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.
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