Happy 9th Anniversary

Mission Transfer Day

We received 19 new missionaries Monday, February 3rd.

Tuesday morning, February 4th they all gathered at the 

Charlotte Mission Office for their first breakfast in North Carolina 

The traditional mission breakfast is fresh fruit (pineapple, cantaloupe, grapes, strawberries and bananas), orange juice and chocolate milk, a delicious egg, sausage, cheese and 

 YES,  GRITS casserole. I'm liking the grits! 

Oh and since this is the place where Krispy Kream Donuts originated, they were served too!

After breakfast the new missionaries had a full day of training and orientation

 by President and Sister Craven and the Assistants. 

We were privileged to attend some of the classes.

We also had the traditional photos taken in front of the mission office,
all the new missionaries in a group photo
and with President and Sister Craven,

Transfers 

At 2:30 PM about half the missionaries from our mission began arriving at the Office to find out where they would be transferred and who their new companions would be. The building was full of excitement. It was great. These missionaries are truly inspiring to be around. I just love them!

Happy Day! We finally got to see Sister Hatton-Ward! She looks great!

There are wonderful ward members who help transport the missionaries to their apartments.

Sister Knight and Sister Beck (new companions) and Sister Hatton-Ward saying goodbye.

Sister Hatton-Ward and Sister GramaCindy

Wednesday morning we took Sister Hatton-Ward's bike to her new area apartment in Matthews, did an apartment inspection (which I'm happy to say,they keep a very organized clean apartment!), and got to hug her and her new companions, Sister Simmons and Sister Jacot.

Later that day we received an early Anniversary Package from Annette. Love getting mail!

Saturday morning, with the van and trailer loaded, Elder and Sister Andrus, Elder and Sister Cornelius and Elder and Sister Urban headed on an 9 1/2 hour trip to pick up an unused dresser in York, South Carolina, remove a broken washing machine and replace it with a refurbished washer in Fort Mill, South Carolina, remove furnishings and household items from a Senior Missionary apartment in Catawba, South Carolina, pick up a Sister's broken bike in Pineville, North Carolina and then got a call from a missionary who was in a bike accident in Matthews (he went to ER to be checked out and luckily just has a badly sprained wrist and bruises)....We went to check him out and then loaded his badly damaged bike in the last inch of space in the trailer.

Here's a basic map of our Saturday Adventure

I know that sounds boring but it really was fun! We are  enjoying the camaraderie with the other Senior Missionary couples.  We ate lunch at a delicious Noodles Restaurant in Fort Mill, South Carolina and later stopped at Cook Out in Rock Hill for Milkshakes and onion rings

 (healthy dinner, I know!) 

We saw some really beautiful country! Lake Wylie is gorgeous. I cheated on these photos

(Google photos helped me out) because pictures taken from the middle seat of a 

12 passenger van wouldn't have been that great!

Today we attended the first Ward Council meeting of our New Harrisburg Ward at 7:30 AM. Our new bishopric is getting the ward well organized and the council has great ideas for reaching out to unify the members and investigators too. There are 6 of us who are full time missionaries in the ward and they include us in all the planning. We've been asked to teach a Book of Mormon class on Tuesday evenings and we're excited for the opportunity to help in the ward and 

to study the Book of Mormon in depth.

Our First Walk

This afternoon we were able to take our first exploratory walk 

around our new neighborhood. I don't know if I mentioned that we have train tracks close to our complex. We really noticed it the first couple of nights we lived here but now we hardly notice the train whistle and thunderous clanking of the train! Today while we were walking we heard the train so we walked out to the street and up the road a piece to see if we could get a picture of the train. We made it in time to get a couple of photos and figure the train was about 10 minutes long. 

How many cars that is, who knows!

We're standing in a Baptist church parking lot taking the photo

This is the view looking back at our apartment complex (behind the trees)

Nine Years

On February 10, 2005 Tom and I were married. Looking at this photo still makes me giggle at the wonderful memory of that day. This marriage has been a tender mercy, 

a gift from our Heavenly Father for us and for our families. We are so very grateful!

It is a great reminder to me that the Lord knows each one of us by name, by our hearts, and by our sorrows. He prepares wonderful blessings for us 

if we trust in Him and keep His commandments.

I know the Lord knows the beginning from the end. We can't always see it.... 

In the Bible, the Lord said to Abraham, "My name is Jehovah, and I know the end 

from the beginning; therefore my hand shall be over thee" (Abr. 2:8)

That's a promise to all of His children.

God love us, each one of us. He is our Heavenly Father and wants us to be happy.

We know this is true!

We won't be taking a trip this year but we will be celebrating our 9th Anniversary

by serving the Lord on our special day.

We thought we were old then..........

We send our love to y'all!

Mission Office was BUSY this week

We began our week with Staff Meeting in President Craven's office. It was great to meet with our  President and Sister Craven. They are so busy and so dedicated and always have such a clear plan and positive outlook. They are quite inspiring leaders. It was good to get an overview of what was to come during this week...hopefully I will one day understand the whole picture!

Tuesday was the last Zone Conference before transfers and new missionaries 

coming this next Tuesday. It was the Charlotte Central Zone and was held at our Mission Office.

  I was happy to  be able to attend.

The morning was very COLD and Elder Urban was outside helping inspect the Zone vehicles. 

Car inspections and later vehicle safety training was given to the missionaries. 

There's a great guy named Steve who changes the oil in all the cars.

You might recognize the one on the left.....

Here's a better look. The missionaries LOVE his antlers!

Part of Zone Conference Training

Snow was forecast so all the schools (including the university) 

were closed in anticipation of snow. We waited and waited......

And finally a light snow began later that evening. Wednesday morning we awoke to about an inch of snow and North Carolina shut down! In all fairness, everything was very icy...

We didn't have to go to the Mission Office til 10 AM.
And YES, the schools were closed for a second day.

The view from our backyard of the apartment next to ours. 

I can't wait to see the trees in a couple of months. 

I've been told there will be lots of fireflies this summer hanging out in the trees!

The view from our hallway to the front of the building . Our garage in the 4th one from the left.

Looking out our door to the backyard

Looking at our Sun Room window (on left) where our desk and computer are.

 Our Front Door

We went to a Farewell dinner for Elder and Sister Bushman. 

I only wish that I could have gotten to know them better. I can tell they are amazing people!

 I ordered Barbecue Chicken (southern style), fresh asparagus and my first taste
of Cheesy Grits! (They were delicious but anything with that much butter and cheese
has to taste wonderful!)

Sister Bushman is our dear friend, Kerry Stenson's, sister and she lives 

about a mile from us in American Fork, Utah. Small world!

Thursday we got to take a road trip to the northern part of our mission, 

almost to the border of Virginia. Our goal was to take beds
and other furnishings to two mission apartments.
We were so close to Mt. Airy, 

where our granddaughter, Sister Hatton-Ward is serving. 

BUT we were obedient to the rules and didn't go see her! 

This is map of North Carolina from Charlotte to Mt. Airy. We drove  North on I 85
through Concord, Kannapolis, Lexington, Winston-Salem...

then on I 52 to King

past Tobaccoville (yes, Tobaccoville) and north til we arrived in Pilot Mountain.

Elders Morrow and Thurber were happy to receive their supplies.

It was a beautiful drive! This is a view of Pilot Mountain.

We also visited with two Sister Missionaries in Pilot Mountain, who had been in a car accident
the night before. I didn't get a photo of these two darling sisters
because they were not feeling up to a photo. Luckily they were not badly injured....
a little bruised and sore and shaken up. The members and investigators in Pilot Mountain
are wonderful to them. They are loved and have been well taken care of but
they needed some extra TLC and hugs and reassurance.
I was so grateful that Elder Urban and Elder Cornelius were able to give each of them
a Priesthood blessing. What a joy it was to feel The Spirit in their apartment
 and feel the comfort and peace that the Lord provides.
It was a Tender Mercy and a reminder that the Lord is mindful of each of us.
I was grateful to have been part of this experience.

We headed back south to deliver some new beds to Elder Stone, 

Elder Wright and Elder Schlather in Welcome , NC. Where in the world is Welcome, you may ask. (Look on the middle map above and it's about where the I 52 is North of Lexington)

Friday was another big meeting for the week. "ZLC" Zone Leaders Conference.

It's a privilege to be associated with these amazing young missionaries! 

They are the hope of our future!

Tonight we invited our Harrisburg Elders and neighbors,
 Elders Durfee and Youngstrom to dinner.

Our Annie Henry Painting finally was hung on the wall. So happy to be able to enjoy it.

This is our tiny kitchen as we were cleaning up from dinner. I managed to bake brownies, 

cheesy biscuits, a crock pot roast, mashed potatoes, gravy and salad 

with the limited space, limited bowls and pots that I have to work with. 

We only have 5 dinner plates so dishes are washed as we prepare. 

It's cozy and is beginning to feel like home :)

Elder Urban was delighted to taste these homemade brownies!

The only place to cool potatoes for potato salad that I'm making for Tuesday's lunch

for the 19 new missionaries. We feed them lunch and send them off

 with their trainers to their first assignments.

Dryers can be additional counter space when needed!

The new crock pot worked like a charm!

We send our love to you and pray that you will have a great week!