BASKETS AND THE BOOK OF MORMON

Today was basket #5.  I am so excited because one of the gals asked if I was always happy.  I was very surprised because I am always last in the talent and didn't realize I was happy.  I said "Yes"  She asked why.  What an opening to teach about our Savior, Jesus Christ.  I certainly hope I am living so people will want to know more.  I have a little plan for the next class.  I will bear my testimony in a loving way to everyone there.  I guess if I'm not supposed to do that in class I will get forgiveness.  I love this basket class and the opportunity to answer so many questions.  They now ask without hesitation
Tuesday we were invited to give a mini lesson in Zone Meeting on positive attitude.  We had so much fun. Dad was the introducer and I was an Elder's conscience.  I had a stuffed monkey for the bad advice in his left ear and the Preach My Gospel for the good advice in the right ear.  Of course Elder Oaks made the right decision.  What fun!
We love our mission president.  He is a great leader.  We had personal interviews.  He was not there for the Zone Meeting but came as soon as it was over.  Elder Bayles and I have gone together in the past but President Craven has us go separately.  It made me a bit nervous but when I entered the room the Spirit was so strong.  When President Craven asked if I would offer a prayer, shocker, I just started crying.  I am so blessed to be able to serve the Lord as a missionary.  He asked what my feelings were and I answered, still in tears, how blessed I am to be given the children we have.  I don't know of any way I could be more blessed than with these children and watching them rear and teach their children in such a beautiful way.  I am so proud of each one of them and love their mates so very much.  This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ at work. President Craven told Elder Bayles that we are well known throughout the mission, and that our influence has been felt among the missionaries.  That was gratifying to us.
We stopped at Fudruckers to have lunch.  Elder Bayles had eyes bigger than his stomach but emptied it when we got home.  He just isn't 40 anymore.
In our first meeting with President Craven, he invited us to get a new Book of Mormon and read it with two highlighters.  One was to mark the Doctrine of  Christ and the other was to mark the characteristics of Christ.

We decided we wanted to do this together.  We are to read one chapter a day but we are enjoying it so much we are two weeks ahead of where we should be.  The Book of Mormon is such a great book and we are learning every time we read.  The Stake invited us to read and finish it by Mother's Day which we did and were in Alma the second time around and now we are reading in Alma and with each other in 2 Nephi.  We just can't seem to get enough of that great book.  It is so true.

We are working out  at the gym in the Senior Citizen Center every morning.  I am now 10 pounds more than when we left and gaining.  So much for exercise.
We continue to work at the burn home.  The ward has been unbelievable.  They have a team out there every day or evening.  It should be finished in August and the family can move in.
Sunday Elder Bayles was asked to teach the Gospel Essentials class when he got the church.  I taught Relief Society so we do keep busy.  We get frustrated because we just don't have enough people to teach but we will not give up.  We will find someone.  We love the Caswell Ward and the great people who continuously treat us as family.  We love them so much.

Monday was Jonny Clark Bayles' fifth birthday.  We are so proud of him.  He is a joy to his family and loves his sisters and especially his brother, Riley.  He tries very hard to do what is mommy and daddy ask him to do. We love him so very much. 

This is a crape myrtle.  They bloom all summer.  They have pink, red, white and purple.  They're beautiful.

I Love Elder Bayles

A father's blessing upon the head of Mary Ann Head, daughter of Earl Head.  Blessed by Elders Hanson d. Bayles and Wm. A Pettey, Aug 15th 1905, Elder Hanson D. Bayles being mouth.
A father's blessing upon the head of Marida? Matilda Head daughter of Earl Head.  Blessed by Hanson D.. Bayles and Wm. A Pettey Aug. 15th,1905, Elder Hanson D. Bayles being mouth.
Sister Lovie Lenora Head, daughter of Earl Head, confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Aug 27th 1905 by Elder Hanson D. Bayles.
Bro.Eric Jones, son of James Jones, confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Aug 27th, 1905 by Elder Hanson D. Bayles.










  

46 YEARS AND STILL IN LOVE

We are now only doing our writing class at the ward.  Their stories are so good.  I don't have a picture 'cause Kristin took the cord to SC by mistake.  I'll send this blog when it gets here.  The people coming are enjoying it, especially the sharing part.  We just talk, laugh, write, talk, write, laugh and write some more.  It's just great.  Lots of good stories being recorded for future generations.

Thursday was my 5th tick.  I was just laying in bed and felt an itch.  When I looked there was my little friend.  Dad got him and put him on our calendar with the others.


Friday was our 46th wedding anniversary. Kristin blogged about it HERE.


We celebrated by shopping for a Britta and going out to dinner.  We were not in Yanceyville.
My great weekly accomplishment was losing my glasses.  Good thing I have 2 more pair here.  How can one lose glasses when they're supposed to be on your face.
Saturday the Eden Elders had a baptism.  We love going to baptisms; we just wish we had some in our ward.
That night we had a 24th of July celebration by having a quiz on the history of Caswell Ward and then watching 17 Miracles.  The people loved it.  We reminded them that they were pioneers and had settled a Zion right here in NC.
Granddad spoke in church Sunday and did such a great job.  He has such a way of teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I love to hear him speak.  It makes me want to try harder.
We love our family so very much.  I think that is one of the things I love most about the Gospel.  Our loving Heavenly Father developed a plan so that we could come to this earth to prove our love for Him and our Savior in families.  What a great plan.  We finally finished viewing the family reunion movies and feel so very blessed to be part of such a wonderful group of our Father's children.  We miss them but are not homesick like we were because we know they are doing what they should and love each other so much.  We are so very blessed. 




When the old home gets old you just move into a trailer and use the home for storage.

Just some buildings we see on our travels.

my favorite trading post

Oakley Grocery and Merc.

WE LOVE OUR COMPANIONS

Sept 4th  We got up this morning and after eating breakfast Elder Pettey and I got some leather and put new heels on our shoes, we the sang a few songs and afterng dinner we got ready and left Br. Keith's at half past two, and walked three miles to Biltmore where Elders DePriest and Johnson took the train for the east, and a few minutes later Elder Pettey and I rode to Arden and after walking about a mile we got to a friends place where we had stayed one night about a month before  after eating supper we attended a tent meeting of the "holiness faith".  It was ridiculous too see how they acted  At eleven o'clock we retired.

THE VISITORS

I forgot in my last blog to mention that Latyca had given a talk in church.  You would never know she has only been a member 5 months.  She has taught Relief Society twice and does such a good job. We just love her.  Brandon's mission papers are in.  He will go on his mission while she works on her masters degree. He is 23.

Elder Bayles gave a part in Sunday School class and when I looked up I thought I was looking at Uncle Mark.

the sanders

We continue to work on the burn house, at least Elder Bayles does.  It is all dry walled now so we are on the final painting.  It looks so good.  Brandon and his brother sure looked so funny after all the sanding.






We continue to work with the less active and part member families.  We finally met a member who is so wonderful.  We just wish he would come to church with his sweet wife.

Our new mission president has invited us to memorize D&C 121:33-46.

We are finished with our writing class but may continue with it in the fall.  They are so fun to be with.

Our highlight was when Kristin and family came for a visit.  The kids were able to play in the play yard next door and enjoy the out of doors.  Only Granddad got a tick.  Go figure.  We took the kids to Milton for pizza.  It's the best.  We have watched the family reunion movies over and over. It's all the kids ever wanted to watch.  We love it.  We are waiting for a quiet time to see the whole thing.

On Saturday we went to the wild cat refuge.  Kristin has done the visit much better than I can.  She will tell you much better than I can.  She of course has pictures.  They left today and the house is so empty, but definitely much quieter.For a summary of their visit, read the Batchelor blog HERE.

We passed this deserted church on the way home and thought the graveyard was interesting.     Some of the graves were even back in the woods.

In the summer the green vegetation is everywhere. There is a house in here, very old and broken down.

I love Elder Bayles more each day.  Pretty mushy huh?

Sun. Aug. 27th  We got up in good time and ate breafasst.  At eleven o'clock we held a sacrament meeting, and confirmed those who were baptized the day before, which consisted of four honest souls that were brot to a knowledge of the true Gospel.  After meeting we went home with Br. James, and after eating dinner we spent the afternoon reading & writing.  After eating supper & sitting around talking until nine o'clock we retired.

THEFT IN YANCEYVILLE

July 4th was eventful for us.  They do nothing to celebrate the day in Caswell County.  It was great that we started the day with district meeting.  We were in red, white and blue as were the elders and felt patriotic.   We love our missionaries.  After meeting we went to a memorial for the grandson of one of our members.  He was a young father who had committed suicide.  It was a very sad event.

This family is into sports.  These are pictures of their yard.  A daughter lives in this house behind the main home.   Who has a press box in their back yard?

                                                                       

The best part of the day was that we were invited to a family dinner at a great family's.  They had all of their family there except for their missionaries.  We felt so at home and it felt so good to be with a family on a day we love so much.  They are all active and doing good things.  We love the people here in the Caswell Ward.

We arrived home so very tired to find that someone had taken the cute chairs right off our porch.  Thank goodness we have a prison just a few blocks away to give them a living space.  There is also another prison a mile away and a jail 2 blocks.  I'm sure it's top on the list of people to apprehend.  The next morning we got a member who is a contractor to put a dead lock on our front door.  There is already one on the back.  We feel much better now.
We continue to visit with our investigators, less active members and part member families.  It keeps us busy but we wish we were teaching more investigators.  We love teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is true and the only way back to our Father in Heaven.  What a peaceful and loving plan.
I fixed a meal this week with Jesse's home canned pork.  I used Erik's JDogs sauce.  It was yummy.  I also made a sheep-camp dinner with it.  Jesse took us out for dinner one day.

We ate at a new home this week.  Justin's family is so wonderful.  They have two children who were so well behaved.  It was fun to be in their home.  She has rheumatoid arthritis so I can feel how she feels.  I love feeling the Spirit in homes.
We worked one morning on the home that burned.  The men in our ward have really taken the invite to work on the home to heart.  They are there almost every day.  In such a short time they have done so much.  The man in charge cannot believe how dedicated the ward is. It's been a great humanitarian effort.

Just got to let you know about the decor here.  We have seen this on Main St.  ever since we got here.  I guess it makes decorating for Halloween easier.

We continue to work in our little garden.  We love the boxes we made and find it much easier.  People here make our garden at home look like a miniature.  They plant rows and rows of corn, tomatoes (German Johnson is a favorite) cabbage, cukes, squash, okra and beans.  They can and can all summer.  I can't believe the quarts they put up.  Jesse wins first prize at the state fair.  He also takes first on his beef jerkey.  They call him the Jerkey Man.

beautiful plantation

The magnolia trees are so beautiful.  They're huge with blossoms the size of  a dinner plate.

This is a live bug.  We just think it's kinda cute.  Didn't even fly away.

Aug. 15th  We stayed at the Head's until after dinner and we blessed four of his children.  I also finished writing a letter to my Father.
Aug 25th We got up and after eating breakfast myself and companion, Bro Jones and Bro. Head went to the creek and fixed a place to baptize in which took in nearly all forenoon.  We came on back and ate dinner at Bro. Head's.  We then made out our reports and walked about 6 miles to mail them.
Aug. 26th  Got up and are breakfast and a we had a meeting appointed in a school house, we got ready and went there.  There weren't many out but we had a good time.  After meeting we walked to the P.O. and got our mail.  I received one letter from Eva.  We came on back and went to the place we had prepared and to our surprise there were about fifty-five people came out to witness the ceremony.  We held services for an hour and then the ordinance was performed by Eld. Wm. A. Pettey.  We then came on back to Bro. Head's and stayed with him over the night.

I love my Elder Bayles.

DOING THE WORK

I went to my fourth basket class.  It is a fun time and I am learning so much,  It is a joy to answer the questions the ladies ask abut the church.  I hope I am leaving a positive image of Mormons.  I was especially grateful because I was not the last one to finish.

We we able to meet with 3 sisters who live on the same road who we had never been able to visit.  They were nice to be with.  We went with Brother and Sister Page who are their home and visiting teachers.  They had not been able to get in a visit for 3 months so it was good for all.  We didn't get home until 9:30 and fell into bed.
We continue to work on the burned home.  It is really coming along fine now that the ward is helping.
We again had lunch with the Tabors.  They are so good for us and treat us like royalty.  They took us to the Country Club for the best chicken salad ever.  Chicken salad seems to be the food of Caswell County.  It is so yummy.  The country club is a room with card tables and chairs.  Not at all fancy.
We went to Virginia to get gas.  $2.96 a gal.
We had such a wonderful lesson with Gail.  She has a testimony and knows the church is true but she hasn't yet decided to leave her comfort zone of the last 15 or so years with her family,s church.  When Elder Bayles blessed Sister Aldridge' home (where we meet with Gail) the spirit was so strong tears fell down my face.  It was such a beautiful experience.  I love the Gospel.  I'm not sure I have ever felt the Spirit so strongly.
Elder Bayles made a turn onto a road and did not see a car coming. The Spirit had him pound his brakes which he did not know why. The car must have missed hitting him on his door by only 6 inches.  It left us so grateful for the protection of our loving Father in Heaven.  What would I do without him or the Gift of the Holy Ghost?

There is a lady who is suffering from the loss of her 32 year old daughter and the mutual decided to do a service project for her.  They worked very hard on her yard and we helped hoping it would give her a good feel for the church and she would want to know more.
Christine is now home and has a pace maker.  She seems to be doing very well.  We hope her family will realize how important the Gospel is and come back to church.
We had a good district meeting this week but it is getting very hot.  Our new Elder is Elder Moore from Washington.
Our writing class will not let us quit so we are going to keep it up.  They love sharing their  stories.  They call them snippets.  We will start a class after the 4th at the church.

gate to plantation with no fence

plantation

another gate with no fence  go figure

beautiful North Carolina

For your information the speed limit in Caswell County is 45 mph.  On a 4 lane highway with a passing lane in the middle making it 5 lanes the speed is 55 mph.  If you have an out of state license plate you don't go any over.  Crazy.

We met with our new mission president and wife on Saturday, President Craven.  It was an amazing meeting.  We love them already.  President Craven invited us to get a new Book of Mormon and mark it with two different color markers.  We are to mark the attributes of the Savior with one color and the doctrines of Christ with the other color.  He invites us to do this by Christmas.  We decided to do this together.  I LOVE IT.  We are having such fun reading round robin and talking about it.  We don't stop when he suggests but just keep going.  It's great.


I LOVE ELDER BAYLES

Thurs. July 27   We started out again this morning and after walking two miles a young man invited us to ride, which we willingly accepted and rode four miles to Statenville, and from there we took the train to Marian and from there we walked thirteen miles to Oldfort.  We waited until after twelve for the train and rode to Ashville.  We lacked three cents of having enough to pay for our ticket  but Elder Pettey traded a  six cents stamp for a nickle.  We got to Ashville at two o'clock and they wouldn't let us stay in the depot and not knowing where any Saints lived we laid on a lumber pile in a building that was just being constructed.