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.