Trunk or Treat!

Another busy week and with just a few days until Halloween, the Jonesboro Ward had its "trunk or treat" on Saturday (October 26th). So this entire week the Elders and Sister's invited investigators and less active to what is pretty much a Ward party. The week started however last Sunday when we had to speak in church. There was a Elder Jackson that had just returned from a mission in Salem Oregon and we told him to take all the time he needed to report his mission. That meant that we had about 5 minutes each, but things went just fine.That night Gramma and I visited Ute and Gerald a older couple in the Ward, both with health problems. We were introduced to them by the Sisters the night before and I offered to give them a Priesthood blessing on Sunday. I couldn't find anyone to go with us so I officiated myself. What a loving couple and we have developed a close relationship with them just after a couple of visits.

On P-day I asked Gramma what she would like to do. I needed to go to with the Elders so we didn't have time to go very far. She had seen a Antique shop when we took the Missionaries from Conyers to the Doctor and said she wanted to go there. It was in Peachtree City. Gramma is usually lost here in Atlanta, but she thought that if I got her to the highway near the mission office she would find it. She did and I was so shocked, I drove past it and had to make a U-turn. Two wonderful hours for her, two hours of pacing for me. This place had two houses fill with antiques, one of them with two floors.

We are not going to complain about the weather, because we can't. It has been about 75 degrees all week with low's in the mid 50's. It is so pretty here. Here is a example of what we have to put up with.

We have started to walk each morning in our compound. the total walk down and back (it is uphill coming back) is about 1 and quarter miles. At the bottom we finally found our lake that is suppose to have fish and snapping turtles.We are hoping no alligators.

It has these weird roots shooting up is the air like a swamp. Gramma wanted a picture.

Tuesday we went to District Council and later checked on a couple of address's. One had 3 pit bulls in the back yard barking and Gramma was not to excited about that. They were not home so we scampered to the car. We have a hard time catching anyone home. Sister Webb who attended our Bible class on Wednesday night, said part of the reason is many people have two jobs to survive and they are not home day or evening. I think that many on the list have moved, but we don't know for sure unless we catch someone home. On Thursday we drove the Sisters to Conyers to attend our zone Conference, The Atlanta East Zone. We enjoyed it, but made the mistake of sitting near the back making it difficult to hear some of the time. They didn't use the mike and we and Elder and Sister Potts (another senior couple) strain to take it all in. It is great to hear from President and Sister Clayton and the other missionaries. Their enthusiasm is contagious.

Here is Gramma setting with Elder and Sister Potts.

On Friday the Elders, both the English and Spanish, had a service project helping families, so singing at the nursing home has all Sisters except for me. They really enjoy our visits and they really have improved since Gramma got involved.

 Friday afternoon I taught a lesson with the Elders and then we went out to eat at Red Lobster for our wedding anniversary (51). We were going to go to the Temple to celebrate that afternoon, but the Spanish Sisters called and their ride had fallen through and they needed a ride to the evening session, so we went to the 8:00 p.m. session with them. It was in Spanish so we had headphones. There was a big group from the Spanish branch and it was a really nice evening. The only problem was it was past 10:30 by the time we got home. Saturday was the Wards trunk or treat activity and so we picked up the Sisters and Gramma and them went to Walmart and Dollar Tree and bought some decorations for the Sisters car. It was raining hard, but luckily the first part of the activity was in the Cultural Hall. They had a great turn out and lots of food.

Notice the cockroach clusters!

Gramma and the Sisters dressed as a witch with her two cats, and the decorated car trunk was a big hit.

Gramma has always loved Halloween. Seeing the neighbors dress up and see them excited to get Treats. It was too dark to take any pictures in the parking lot (for some reason they did it in the most darkened spot there), but let me tell you these Georgians know how to decorate a trunk. Everyone had a great time. We took the Elders to their apartment and headed home, only to get a call from the Sisters. They had left their keys at the church along with their church key and had no way to get in the church. We drove back, let them in,  then home.

On Sunday we went early to the church, Gramma was the organist for the Spanish Branch. They usually just have electronic music and they really appreciated her helping. We went to our Ward meetings and then took an investigator home. Gramma fixed a big Sunday meal and invited the Elders to come over. We filled them up, (Gramma is still a specialist at Sunday dinner) and we then hope to rest the remainder of the Sabbath day, but who knows what kind of emergency we night be needed for by the missionaries. Our lives are busy doing the work of the Lord and we know this is a good place for us to be. We hope your lives are being blessed as ours. We know the Gospel is true and pray daily for all of you. Do what is right, remember that we are thinking of you always. God bless y'all.
Love, Grampa and Gramma Hammond.