The Arkansas Queen

We are keeping very busy and enjoying our mission. The time is going so fast, it seems like the weeks just fly by. We have much to do, especially with Seminary starting again. We will be on the road again, visiting classes and holding training meetings.

Saturday, August 19th we had a Senior Missionary Social. We all met in North Little Rock and carpooled to the Arkansas Queen, a river boat. We boarded, had a picture taken as a group and began our journey up the Arkansas River. We had a great lunch on the river and then just wandered around the boat looking at the sights as we went up and down the river. It was a beautiful day and not too hot. We had great company and really enjoyed ourselves.

After the cruise we went to President and Sister Drewes home for dessert. It was great to visit with the missionaries. President Drewes asked us when we left to go home and we told him. He then asked us to reflect on our mission experience and bear our testimony. We had some new couples, who also bore testimony. It hit me when I stood to share that we will be leaving soon. I had to fight emotions and some of them just wouldn't be held back. We have had some great experiences here in the mission field and look forward to sharing them with you when we arrive home. We have truly been blessed by the Lord. We love the people we have met in Arkansas. They are GREAT!

The meeting ended and we all went our separate ways, strengthened and blessed for the experience. What a great day and a great memory!

Our Missionaries!

Today was the last District Meeting before transfers. Elder Josephson, our next door neighbor, will finish his mission and return home. We get pretty attached to our missionaries and we hate to see them go. We do love to see the growth that comes to them from the time they first arrive until they leave. It is amazing! We actually get to see them grow up, right before our eyes. Elders Josephson and Weight have been fun to be around. They are positive and upbeat and keep us smiling. They helped to save a young man's life who was going down the path of drug addiction. They helped him get into a drug rehab center. We played a small part in this--we were the ones that drove them to where they needed to go. It was fun to get to know Randy. He has made some great changes in his life. He now has a job. He looks better, feels better and loves these two missionaries like brothers. They were an answer to his prayer. We have been with them as they have taught investigators and we see them work hard every day!

Missionary work is great and the young missionaries are AWESOME! We love them and feel so blessed to be here among them. (Elder Josephson is shorter and has dark hair and Elder Weight is tall and blonde.)

Fun In The S U N !!!!!

August in Arkansas spells H O T !!!!! The Little Rock YSA's planned an August activity which was supposed to have water, sun, and fun!!! It definately had sun and fun but the only water we had was in the Arkansas River. It was an extremely hot day with temperature at the 100 degree mark not factoring in the humidity which usually adds 7 to 10 degrees. The heat didn't stop the YSA's and they played sand volleyball at noon in the sun. They seemed to have a great time inspite of the heat. They went through a cooler of water and the water balloons for water balloon volleyball ended up put to better use in a water balloon fight. There was plenty of food and the pavillion gave us shade from the sun. We were also blessed with a breeze that helped. I don't think I have ever been hotter. We came home hot and sweaty and exhausted! After a cool shower and a short nap, we were ready to go. We had dinner that night with a part member family and had the opportunity to talk about religion with Doug and Serena. Serena is from China and knows very little about Christianity or God. We are up for the challenge--along with the missionaries we are hoping to be able to teach her.