Staying in Mount Vernon!!!

Dear Family & Friends:

The day of transfer calls are always interesting, because you are on edge every time the phone rings, especially when you are not sure whether you will be staying or leaving.  So you go throughout the day anxious for the phone call.  Monday afternoon we had a lesson with Anthony and Karin and brought Sister Askew (pronounced ask-you) with us who joined the church 2 1/2 years ago.  Karin and Anthony had loved church on Sunday, and when we asked them if they had any questions, Anthony got this worried-sick look on his face and said that he had heard in Priesthood meeting that missionaries are only here for 3-6 months and that we might be leaving. . . . it was so sweet because they were legitimately worried that one of us would leave, and remember this is Monday afternoon and we hadn't received our call by that time.  So we explained transfers and how they work, and that yes there was a possibility of one of us leaving, but we would let them know when we found out!  We then had a wonderful lesson on the Plan of Salvation, and Karin and Anthony have a glow about them because of their excitement for the gospel!  At the end of the lesson Sister Askew mentioned how she gave up smoking and drinking coffee so that she could be baptized, which was a perfect lead in for us to mention briefly the Word of Wisdom and the Stop Smoking Workshop.  Karin smokes and she said that she has wanted to quit for years, but hasn't be able to, but she would love to start the stop smoking workshop in a week!  

Monday evening we received a call from the Elder Weiss with our transfer doctrine!  But before he would give the news of what would be happening he asked how Karin and Anthony were doing, and then he told us that we will both be staying in Mount Vernon for another transfer!  When we called Karin and Anthony the following day, they said that they had been waiting anxiously for the phone call and they had prayed that we would both stay together!  

On Tuesday after our service at the community and history centers in Lisbon, we tried by several potentials.  Now Gerry is a referral from the Garvin's who moved from our branch in June, and we have tried to contact her for weeks, and Sister Stoffers and I had only met her once!  We were walking towards her house and lo and behold she was standing outside her house talking with another woman.  We get closer to her and she says "well I suppose you are looking for me!"  She mentioned how she had been busy and that once school started for her grandson that she would love to have us over to visit with her.  She also mentioned that she didn't have too much time that day, but an hour later we were leaving with some summer squash and a loaf of zucchini bread!  She worked at Cornell with some of the members in our branch who teach at Cornell, and she has a nephew who is a member, and his kids are on missions!  During our conversation with her she said that "she probably wouldn't convert" then she paused and said "well, you never know it could happen!"  

Delivering cucumbers that we had way too many of! 

Thursday morning we went park contacting in Mount Vernon at the park that has the swimming pool; so many parents were with their young kids at the playground, which made a wonderful opportunity to talk with them!  We also had another lesson with Karin and Anthony, and they are so amazing!  They always do their reading assignments and every night after supper Anthony washes the dishes and Karin reads the Book of Mormon to him!  We were able to give them a baptismal calendar that outlines the lessons we will teach them, and the schedule coming up to their baptism!  Anthony mentioned how he has not been this excited about God/religion ever in his life and how much happier he and his mom have been since learning about the gospel!

Thursday evening we went and helped caulk Grandma Mickey's shed in preparation for painting!  Which was a lot of fun, and by the end I had caulk all over my hands, and a little on the gun. . . good thing it comes off easily!  

 Friday we had our get-to-know-you district meeting and only 2 missionaries changed!  We have a new Elder in our branch, and Sister Bingham is training Sister White.  After district meeting we went to Clarence to check on some potentials and do some finding!  None of the potentials were home, so we did some finding, but it was one of those days that as you are finding the clock is not moving.  So we decided to start heading back to our car, but on the street we were walking down, there was a lady scraping her front step.  Now it was hot and humid, and she was dripping with sweat.  We start talking with her and she lives in Anamosa, but was helping her sister today.  We asked if we could help scrape and she tells us no because we are in nice clothes and it is hot. . . we continued talking for a little bit and then I said "will you Please let us scrape for just 5 minutes?" She accepted! Haha the power of five minutes which actually ended up being closer to 35!  Her sister had had some of the outdoor carpet on her front steps that was worn out and so we were scraping off the glue and bits of carpet, and before long we were dripping in sweat.  So Mary went and made us some lemonade and we were able to talk about family history and invited her to come to the family history center one Wednesday evening!  Friday evening we had dinner with the Offen's, and their grandson Keldon, had his girlfriend who isn't a member there!  We then went and helped clean the church, and Sister Porter practiced the organ because our organist is gone and Sister Porter was asked to play for church and for a funeral.  Keldon's girlfriend just talked and talked with Sister Porter as she played the organ!  

Saturday was a busy day as well.  We started out by helping Lavonne, who works at the history center in Lisbon, set up her sidewalk sale for the city wide garage sale day.  Then we went to the funeral where Sister Porter played the organ and accompanied the grandchildren on the piano.  I was so grateful that she can play the piano and organ!  Right after the funeral we went to the Griffith's who are not members, but their son is a member, so they invite the missionaries over about every month and if they have any service then they'll ask us to help.  So we had lunch and then helped Janet wash windows!

We had a wonderful week and I am so grateful that I get to stay in Mount Vernon for another transfer! What a blessing the gospel is in our own lives, and an even greater blessing it is to be able to share the light of the gospel with those that are searching for it!  

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!

Love, Sister Call

Making dinner.