the Mt Olive ward.  We've been through a lot together.  He's been through a divorce.  He's nearly going blind now with glaucoma.  There have been ups and downs and through it all we are good friends.  Today he went to see the bishop to get a temple recommend and we're going to do baptisms for his family on Wednesday.  During the interview he found out we would be leaving soon.  We thought everyone already knew.  When he came out, it was one of the sweetest, and at the same time most heart-breaking moments of our mission.  He said in broken English, "Brother Potter, you didn't tell me you were leaving.  You're leaving and never coming back."  Tears were streaming down his face.  I reassured him we would be back to visit.  It was a stark reminder that our time is short and it's not getting any easier.  We bought a few boxes so we can start packing, but neither one of us has had the heart to actually start (plus, we don't have any tape).

We had two new members confirmed today that were baptized yesterday.  We helped Leccius move to Mt. Olive in January.  Although he's legal to work, he was living in a work camp earning meager wages.  We wanted to help him find better employment.  We found out he had very poor vision in his pre-employment physical.  That led to discovering that he had glaucoma and pretty severe cataracts in both eyes.  Now, four months later, he's on meds for the glaucoma, he's had two successful cataract surgeries and the doctor is a member of the Church that has been touched by the whole process as well as his staff.  Wednesday we have hopefully the final surgery follow-up visit and hope to get him a final pair of glasses and he should be able to start work in June. The doctor said that the surgeries, his vision improvement and his pressure from the glaucoma are all significantly better than he could have imagined.  Leccius rightfully sees all this as a miracle.

Maria we've only known a few weeks, but she is a very sweet person who loves Jesus Christ.

Elders Nordgren & Bates, Leccius, Dwight, Susan, Elder Hafen

Elder Hafen, Dwight, Susan, Maria's mom and sister, Maria, Maria's brother, Elders Reheis & Nordgren

Recently we started having the Haitian Group meet together separately twice a month for sacrament meeting.  We quickly realized we still needed translation services for those visiting that don't speak Creole.

Elder Bates translates back to English today

I realized today that we are woefully behind on our goal to make sure each Haitian member's picture is in the ward directory before we leave.  So, I started taking pictures.  We had four of the five Haitian young women there and snapped their photo together.  It is just so great to see them together and to see the joy on their faces.  We feel so bless to know them and all the Haitian members.

Ruthnael, Wolffencia (getting baptized this week), Brinette, Monica

This week, one of our new members, Provilene, asked us to stop by and talk to her aunt, Geremene, about work.  She wanted us to also share with her our beliefs and we had a wonderful, spirit-filled discussion.  We've been back twice this week since then and she came to church today.  Once the Haitians join the Church, they are most anxious to share it with their family and friends.  Never seen anything like it!  Geremene is quite amazing with lots of questions.  Such a joy to get to know her.

Provilene, Jaden, Geremene

It feels like we have so many opportunities to serve every week.  We had a bed donated we were able to deliver to Maria this week.  We participated in our Wednesday night Haitian Home Evening and had about 20 people there - starting to grow!  We were able to participate in a bunch of lessons either on the phone or in person.  I took my buddy JR to lunch, which was actually a treat because we went to Murray's Restaurant in La Grange, NC and they cook some of the best country food in NC! We went to the Lafortunes twice.  Once was for Evena's birthday party (She turned one).  A Haitian birthday party may be a little different from what we do here.  They invite all their friends.  They hang out, they cook, they eat and they laugh.  We were treated to fried fish (pwason fri), grilled pork (kochon griye), pikliz (spicy cabbage and other vegetable salad), diri ak djon djon (black rice with mushrooms), fried plantains (bannann fri), and a pasta dish I don't know the name of.  Sadly we didn't get a picture of the food, but we did get a picture of the birthday girl.

1 year old Evena

Bed delivered to Maria

Musical Chairs at HHE

With count down week 5 done, we only have 4 weeks left.  This next week we have a lot scheduled and that should keep our minds focused on the here and now and not worry about what's coming.  We're grateful for the time we have left and for the people we've been able to help in some way, but it pales in comparison to how we have been blessed by everyone here that has touched our lives.  We have built and rebuilt everlasting friendships and will never forget these experiences and the people we love.

Love,

Elder and Sister Potter

Week 97

In addition to lessons and visits this week, we started our "Farewell Tour." When our friends realize we're leaving soon, they want to feed us. We've been filling our calendar with dinner appointments with people we are really going to miss. This week we had dinner with the Jones, Wiggins, Wards, Hargroves, and Dixons.

Before I tell you about all those dinners. I have to tell you about a dream come true... I got to sit in a fire engine! We helped with an appreciation dinner for the volunteer fire fighters in Albertson... and voila! 

We've known the Wiggins and the Jones (below) since... forever. Since we've been on our mission we've gone out with them once every three months. We're going to miss seeing them so often.

Chestser and Vickie Wiggins, Dwight and Susan,
Bernard and Roseann Jones

We met the Ward family at the beginning of our mission. We spent a lot of time in their home teaching their granddaughter, Claire. They have also fed us too many times to count. They have become great friends, and we will miss them.

Clifton Huggins (Sheila's dad), Dwight and Susan,
Steve Ward, Claire (granddaughter), Sheila Ward,
and Jordan (daughter)

Darry Hargrove is another friend we have known forever. It's been amazing getting to know his wife and grandkids better. They are so much fun and so kind. Today Darry spoke in the Albertson Ward, so we went to hear him. That is the "huggiest" ward I've ever been in. I can't tell you how much I love all of these people.

Riley and friend, Darry and Shelby Hargrove,
 Susan and Dwight

Dwight has known Sandra (below) since he was five years old. She is his elementary school buddy's younger sister. Sandra and Melvin took us on a Duplin County field trip one day this week. First we went to eat at a Mennonite cafe and store. It was so much fun, and the food was great. We bought homemade ice cream, bread, jam, and an apple pie (after we ate lunch 😋). On the way home we stopped at a furniture place. The furniture is made by the Amish and sold by a Mennonite. There are a few pieces I would love to have by my pool. After the furniture store we drove around a beautiful lake we didn't even know existed. We had so much fun, we decided to go out at least one more time before we go home.

Dwight and Susan,
Sandra and Melvin Dixon

As always we love meeting with the young missionaries. This week we had District meeting in Mount Olive.

There was one time this week that two of the young missionaries were waiting with Dwight and me at the church while the other two were in a meeting. I don't think I've ever seen these guys take a break, so it was good to see them have a little fun.

Elder Hafen learning how to balance

Elder Nordgren showing 
off his skills.

We took a few pictures of lessons. 

Maria doesn't have furniture yet, so the young
missionaries sit on the floor. Dwight and I 
bring our camp chairs. Maria is a sweetheart!

Sanette sat just inside her front door
with her 5-week-old baby. Everyone
else sat on the porch around the
front door.

Brinette and her brothers are always a highlight!
I love these kids!

Wolffencia accepted a baptism date. She is a
really special young lady. She's been bringing
her little sisters and niece to church for months.

We had a baptism on Saturday and another one today. The young man that was baptized yesterday was a witness at the baptism today. He was all smiles!

Elders Bates, Hafen, and Berglund,  
Pharel, Dwight and Susan

Elder Bates, Julio, Elder Hafen

Happy Mother's Day to all the women. I have been blessed with two wonderful mothers and with teachers at church and school, grandmas, aunts, neighbors, and friends that loved and nurtured me.... wonderful women that gave their love, time, talents, and emotional support. 

"No love in mortality comes closer to approximating the pure love of Jesus Christ than the selfless love a devoted mother has for her child." --Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, October 2015

We love you all!

Sister and Elder Potter

Week 96 - Dwight, Countdown week 7

 

Zone Conference with Elder Corbett

Susan intended to include a picture of those that attended the Zone Conference in week 95 with Elder Corbett.  Needed to get it in the record!

This week has been another full week of going and coming and teaching and service and learning and much more.  When we're not out and about (and even when we are) we're getting calls from the young missionaries to help with lessons.  I'm not sure how we will cope with not having these activities every day.

Monday was a p-day with my friend JR fishing.  We caught a few fish, and he loves it, but we've decided that we need to find another hobby because he pays for it with feet pain for the rest of the week.  So, next time we'll just go to a nice seafood restaurant and skip the painful part!

Dwight catching 2 at a time!

Our friend and new member Provilene could not go with the group to the temple on April 26 because she had to work.  So, we decided to take her to the temple for her own trip on Tuesday morning.  She's still trying to find her own family name, so she did some baptisms for our family.  There's no doubt she felt the spirit of this work; as we completed the baptisms, she was beaming.  For us, it was a special temple trip and she left feeling she had a significant experience with the Holy Ghost.

Dwight, Provilene, Susan at the temple

Wednesday was another great day!  We picked up Greg and Alex to take them to the temple.  Alex went to have his stepson sealed to himself and his deceased wife.  This was his 2nd time in the temple and in a sealing room, since he went for the 1st time last year.  Greg went to have his father and mother in law sealed to each other, then to have his wife sealed to her parents.  After these emotional and spirit filled sealings, there was not a dry eye in the room.  What an amazing experience!  Families really are forever!

Susan, Dwight, Alex, Greg

Alex with a snap dragon blossom

The temple grounds are always so beautiful.  Susan loves snap dragons because they're fantastic and it brings back special memories with her grandpa.  She was showing Alex how the blossom has a "mouth" that opens and one of the blossom fell off.  Alex picked it up to take it home to show his grandson.  He was just so impressed with it, he couldn't stop talking about it.  I suspect that Greg, or we, or both will be getting him a snap dragon plant very soon!

Wednesday nights are for Haitian Home Evenings.  We're still trying to increase attendance, but those that attend have a great lesson, great activity and great treat!

Haitian Group enjoys HHE treat

Elders enjoy HHE treat

One day this week, not even sure which one, we visited with Leccius with the young missionaries.  Leccius is the Haitian friend that's had two cataract surgeries and discovered that he also has Glaucoma.  He's doing great and feels like he's had two miracles in his life.  The day we visited him, he committed to be baptized and is just so happy.  He has another doctor's appointment next week that hopefully will take him off of any restrictions and he can start working again.

Elder Bates teaching Leccius

Elders Haffen & Bates, Leccius, Dwight

Thursday we had Zone Council.  I'm always impressed when I see the young missionaries leading and training each other.  Later we spent most of the afternoon/evening visiting with them in Goldsboro.  Always good hanging out with these Elders and seeing how hard they work every day!

Zone Council

Friday we had to start preparing for the wedding to be held on Saturday - yes, we're playing wedding planners again!  Late that afternoon and evening we went with our young companions again to visit some folks in Mt. Olive and Warsaw.

Saturday was completely full, between a baptism of a beautiful young girl and working around everything on the wedding.  We had our hands full.  Marie Stacy Elsie Lindsay Poliscar (10) was baptized Saturday morning.  It was a beautiful service with her two young cousins (baptized within the last few weeks) serving as witnesses.  Marie's dad wanted to name her after all the wonderful women (moms and grandmas) in her life.  A fitting tribute as we approach Mother's Day.  

Elders Reheis & Norgren, Leila, Wolffencia, MARIE, Alandjina, Susan, Dwight, Elders Haffen & Bates

After the baptism we headed to Goldsboro to prepare for the wedding.  We were assured by this couple (Vonia and Holgrin) that our normal one to two hour delay in Haitian wedding start times would not be the case this time.  "Five o'clock means five o'clock."  It started at 6:30!  I felt terrible because there was a miscommunication on who was suppose to contact the photographer and no one did!!!  The bishop has a friend he was able to call last minute and, phew, she was able to get there in 20 minutes.  It was a very nice wedding and they looked so happy and grateful for everything.  We're actually considering a new career when we get back home - - - NOT!

Sample of the wedding decorations

Bride & Groom, Bishop Heath

A couple of sad notes from this week.  We learned that our dear friends, the Johnsons, a senior missionary couple that got split out of our mission when a new South Carolina mission was created, had to go home early because of potentially serious health issues.  We've been praying for them every day.  Also, our Haitian Brother Alin Pierre Louis, who we've known for over a year now, decided to move to Canada to live with his sister because he believes he'll have a better chance of getting his wife and young son out of Haiti to live with them there.  It was hard saying goodbye.  Makes me think how much harder it's going to be when we leave here.

We're just so glad that family and friend relationships don't end here.  There are nearly 8 billion people on this planet, all children of God.  We get to have family and friend relationships with just a few.  It's my belief that we'll always have a special relationship with those we share this earth-life with.  Eons from now, when we look back together, we'll be grateful for those that helped us make it through the good times and the hard times.  We say it all the time, but it's true.  We're so thankful for all of you, our family and friends, without who's support we would struggle.  We're also thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who gave us all a wonderful plan and for His Son Jesus Christ who makes that plan possible.

Love you all,

Elder Dwight and Sister Susan Potter