Workin' for God's Army

Not much to say this week!  But, we have successfully [finally] moved to Botetourt County.  We live in one of the buildings of the Old Daleville College that was here in the early 1900's. 

The building we live in is pretty old

177 College Drive Apt. #2

Daleville, Va  24083

 

  

AND we are safe from all the flooding and rainstorms that have really swept across the Mission!  

Luckily, all we got up in Botetourt County was just some gnarly thunderstorms.  West Virginia was hit plenty harder - especially White Sulpher Springs and Clendenin (practically every house and business was destroyed there).  It is the worst flooding the state has had in over a hundred years.  White Sulpher Springs is famous for The Greenbrier Resort & Casino, where every 4th of July they have a PGA golf tournament, big-named artists perform, and some of the nicest wedding receptions in the state.  It has all been cancelled due to the flooding.
Here's a snippet from President Salisbury's weekly email:
As of Saturday afternoon there were still 32,016 without power, a death toll of 26, 16 shelters opened, damage assessment teams on their way, swift water rescues still taking place in Greenbrier county, water still not receded enough to fully assess all areas, FEMA incident management team arriving (Saturday the 25th), damage assessments to begin on Monday. Some of the hardest hit areas in the mission were Greenbrier county, Fayette County, Clay County, and cities like Clendenin (near Charleston) where nearly every house and business was destroyed, Richwood (near Cowen), and White Sulphur Springs were severely damaged.Missionaries will be able to help, but only if approved and very closely monitored by President Salisbury.  Some missionaries from the BV Stake (where White Sulpher Springs is) were able to volunteer and cook food for those who are without power, who are homeless, who are vacated from their homes due to flood warning, or for the volunteers themselves. A local guy went into an area, without being authorized, and got electrocuted.  So, they are still assessing the areas, and making sure it is safe for Citizen volunteers to go in.


Mon. June 20:  P-Day.  We were able to pass through Roanoke, and play some street ball with some of the brothers who run the Melrose Park courts.  It was super fun, but super hot and exhausting.

Elder Shirley got to see the Roanoke Star.

 

Then I got heat exhaustion, and threw up what seemed like a gallon of water I had chugged too fast.  :(

Tues. June 21:  We had a lesson with Ben Denton - we weren't sure how it was going to go since last week he sent us a text that seemed he was having trouble with some of the beliefs, but we got to his house and everything seemed fine.  He does have an interesting concern; that he doesn't believe that we have to keep commandments to get blessed.
We tracted this one area, where two less-actives lived, and found a new Investigator named, Courtney.  She's a 23 year old mom, and we are seeing her next Tuesday, as well.
We contacted a referral named, Cassie.  Her husband, Mark answered the door and we got to talking and he's an Air Force Recruiter.  He remarked, "I'm doing the same thing you guys are doing!"  I replied, "Kinda."   Elder Shirley remarked, "Yeah, we're doing it for God's Army!"  Haha.
Brother Homer Janney came with us/drove us around today, and the only person we were able to get in with was Brother Jim Tolley.  He remarked, "I've been in the Church 21 years; one active, 20 inactive."  He's a nice enough guy and we believe he could come back.
We had the Guffey's cancel.  We had the Hawk's cancel.

Wed. June 22:  We had District meeting today.
To summarize today: 5 people didn't want to talk to us.
We had a great lesson with Sister Rogers.  Sister Yates was really good for her and we think she will make a great friend.
We were really excited for the Scroggins dinner with their friends, the Tribbles', but they all had to cancel.  :(
Brother Morse came out with us on our weekly Wednesday team-up (Brother Hensley really pushed to get that started).  We went and saw Sister Jamie Davison, a less-active, and such a nice lady - she has made some major life decisions, and we believe she is really ready to come back to church!

Thur. June 23:  We had the great opportunity today of participating in the Roanoke Youth Conference (they did an MTC experience).  We got to teach two 45 minute classes on chapter 11 of Preach My Gospel: How do I Help People Make and Keep Commitments?  It was plenty of fun, and it was great to see the youth participate and get excited to share the Gospel.  At the beginning of the class, we had each of them write down the name of non-member friend.  Then with the "training" they received in our class, we committed them to go invite that friend to church or a mutual activity.
Brother Hensley took us out to dinner for Coordination meeting, and then took us to see the Hodges family.

Fri. June 24:  We did exchanges with the Salem 1 Elders.  I went with Elder Hepworth, our District Leader, to Salem.

Elder Hepworth & I

We did some tracting, and had a lesson with a great part-member family they are teaching, the McGuire's.  We had to go to the hospital because Brother McGuire's blood pressure was high.  They are a great couple - Sister McGuire is really close to Baptism!

Sat. June 25:  President and Sister Cummings, their daughter, Maddie, and Brother Elmore & Jacob Elmore came and helped us move.  We were instructed by Elder Ravert, the senior Elder over housing, to clean that old apartment spotless.  We were there all day!  Cleaning, bleaching, packing and moving!

Old [temporary] apartment in Salem:

Salem Apt.

Salem Apt.

Salem Apt.

Salem Apt.

New apartment in Daleville: Kitchen

 

New apt. in Daleville: Bathroom -

the laundry is in the bathroom;
probably the nicest washer and dryer I've had on my mission.

{new apt. in Daleville: Living Room}

It's all a lot more spacious and roomy!

{New apt. in Daleville: Bedroom}

Sun. June 26:  Church.  Angie didn't come, neither did any of the less-actives we've been working with...
Diviney's had us over for dinner!  It's always a great time with 11 people around the dinner table!  We had a good conversation with them about really reaching out and praying for opportunities to invite.  Brother Diviney said, "I really like you guys.  If I knew somebody, I'd definitely have you teach them."  Sister Diviney was then like, "Well, let's pray harder!  We have to get them a referral for someone to teach before Elder Brenchley goes home!"  --- Yes, Please!
I was reading on Faith this morning, and how much of a beautiful concept it is.  Faith is not just believing what we see, but believing what we don't see.  Even the two disciples who walked on the Road to Emmaus didn't even recognize the Savior or believe it was him, on the 7 mile walk from Jerusalem.  But, later they realized they felt that it was him when he was talking to them!  With faith, we need to focus on how we feel, rather than what we see!  Food for thought!  I know my Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ both live!  I have not seen them, but I have felt them.  I know they are real and love us.

LUKE 24:
13 ¶And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

 15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

 16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

 17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

 18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

 19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

 20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

 21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

 22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;

 23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

 24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

 25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

 28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

 29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

 30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

 33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,

 34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

I Love You All!

Love, Elder Brenchley