SEVEN Baptisms at Fort Jackson!

There were seven baptisms at the Fort Sunday, March 9th!  I asked Sister Fenton if that was a record, but she didn't know.  I guess they were doing interviews and filling out records just as fast as they could.  Elder Fenton turned the baptizing over to Elder Muir, so they wouldn't have to take the time for others to get in and out of the font.  Our church is allowed only so much time for their use of the Anderson Chapel (at Fort Jackson), so they had to hurry things up.  (I'm thinking they are only allowed two hours and then they have to clear out so another denomination can use the chapel.)

I asked Sister Fenton if she had pictures and she said, "Heaven's no!  There was no time for pictures!!!  We were too busy getting the paperwork done!  :o)  I think some of the missionaries got some shots though. Hoping that they'll send me one.

Jack and Vera's Kids...

At the reception Thursday night we were able to get this shot of Jack and me and his two sisters and their spouses.  Mike and Kathleen (middle) entered the MTC today, in preparation for their mission to McAllen Texas!

Jack, me, Kathie and Mike Linsley, Leila and Brent Johnson

Thursday, March 6, 2014 - Matt and Lex's Wedding Day

Wednesday - a Day for Running Errands!

The next day we spent running errands.  I renewed my driver's license and we picked up some things at Beehive Clothing.  We have both put on a few pounds because when we first got to South Carolina, we thought we could eat Southern Food every day and get away with it.  We didn't.  I got a new pair of shoes (just like my old ones) at Sears.  We had our CPAPs checked and the chips read. We went to Moore's in Perry for lunch with Dad.  We got our remaining Hepatitis A and B shots and picked up a few things at the house.  That was pretty much our day.

Canceled Flight!

We were scheduled to leave Columbia on March 4th at 8:30 AM to fly back for Lex's wedding.  About 5:30 the night before, we got a phone call from Delta, saying our flight was canceled!  What???  Within a few minutes, they called again and said that we'd be on an 11:59 flight instead.  That was good, but we didn't know how we could possible make our 1:15 flight out of Atlanta!  Fact was, we couldn't.  We were going to miss the opportunity to go to the temple with Alexis as she received her own endowment.  Bummer!  On the bright side, we'd be able to be at John and Ann's when Nate opened his mission call.

Another good thing that happened because of the changed flight plans is that we made a missionary contact at the Memphis Airport.  A gentleman we sat next to while waiting to board our plane struck up a conversation with Jack.  He ended up giving us his information and asked that missionaries stop by to teach him.  :o)

John picked us up at the airport just after he had stopped by Ann's Uncle Craig Hill's home to get Nate's call.  Her Uncle is over finances of the missions of the church, and had planned to hand deliver the call that night.  Here's the call, in my hand...on the way up to Pleasant View!

Can't wait to see where he's assigned!

Listening In on a Zone Meeting

Every mission has monthly zone meetings.  Jack and I have never been able to attend a zone meeting, because they are held during mission office hours, and we are busy there.  In February, however, the decision was made to have zone meeting in the form of a conference call.  The Fentons were gone, transporting cars or opening up a new apartment, and Sister Barlow was at lunch.  We were both busy, but called in and listened to the meeting as we worked. 

Zone meetings are presided over by the zone leaders.  President Holm may or may not be present.  I'm pretty sure he wasn't involved with ours.  The conference call was conducted as any church meeting.  Because it was a conference call, this one began with a roll call to make sure everyone was dialed in.  Next was an opening hymn (which really is NOT compatible with a conference call ) and an opening prayer.  After that there was an accountability report.  Each companionship told of their goal for the previous month, how they measured up to that goal, and expressed a new goal for the upcoming month.

As I recall, each companionship then shared success stories, a couple of missionaries talked about assigned subjects, the zone leaders complimented and encouraged the zone and then there was another hymn and a closing prayer.  The meeting was so well done.  Sometimes it's difficult to believe that these missionaries INCLUDING their leaders are mosty 18 to 21-year-olds! They take their work very seriously!  And why shouldn't they?  They are on The Lord's errand!  And they KNOW it!  I am so grateful to be a part of them! I learn from them every day!

Like a Lamb to the Slaughter or Like a Sheep to the Shearer

Finally!  After 6 months, I got my hair cut!  I was so nervous, because only Dixie has done my hair for many, many years!  Good thing was, she didn't do anything too drastic.  When I left the salon, I was a little too foofy for my liking, so I combed through my hair and curled it with the curling iron before I went back to the office.

I hate coming home with a "done" look!  Always have!

So, I combed it all out and started over again.  Guess I just like the casual look..
(While checking through my blog a week later, I noticed that you can't really see my hair against our couch.  That is because it's still MOSTLY BROWN!  Maybe brown with silver hightlights?  Hahaha!)