"...She Just Seems To Brighten My Day..."

   When I was in a "regular" ward and I would get a new calling I always wondered. "why me, why now, and what am I suppose to learn from having this calling?"  "What is it that I am suppose to do or just what is my purpose?"  Those same questions and thoughts have been on my mind a lot the last few weeks since we have arrived in Tennessee.  I think I might have at least part of my answer.  
   A week or so ago I received a text from a lady at church.  Yes I text a little.  She was home that day from church and when her family returned home, she asked her daughter how church was.  Mattie, age 9 told her mom, "it is the weirdest thing, every time I see Sister Higgins she just seems to brighten my day."  What a sweet thing to say.
   I have thought of that simple little statement often since I was told what Mattie had to say.  I think that maybe that might be in part our purpose for being here.  We are here to brighten the day for others. We can brighten days by doing service for others, by visiting those in nursing homes and reading to them, by visiting those who are feeling along or forgotten, and of course by sharing a gospel message with everyone we meet during the day.  Sadly it is also a fact that some people have their day brightened just by having us get off their property but even with that we have brightened their day. 
   The Gospel is love in action and the one thing we have learned here is that no matter who you are, you can ALWAYS use a hug, a smile or a friendly word.   Some of the people we meet during the day may not even admit they need anything and then just a listening ear works.  We have learned that people are more than willing to tell you all about their personal health issues and I do mean personal.  We just listen and ask what we can do for them.  The answer is always the same, "just keep me in your prayers" which we do and "thanks for listening". 
   I never knew how easy it was to, brighten someone's day and what an impact that has on others.  It took a 9 year old little girl to point it out and I am most grateful for her.  Please go out now and brighten someone's day and find out how good it makes you feel.  And as we say here in the south, "have a blessed day."

Following the Trials Come the Blessings

     Our calling here in Tennessee it to work with the less active and encourage them to return to church.  We were given a ward list and told who came regularly, but nothing more.  We then decided that we would just visit every member of the ward and talk to them and see for our self.  There are about 450 members with it split pretty much in half with half living in Tullahoma and half in Manchester.  We soon realized just what a big job this would be and try to break the task up by spending a day in Tullahoma, a day in Hillsboro and a couple of days in Manchester.  Saturdays we decide where to go by the week's progress or lack of.  Monday because it is P-Day, preparation day which includes laundry, errands and grocery shopping so we just get a few hours in and Tuesday because we do service projects here in town and we have twig meetings we spend in Manchester.  Every Wednesday either in McMinnville or in Tullahoma we have a district meeting which seems to take up the morning so we have decided that on the day we meet in Tullahoma that is the day we just
pack a lunch and spend the day there.  It may sound confusing and at first it was, but now makes sense to us. We are finally getting into somewhat of a routine. If you add in that Monday, Wednesday and Fridays we are at the pool from 7-8AM and Tuesday and Thursdays from 8-9AM and Friday mornings we are at a nursing home between 9-9:30 AM  our days are getting organized, which is something I like.  Calvin is liking it too although he wouldn't admit it.
   We had a zone meeting this past Wednesday, the 9th.  When we got back home that afternoon we decided we would go visit more families in the ward.  We still did not have an area map and we were doing lots of back tracking and zig zagging around the area.  After several hours and finding no one home or receptive we headed back to town.  We were feeling a little discouraged because we were wasting time with the extra driving.  We decided on the spur of the moment to track down our own area map. Our first stop was the Walgreen's.  No map.  When we got to the parking lot a man came up to Calvin and asked if he could help.  Calvin explained who we were and what we were doing and the man said he has been looking for a church that is family oriented.  Calvin told him some about the Church, gave him a Book of Mormon and asked if he would read it.  The man whose name is Duane said he would read it and gave Calvin his number and we will call him Saturday to set up a time to meet with him and invite him to church Sunday.  We ended the day with the blessing of meeting  Duane and introducing him to the church.
Friday we spent the day in Tullahoma which like the rest of Tennessee has lots of trees, hills country areas and very few street lights, house numbers or even street name markers.  We get lots of directions like, "go down here a couple blocks, turn left then go down a few more blocks then turn left again and it is the second, no the third house on the right".  And everyone in the country seems to have several barking dogs inside or tied up in the yard.  After about an hour of driving around in the country and seemed to be driving around in circles we finally located the house we were looking for, and the man who was not home from work was the member of the ward but less active.  His wife came out to meet us as soon as we drove up, never a good sign.  She told us, not to politely that her and the children were members of another church and that although her husband "used" to be a member of the church had not been for at least 10 years making him no longer a member in her view.  Calvin explained that he would be a member as long as his name was on the records of the church and as long as he was there would be times like today that people would come by to talk to him about the gospel.  He said he had his agency of course and that the only one who could remove his name from the records was him and he would have to write a letter to the Bishop!  She then dismissed us and we left.  As we were leaving and feeling bad for the husband knowing that there were going to be some serious "discussing" about religion going on over the dinner table, we passed a new house under construction we noticed a man heading to his car.  I thought to myself  "I want to find someone who will accept and read the Book of Mormon.  I know there was someone out there, we should just stop the car and give that man one."  What I did not realize is that I was not thinking to myself I had said it out loud and as soon as I finished, Calvin backed the car up. Before I knew what was happening I was out of the car, introducing ourselves and telling him about this wonderful book and message I would like to share with him.  He said he was on his way to pick up his little girl from day care, but would love to read the Book of Mormon and we could come back Monday to talk to him more about it.  What???  I NEVER do this.  Calvin does all the talking, he introduces us, explains what we are doing, and gives the message or whatever is needed.  Needless to say next Monday, P-Day or not we are going to make that long trip to talk to Purnell.  Yes, he said if we remember the old Bonanza show we would remember his name.  He was named after Purnell Roberts who played Adam Cartright on the show.  Again after another day of small trials we received the blessing of meeting Purnell.

Wk3: Up and down and all around town

Monday was P-Day so Papa fixed the two faucets while I put more things away. After the busy week last week spent at the fair we were feeling somewhat lost. Still didn't know who, what, when, where, how, about our calling. We were told we would be working with the less active but had no idea who the active members were, much less the less active… feeling a little down.

Tuesday we were invited by the Mission President to come to Franklin to attend a "Transfer Meeting".  We thought as long as we were going we should try to find the Temple and attend a session.  We had been told that the Mission President will let the Missionaries know when their temple day was.  We were also told we would probably go 3 times while we are here!  We took our temple clothes anyway.  We learned a long time ago that it is sometimes better to ask forgiveness than ask permission.  We were looking forward to this meeting, because we would FINALLY get our box of supplies.  Supply Box = an Area Book (which contains maps of the area along with reports), ward information, planners, DVDs, Pass Along Cards, Book of Mormons, pamphlets, and everything we would need to get started!  Boy did we want that box!  Everyone said someone else had the box and we had to come home with no supply box.

We did discover that every transfer day, which are held every 6 weeks, a special temple session is held for those missionaries who are leaving and returning home.  Senior couples are always needed and encouraged to attend.  Hot dog!  We were going to be able to attend the meeting, have lunch, and get to attend the temple.  As it turns out, the temple is just across the parking lot from the stake center where the meeting is held.  After each transfer meeting, a different ward in the stake/area serves the departing missionaries and senior couples a nice lunch.  Even leaving Franklin with no supplies it was a beautiful day and we look forward to going again. Definitely an up day!

Wednesday was our weekly district meeting, we drove the 30 minutes to go, but once there, I was feeling sick to my stomach and we headed right back home.  By early evening I was feeling good enough to go meet with the Bishopric.  We left the meeting with a ward list and we were feeling good and encouraged, but we still didn't know who the “less active” were.  It was a bit of a strange day.  Not sure if it was an up or down day.

Thursday, I was still not feeling too good; we stayed in and went over the ward list trying to see who we could remember from church so we could figure out some “less actives” for us to visit.  We set up an appointment to meet with Brother Long who has been in the ward “forever” and knows about every name on the ward list.  We wanted to go over the ward list with him and get his insights and suggestions.  We also picked up a few handouts from the Elders and have started making our own "Area Book".  The only thing is we don't know what goes in it. 

By Friday, Papa had had enough of just sitting around so I made some mini muffins and we decided to strike out on our own.  We selected a few people from the ward list based on names:

• Sarah, because I have a sister named Sarah. 
• Another lady because she had a daughter named MaKenna.
• A gentleman named Steve.
• And to shake things up, a gentleman named Kent.  We don’t know a Kent and couldn't remember meeting a “Kent” at church.  

Turns out they were all very friendly and all but Steve invited us in. (Comment from Elizabeth:  based on names – that is probably right)

Definitely an UP day. 

The only thing was we don't have a ward map and don't know the area enough so we spent extra time driving around.  Even with a new, working GPS! While out driving, we saw a Walgreen's and decided to get our flu shots as had been suggested.  (I have not felt good since)

Saturday we went to lunch with Brother Long and had our first "Grilled Bacon Cheese Burger".  I loved it, but I didn't love me.  We then went back to Brother Long’s home and went over the over the ward list.  He gave us some very useful information (who would be open to a visit and who would wave a broom at us).  By the time we got back home I wasn't feeling to good so I put my nightgown on and watched the Relief Society Broadcast from my rocker.  What a great meeting, so another UP day.

Sunday was the Primary Children's Sacrament Program which was wonderful.  It made me miss my grandchildren, but another UP day.