THE LAST DAYS

18 months

Our last P-Day in the mission field and we had such a grand time.  The Silkers had invited us to go gem mining with them for some time but it rained every Monday so we decided rain or shine we would go.  It was a beautiful day and perfect weather.  We left home at 8:00 and got back at 6:30. 

 We all found some sapphire but Sister Silker found the biggest of the day, 10.35 carats)  We were so excited for her.

  It was so much  fun getting muddy and playing in the dirty water all day.  

We had a quick lunch and mined 'till we couldn't.
 We got home exhausted, showered and hit the sack.
We had a wonderful dinner with Mickey and her husband.  The Moose's name is Pitiful.

  We took our little family to dinner to say good-by.  It was the last time we would be able to see them.  We went to an all you can eat buffet which the boys loved.  We could not believe how much they ate.  We think they out ate the elders.  It was fun.
The Forth of July the new mission president, President Irion and his wife, came from Knoxville to see the Murphy area.  They stayed several hours and we showed them an apt. they may want to use for missionaries.  We think the switch will be easily done.
At five o'clock we went to the Fradys' for dinner.  We were going to fish but the constant rain prohibited it.  Elder Bayles made some walking sticks for them ad they loved them.  Cori cried.  Elder also gave Jeff a new site for his 17.  H was so surprised.  They are such good people and we love them so much.  They were the very hardest to leave  It was so difficult.  They will for sure make it to the temple.  Oh, for the record for dinner Cori fixed a spinach and fried onion salad and I had seconds.  I hate these crying good-byes but we bawled.
I just put in some pictures to remind me of Murphy when we get home.

Friday we got up and continued packing.  We figured we would be through at 5:00.  As we began loading we decided we would leave as soon as we were through in that President Irion took our keys to the church and to our house.

Tell me there's nothng else.

 We loaded and at 5:30 we drove off.  Our next door neighbor, Jim Morgan, came out of their house (Kay) and handed us $50 for gas.  What a nice man.  We decided we would buy a picture book about North Carolina instead of gas.  We have wanted one ever since we came but all books about NC are of the beaches.  We will find the one we want.
We got to Kristin's at 10:30 dead tired driving through beautiful mountains and rain, rain, rain.  We stopped at Clemson. 

 We fell into Baylie's bed and were asleep in no time.
We tended the kids while David and Kristin went to a funeral.  The kids watched a movie while we fell asleep. 

 When they got home we went to Texas Roadhouse for lunch in that it is fast Sunday tomorrow.
  We came home and fell asleep on the couch, again.

Sorry but there's no way Elder Bayles is unpacking to find grandpa's journal.  Not good planning on my part.

ASHEVILLE ZONE P-DAY (before Tennessee, Knoxville)

Asheville Zone Missionaries June 2013

What a glorious day we spent with our missionaries, the mission staff and President Craven and his sweet wife. 

 We met in Bryson City at a park and then drove to the Smokey Mountain National Park (15 min.) to the Deep creek Falls.  The missionaries were so thrilled to be out of their Sunday clothes and into the Smokey Mountains.  We hiked for several hours and saw three beautiful falls. 

 Our Father in Heaven and His Son have given us such a green, lush forest to enjoy.  We love serving in this part of His vineyard.  After the muggy heat and sweaty faces we headed to Cherokee for a dinner put on by the Silkers and us.  We had yummy pulled pork sandwiches, (huge buns filled to overflowing) chips, watermelon, and two large cakes. 

 They ate ‘till they couldn’t eat any more.  Our Elder McDonald downed 5 sandwiches.  I almost got sick.  It reminded me when Clark ate 17 slices of French toast and I had to leave the kitchen before I got sick.

We then went into the Relief Society room to be trained by our president.  He knows just how to reach everyone.  It was so good no one wanted it to end.  Sister Craven then gave a short lesson and President Craven opened it up for testimonies.  How strong the youth of Zion are.  These missionaries are so obedient and filled with faith in our Savior.  

There is no need to fear for we will continue to be led by strong men and women in this restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  We headed home, tired, worn out, full of food and inspiration, wanting to stay for another 18 months so we could be a part of this great wave of missionary work that is coming to prepare the earth for the second coming.  It’s so exciting. 

After the meeting everyone signed the Craven's tablecloth.

 We got home at 10:30 and dropped into bed.

Tuesday morning found Elder Bayles driving to Georgia to give the elders their phone they had left.  We love them.  He had to hurry back so Lucy would be here for her eye appointment.  The window is now fixed.  

Wednesday we attended a YW cookout along the river at the Fradys’.  He is doing so well.  The 3 girls loved holding the goats and petting all the animals. 

Melanie (investigator) Elizabeth, Cherokee

The meal was yummy as usual and the Spirit strong.  After they left we stayed until 10:00 just hearing him express thanks for the peace he now has in his life knowing our Father’s plan.   Without hesitation he offered our closing prayer as we all knelt.  What a powerful thing the Gospel is.  It indeed changes lives.

Early Thursday morning we headed out to Bear Paw, by the dam to visit our progressing investigator. 

 She is so amazing.  At her Baptist church where she is a Sunday School teacher, they all come up at the same time and pray.  She prays for our Prophet and says thanks for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  She used to pray silently but now she prays vocally.  Everyone is praying at the same time and she doesn’t care if they hear her or not.  She’s absolutely amazing.  Her testimony is so strong.  She will be baptized but some things have to happen first which are already in the plan.

We took one of our home evening families for ice cream to say good-by.  It was a fun time and the children enjoyed it.  It’s so much fun to do things for other people.  We looked at the weather for the next 10 days and all of them say rain.  So far true.

We took R & R to Rib Country for dinner.  Yes we are porking it on.

old home along the Santeetlah river

Guess who fell in?  Shocker, only the wallet this time

We had a great Saturday with the Fradys.  We started by them picking us up at 8:00 A.M. and then going to Robbinsville to fish.  We spent the entire day fishing, cooking, hiking, sight-seeing and just enjoying an entire day together.  

I ate the whole thing

not the bones  It was so yummy. Another shocker.

Brother Frady wanted to show us the beauty of his country.

The highways in North Carolina.

stream

I told you it rains 8 out of 10 days.  Moss is on everything.

They gave us an absolutely beautiful day.

It was a day we needed to remember the beauty of this marvelous area.  We got home at 10:30 p.m.
I love Elder Bayles.

Tues. Aug. 14th  We left Bro. Garmon's in good time & continued on our journey.  After walking eleven miles we got to John M. Wilson's at 11:30 A.M. & stayed with them the remainder of the day.  We bot a watermelon from a negro for 15 cents.
Tues. Sept 4th 1905  We left Robinson's in good time & started for Benaja.  After walking 24 miles we arrived at Benaja at 6 P.M.  After walking about a mile farther we commenced asking for entertainment & after being refused once we got to stay with a man by the name of R.H. Chandler where we were treated very friendly.  We had quite a time fighting "chinches."