Young Joseph

Young Joseph, 15 years old has loved the missionary lessons! He is a great joy to know and to watch. He is Sister Caldwell's neighbor and is over at her house most every day asking what he can do to help her. He is the most mature young man. He does not have close friends his age, but enjoys the Elders and other more adult mature people. His answers to gospel questions are amazingly brilliant.

He is mature, like I said, but he is still a fun teenager who likes to run around in the snow, fall down next to the car, and pretending he is hurt. What a hoot! The smile on his face showed us that he just loves having fun! He has moved away since we were meeting with him, and we don't know where. We hope that some day he finds - or - the missionaries find him again.

After these visits with Joseph, Torries and Siter Caldwell, we continue our member teaching with Danita and she feeds us too. Yummy Pie!

Freezing Cold

It is freezing at my desk in the winter! The windows are drafty & the door behind me has cold wind blowing in under the door & under my desk. I use a hot pad & blanket to keep me warm!

Since this picture was taken, a blockade was put under the desk & the door was fixed to trap the air. I fixed the window by putting scotch tape around the edges. They say the windows are going to be changed out maybe before next winter.

Some winter days can be so stunningly brilliant I had to take some pictures.

Our days are full, so when we can we stop at Olive Garden to relax.

Diligent Faith and Spirit Filled Elders in the Cold of Winter

Met Elders Hanson and Greenwood while they were tracting. After they locked their bikes to the sign we went together to visit Sister Tanner. She prepares a meal and feeds the Elders every week, and us too when we go with them. She is personally awesome and the best cook ever.


The diligence of the Elders is so inspiring to see them in the depth of night knocking on doors and returning to their apartment by 9:30 just in time to honor the mission rules of when to be in their apartment.

Torries Baptism - January 15, 2011

Elders Seymore (L to R-from Gilbert AZ & Elder Bradshaw from UT) met & taught Torries on Christmas day & baptized him Jan 15, 2011. After his baptism in the font, he was so touched by the Spirit that he broke down crying & fell upon the shoulders of Elder Seymore. I gave a talk on the Holy Ghost and have also had the joy of playing the piano for our baptisms, not knowing that much about piano, but can get through most hymns.

The next day on Sunday we were all going to Sister Caldwell's, where she had prepared dinner for us. On the way, Elder Bradshaw said we had to stop & search the trash because he had been looking for several days for his missionary handbook (which also had all of his very important security information) When we stopped to look in the trash, Torries basically dived in with both arms, forward & downward into the dumpster & found the book! We were one noisy bunch at that moment, just shouting for joy for the answer to prayer & that our dear Torries was the one to find it. So fun!
Torries baptism & Torries finds the lost book - what joy

Elder Bradshaw so relieved! Dinner so great! Sister Caldwell so sweet!

One week after Torries was baptized, he was wondering if he had made the right decision because he could see how hard it was for him to change his life. Because I am catching up on recording events, it is now May 21, even though the post date for this article is Jan 15th. This is important because over this time he has become confident. Every time we see Torries it is clear that he is growing, glowing and happy.

Our car is often filled to the brim giving people rides to church, activities, and Book of Mormon study. Danita noticed and pointed out to us that everyone that has been baptized in the branch since we arrived, had ridden in our car! I hadn't thought about it, but it was sweet to think about the part we have played and the role we have performed for the Lord to do his work.

Before Danita was baptized, she also rode in our car. She usually has a car, but when we first met her she didn't, so we were giving her rides too. She said it was important for her to be with us and then to be baptized. We are so close to Danita and love her dearly.

Many empty devastated homes in the area. Elders taking bikes in to upstairs apartment.