LUCY'S FACE LIFT!

There really is a Hundred Acre Woods

Well we finally got the mailbox scratch and the tree bump on "Lucy" taken care of.  Lucy looks much better and is happier as am I.  The lady who gave the estimate was pretty tough and said it would be $750.00.  I talked to her for some time and told her about our loving Father in Heaven, and how important families are.  She just got sweeter and sweeter.  The final cost ended up $450.  That's a great blessing for doing the Lord's work.  We gave her a copy of the Book of Mormon when we paid the bill.  She was quite thrilled.  She even got us a lower price on our rental car.  We had it for 3 days.
P-Day, Elder Bayles painted a swing we had in the back yard way up on the top of the hill.  When Kristin was here she helped us put it on the porch.  It is so fun now.  I would never hike up there to just sit.

We did some home teaching and visiting teaching this week.  We do it together and have the same families.  There are 14 families for us to visit.  We only have 4 left.  We'll get them tomorrow.  We went to FHE and were in charge of treats.  Dad made chocolate chip cookies from scratch.  They were yummy.

playing chicken foot

                       District meeting was again great.  We love Elder Cook and Bentley.

We had lunch at the sister's who lives on the top of a mountain.  We call it her enchanted cottage.  We love going there and she is alone and gets so lonely.  We love her.

cottage

leaving cottage

Three little frogs in pond from cottage

 One of the homes we visited is a less active man who has 25 pot belly pigs.  We just traded cats for pigs.  They really are cute and some are full grown and the size of Rags.  The home is in Hanging Dog.  We went to the ward's missionary training meeting and got home at 8:30, very happy but tired.

We were trying to find an investigator's new home when we got lost.  We came upon this most beautiful lake.  She lives where she can see this lake from her yard.

We went to Wal-Mart to get our flu shots this week and Elder Bayles ended up talking to the RN for over an hour about the church and especially genealogy.  She has gone to SLC to do work there.  We gave her a mini first discussion right there and gave her a copy of the Book of Mormon.  She said she would visit the family history center at the church,  Who knows?
Friday night after a long day a couple took us to dinner and then to the Murphy Bulldog football game.  I have never seen so many people at a high school game.  They only have 500 students but every inch of seating and grass was filled.  The cars had to park at Lowes and walk over to the game.  It was great to see a high school game.
Saturday we got up early to help a brother move.  He had lost his  wife and and couldn't live in their dream home alone.  We helped load the U-Haul his son had brought.  He is going home to Mobile, Alabama.  After that we went to the church to fill the font for a baptism for the Blairsville Branch.  It took 2 hours to fill.  A very sweet man, he thinks he might be related to William Wallace (Brave Heart)  He is so full of the spirit.  His family is not in favor of his decision but he knew it was the right thing to do.  Blairsville, Georgia, is a very special branch.  We got home early, 6:00 and I did the ironing and caught up on some things.  It seemed so good to have a minute.  I love Elder Bayles.

This is half a block from our house.

Pyramid (circa 1930) - Hitchcock Coit was a very colorful lady who traveled extensively and spent time in Egypt. She had this pyramid erected in honor of her grandfather, ARS Hunter who was the first white settler in the area. He had a trading post and traded with the Cherokee and the soldiers. He built a toll bridge across the river, ran a ferry, served as the first postmaster of Murphy and architect for one of the earlier courthouses. His name, those of his wife and niece are inscribed on the pyramid. Some say that the bodies lie buried beneath the base of the pyramid, but this has not been confirmed.

A street in Murphy and a home for sale close by.

Tues. July 17th. We stayed at Bro. Culler's until after dinner.  We then started for Winston-Salem after traveling until seven P.M. we commenced seeking for entertainment.  We went to one place & the man hid in the woods to keep us from asking him.  We then went on & after talking quite hard we got to stay with a man by the name of  H. T. Moore.

THE VISITORS

At one of the at least 10 flea markets within 10 miles.  Dad thinks he's in heaven.

The electrician came this week and fixed our lights.  It's so nice to be able to see in all the rooms. Got a letter from a Caswell investigator who said she knows the Gospel is true but just can't leave her church that she has gone to for so long.  We just wish we could help her see the importance of making covenants with the Lord.  We love her so much.
We helped with the food bank Tuesday and then went to our special family home evening.  It is made up of some single adults who just want to study the gospel together.  One of the men has been married for 62 years but has only been with his wife for 2 because she has been in prison since 1973.  He is such a good man and so lonely.  She is in Chicago and they talk on the phone every day.

Love district meetings.  Our Elders Bentley and Cook are great missionaries.

Elders Bentley and Cook

Thursday we went to Asheville for Elder Bayles to interview a young lady for baptism.  President Craven asked if he would do the ones in this area because it is so far from the mission home.  The lady is a paraplegic due to a gun shot wound from her boyfriend.  She was baptized Saturday.  She also has a tracheotomy so it was quite a deal but she was determined with a strong testimony.  On the way home we went through the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway.  WOW!

 

yes, he still collects water

Friday Kristin came.  We were working at the food bank and they finished our time with us.  It was so fun to see them.  She tells us of the visit in her blog.

Saturday evening we got a call from the primary president saying that the family we have been so excited about had their mother in the hospital and knew nothing about where the kids were or what was going on.  We left Kristin at home and jumped into the car and headed to the town where they live.  We were so concerned because the children have been so excited about the Primary program the next morning.  As we walked up on their porch we could hear the 3 beautiful little voices singing the songs for the program that the Primary had given them so they would know the words.  We can never describe the feelings of joy for that beautiful experience.  Our Father's tender mercies are so strong yet quiet and simple.  We put our faces to the window and knocked and heard, "The missionaries!"  They were so happy to see us.  Their good dad promised he would have them at church on time the next morning, and he did.  They were so beautiful sitting up there and knew every song.  They also did their speaking parts beautifully.  They had only been to Primary once.  Baylie was right on the front row and of course she knew every word and even did her part that she will do for her ward.  People came up to her constantly and told her how beautiful she is and what a great job she did.  Isn't Primary a wonderful organization to teach little ones about the gospel and give them the opportunity to gain self-confidence and learning experiences?  They are so loved by our Father in Heave and Jesus Christ.  Wish we could be more like them.

I taught Relief Society and again was so grateful for the gospel and the organizations He has given us to learn and grow.  There is such a strong sisterly bond in Relief Society.  The sisters have been so loving and kind to our little family.
I love Elder Bayles more every day.

Fri. June 29th  We left Bro. Rosser's at 10  A.M. and walked three miles to Osgood where we got our mail.  I received two letters one from Aunt Ann & one from Eva.  We then started for Sanford intending to catch the two o'clock train but when we got within two miles of there my companion took sick & we had to stop.  We sat by the side of the road for about two hours & finally two lumber wagons came along & we got to ride to town and as another train didn't leave until the next day we went to a hotel and got us a bed but the bed bugs were so bad that I had to sit in a chair most of the night to keep them from eating me up.

HUMP DAY

Smoky Mountains

We have started teaching our new family.  We try not to put names in our blogs to respect their privacy.  They are doing so great.  The first two visits we had to just stand or sit on the front porch.  The third visit they let us in but were embarrassed.  The next visit they had cleaned the living room an it looked so good.  The nest time we took a food order and they had really cleaned.  They were so appreciative of the order.

The children helped us carry it in the house.  The next time they had cleared off the couch table and had the scriptures on it.  They are trying so hard.  A member in the ward picked the boys up and took them to Scouts.  They loved it.  They told us they would be at church Sunday and they were.  They just looked so good all dressed up in white shirts and ties.  They loved it and will be in the primary program this Sunday.  All three of them have parts.  The primary president sent them home with discs of the songs so they could learn them.  They are so excited about the church.  They have invited us to their home for dinner on Wednesday.  We're taking the bread and dessert.  We love this family.
Tuesday was "Hump Day'.   After visiting with our little family we went to FHE and played chicken foot again (after reading scriptures)  We went to visit the couple in Hanging Dog but she was very ill with the flu. Her husband told us to go back by way of Hiwassee Dam.

 It was a very winding, beautiful road around the mountains to this beautiful dam that was built  by the TVA.  It was a lovely way to celebrate our half way mark.

  We ended at the church for Relief Society.  We got home at 10:00.  Great day.
Thursday we (4 sisters in RS) decorated and/or made 1,000 desserts.  It was for a function in Murphy called Holy Smoke.  Several churches in town donate food for tasting.  People pay $7 and go from table to table tasting all the food.  They always have the Mormons make the dessert because they do such a great job. People go there before they go for their food.  We made 100 cream puffs, 400 brownies with chocolate swirls with a white and brown chocolate stick stuck in it, eclairs, carrot cake squares, 200 cream cups with kiwi, blueberries, and Mandarin oranges on top. to mention a few.  We worked all day but the people loved it.  The money earned goes to a common fund to help pay materials for someone who needs a home built.  The workers help build the home.
Friday we had interviews with President Craven and Zone meeting.  It is always good.  We took the elders from Blairsville, Georgia to save them miles.

Elders Cook and Bentley

Smoky Mts. on way to Ashville

 Sister Craven stopped in with three if their daughters and their children.  Yes, I bawled when I saw them.  In our interview President Craven asked Elder Bayles if he would assist him by doing baptism interviews for the zone leaders in that it is so far from Charlotte. When a baptismal candidate may have serious sin in their background, such as abortion, or homosexual relations, they have to be interviewed by a someone with more experience, like the Mission President, or one of his counselors, or someone else he designates.   We feel blessed that he has asked this of us.
We love the newly baptized.  Donna had us over to answer some of her questions.  She studies so hard and has such well-thought questions.  We love to talk about the gospel.
After church Sunday we went up another mountain and visited with a couple who are investigating the church.  They are so great.

Lake Chatuge on way to investigator

 Their son swims for BYU.  The mountains are so beautiful this time of year with all the different colors.  We left them to go to dinner with a couple who were in charge of Holy Smoke (friends of another faith) They live right on the river. A former senior missionary couple who were back visiting the area were also there.   It is so beautiful in this part of the Lord's world.

mountain road

We love being missionaries in North Carolina.  We love the Restored Gospel of Jesus and reading the Book of Mormon.  We love that we have an eternal family who also love what we do.
I especially love my companion.

Fri. May 11, 1905  We left Massey's at nine A.M. and walked five miles to Bro. Jack Price's, arriving there about eleven o'clock.  We stayed with him the remainder of the day, in the afternoon we went to the river and took a bath,  We also tried our luck at fishing & I caught one catfish.

FINDING OUR WAY IN THE SMOKIES

See why it's named the Blue Ridge Mountains?

Now that we have settled in we have more study time in the mornings.  We love our study time.  The Book of Mormon is such a great book and we love studying Preach my Gospel.  We are learning that no matter where you serve you have appointments not kept.  It is so discouraging.  We won't give up but will go back until they say they don't want us there.
Tuesdays we have Family Home Evening with some single adults.  We read the Book of Mormon, have refreshments, and then play Chicken Foot.  You play it with dominoes and is really fun.  Ya'll
 probably know how to play it.  There are just 5 of us.
We went to visit a couple in Hanging Dog and they want to hear more.  That is so exciting.

Smokies
They live less thhan a mile from the Smoky Mt. National forest.  It is so beautiful.


Wednesday was District Meeting with the elders and the Silkers in Blairsville, Georgia.  It is always uplifting and refreshing to learn and be reminded of ways to do things better.  Brother Jesse came clear from Casewell to take us to lunch.  We met him after meeting in Murphy.  It was so good to see him.  It was like having family come.  (Don't know how I got this small print and don't know how to change it and Kristin's in the air.)

We had lunch Thursday with a member who lives as far up a mountain as you can get.  The road made us nervous after awhile in that it was so narrow and two cars could never pass.  It was a little Utopia.  She has named the bear that comes every winter.   She isn't even afraid.  She has been alone for several years since her husband died.  She's a trooper.  She lives on 15 acres of forest with only a little space for her home on the edge. She has patios everywhere.

road up

where her land begins  Hauns Mill

Check out this clothes line she uses.  It goes over a huge gully.

We are working with a family that needs so much help.  We just hope they will let us help them get things together so they can feel comfortable at church.  She is only 31 but has 3 children with the oldest one in sixth grade. They are members and want the boys baptized.  Hope we can help the Spirit make a difference in their lives.

house next to theirs

Friday was a "senior moment" day.  After studying we went to an appointment.   No show.  We went to Walmart to get things for the kids in paragraph above to do while watching conference so their parents could enjoy it.  We copied things off the web that was conference centered.  while waking out we decided to get a pretzel in that we had not eaten. Shocker.  We called Pres. Caron to talk to him about some families.  We wanted to make sure he would be home in that he lives up a mountain over an hour away.  He gave us directions on how to get there.  As we started out we realized Elder Bayles had not taken his medication.  We went home to get it.  As we were leaving home we realized that we had thrown the mission phone in the garbage when he dumped our tray.

split rail stock rack for the dog

We headed back to Walmart and went through the garbage until we found it. Yuck!

A settlement started by the Sacketts

 An hour later we finally head for Robbinsville where the president lives.  We couln't call him because you can't get service in the mountains.  We only went the wrong way twice for about 20 miles.  Their home is so nice with a stream running right in front sounding so refreshing.  Our grands would have jumped right in.  They have 19 acres of beauty.

Sure see some pretty country in our lost stages.  We loved the horses painted on this barn. It is a place for abused animals.

When we left we decided to find Pam and her son Cameron in Marble.  We were way wrong.  We called our ward mission leader twice and finally went up another mountain, past a fish hatchery to their home.  They were not home.  They never return our calls so we just have to go.  We finally got home at 8:00 tired but happy.  The kids sent us a picture of them at the BYU game.  Next year.     The picture of Kolton was so identical to Erik it was weird.  I just couldn't believe it wasn't him.
Saturday was such a great conference.  Every year I say it is the best one.  We took 2 sisters who needed rides.  We watched at the church because some of our investigators said they would be there.  No show.  No jammies.  There were 8 other people but we were happy to be with them.  We shared lunches between sessions.  Elder Bayles couldn't go to the priesthood session in that they couldn't make the satellite work.
We love being missionaries and serving the Lord.

Mon. Apr.16th  We arose in good time and after eating breakfast we went back to Bro. Massey's and stayed until after dinner writing etc.  In the afternoon we left the islands and went and saw a Mr. Howell (who was one of the school committee)to see about getting the school house to hold meeting in but he said that there was a law against holding meeting there.  We then went and saw the other committee man and he said that they were afraid if we held meeting that some one would burn it down as it is about in the same place where where our church was burnt down several years ago.  We then went up to Bro. Easton's and stayed all night.

NEW DIGS

Monday was a very hard day.  We started with a great P-Day but while at Wal-Mart we got a call from Brother Booth saying he just found his wife dead in their bathroom. He just wanted someone to be with him so he would not be alone.  I don't know why but he called us first.  It happened so unexpectedly.   They came the first day we settled in to welcome us to the ward.  Their son-in-law, Tim Bird, is a very close friend of Tiffani.   They graduated from Provo High together.  He lives in Atlanta, which is just 2 hours away.  We stayed with Brother Booth until 5:00.  It just hurt to see him feeling so empty.  I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ that teaches the truth about where we go after this life.  The viewing was Wednesday and the funeral was Thursday.  She was buried in Mobile, Alabama Saturday.  Our prayers are with the family.
That evening we taught with the elders and then came home to go over the area book.  We took them home and got back here at 9:30.  We found a package on our porch from Tiffani filled with Halloween decorations which we had so much fun putting up.

Kitchen when we moved in

kitchen now

It seems every day we work until 9:30.  These elders have shown us just what our own children did while on their missions.  They work so hard without stopping all day long.  I love their dedication and absolute obedience.  They are part of a mighty army of God.  Wednesday one went home and the other was transferred.  We are now on our own to teach these wonderful people in North Carolina.
Wednesday was district meeting.  The elders do such a good job of training us.  We are small, 2 elders and 2 couples.  It's fun to see another couple.  It's the first time on our mission that we have been near another couple.  After meeting the other couple went to lunch with us.  The viewing for Sister Booth was that evening.
Some members invited us to a concert Friday evening.  It was at the Campbell Folk School in Brasstown.  We were entertained by the Lone Mountain Band.  It was pure bluegrass.

 

corner where ya turn to go to the concert. It is called "Possum Drop" . They drop a possum on  New  Years  instead of a ball!

  

 

Blacksmith School at Campbell school

Saturday we worked on our talks for Sunday.  We went to Haysville and visited  6 investigators and one less active family.  That evening we met with the ward mission leader to go over the ward list.  It was very helpful.

bedroom before

bedroom after  (Do you get the idea that Sister Bayles is a little conservative?)

study area in living room and other side of room

fireplace

hallway

attic

Sunday we felt our talks went very well.  Elder Bayles talked on the restoration and I talked  on personal revelation.  That evening we went to visit a couple who were at church and are very interested in learning more about the gospel.  We love sharing it.

This country is beautiful beyond beyond belief.  I love the changing colors that are all around us.  It will be even better in a few weeks.  I love that Elder Bayles does all the driving and I can just enjoy.  I just love Elder Bayles.  (I love Sister Bayles!)

Mon. Feb 20,1906  We got up in good time and as Elder Montgomery was going to go  Raleigh to start for home he wanted me to go with him and as I wanted to have some teeth filled I borrowed six dollars of Sister Mollie's as I didn't have any with me.  So after bidding them goodbye myself and companions (Elder Hyrum Johnson) went to Raleigh with him and as his train didn't leave util half after three they walked around town while I went to a dentist and had two teeth filled which cost me two dollars.  After walking around town awhile we went to the Depot to see Elder Montgomery off.  And as our train didn't leave for about half an hour we thot we would walk around a little more but when we got back the train had gone and we were left.  So at five o'clock  we decided to walk back.  We arrived here at the Smith's at ten o'clock having walked twenty miles in five hours.  After eating supper we retired feeling quite tired after our walk.