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."