A Little Bit of Rain!

Elder Page, one of our Spanish Elders in Baton Rouge, is getting ready to go home on Thursday. I can only imagine how excited his family must be today. They're probably counting the hours. He was in the office in his P-Day clothes with a very large suitcase. I managed to get a quick pic of him, Elder White and Elder Peterson.

Elder Page, Elder White and Elder Peterson

Elder Whittier and Elder Bennett had to me a member from Denham Springs Stake today. She was purchasing one of the retired mission cars, and they needed to go to a notary to sign over the title. About the time they'd finished the sky opened up, and you can see the results just outside our office. The soggy ones decided to turn it into a photo op.

Elder Whittier

Elder Bennett

The sister from DS who had to wait out the storm in our office or her "new" little corolla would have drowned.

Soaked to the bone!

See Y'all Later!

We had such an emotional Testimony Meeting this morning. and there was such a strong Spirit throughout the day. This was the last time Elder Stewart, Elder L and I would be attending our little branch in Plaquemine. Next Sunday is Stake Conference, so we will have one more Sunday in LA, but Elder S returns to his home in California on Thursday.

I'd just like to mention, for the record, a few of the things I've learned from being in Plaquemine for the past 17 months;
The Simplicity of the Gospel (You don't need all the frills and extras to teach a Gospel lesson! You can still have the Spirit to edify teacher and students without tablecloths, flowers, posters, wordstips, pictures, handouts, or standing on your head.)
Be more Mary and less Martha and "choose the better part." (Have your priorities in order then do them!)
We can overcome challenges and adversity. (Just to name a few in the branch--Sister Covington, our dear sister in the wheelchair who was run over by a train; Sister Trent who had neck surgery and was in a neck brace for months, then, when she'd recovered, had back surgery; Brother Trent whose legs have all but given out on him, but the Trent's somehow manage to always attend their meetings, work at the Bishop's Storehouse, have missionaries to dinner every week, and a ton of other services that most people will never know about.)
Having to stand alone when you know it's right (Our young Aaronic Priesthood is probably the only member of the Church in his school. He's small, but don't let that fool you. He has a mighty spirit and testimony.)

Falling and picking yourself up (These examples are something that I'm not comfortable sharing on a public blog.)

Giving thanks for simple but important and sometimes overlooked things--waking up in the morning, getting to church, rain, a place to meet . . .

Being loving and thoughtful and taking two Westerners into your hearts and lives. 

As the lyrics from "Wicked" say: So let me say before we part so much of me is made of what I learned from you. You'll be with me like a handprint on my heart. Because I knew you I have been changed for good.

Two Buddies--Elder L & the entire Aaronic Priesthood of One!

Elders Stewart & Elder Porter

Sister Trent & Sister Tomlinson 

Sister Lu Williams says that in the South they don't say good-bye. They say "See Y'all Later?"

Chantal Hidalgo (Gavin's mom) & Brother Marchand

Sister Covington & Sister Young

Sister Call & Sister King

The frosting on today's cake was from Emily Ogden, who was released in December, texting to say she was in LA and wanted to visit. What a fun surprise. She came to the hotel in the evening and we spent an hour and a half just catching up on what she's been doing since she finished her mission. She's from Northern California but lives in AZ where she student taught before her mission and now has a contract to teach in Tempe. Those are some lucky 5th graders!

Emily and me

Chandler's Back!

The Assistants popped in and out of the office this morning on their way to a service project. I couldn't resist a picture of Elder White in his black and green color coordinated couture--hat, shirt and bike. The bike is actually for one of next week's incoming elders, but it was a perfect prop since it matched!

Elder White's ensemble

Elder Lauper and Chandler

It was so good to see Chandler again! He and Blaine Mapa are back from Utah and California to baptize Maria and Luke, 2 of the investigators that they were teaching before they were released. Chandler, and whoever his companion was at the time, were the first elders to teach Maria and Luke. What a fitting reward for 2 hard working former elders to be able to return and perform the baptisms.

I've heard nothing but great things about Maria. It seems that, as a non-member, she's been an outstanding pre-member and missionary. Congratulations to Maria and Luke, and thank you Chandler and Blaine, for returning for this very special occasion.

New Iberia Sisters and Elders

Today was ZTM  (Zone Training Meeting), so the entire Baton Rouge Zone was at the Stake Center. Now that makes me happy, because sometimes we get to see missionaries from the nethermost part of the zone. My wish came true, and the New Iberia Sisters and Elders stopped by to pick up a few extra commissary items. Elder Haynie, Elder Caina and Sister Vasquez (on the right) are all Spanish missionaries and Sister Encizo is working on it. She actually goes home in 3 months and wasn't called to learn Spanish, but she's been trying since her companion is a Spanish Sister.

Elder Haynie and Elder Caina will both go home next week. Sister Encizo will be released in September, and Sister Vasquez has another 7 months.

I'm not trying to solicit attendees for our Sacrament Meeting, but a few have asked when we're "reporting in." I just found out last night that we'll be speaking in Church on June 28. Here's the Ward information: Coal Creek 2 Ward, 11 am. The address is 290 West 1045 North, Cedar City. We'll have a lunch following Sacrament Meeting. I know that's really pagan of me but realize that there might be some who'll have a bit of a drive, and we don't want you to go home hungry. 

Mud Bugs

I'm so busy lately and so far behind on this blog that I don't even remember why Sister Butterfield and Sister Ochs came in the office! That probably doesn't matter. I'm just happy that they did:)

Baton Rouge Sister Training Leaders

Mudbug is just another name for a crawfish. They're also crayfish and crawdads, but I've never heard them called that in the South. The most common species in Louisiana burrow during the late summer, spend most of the fall and winter underground in water-filled tunnels, then move to "open water" which means swamps, bayous, pond, lakes and even roadside ditches. They also aerate the soil which replenishes the oxygen. Sure beats walking through the fields all day in stilettos!

Mud bug chimneys

Elders Bearing Gifts

These two kind Elders came in today with a fresh batch of homemade cookies as a thank-you, to welcome the Lawes and say good-bye to the Laupers. Great cookies and they were still warm! Thanks, Elders, for being so good to us.

Sister Lawes and I go home exhausted everyday, but we feel like we're covering a lot of ground and getting through the mountain of information that needs to be covered.

Creme de la Creme

Today started out good and just kept getting better! Sister Lawes is learning so quickly and is quite capable of taking care of all that goes on in the office. She is a very pleasant person with a gentle demeanor and will be a blessing to this mission. I'm sure Elder Lawes will be excellent as well, but I haven't had much time to get to know him. LABRM will be just fine without us.

Even an excellent day improves when the missionaries come by the office. Today was MLC and all of the Zone Leaders and Sister Trainers, except Baton Rouge, were here for a few minutes. Yay!

Before MLC ended, Sister Carpenter and Sister Barclay came in to drop off lease information that should have been sent to the office but was left on their doorstep instead. Love these two Sisters. I'm so glad that Sister C, from Texas, will be attending BYU when she's released and Sister B is from Cedar City.  I don't have to worry about seeing her in the future:)

Elder Fowler and Elder Brown--Denham Springs ZL's

Sister Arntz and Sister Earl--New Orleans STL's

Elder Brimhall, Elder Dye, Sister Boehme and Sister Hafford--Alexandria ZL's and STL's

Sister Groesbeck and Sister Abercrombie--Denham Springs STL's--Sister G is filling in for Sister Blaylock who was sick today:(

Elder Carson, Elder Walker, Elder Jean Louis and Elder Mill--ZL's from New Orleans & NO Spanish