Leap Year Week

We cannot believe it, but it is March. Our weeks continue to be very busy with a variety of activities and some days we are not sure what day it is. I had to take the Elders several times to meetings and the Wednesday night Bible study went well, but several of the less active were not able to make it this week. I spent the Bible study time meeting with the Bishop. He is a good man and is trying to prepare for the Arave's (the couple that replaces us). He has already asked them to speak in Church the first Sunday they are here. I think they will grow to love this ward as we have. It was President's interview at the Stockbridge chapel this week. President and Sister Clayton said that we would would have our interview Saturday night. He had invited us and Elder and Sister Potts to dinner in Atlanta.The Pott's go home the week before we do. Here are some of the Stockbridge photos.

Here is our district just before our meeting started. You can see Gramma at the piano. Behind the blackboard are the two Sisters in our Ward.  They are practicing a number that they will perform in Sacrament meeting next Sunday.

After the meeting we took the Elders and Sisters out to dinner at their favorite all you can eat Wings.
It was a little classier than the Sam's Club  meal I bought them last week. Elder Webb on the far left with the glasses ate 22 wings. Elder Rich and Jensen only made it to 20. It was a lot of fun and I hope they all went away full.

We were a little concerned about singing at the Golden Crest this week. It looked like me, Gramma, and the Sisters were going to be the only ones there. Luckily the Spanish Elders and Sister's service project got canceled and they made it. They love singing, especially some of the old Gospel songs. Gramma has been really good about getting the missionaries out of their comfort zone and getting them to sing solo's, play the violin, and enjoy singing for all the patients.

This week we will be here in our apartment all week, but in two weeks we will have to move some things so we can clean the apartment for the Arave's that arrive on the 13th. We will be living in the bottom right apartment in this picture until we leave. It is a B&B and not sure what to expect.  It is in a little scarier location than here at Bridgewater, but it is only for a few days.

Each Sunday the past couple of months I have taken Gramma to church early so she can give Jonah a piano lesson. He is part of an immigrant family that are members of the Ward. He is a really nice young man.

Saturday night we went into Atlanta for dinner with President Clayton and the Pott's as I mentioned earlier. When President Clayton made the reservations he was unaware that the Olympic finals for the Marathon was going on. that afternoon. Traffic was a zoo and it took 2 hours to go 18 miles. When we got close we pulled into the first safe looking parking lot we saw and walked the rest of the way. Luckily we had allowed lots of time to get there. Just as we got there the Pott's arrived but President Clayton was stuck in traffic and was another 45 minutes getting there. We had a lovely dinner at "Ruth Chris Steak House" and a great visit with everyone. It only took 45 minutes to get home. Sunday they called us up in Fast meeting to bear our testimonies. We are going to miss this Jonesboro Ward. In the evening we took the Sisters to a dinner appointment. We had been invited to go too, so we had a good meal and visit with the Snells. They are both from the Rexburg area and know what Idaho is like. We are enjoying our mission and know that the Lord has given us a great experience in serving here. We love each and everyone of you and pray for you all each day. May God bless you, do what is right, and know that we love you very much. Grandpa and Gramma Hammond