Mission Journal

September 6, 2012 – Thursday

Brother and Sister Pieper burned a CD for us to give to LE called The Olive Tree.  LE is going to sing it at church soon, I’m excited.  We also met with SH.  Sister Pieper made some brownies for her and we met her at Wal-Mart before she left Beaver Dam.  She has cancer and is having to travel to Louisville for treatment.  We’re all praying for her.

September 5, 2012 – Wednesday

District meeting was held in Morgan town.  Elder Haslam gave the Spiritual thought, and Elder Peterson gave the lesson.  He is a former Bishop and really knows how to teach.  It was great; afterward we went to the Peterson’s house to eat lunch together.  We only have one more district meeting with the Peterson’s.  Then their mission is over – we’ll miss them.

LE called and said he couldn’t meet with us because he has to keep his little son today, and tomorrow he has a doctor’s appointment.  We start the challenge on Friday.

September 4, 2012 – Tuesday

We saw WH today.  He says that he isn’t worthy to come to church.  I assured him that our Father in Heaven is a loving and forgiving God, and he is always welcome to come to the chapel.  Sometimes, my heart is sad.

September 3, 2012 – Monday

LE let us come to his house again.  We taught him the last of the Preach My Gospel lessons today, and challenged him to a 14 day challenge to read from the Book of Mormon every day for 14 days.  I told him that I would read with him for one hour every day.  He said that it would have to start on Wednesday, so we set a time for then.  I pray that he will feel the spirit and accept the call from our Lord Jesus Christ, and follow him into the waters of Baptism.

September 2, 2012 – Sunday

Today is Fast and Testimony.  Sister Oakley and I had to go to PEC meeting at 9:00 am so Marianne and Daris met us at church at 10:00.  We had a good meeting, then a combined priesthood and Relief Society.  The lesson was given by a visiting high councilman.

After Church our friend, LE came down and met Marianne and Daris – then Daris helped me give him a blessing.  Then they went with us to LR’s house and again he helped me give him a blessing.  Finely, we went to Br. and Sis. Pieper’s house and they fed us.  I don’t think Marianne and Daris expected to be put to work so hard, but I’m glad that they were willing. Thanks! J

September 1, 2012 – Saturday

We met a man at Wal-Mart today.  We needed ink for our printer, I print out a lot of talks and other things to give to inactive members and investigators, and anyway we needed ink.  We saw a man looking at the Kindle Fire reader and just started talking to him about the reader.  It was time to move on so I offered him a pass along card with a picture of Christ on it, saying, “Would you like to have a picture of Christ?”  He said, “I love Christ.”  And soon we were talking about Mitt Romney and then the Book of Mormon.  He did except the Book of Mormon from us, but wouldn’t give us his address.  We couldn’t have taught him because he did say he lived in Muhlenberg County, but we wanted to send the traveling Elders his way.  Missionary events can happen anywhere and anytime.  All we have to do is open our mouths.

Marianne and Daris came to visit today; it’s so good to see them.  We drove to a restaurant together and had diner – it was good.

August 31, 2012 – Friday

We made a few false starts today – that happens sometimes.  We’ll keep trying.

August 30, 2012 – Thursday

Sister CD, the Relief Society President went with us to visit LR and her husband, then to visit LB.  It was good, sister LB had come to church for the first time since we’ve been here last Sunday and was able to hear the mission president and his family.  I hope she’ll be able to come again even though she is in poor health.  We drove all over and showed her where everyone lived that was near her.  We got her home about 6:00 pm and she ask “Do you all do this every day?”  We told her “This was about our typical day.”  She said, “I don’t know how you do it.”

August 29, 2012 – Wednesday

When we got to the JS home they said they were expecting us yesterday – I guess we forgot to tell them about the zone meeting.  After apologizing we learned that Mrs. JS had fallen and broken her foot. The week before, her son had been in a car wreck and had broken his leg; so she wasn’t able to come to church and hear President McKee.  Now she’s broken her own foot and she won’t be able to come to church this next Sunday. L

August 28, 2012 – Tuesday

Zone meeting was in Clarksville this morning, so we drove to Morgantown and picked up Sister Peterson and Elder Peterson picked up the Leitchfield Elders and we drove together.  I love zone meetings, we always learn so much from our leaders.  President and Sister McKee were there as well as the zone leaders –  So spiritual and so inspiring.  The Petersons had an appointment for 6:00 pm so we took the Leitchfield Elders home.  Elder Oakley had to inspect their car and it was late when we got through, so we took them to Dairy Queen for supper.  We got home very late and tired   Two days of early mornings  and late nights are tough for old folks.

August 27, 2012 – Monday

I woke the dog this time! J  We got up at 4:00 am and headed for Nashville by 6:00 am.  We met Ben and Ruth at their motel; TJ didn’t know what to do, he was with all of us at the same time.  He just bounced from one person to another.  When we left the motel we got on I-40 and the traffic was creeping along.  Finely we passed an 18 wheel truck that had run off the road.  It was OK after that.

In the evening we met with LE again.  I challenged him to consider baptism when he found that the Book of Mormon and the things we are teaching him are true.  He said he would if he found they were true.  I promised him that if he would be open to the spirit, he would.

August 26, 2012 – Sunday

Dog alarm.  President and Sister McKee and family visited our branch today, what a treat.!!!!!  We, Sister Oakley and I first met with the PEC but had to leave early to pick up both WE and ES.  When we got to the church President and Sister McKee were getting out of their van with their daughters.  Here WE was having trouble walking because of her knee, and ES has her right arm in a sling, I limp when I walk and Sister Oakley takes a little time moving when she gets out of the car – we were a sight to see.  President McKee and his daughters helped get the food for the pot luck into the building, I was glad for that.  Other members of the branch were putting up tables and so forth.

For the sacrament meeting Sister McKee spoke first, then the McKee girls sang like angles, and finely President McKee spoke – a wonderful meeting.  The last hour we had a combined meeting of priesthood and Relief Society.  President McKee also gave that lesson.  I wish LW had been here, she wanted to hear a real message, well she missed it; A spiritual day.

Last of all we had a pot luck dinner after church.  ES seemed to enjoy herself, but her arm started hurting so she asked Sister Oakley to take her home.  President McKee heard her and volunteered that he and his daughters would take her home.  I want to find out what they talked about, when we see her again.  President McKee told all of us that Hartford would have a ward someday soon; he could see it – if they continued to work for it.  He said we (the missionaries) had done a great job in activating people and the branch needs to keep it up and soon they would have the building they wanted.

August 25, 2012 – Saturday

Dog alarm at 6:00 am. J We met with ES today and actually gave her another lesson, but because of the time involved we gave her the lesson on the Restoration again and gave her the video on the Restoration.  We took TJ with us to ES’s house and he behaved like a true missionary.  He was quiet and didn’t make a fuss. ES liked him very much.

August 24, 2012 – Friday

Wow – that dog alarm works every morning!  WE thought that she was going to have surgery on her knee today, but the surgery team wanted a report from her heart doctor before they would put her under.  So we drove her to her heart doctor, and that took most of the day.

August 23, 2012 – Thursday

This morning the dog alarm woke me before the clock alarm.  When we asked the landlord permission to have TJ in the house, he said we could only if no one else living here saw him.  This is a no pet apartment but for this short time only he would make that exception – so I got up and put my clothes on and took him two blocks away so he could do his business.

This afternoon we had a meeting with JW and his wife.  We encouraged them to take part in the temple class that Sister Pieper in putting on.

Next we met with LE again, what a delight.

August 22, 2012 – Wednesday

While we’re on this mission Ben and Ruth are keeping our little dog TJ for us, and we thank them so much for doing that.  This week they had to go to North Carolina for a meeting of the church they belong to.  So this morning we met them at the I Hop restaurant on I-40 west of Nashville.  We will have him for four days; honestly, it was sooooooooo good to see him again. J

ES had asked Sister Oakley to help her with a bath this afternoon and we pushed ourselves to get back to Hartford so she could do that, but just before we got back in town ES called and said that her daughter was doing that for her.  After arriving home we took TJ to the fair grounds and had a long walk. He was very happy to be out of the car and it did us a lot of good to stretch out legs.  We talked to several of the people who were camping in the fair grounds.

August 21, 2012 – Tuesday

We drove today, knocked on some doors, prayed then prayed some more. . . .

August 20, 2012 – Monday

LE is a very spiritual man and we love meeting with him.  He seriously loves the Lord Jesus Christ.  He believes that the Book of Mormon is truly scripture inspired by the Lord, but his parents and friends have never known anything about this very special and wonderfully true book.  In the scriptures this is called overcoming the traditions of our fathers.

August 19, 2012 – Sunday

We regret to report that neither LW nor her daughters came to church today.  As soon as they will let us we’ll talk to them to see if we can answer their concerns.

After church Br. Pieper went with us to give ES a blessing.  She has had surgery on her shoulder and is in a lot of pain.  We also visited with WH, how can we help him with his faith?

Mission Journal

August 18, 2012 – Saturday

We met with Brother and Sister Pieper and later with WH.

August 17, 2012 – Friday

We met with LE early this morning for his lesson.  He is very encouraging and IS reading the Book of Mormon. 

We drove with the other members of the district to Clarksville this afternoon to hear Elder Kopischke (I hope I spelled it right).  He is a general authority, part of the first quorum of the seventy.  He is a very encouraging speaker, and I’m glad that we were able to hear from him and President and Sister Mckee.  Elder Kopischke is from Germany and is a powerful speaker.  He gave us lots to think about. We are here to plant the seed of Christ and help our inactives and investigators to keep that seed and nourish it and not throw it out and if they will do that then, He will cause it to swell and grow with in them and there by their testimonies will grow and their hearts will change and they will become more like Christ.

August 16, 2012 – Thursday

We met with JS and his wife again.  While there we met LD and gave her a Book of Mormon, maybe we can teach her, I don’t know.

BC is an active member and we visited with him and encouraged him to help with strengthening the branch.

We finely found SK, an inactive member of the branch.  Her sister is active but weak.  We’ll try to find a way to start teaching her and her family.

August 15, 2012 – Wednesday

Our first district meeting with the new district leader, Elder Rasmussen.  We always meet in Morgantown at their chapel, there we meet with Elder and Sister Robinson, who serve in Morgantown – Elder Rasmussen and Elder Haslem, who serve in Leitchfield – and Sister McCall and Sister Tauoa, who serve in Russellville. The traveling missionaries were also there.  They were delighted with the lunch Sister Peterson and Sister Oakley prepared after the meeting.  They told them we always have lunch after each district meeting and they said they would try and come more often.  

August 14, 2012 – Tuesday

Today we received a call from LS saying that her in-laws were in town and that she didn’t want us to come over.  That worries us because they are good people and we fear that they will be influenced by those who don’t serve the Lord.  Help us pray for them – please.   We took WE his food and explained to him how to warm it up.  He is such as humble, kind person. 

We visited with LB again.  Her grandchildren were there and they are good kids.

August 13, 2012 – Monday

We were able to meet with LE again today.  The lessons are going well – this is a good man and I have faith that he will accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. Sister Oakley spent most of the day cooking for WH.  It takes most of the day to prepare the food.  We also picked up Sister WE for the temple class and after they all got here we left for out meeting with LE.  When we got home everyone was gone and the house was nice and tidy; all in all a good day.

August 12, 2012 – Sunday

LS and her daughter FS were at church today.  One of the sisters spoke during sacrament meeting and we had a good Sunday school class.

August 11, 2012 – Saturday

We drove with Elder and Sister Peterson to Nashville; then with the other senior couples and President and Sister Mckee – we got into the mission vans and drove to Northcutts Cove Chapel in Tennessee today.  This is the oldest LDS chapel in the south states of the United States, dedicated on October 24, 1909.  Next we drove to the old stone chapel and then to the “New Chapel” built in 1980.  Back in the early 1900’s the missionaries would ride the train to Chattanooga, Tennessee and get off and walk north preaching the gospel.  They would walk through the cove or valley and on into Kentucky.  When they would find a family to teach, they would stay with that family and teach them, then walk north again until they found another family to teach.

August 10, 2012 – Friday

We took WE to the doctor again and admonished her to continue to read from the Book of Mormon.

Sister LB has truly had a long row to hole.  Because of diabetes she has lost her left foot below the knee.  While in the hospital she had a stroke and is recovering from that.  But anytime we visit her she is happy to see us and welcomes us into her home.  Today we spoke of fasting and prayer and ask if she wanted a blessing.  We also admonished her to have her granddaughter to bring her to church.

We visited with CD and spoke of Lehi’s dream about the Tree of Life.  CD is a wonderful person.

August 9, 2012 – Thursday

We met with WH today.  He loves for us to meet with him, I believe that at this time we are the only socializing that he is getting.  He just stays in his house and never gets out except to buy groceries.  Sister Oakley takes his food he gets from the food pantry and cooks it for him and then returns it to him in portions that he can freeze and then warm up in the microwave.  That way he can get good meals and not just eat sandwiches all the time.  He is afraid to cook.  He will use the microwave.

LS and her daughters welcomed us to their house again, but they are still not happy about church.  They like the lessons and seem to understand and agree with what we are teaching.  LS is reading the Book of Mormon, but something is missing.  We need to pray for this family.

August 8, 2012 – Wednesday

We met with our friends JS and Sister JS.  We give them lessons and they don’t want us to leave, but I still worry.

We were able to meet with LS and her daughter again, and also her daughter FS.  LS told us that she was disappointed with the church service because there was no preaching.  We explained to her that Sunday was Fast and Testimony meeting, not Sacrament meeting, and on that day the members of the branch stand and give their testimonies.  Her daughter FS seemed to be very interested in the gospel and we are excited to be able to help them.

August 7, 2012 – Tuesday

We went to transfers today in Nashville.  First we drove to Morgantown and picked up Sister Peterson and she rode with us while her husband Elder Peterson picked up the Leitchfield Elders and gave them a ride.  It works better that way because the Elders are such large men; they hardly fit into our small cars.  When we got to Nashville Sister Oakley and I had about two hours so we drove to Harbor Freight and picked up a small trailer still in its box so we will be able to get our things home when the mission is over.  Then we participated in the transfer meetings.  Elder Robinson and Elder Hamlin are both going home, we’ll miss them – they are our friends.  Elder Rasmussen is now our district leader and we like him.  After transfers we were allowed to go to the temple and we always love that.  Elder Hamblin’s parents were there.  We told them how much we appreciated their son, a very spiritual man.

August 6, 2012 – Monday

Today is our day off; the day we clean the apartment, shop and rest. And who rested? I had tomatoes running out my ears.  No one would pick the tomatoes out of the garden and they were just rotting on the ground, so I picked them all and had tomatoes ripening on every window sill of the house. They were ripe and need to be taken care of.  I canned 18 quarts of tomatoes and 6 quarts of hot salsa.  Then we cleaned the apartment.  We finished just in time for me to run to Center Town and pick up Sister WE and get her back for the class.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Sister Pieper is giving the Temple class at our apartment because Sister WE can’t get into Sister Peiper’s house.

August 5, 2012 – Sunday

We told BG that we would come to her son’s Baptist church with her this morning IF we didn’t have an investigator to bring with us to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Well, as it turns out we have LS and her daughter coming to church so we called BG and explained that to her.  We asked her if we could come by and give her a ride to the evening service and still visit her son’s church.  She said that she would be too tired and didn’t go to the evening services; so maybe another time.

When we got to church LS and her mother BB were at church.  Today is Fast and Testimony meeting and I’m not sure that LS understood what was happening.

August 4, 2012 – Saturday

Today we were able to teach LS and her daughter M.  We have been visiting her mother BB for some time.  One of the first things she said to us is that she wanted to be baptized, even before we started the lessons.  She explained that her husband is out of town working and that he believes that the church is a cult and that worries me, we really need to speak with him and visit his concerns.  We continued with the Restoration lesson and invited them to come to church with us tomorrow.

August 3, 2012 – Friday

We took WE to her doctors’ appointment this morning.  It seems as if she will have to have surgery on her knee, we’ll pray for her.

We visited LR’s house, her husband is a non-member but very friendly with the church.  Br. Pieper has been home teaching them for years.  Br. LR chain smokes and is in poor health.  We taught the Plan of Salvation from a huge chart we were able to make, but his eye sight is so poor that he still couldn’t see it.  But he could hear us and his responses were positive.

August 2, 2012 – Thursday

We were able to meet with LE again today.  He is reading the Book of Mormon and praying.  He does have a lot of tradition to overcome, but he truly loves the Lord Jesus Christ.  That is something that I know, and we are hopeful.

August 1, 2012 – Wednesday

Today we were able to teach JS and his wife again.  We have been teaching them for so long.  They are wonderful people and I believe that sister JS wants to join the church but is being held back by her husband.  They are both such giving people and would give anyone the shirt off their back, especially their grandchildren.  We have spent a lot of time praying for them.

July 31, 2012 – Tuesday

Sister Oakley was in a lot of pain today, sometimes this mission becomes very hard.  We had an appointment with BG at 4:00 pm, so I asked BG’S brother WH to go with me and we discussed the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Her son is a Baptist Minister and even though I believe she believes the things we are teaching her, she is still having social issues.

July 30, 2012 – Monday

We were able to meet with LE again today.  We taught him the Plan of Salvation and he understood and agreed with it.  The spirit is strong with this man.

Mission Journal

July 29, 2012 – Sunday

Better than thirty people at church again, it’s become a regular thing for now, Jwe’re so happy.  After church we went with Br. Pieper and gave Sister WE a blessing and the sacrament.  She has injured her knee and needs our prayers. TV was at church on time and blessed the sacrament. He looked so nice in his white shirt and tie and his wife just beamed.

July 28, 2012 – Saturday

When we met with WE we found her limping around with her right knee injured.  We played a church video for her, Elder Anderson’s talk asking “What does Christ Think of Me.”  She agreed to continue the Temple class on Monday, even though she is seeing a doctor on Tuesday.

WH agreed to come to church tomorrow! J  We showed him the same video as above and read a little from the Book of Mormon.  If we all would read a little from the Book of Mormon every day, I promise you that you will feel the Spirit of the Lord.  Even if you are reading from another scripture, still read the Book of Mormon, it has power.  Power the other just don’t have.  Read it.

July 27, 2012 – Friday

Today is Penny’s Birthday!

Sister Oakley called Penny and wished her a Happy Birthday, and then we got a frantic call from Yvonne, that our 10^th great granddaughter born on July 5^th with a heart condition was still on the ventilator and in nicu and failing fast. Doctors now were giving her no hope.  This came as quite a blow, as they had fixed her heart condition and we thought all was well and she was doing fine.  All we can do now is pray for Heavenly Fathers will to be done.  

We got a call from CH cancelling his appointment; he’s going to his mothers and will not be at home. L

About 3:30 we received a call from Yvonne; Kennedy was taken off the vent at 3:05pm and died a few minutes later.   This was our Grandsons first child, but as we told him – this child was so special she wasn’t meant to have to face the trial of this cruel world.  She had already done her fighting and proved herself.  The gospel is so wonderful, and gives us so much comfort and joy to know we will be with our families one day – even if we haven’t seen them we will have that opportunity one day.

July 26, 2012 – Thursday

Today is Robert’s Birthday!

We played the conference talk by President Monson called “The Race of Life” for JS and his wife.  In it he talks about the universal question; “Where did we come from, Why are we here, and Where do we go after this life?”  We also gave them a printout of the talk.  JS is still troubled because we told him that his baptism in the Christian Church was done without authority.  We asked him to read D&C 22 and he seemed even more confused.  When we asked them to come to church, Mrs. JS wanted to come, but JS said he was going to the Christian Church.  Mrs. JS said in a loud voice, “We’re not doing that again!”  We don’t know the history behind that statement, but we did challenge them to keep reading from the Book of Mormon.  They both said they would.

Our second visit with LE went very well.  He read from the Book of Mormon and said he liked what he read.  We gave him the lesson on the Restoration and he was genuinely interested.  We have another visit with him on Monday.

President Wiles came over and we road with him to a sister’s house who has had a very hard time lately, and then found out that she has breast cancer.  We gave her a blessing of comfort, her blessing and anointing was done at church on Sunday.  We will pray for her, if you pray for her call her SH.

July 25, 2012 – Wednesday

The Leitchfield Elders drove to Hartford and then together we went to Hopkinsville for interviews with President McKee.  In the last five or so days he and his wife have traveled all over the Mission interviewing every one of the missionaries.  While he was meeting with a missionary in one of the classrooms we met as a group in the Relief Society room.  It was a good day.  The Senior Missionaries Elder and Sister Peterson had their daughter and grandson from Houston, Texas with them and it sure was good to hear that old Texas “draw” again.  They got a lot of razzing from the group but took it very well.  President McKee tried his best to get us and the Petersons to extend our missions for longer, but both of us said we really needed to get back home.  Elder Peterson has to get back to work and we feel we need to get back to take care of some family matters.  We really hate to leave this area; we love the people and the area sooooooooo much and have grown to love it here.  The people and so wonderful, the ones we have gotten to know, and the area is to die for.  Wide open spaces of forests with the most beautiful trees.  No traffic or tall buildings, and no busy city life.   President McKee is working on getting a couple to take our place and I know they will love it here as we do.  It takes a little getting used to, but it is great once you do.

July 24, 2012 – Tuesday

Today is Makaila’s Birthday!

We had the opportunity to go to CD’s house and teach her grandson CH, her granddaughter BD, and CH’s friend TA the lesson on the Restoration.  We’ve taught CH several times, but he is too tied up with the world at this time.  His friend TA seemed to be truly interested.  BD had seen the lesson one other time and seemed interested both times, but her mother won’t let us come to their house without her husband being home.  He does a lot of hunting and fishing, but we won’t give up.

July 23, 2012 – Monday

TV missed the last two weeks at church because his boss was on vacation, and he had to work in her place.  His wife was worried because his family back home was giving him a hard time because he is a Priest.  They laugh at him because they don’t believe he could possibly be a “Priest”.  We printed out the primary lesson on Lehi’s Tree of Life dream.  When we got to the part about the masses in the Large and Spacious Building pointing and laughing, and how those who were able to partake of the Love of God paid those in the building “no mind”; that that’s how he needed to react to his family back home.  Maybe someday he will be able to teach them and bring them to Christ.  Just love them, and he will be alright.   Sister Oakley also challenged TV to get up early in the morning  on Sunday and  get ready in time to get to church so he could bless the sacrament.  He really needs to start doing this because if he wants to advance in the priesthood and go to the Temple – he needs to do it.  He agreed.

July 22, 2012 – Sunday

After Church we met with Br. Pieper and visited with JS outside of his house.  He said he went to another church this morning. L Then we visited with LR, a part member family that Br. Pieper home teaches.  We challenged LR and her husband to read Mosiah 27 together, and tell us the next time we see them how Alma’s father reacted to his being in a “coma”.

July 21, 2012 – Saturday

One of those blank days – we work like a dog and get nothing done.  But we were together…………………………..

July 20, 2012 – Friday

We have a neighbor, LE, that we met while working in the garden.  He loves to sing at his Baptist Church, so we asked him if we could have a scripture study with him.  So today we went to his house and read Scriptures from the Old Testament, New Testament, and the Book of Mormon that talked about prophets and the need for prophets, such as Amos 3:7   Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.  We left a Book of Mormon with him and asked him to read Alma 7.  He is very interested in the BOM and in the teachings of our church.  He seems to agree with all the teachings so far and is very excited to find a church with our values.

July 19, 2012 – Thursday

We drove out to Horse Branch and met with BG today.  She reminds me of my own family.  We read from the scriptures with her and left a Book of Mormon with her.  It seems that her son is a Baptist Preacher, stumbling block, so I asked her if it would be possible for us to meet him.  She said her father had a Book of Mormon that she acquired when he died, but her son asked for it so he could read it.  That could be a good thing, I hope so.

July 18, 2012 – Wednesday

ES actually opened her door for us today.  We learned that she has injured her shoulder at work and may be having surgery soon.  We asked if she would like to have a priesthood blessing, but she said she would have to think about that.  We challenged her to read 2 Nephi 25.

July 17, 2012 – Tuesday

WE went with us to JS’s house today.  We talked about faith is Christ and all things goes back to that one thing.  We won’t do anything without first having real faith in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Wilma bore her testimony and we asked them to pray about baptism.  Wilma challenged them to read the Allegory of the Olive Tree, in the Book of Jacob, in the Book of Mormon.

July 16, 2012 – Monday

Yes, this is P-Day, but this is the only day JOS could meet with us.  Her husband is a non-member.  They are both such nice people.  It seems that Mr. Jos and JS are old friends.  JOS said that if he joined any church it would be The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  So we tried to get him to let us teach him, and he refused, but did agree to read 2 Nephi 25.  We’ll try to get back with him and see if he read it.

On the way home we saw RC’s car at home and stopped by to talk to her.  She said that she maintains an apartment in Nashville and a house here.  She is working in this area and going to church in the Nashville area.

We checked on WE, she’s doing OK but is having stress with her granddaughters, so she asked for Strength of Youth pamphlets to send to them.

July 15, 2012 – Sunday

We’re still having better than thirty people at sacrament meetings. J  Still plenty of room for growth though. 

After church we went to JS’s house, they didn’t come to churchL, they are wonderful people – how do we get through to them!

JW and family are having some stress in their lives, a sick grandchild, and haven’t given us any referrals yet, hope they will soon – The wish of all missionaries.

July 14, 2012 – Saturday

We drove to Morgantown to pick up the Leitchfield Elders and then drove to Clarksville.  Elder Hymas of the Seventies, and President and Sister McKee were there to give us training.  It was great, we always learn from the Mission President and his wife, and wow, one of the General Authorities.   We got home about 10:00 and were very tired as we took the Elders home to Leitchfield.

July 13, 2012 – Friday

This is my Brother Larry’s birthday.  We had very little luck today catching anyone at home, we’re so tired.  But we know that everything is going to be OK.

July 12, 2012 – Thursday

We visited with JS and family again.  We taught a lesson on prayer and challenged them to come to church on Sunday.  I hope they will.

We checked back with Sister SC to see if she and her family have worked on getting us someone new to teach.  She said that they are working on it. J

July 11, 2012 – Wednesday

We had District Meeting in Morgantown today – The Senior Missionaries, The Elders from Leitchfield, the Sister Missionaries from Russellville, and us of course.  These are always helpful and spiritual.  We have a formal setting with the District leader in charge; we have an opening song and prayer, a spiritual thought and a two part lesson, usually using Preach My Gospel as a basis. Then we usually eat lunch together and go on our way.

We were to teach BL but she called to cancel, so we went to WE’s house and after prayer, we read the Book of Mormon together and taught about forgiveness.

July 10, 2012 – Tuesday

JS and family allowed us to teach them about fasting and prayer.  There is much power when a faithful man fast and prays – even the power of Heaven can help that man if he is in need of such help.  I pray that JS will be willing to pray about the gospel.  If he will truly pray with faith, he will learn the truth.

We also visited with WH.  Asked him to pray about coming to church, and then visited with Sister BL.  She gave us Diner and we asked her to help us find more people to teach.

Mission Journal

                                                                                                                                   

July 9, 2012 – Monday

Sister Oakley went to the doctor this morning for her regular checkup.  She has been having headaches and feeling very tired for the last week or so.  Her blood sugars are better than they have been, so the doctor tweaked her meds a little, but wanted her to see an eye doctor.  Between the doctors’ visits and grocery shopping we were busy all day long.

July 8, 2012 – Sunday

We had a nice turnout at church, about thirty-one people.  After church Sister BP went with us to JS’s house and helped to give them a lesson.  We showed three videos that the church has online on LDS.org and was there about two hours, a little longer than we should have been there.  Sister BP and Sister JS know one another, which is a good thing.  We felt the spirit, but JS still has problems understanding that we can only do ordinances with authority from Jesus Christ.  We will continue to pray for him.

July 7, 2012 – Saturday

We would have loved to be able to go to Robert and Fara’s ring ceremony today, I’m glad we will be able to see pictures on the internet.  Sometimes technology is wonderful.  What we did do was go with WH to his families’ family reunion in Horse Branch.  WH is a man with problems and has been ostracized by almost everyone, including many in his family.  The community center in Horse Branch is large enough to have four roles of tables with four tables each.  We arrived before most people and helped with the setup.  By the time everyone was there one whole role of tables was loaded with food and deserts.  We had to move the chairs to one wall so everyone would have a place to set, and then Sister Oakley and I had to stand in the kitchen with some of the grand children because the tables were full.  WH’s older sister was very nice and we plan to visit with her and attempt to teach her about the restoration of the gospel.

I do want to talk about the influence one person can make, or not make.  The first person to be baptized in Ohio county Kentucky was the patriarch of this family, Zebody.  He and his wife were baptized way back in the early 1950’s.  Had he been faithful to his covenants many of these people would know about Christ’s church, but that’s not the case.  He spent his life smoking, chewing, and drinking.  His son, WH, has explained to us that he was not an honest man and seldom went to church, but he never denied the truth of the gospel.  He and his wife had fourteen children and as far as I can tell, none of them are strong in the gospel, WH is the only one that I know of who even claims to be a member.  His wife was active in this branch until she became too senile to go, but her children followed Zebody’s influence.  He was the first Mormon in Ohio county and had the opportunity to lead many people to salvation through our Lord, but didn’t.  I don’t mean to judge him; I’m not in a position to through stones.  I’m just saying – we all are one person who can lead others to Christ.  When we face the Lord, do we want to be in Zebody’s position?

July 6, 2012 – Friday

We were to teach JS again today, but his wife told us he wasn’t back from a trip he had taken, so we gave her a talk about agency that we had printed out and set up an appointment for Sunday.

WH lives just down the street from JS and we stopped by to check on him.  He is excited that we agreed to go with him to his family reunion tomorrow.

July 5, 2012 – Thursday

We challenged LB with the ten point plan today.  She and her husband raised three boys who none are active today, and her husband is not a member.  She promised to do what she could.  That’s all we can ask, but really, it’s not us asking – it’s Christ!

July 4, 2012 – Wednesday

The young missionaries drove to our house then we went together in our car to Clarksville for Zone Meeting.  Of course because Elder Haslem is so tall Sister Oakley had to ride in the back seat.  The zone leaders fed us lunch, hot dogs, and then gave an inspired lesson.  What a way to celebrate the birth of our wonderful nation.  It couldn’t have been better.

July 3, 2012 – Tuesday

We gave the ten point lesson with another new family in the branch today.  They are the SM family – Father, Mother and two active sons.  SM has been a missionary as a young man and his wife knows the gospel well.  They committed to pray about someone they could bring to Christ.  Oh, they also gave us a wonderful meal! J

July 2, 2012 – Monday

WE had an electrical line running from her house to her garage with the insulation missing.  We explained to her that if it were to short out it could cause her house to catch fire.  She asked if I would remove it, I told her I could do that and if it were my own house I could fix it, but it’s against the law for me, not having license to replace anything for her.  I did show her what needed to be done, and suggested that she have her son-in-law do it for her.

July 1, 2012 – Sunday

After church we went to JS’s house with CS, a member of the branch.  We read Moroni 7 with them and then challenged JS and his wife to baptism.  They both have read and prayed about the Book of Mormon enough to know that it is truly scripture from Heavenly Father, they have felt the spirit and know.  They both believe that Joseph Smith is truly a prophet of God.  JS doesn’t yet understand why his previous baptism isn’t enough and actually refused to pray and ask God if authority is needed in order to baptize.  Mrs. JS seems to understand, and is humble enough to pray.  We will continue to pray for these wonderful people, who are our friends.

June 30, 2012 – Saturday

No answer at ES’s door. L  We met with WH and challenged him to come to church tomorrow.  He has so many problems, we pray for him often.

BL has been a project for us since we first came to Kentucky.  Today we read with her from 2Ne 31.  She felt the spirit I know.  When we challenged her to come to church she said she is going to her son’s house and won’t be around during the July 4^th celebration.  So we will meet with her again in two weeks.

June 29, 2012 – Friday

We were able to meet with RR and wife today.  RR suffers with arthritis pain so bad and he had to take so much medicine that his speech was slurred today.  My heart goes out to him. Since we have been here we have make fast friends with them.  JR loves to quilt and has so many quilt patterns and quilt made. She is really a talented person.  RR has a lot of different flowers and has picked out dozens of them to dig up the bulbs and says he will bring them to Allen for me to plant in my flower bed when we get home. JR wants to go to San Antonio when they come to visit.

June 28, 2012 – Thursday

This morning we had district meeting with the Young Elders and the Petersons in Leitchfield.  As usual we were able to learn much.  The new Elder seems willing, but shy.  He’ll have to get over that.

We were able to give the ten point lesson to the CS family.  They are new to the branch and live within walking distance of us.  Br. CS has served a mission and Sister CS is strong in the gospel.  They are a blessing to this branch.

June 27, 2012 – Wednesday

We gave the ten point lesson to WE today.  She is scared, but as we pointed out, she already has given the Book of Mormon to the people across the street and is friend-shipping them.  That’s what it’s all about.  We told her we were just like many people – Scared to talk to our neighbors, but when we get home all that will change.  We have learned you need to be bold about this great THING we have and we need to share it with every one we know.  It’s for their life, their eternal life, not just immortality, their ETERNAL life with HEAVENALY FATHER. They need to know the TRUE gospel plan; the one that will save them if they but listen and obey HIS commandments and live HIS gospel.  

June 26, 2012 – Tuesday

We drove to Nashville with the young missionaries today for transfers.  Elder Hamblin is being transferred to another area and we picked up another missionary named Elder Haslem.  Elder Haslem is almost seven foot tall, he’s so tall that Sister Oakley had to set in the back seat and put him in the front and he still almost didn’t fit in the car.  We’ll miss Elder Hamblin, a spiritual giant, but Elder Haslem will be a good missionary as soon as he learns a little more.  It’s that way with all new or “green” missionaries – he has a good spirit about him and he is willing.

We were able to attend the Temple and that’s always a treat.  The Elders went knocking doors while we were in the Temple and said they found seven people for the local missionaries to follow up with.

June 25, 2012 – Monday

The early part of today was spent doing things we always do on P-day.  But at 4:30 we had an appointment with SC and family.  They are a part member family and we challenged Mrs. SC to help us find someone to teach and help bring them to Christ.  We asked SC if he believed his wife and children were Christians and he said he knew they were Christians, and it was OK with him if they helped in such a way.  We were told later that he thought HE was the object of our concerns, and he is.  Why, because he is a very good man who believes in Jesus Christ, and through his family we believe he can be led to Christ.

Next we visited with another active family who gave us a meal and allowed us to teach the ten point plan with them.  They committed to help find someone to bring to Christ and Br. JW believes he works with someone he can help in such a way.

June 24, 2012 – Sunday

We had a decent crowd at church today, about 37 people.  The presidency is getting better at starting the meetings on time.  That’s a good thing.

We were able to meet with JS and his wife today.  Reading the Book of Mormon with them helps to bring the Spirit of the Lord into the house.

June 23, 2012 – Saturday

ES asked us to visit with her today, but she didn’t answer her door when we knocked.  We fear that her co-workers and her daughter have caused her to be afraid to talk to us.  Also, I don’t think she has been reading the Book of Mormon.  If anyone really wants to know the truth about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, it’s imperative that they read the Book of Mormon.  We have also been inspired to read it again on our mission, and we have done so.  It is so uplifting to read and of course no matter how many times you read it, you find new things in it you didn’t see the time before.  Our mission  president  requires us to read from the  BOM 20 minutes a day, and I believe it wouldn’t hurt all the active members as well as inactive members to be involved in the same policy. You would be surprised how many blessings it would bring into your life.  I promise you many blessings if you but follow that plan.

We did visit with WE.  We love visiting with her, she ask so many thought provoking questions.

June 22, 2012 – Friday

Sister Oakley’s feet were so swollen today that we had to stay home and study while she kept her feet up.