Monday, July 8, 2013

We've had a wonderful month of visiting Military families, teaching lessons, service projects, and enjoying Virginia!
We have about 100 military families, some moving in, and some moving out.  Our goal is to visit in each military home.   We've gotten to know about 2/3 of these families so far.
We have weekly visits with some families:  families of the deployed, and people who want weekly gospel lessons.  We've had some good success with reactivating some people, and are working with some who are still not sure if that's what they want.  The Spirit is strong when we work with these families and it is such a comfort to know that we aren't in control, but that the Savior knows these people and is teaching them through the Spirit.
We are still visiting the family with little Jonah and Caleb.  I promised Riley I'd post pics of them:

Jonah was a 23 week preemie - so has complications because of that, but he is sharper than a whip!  I sang a song once to him, and a half hour later, he's singing it word for word.  He wanted me to read him the story about Nephi building a boat - then he got frustrated with the way I was telling it, and he told the whole story, word for word out of his Children's Book of Mormon book.  Then he reminded me that someone else built a ship - Hagoth.  I had to look it up, because I didn't believe him!  Caleb is just a cute, little munchable kid that I can't get enough of, too!  Their mom is awesome - carrying quite a load while her husband is deployed!
We're also teaching a wonderful woman in a nursing home.  She and I are working on her genealogy and she's very sharp - I spent 4 hours with her today and enjoyed every minute!!
Brad is enjoying his cat - but the birds who built a nest in the roof of our little patio are not!  While the cat sits leisurely on our table, looking out the window, these birds are standing guard on the railing, cussing like crazy at her!

We're still not liking the traffic around here, but we're getting a little used to it.  We do A LOT of driving every day - hope Brad's old car holds out!!

We had a marvelous experience last week, when they split the Richmond Virginia Mission and created the Chesapeake Virginia Mission, which we are now a part of.  Our new Mission President and wife are wonderful, wonderful!  Also, we're expecting 22 new missionaries this week - the work is increasing and it's so awesome to be a part of this.  We love to see peoples' hearts touched and lives changed as they listen to and accept the Doctrines of Christ.

AND - yes, I'm homesick for Karl, our dog!  We went to this house and I couldn't keep my hands off their dog - Karl look-alike!

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