Fourth of July weekend

We worked in the office until 3:00.  Closed early for the celebration of our Wonderful Country!

        We went first to the Rasmussen's home for a picnic with all the FM and Office Missionaries.  We each brought our own meat and a dish to share.  There was plenty of food.  Elder Rasmussen set up the Bar B Q and the rest of us visited and ate.  This is Elder Atwood looking for what he wants to eat.  Sister Rasmussen is fixing food beside him and Sister Flint is in front.  There were 16 people there.

        After dinner, we drove to the RLDS Auditorium where the Churches joined together with the city, under the direction of Stake President Cato to put together a free concert for all the people in Independence.  The George Dyer family from Branson, Missouri, sang.  George is an Opera singer, who sang with the Tabernacle Choir.  He, his wife, two daughters, and two sons sing in shows together.  One son is serving a mission in Mexico, so he wasn't there.   This is Sister Dyer and her daughter singing one song together.  They were very talented.

         The next day, we had our President's Devotional where new converts share testimony.  This is Doris, who joined the church after searching for years.  She was tired of looking when, Sister Moody and Sister Raymer approached her house, as the last home they would go to for the day.  She wouldn't let them off her porch without asking and talking for a long time.  She just couldn't get enough.  It was like coming home.

        This is Kayla with Elder Alvey and Elder Moss.  She wasn't religious at all and has only attended church a couple times in her life.  She is very scientific and didn't believe without proof.  But, after listening to the missionaries, asking questions, reading, and studying, something happened to her and she discovered that there is more to life than science.  When science runs out and can't explain things, there is another source.  She is converted to truth through the eyes of a Supreme Being.

        This is Kristina with Sister Atwood.  She is fifteen years old.  She was introduced to the church by a boy friend who was LDS.  He gave her the Book of Mormon.  She attended Seminary and read the Book of Mormon 7 times.  She knew it was true, and loves reading it for more and more answers to her questions.

        This is Trisha with Elder Gardner and Elder Colemere.  She was another person who had searched for answers to her questions.  She had been in several churches.  When she met the missionaries, they invited her to the Visitor's Center.  It was there, sitting by the Christus that she felt something she had never felt before.  The feeling encompassed her entire body.  She knew that the message of the Gospel was accompanied by the Holy Ghost, which she felt in that sacred place.
        The night ended with President Vest and Sister Vest, our new President, sharing their testimonies and their desire to continue this great work in bringing souls unto Christ, the only name whereby we can be saved.  He said, "The Gospel and Jesus Christ is the only thing that can mend the broken world we live in.  It is the only way we can be forgiven.  It is the only way we can find true happiness and inner peace."  God loves each of his children.  He is trying to get our attention and help us back to him. I pray that we will open our ears and listen to Him instead of the chaos of the world and the deceptions all around us.  It is a straight shot to Him!  And down deep, we know it is!