Hello from Douglas

We went to church in the 2nd Ward for the first time yesterday. We got a ward list from the bishopric, and started transferring information onto it from the notes made by Elder and Sister Tingey, who left here last October. There were all kinds of changes and moves the Tingey's had noted, and none of them had been changed on the ward list. Trouble. I understand the new clerk is trying to sort through it all. The inactivity in that ward is terribly high. I would hate to be the bishop. No wonder they're so happy to have senior missionaries down here. I think we have our work cut out for us. Proselyting can be pretty taxing, but what we do is nothing like what the young Elders and Sisters have to do. My hat is off to all of you who have served and who are currently serving.

The combined Relief Society/Priesthood meeting was funny yesterday. Keep in mind the strongest southern accent you have ever heard. The lesson was about food storage. After the initial presentation, a lot of discussion began. Members down here don't raise their hand to make a comment. They just blurt out what they have to say, and they do it with a loud voice. Not contentious, just loud...and in a very strong southern drawl. Pretty soon there were several people talking at once, all trying to get in their say. The young Elders from Utah and Idaho were behind us and whispered, "What do you think of this?" Different. But they're good people. They bore wonderful testimonies during fast and testimony meeting.

We're doing a service project with the Elders in the morning. We visited a lady the other day who is elderly and in poor health. I told her we would come back to help her, and I called her this evening to let her know when we would be there. She said she hadn't heard from anyone in the ward, and her sister in California was really upset. The sister told her she heard from her bishop all the time. The lady here has a daughter who looks after her, and she works. She said her daughter's friend brought her some food, and this lady's friends from the Baptist Church brought her a box of food. I guess I'll call the R.S. President in the morning and suggest she might want to go out for a visit and evaluate the situation. Such is our work.

Love to all, Mom