Last Sunday we were supposed to talk in church, but we got bumped because the high councilman was going to be out of town the next week. Score! We had a lovely Sunday though. I play in primary every week. But I also got to go to a class this time. It was three little 4 yr old girls and they were FUNNY AND CRAZY! You can tell their families are studying at home. For the lesson the teacher would basically hold up a picture and say, "What is Jesus doing?" Then another picture and another. To every question the teacher asked, Dahlia answered: "This is my lovely son in whom I am well pleased." (how cute is the lovely part) To every question the teacher asked, Abby said, "Jesus said, Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men." They said the same thing every time. I was dying it was so cute.
Visits
* Sunday we delivered some valentine cookies to a neighbor a few houses up the street. We've talked to her outside while she walks her dogs so we took her some cookies and valentine candy. She had her house locked up tight and called out, "Who is it?" I wasn't sure what to say. So I said, "The Johnsons down the street." She peaked out and then recognized who we were and invited us in. It was so much fun and she loved the visit. She said she hasn't had a drop in visitor in years. She's had an interesting life and has done just about everything. She had a sign in her house that she bought in Japan. It's a beautiful sign. She asked someone what beautiful thing it said and they told her:
"We repair truck tires also." True Story. She has a small house with a million things in it. We will look forward to visiting her again.
* Monday we drove to Anderson and visited a couple from our ward. They just had a baby so we took them a baby blanket and some treats. They aren't married, but are engaged. He's a member and she isn't. He decided he has a family now, he should go back to church. They are going to take the missionary lessons.
Lament of a Housing Coordinator
I've been working so hard to find a place for some sister missionaries to live in Harrison. One day this week I called more than 10 apartments. We had two different ones almost secured and then they fell through at the last minute. Sooooo disappointing! I'm not giving up!
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day was fun. The sister missionaries who work in the office a lot decorated the office for us and left us valentine cards. It was so cute and fun. And I got roses but I forgot to take a picture.
Audit
Elder Johnson has a headache. Today is Saturday and he had to go to the office all morning for an audit. I had to do the wash for him. AND my own chores. That's just great!
Now wait....wait.... this is the best of all! A LIVE Armadillo. When she posted this on facebook the missionaries were all having a fit. One comment said: You're going to get Leprosy!
Missionary Experience from one of our senior couples:
President Strong wanted Sister Melonakos and I to post something about the community service we do in the Ash Flat, Arkansas area. We volunteer on Tuesdays from 10-2 at the Mission of Hope. This organization has a thrift store which funds a homeless shelter for men. I work the cash register in the thrift store and Sister Melonakos works with inventory and assists customers with pricing. Both of us wear our tags and have multiple conversations with customers each time we work there. We have also developed some good relationships with other people working there.
We work on Fridays from 10-3 at a food bank. We had a rough start there. We got some icy stares from the workers when we first started. You could tell that they had some problems with our missionary badges. The situation has changed completely over the last four months. They now greet us with hugs and enthusiasm. I help unload trucks and carry food boxes to customers' cars. Sister Melonakos prepares food packages for those who come in. Doing volunteer work at the food bank is one of the highlights of our week.
People in the community are getting to know us and are using us to help with some of their local projects. We helped wrap presents for children at a local church just before Christmas. That same church called us yesterday to ask if we could help serve pancakes at a fundraiser for the homeless.
Even though we feel that supporting our branch and seeking out less actives is our primary mission as senior missionaries, community service has helped lessen prejudice against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in our area and has given us a great deal of joy.
Elder and Sister Melonakos
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