Kennesaw Mountian

On P-Day we made another of our Civil War history tours. We traveled to Pickett's Mill Battlefield which was closed. It is a State park and they are only open 4 days a week. Then to the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.

Kennesaw Mountain is where the Confederate Army hoped to stop Sherman and the Union Army from attacking Atlanta. They fought battles all the way down from Chattanooga, Tennessee with Sherman trying to out flank them. The South dug in and the resulting battle was costly, especially to the Union, but they prevailed and drove the Confederates back to defend Atlanta proper. Here is the view from the top of Kennesaw Mountain  (about 1,800 feet above sea level) looking toward Atlanta.

This is the view coming the other way from Tennessee. They fought about 5 different battles working their way to Kennesaw.

This is a steep mountain and fighting on it and trying to drive others off it is huge task. Here is how steep the mountain was. Gramma wanted a picture of the colors too.

It was a interesting (and sad) visit. It is amazing what this country has gone through to preserve this nation.  Well, that is just a few hours on Monday. The rest of the week was the usual whirlwind week.
On Tuesday we had our last District Council before transfer's. Sister Schmidt and Elder Malone were leaving. Afterwards we took all of them out for a goodbye lunch.

Wednesday, we drove the Spanish Sisters to Peachtree. Sister Meechi was being transferred and they needed a drive. I am fascinated by transfer day. It seems like about 25% of the missionaries in the mission are there (sometimes I am sure that's correct) and they are a-buzz meeting old friends and getting new companions.

This is how much stuff Sister Meechi had for me to load in the car. I didn't think I would get it in, but with them holding some things on their lap we made it.

We got two new missionaries in our District. Sister Nelson from Prescott, AZ., and Elder Scott from New York, except he has been living with his family in China for the past two years. He also has a sister in the Idaho Pocatello Mission, speaking Spanish.

Wednesday night was Christmas program practice and of course Gramma is well used.

I am Scrooge and as you know I can play that part quite well.  Friday it was our visit to the Golden Crest to sing. We had three new Spanish missionaries and the two in our district. It was almost a whole new group. Sorry for the poor picture. We are thrilled because the new elders can sing!

That night I drove Gramma to Sharpsburg on the other side of Peach Tree City. There was a special meeting for the women from multiple Stakes with Elder Renlund. It was a long drive in the rush hour and wet and rainy on the way back. I went to Costco, Sams, and sat in the car working on my Scrooge part. The Ward choir had practice Saturday night, Sunday, before and after church, so we were there from 8:30 to 2:30. Gramma played the organ for the Branch , their meetings are earlier, and I made trips to pick up the Elders and attend missionary planning meetings. We fed the Sisters, we had to go get them (30 Minutes one way) and back after dinner. We continue to stay very busy and work hard to keep up with these young missionaries. We are able to use what talents the Lord has blessed us with to help the Work go forward. We love all of you and pray the Lord will bless you as he has blessed us. We love and miss ya'all. Grampa and Gramma Hammond

More of the Same

It has been a busy week as usual and it has been just more of the same things we do as senior missionaries. The weather has been beautiful most days and rainy and cool on others. Here are some pictures of the fall that I took or one of our early morning walks.

On P-Day Gramma decided that we needed to go to Dillard's at a downtown shopping center to get some special makeup she needs. I had to take the Elders earlier that morning to get their grocery's and Elder Malone said he had never been to Atlanta. I ask them if they wanted to go with two old senior missionaries and he jumped at the chance. We went shopping and they walked around the downtown area for several hours. We met later and bought them lunch.

Tuesday we had a late District Council with the Zone leaders. Gramma went to a special lunch for some of the Relief Society sisters. I took her and the Sister missionaries there. Later that evening we had play practice for the Ward Christmas party (remember I  am playing Scrooge). All of these things are happening between various errands and rides for the missionaries. Thursday evening they had a Stake Missionary Meeting in Conyers. It was very good and they had three exceptional talks about missionary work. (Two were converts and their testimony and story of conversion) Our mission President was there and also spoke. They apparently always feed the missionaries pizza at 6:00,  prior to the meeting.

Shopping this week I saw this package.

I had seen this item on the menu at the Busy Bee Cafe and wasn't sure what it was. I asked a black lady shopping near me what it was and she bluntly said, " Pig guts." I was glad I skipped that item on the menu. We had our weekly visit to sing at the Golden Crest nursing home. We are getting to know a lot of the people and they seem to enjoy the songs. These two are singing with us and clapping their hands on many of the songs, especially the old gospel songs. We still worry that one of these days they may wheel Gramma or I back to one of the rooms. We are older than some of them there.

Saturday night we had a special baptism for Annette. She is the lady that rode with us to see the baptism in Conyers and we have taken her home from Church a few times. It was a nice program and of course Gramma helped provide the music. The Sisters got to be witnesses at the baptism, they had worked hard to help Annette join the Church.

Later on that Saturday night we received word that there were going to be some changes this coming weeks with transfers. We knew that Sister Schmidt was going home and there would be a change there. We found they were moving the Spanish Elders completely out of the area, Elder Malone was going to a new area, and one of the Spanish Sisters would be leaving the area. We will have almost half of our nursing home choir changing. Of the Spanish missionaries below only Sister Record on the left will be here. She will have a new companion.

Sister Schmidt and Elder Malone in the middle below will be gone and Sister Strickland and Elder Augir (he is from Lewiston, Idaho) will get new companions. We hope all the new missionaries can sing.

We are going to miss these missionaries: you get close to them when you are working together in the Lords work. We look forward to meeting new missionaries and helping them as best we can. Like I said at the beginning,"It has been a busy week as usual and it has been just more of the same things we do as senior missionaries." We have other busy weeks ahead, and we are glad to have the chance to serve and help. God bless all of you and remember who you are and act accordingly. We love you and want you to know the Gospel is true. See ya'll.
Grampa and Gramma Hammond

A Change in the Weather

There has been a change in the weather the past couple of weeks. We actually had a little frost on the windshield of the car a couple of mornings, but it hasn't been below the mid 30's and seems to move up to 60's and 70's by midday. It is a pretty fall here. Our P-Day plans got changed Monday morning when the Elders called and needed someone to take them to the Doctor so Elder Malone's ear problems could be diagnosed. So as usual for doctors appointments it took most of the morning for that and taking them to do their shopping. Because it was going to be a short day, Gramma decided it would be a good day to visit the Stately Oaks Mansion here in Jonesboro.

While she was there I picked up a package we had ordered at Walmart.com from our local store "pick-up". I had a few other errands to do. The Mansion had a lot of other relics and buildings on the lot that is located. A school and some out buildings. The place of course had a gift shop.

Gramma loved these old garden and farm tools and remembers them from when she a a child.

Jonesboro honors it's veterans by having flags for lining main street with a cross on which is a name of a service  man or women that died in the various conflicts. It goes on for several blocks. It is a real nice tribute for the upcoming Veterans Day.

On Tuesday we discovered "Ollie's" I texted these pictures to Jessica that day, but I thought I would share them so you get a idea about what a crazy place this store is.

Wednesday the Elders needed a ride to get a new bicycle tire because Elder Augar had a blowout. We gave them a ride to get the tire and then to a lunch appointment. We went to the church and Gramma practiced the organ and piano while I tried to find some address's. We then took the Sisters to their apartment. The person that was suppose to take them never made it. We were suppose pick two ladies up to do family search at the family history library, but a member volunteered to do it. That evening we had Bible class. The class is really a review of the "Come Follow Me" lesson for people who needs someone to study it with. Wednesday were interviews with President and Sister Clayton. We picked up the Sister's and drove to the Stockbridge Chapel which is about half way between Jonesboro and Conyers. We had a good visit with President and Sister Clayton and while they interviewed the Elders and Sisters there was an ongoing lesson from the District and Zone leaders.
I told the Sisters I would buy them lunch so we stopped at a "Smash Burger", placed a order and then I realized I did not have my wallet or cash. Gramma had not brought her purse either only her scripture bag. How embarrassing I almost never forget my wallet. Sister Strictland payed for the meal and I payed her back Friday morning at the Golden Crest nursing home where we always sing. Speaking of the nursing home it is great to sing the with the missionaries each week. This is Bob he loves our songs and sings along with some of them. He says, "his name in Bob, you can spell it the same backwards or forwards".

Here's another lady that really likes to hear us sing and Gramma play the piano.

After the nursing home performance I told the missionaries I would take them to lunch. So we bought them lunch at Sams Club (their idea not ours). Maybe they were afraid they might get stuck with the old, "haven't got my wallet can you foot the bill again".

Saturday was a big day and night. We took the Sisters to the Atlanta Temple so we all could be with Reggie, as he was going to the temple for the first time to do baptisms for the dead. I baptized him for some names and then he performed baptisms with the Sisters. His first time to do baptisms for the dead, and the first time he ever baptized someone. He is a neat guy.

That night Gramma went out with the Sisters and gave her first missionary discussion to an investigator. His name was Devon. The Sisters said Gramma did a great job, I was late when we got home and we were totally exhausted from the long day. Sunday we got up early so Gramma could play the organ for the Spanish Branch. They had their primary program and then our meetings started in the Ward they had their primary program. They take it serious here. The boys have matching bow ties and the girls have flowers in their hair. Almost Samoan. The Branch goes the extra mile with decorations. By the way, the lady in the picture is not Gramma its the Branch Primary President.

Gramma fixed a big Sunday dinner in case the Elders didn't have a dinner appointment. but they did so we ate together. She has a hard time just cooking for two on Sunday. We will have spaghetti at least one meal a day this week. We are still staying very busy and we are trying to pace ourselves a little better. It is hard not to get excited when you are involved in missionary work. This coming week we have District Council, practice for the Ward Christmas party, bible class, Stake missionary meeting in Conyers, nursing home, and a baptism on Saturday. Sister Schmidt goes home next week and we hit the two month mark. We love it and know we are doing more work for the Lord here than we would if we were home complaining about the weather and how cold it is. We love all of you and always pray that the Lord will bless y'all. Grampa and Gramma Hammond

Andersonville Prison

Well we started the week with a very interesting visit to the Andersonville prisoner of war site. It was southwest of Macon and the road there was very interesting. The  area around Andersonville is a farming area. They raise a lot of corn, peanuts, and an especially a lot of cotton. This was cotton country. Gramma wanted some pictures of the cotton. They don't catch how vast and pretty these fields are.

These are some of the bales of cotton. They are as big as a bus. There were other round bales that look like hay bales only bigger.

We made it to Anderson and it is a national monument and it is just one of the sad stories of the Civil War. It is a nice facility and tells the story of the horrors of this Confederate prisoner of war camp.

The prison was 16 acres and was later expanded 21 acres. It had 45,000 prisoners in it at one time. You could barely find a place to lay in the mud. There were no shelters other than some small pieces of canvas over short poles. There was a 15' high wood stock aid around it with lots of guard towers. Of course is is all gone, but they replicated a few places to represent what it was like. Over 13,000 died from sickness and starvation.

This small building is over a small spring that was uncovered after a rain and washout in the camp. After a year of drinking filthy water it was a answer to prayers. The second picture is one of the collapsed tunnels that were dug to escape. If they got out the were tracked down by dogs and men on horses.

Many of the States that lost soldiers at the prison have built monuments to them.

It is hard to grasp the calamity of it all until you see the cemetery.  Because of one man, a doctor who served in the hospital, (most sick wouldn't go there anyway) recorded the name and regiment of every soldier who died in a small notebook.  It was found after the war, and every single headstone has a name and regiment even though most bodies were often buried in mass graves at the time of death. 

It must be a good place for prisons because we took this picture of the Macon State Prison,just down the road.

The weather has been unbelievable compared to the horror stories we hear from home. It has been 75 degrees everyday even when it rains. We get up to walk in the morning and haven't needed a jacket yet. Halloween morning, (had been raining all night) and at 8:30 we went out to a balmy 73. Late that afternoon a cold front rolled in and by 5:00 it was down to 50. The rest of the week it has been about 36 in the morning and above 60 in the evening. We even had a little frost on the windshield a couple of mornings  but we have had nothing like this: (Joy's picture to us)

Sister Strickland has strep this week so we have been doing a lot of errands for them. Gramma had to teach them about Vicks-Vap-O-Rub, and other home treatments. The next day we took them ice cream and breakfast from Chick-Fil-A. They seemed to appreciate it. We had our Bible study class at the church on Wednesday, and on Thursday I have to go to a lesson with the Elders. We got home early to get ready for Trick or Treaters and all evening we didn't have one show up. Gramma was disappointed. Friday we had our performance at the nursing home.  Those people enjoy that so much and it really is enjoyable for all the missionaries. Brother Helleose took us and all the Elders and Sisters to dinner. He is a very good person. Then Saturday I had to drive to Conyers to pick up a special gift for Sister Schmidt that was delivered there and stopped at Sams to buy gas. I seem to buy a lot of it. Gramma baked a chocolate cake for the Senior missionary party in Peach Tree City. They closed the highway down half way there so we got to go on a wonderful bumper to bumper detour.
I was sure we would be very late but we were not. In fact we were the first one there. The missionaries came from all over the mission.We were all getting together to say goodbye to Elder and Sister Jacobson the mission secretary and finance secretary. They had been here 18 months and had served in both the Macon mission before coming to Atlanta when they combined some missions. They shared their testimonies and were presented with Georgia Bulldog tee shirts.

It was a great party. President Clayton cooked chicken and steaks and the food was great.

We had a brief update for President Clayton on the Mission. We watched Utah (President and Sister Clayton our Ute fans) beat Washington. this is a picture of Gramma and Sister Clayton:

We got home a little late thanks to the detour. I let "Betty" (that's what I call the lady on Google maps) guide us home, and we didn't have as much bumper to bumper traffic. Sunday we went early to church. We had to pick up the Elders. They were ready because they forgot to set back their clocks, Elder Malone said he felt they had been cheated out of the only extra time they get to sleep in all year. We had a good laugh about that. Gramma went to the Spanish branch to play the organ and I went to Ward council with the Elders. Our friend Gerald came to Church and even bore his testimony. After Sacrament meeting he asked for a Priesthood blessing. He has a important appointment with his cancer Doctor on Tuesday. We pray it will go well. We hope to see them tomorrow night. We also took another of the Sister investigators home after church, her name was Alicia. We are well and really are enjoying the cooler weather. We do stay busy, but try to pace ourselves a little bit. We love and miss you all. Thanks for the Halloween pictures, (we are still not sure about Kenny's), it made us feel like we were there. We are praying for all of you everyday. Be good, do what is right, and may God bless you. We miss ya'll. Grampa and Gramma Hammond.