Scotts Air Force Base

Monday it rained all day, really rained. I think they said we got 6 inches of rain. All the little creeks and ponds are running and full. It flooded a few places, thankfully not by our apartment.  It was crazy but a good day to stay in.  By afternoon we both just needed to get out, so when there was a lull in the down poor, we drove over by Scott's Air Force Base. A lot of people in our Ward and Stake work there and we wanted to know where it was.  Of course we couldn't go on to the Base but we drove around it and looked at some of the planes from afar.  That evening we had a Zoom lesson with Bernard.  He is really loving all that he's learning about he church. I'm sure he will be baptized but is working on changing some things in his life before he can do that.

Tuesday morning we had an appointment to go back and visit with Howard Tate.  Before he was baptized he was a rapper in LA, SMURF G.  I was interested to learn more about that life but he was a little embarrassed to talk about it or have us listen to one of his songs.  He is such a sweet, quiet man. You would never think or picture him as a rapper.  After seeing him we drove around and met a few others, but still not feeling well, we went home for me to rest.  It has been a whole month and I just can't get feeling better.  I'm pretty tired of it, so I finally called and made an appointment to see a doctor.  I was a little embarrassed to go because I knew all I had was a cold, but a month is a long time!  So  I went and she was so nice.  She prescribed a steroid, antibiotic and cough med and told me to come back if that didn't knock it.  By the end of the week I was finally feeling myself again  YAY!!

Wednesday, Robert Taylor needed a ride to St. Louis for his Chemo therapy.  We didn't have our normal District Meeting so Dan could take him.  I stayed home to do a few things.  He was gone a good part of the day.  It was a hard appointment for Robert.  Whenever we visit with him, he is always talking about what he's going to do when he gets better.  His physician explained again, more clearly this time, that he wasn't going to get better. The treatments were just prolonging his life a little longer. That was a hard one for him hear.  We need to spend more time with him.  He is very lonely.  That evening we went over to the Trice's home and shared a Family Home Evening. She is a single mom with 3 fun teenagers and she has a number of health issues.  We had a very enjoyable evening with them.  

Thursday morning we had our District Meeting and President and Sister McKay were there for interviews.  We had a great interview with them.  He told us a little more about our Ward and some of the problems they've had in the past. It was very insightful. That afternoon I met with Amy Phillips who is our Relief Society President.  We started out talking about some of the less active members we'd visited. She shared  more about some of them that was helpful. Then the direction of our conversation changed and we began talking about the active members.  How even though they come to church each week, they won't take callings.  They don't want to help with doing anything extra.  It felt sad to me.  I walked away from that meeting thinking maybe our focus needed to change a little. That we needed to focus on loving, helping and serving these active members.  I've done a lot of thinking and praying about how to do that.  After a couple of days, a thought started developing.  The Mission's focus right now is "Light the World".  We started thinking about how can we "Light our Ward".  We worked together and came up with a little poem and idea of delivering cookies/treats anonymously to Ward members and then keep it going through Christmas.  We hope it will work. 

Please join the fun

The Season is here

To share your Light

With a Ward member near.

 

Please keep the Light shining by

following these directions:

Within 3 days fill this container with a new

treat and deliver to another Ward individual

or family, who hasn’t yet been "lit".

Once you’ve received a treat please place the

 “Light the World” square by your front door or

window so others will know you already received

one. Anonymously or not it’s all part of the fun!

Let’s Light the Ward!

That afternoon we went and visited with the Waidmanns.  Our favorite place to go.  They always give us food to have for ourselves or pass it along to others that need it.  As we were leaving the thought came to us that Jermaine Neal's family needed it.  He had called earlier that week and asked if their was any jobs that we needed done to earn a little extra money for his family. They are really struggling but he didn't really want to ask the Bishop.  So we called Jermaine and he was at work and wouldn't be home 'til about 9:15 that night. So we went then and gave them the food.  He was so appreciative.  While there, with their front door wide open, a bird flew into the house. Crazy!  We left so he could help his kids get the bird out of the house.  

Friday morning we went to the Temple and met the Anderson's.  They're another senior couple in the mission.  We went out to lunch after the session and had a fun visit with them.  It's always fun to learn what other MLS missionaries are doing.

Saturday, we desperately needed to go grocery shopping.  So we got up and did that pretty early.  Then came home and did some laundry before going out to do our visits.  

Sunday was a busy day.  It started with Ward Council where we began thinking about Ward Goals for next year.  The focus will be:

1.  THINK CELESTIAL.  

2.  FIND AND INVITE THOSE THAT NEED TO BE AT CHURCH .  

3,  STRENGTHEN OURSELVES AND OTHERS.  

This Sunday was our home ward Primary Program and Jane had a solo, so we really wanted to see it.  Emily sent us link.  Their meetings start at the same time as ours end. So we quickly said goodbye to our returning friends and investigators, found an empty classroom right there, and watched the program. Jane did a beautiful job  as did all the children. We are so proud of her. 

When we got home we had about 30 minutes before we needed to be to the Tillery's home for a visit.  So we fixed a quick dinner and left.  Sister Tillery is a single mom with a 17 year old daughter.  She has some struggles with anxiety and depression. We had a good visit with her and learned more about all that is going on in her life. She's a wonderful and talented woman. Our next visit was with the Johnstons.  They are a cute couple that live in this darling house. They don't have any kids. He is an Air Force Pilot and she designs homes, from home, with her father-in-laws company.  That was another fun and enjoyable visit.  Then on to a visit with the Andersons. They have 2 little kids.  The baby was sleeping and their 2 year old took a liking to Dan.  It was so cute.  He was ready to go home with us. After getting home Dan checked on how Robert was doing. He was struggling with the pain. Told him we would check in on him Tuesday morning and see if we could come by. That evening we had MCM.  What a great day!  We feel excited about our new focus and during church the thought came to me that I needed to let people at church know how much they are appreciated.  So I decided to send notes anonymously to different people and something I noticed about them at church.  We are hoping to build members up.  

We are so thankful to be missionaries and to be companions!  We love the work, we love the Lord and serving Him together.  What a happy time in our lives.