I Try
So the other day I walked up the street to talk to someone about a duplex they have advertised to rent.  The lady who answered the door was older.  She said she was just going to lie down because she's ill.  She didn't want to rent to me because she wants someone long term, but she did want to talk to me at the door for quite awhile even though she didn't feel good.  I asked her where she's from because she had a cute accent.  She said she's from Germany and she's a holocaust survivor.  Her parents were both killed in a concentration camp.  She says she doesn't usually tell people that because she doesn't like to remember.  So I just asked her how old she was and she said, 6 or 7 or 8.  Then she told me all about her illnesses, including a bad stomach.   I asked her if she'd like me to have the missionaries come visit with her about Jesus Christ.  She said, No, she's discouraged with churches.  She thinks there should only be one church. I said So do I!  And there is one!  Then she said she just wishes Jesus would come.  Then I said, So do I!  Then I asked if I could bring her some soup.  Can you eat soup?  Can I make something for you that you could eat?  She said, "No, I won't take anything from you.  You might poison me.  I watch a lot of tv."  I decided not to say that usually when someone poisons you, it's someone you know, not a random missionary stranger who offers to make you soup."  I tried.

Storms continue
We had a pretty bad storm blow through this week.  Lots of damage in some areas of the mission. More trees down.  More opportunities for service.

Mission Life
We passed our one year mark this week, August 27.  We sure have experienced a lot and learned a lot in a year.  It's funny how the weeks go so slow and yet so fast!  To celebrate we had pizza delivered to the office and anybody who dropped by got to have some.  Lucky!

Our week was pretty normal with housing and finance problems.  We had a missionary come back to the mission for a visit, Sister Boyack.  This is the office staff with her.  When they come back we have a hard time to call them by their first names.

This is a picture of the office staff with Sister Francis, who was just finishing her mission.

One Sunday in primary, I was playing the prelude music and I looked over to see a bunch of kids mobbing Chris.  They all wanted hugs.  So I stopped playing and snapped a picture.  He leads the music in primary and I play.

Saturday Hike
Yesterday we went on one of Arkansas's iconic hikes: Whitaker Point/Hawksbill Crag.  It was a really rocky trail.  I was glad for my high tops.   Here's some pictures.

It was a really pretty drive on a dirt road to get there.

This is early on.  That's why we look all fresh and unsweaty.

Very rocky and unven trail.

Need I say more? You know we love to eat a sandwich on a hike.

You can see the crag sticking out right behind Chris on the left.  I'm standing on it in the next picture.

We went in style and took our sandwiches in a plastic bag.