Week 101

This week we visited a lot of people, taught several lessons, and said many good-byes. Here are just a few:

Fred came to see us and we took him to lunch at
the famous R-Mart!

We had a lesson with Alandjina and 
her little sister Leila. When we first
met Alandjina she couldn't read. Now
she is reading like a champion! I'm so
proud of her.

Sweet Leila--I'm going to miss her
like crazy. When I walked in their 
house she hugged me so hard. She
knows we're leaving, and it's going
to be tough. Today at church she 
hugged me and wouldn't let go. She
made me cry.

Dwight took three friends to Butterball to interview for jobs on Wednesday. Then later that night we had a fun Haitian Home Evening. The young missionaries gave a lesson, then everyone played ultimate Frisbee. Once they figured it out, they had a great time. I wish I had remembered to take a picture.

At Butterball, Luz (the HR lady),
Geramene, Luccius, and Jean.

Before Haitian Home evening lesson.

The young missionaries teaching the lesson.

On Friday night, the Young's (Bishop of Albertson and his wife, Lynetta--my seminary student and Dwight's cousin) had a gathering at their house to say good-bye to Albertson friends. I love these people so much! We took a few pictures.

Jerry Harper, D, Matthew Harper, S-- (I taught
Matthew in Primary--he always finds me to
give me a hug and to remind me that
I was his Primary teacher.

Dwight, Bishop Aaron Young, Lynetta, Susan--
I wish we could take them home with us!

Dwight, Melissa Wiggins (Lynetta's
sister and Dwight's cousin), and
Susan--Melissa is so sweet and has
the greatest laugh. She
makes me smile.

Saturday was amazing. We had a baptism that morning and that afternoon we went to the temple. We had seven Haitian men with us. The Spirit was strong all day.

Elders Hafen and Bates, D, Geramene, S,
and Elders St. Louis and Hansen. It's great to
have Elder Hansen back in the Haitian group.

The senior couple hiding in the back are the
Adkins. They are going to be taking our
 place when we leave.

Docteur, Belliard, Sister and Elder Potter, 
Evens, Cadet, Jonel, Edrice, and Nesley

Our temple crew

The young missionaries posted a picture on our mission chat of them with a friend that's going to get baptized on June 21. My heart did a flip flop as I realized we won't be here for that.

Elders Bates and Hansen with their friend.

Today at church the Haitian Group sang I Am a Child of God in Creole as I cried. They sounded beautiful. A few of them didn't use their books--they have the song memorized. Then after church the ward had a luncheon for us. We had no idea that was happening. It was all great until they asked us to say a few words. I, of course, cried. After Dwight spoke, Susan Hudson started singing God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again and everyone joined in. I looked over at Brinette (one of our young woman new members), she was crying. I'm going to miss her and her brothers so much. There are so many people we are going to miss. I could start typing names of all those we are going to miss, but three pages later, I would still be typing.

Brinette, S, D,
Olgerry, and Ernesley

D, S, Vickie and Chester Wiggins, Roseann 
and Bernard Jones. (The Jones are friends from
years ago. Them, the Wiggins, and we spent a 
lot of time together at T-ball and basketball
games with our children.)

Here is a picture of a place in Albertson that we pass almost every day. I've wanted a picture of it for 

months and finally got it yesterday. It's spooky cool!

That green stuff covering the water makes it look
like you could just walk out there.

Over the past two years, I've collected funny, interesting street names. When we lived here 40 years ago, the roads all had numbers. People usually gave driving directions something like this. Follow this road for two miles, turn left at the Baptist church. Drive for a mile and turn right at the rusted plow. When they gave the roads names, I can envision the people in charge of naming the streets seeing a rusted plow, and Voila a street has been named. Here are some of the road names we've seen:

Rusted Plow Rd, Sandy Foundation Rd, Keep On Keeping On Rd, Vine Swamp Rd, Lightwood Knot Rd, Huckleberry Knob, Bugger Hollow, Promised Land Dr, Buddy Boy Rd, Peggy's Path, Devil's Racetrack Rd, Popeye Dr, Horsepen Rd.

Then there are roads everywhere that reinforce the fact that we're living in the Bible Belt:

Emmaus Church Rd, Zion Church Rd, Garner Chapel Rd, St John's Church Rd, Stanley Chapel Rd, Northeast Church Rd, East Church Rd, Woodland Church Rd, Rone's Chapel Rd, and Mormon Church Rd.

And last peoples names:

Susan Ave, Dwight Dr, Karen Sue Ave (obviously named after my sister and me), and Miss Laura Lane (of course, named after another sister). :)

I love driving through the country roads and seeing the road names that give the area even more personality.

We have one more week left, and our schedule is already full. Maybe we'll have time to pack. Whenever I think about leaving, I feel blessed that we have had the opportunity to serve here among people we already loved and people we grew to love. It wouldn't be so hard to leave if there weren't so many people who have set up camp in our hearts. We will always be grateful for our time as missionaries in North Carolina. God has blessed us to feel a little of the love He has for His children.

We love you all!

Sister and Elder Potter

Luncheon after church