North Carolina

We've only been here for one week and yet feel very busy. The couple that we're replacing, Elder and Sister Madsen, have been very good about teaching us the ropes as Military Relations missionaries. There is a lot we aren't allowed to do at Camp Lejeune (pronounced Lejerne-it's French) so we need to be very carefull about following the rules. Our assignment is to support single (YSA) Marines while they are here for training. We wear no badges while on base and unless we have a set appointment with someone specific, we don't discuss the Gospel. The exception is when we conduct Sacrament at Camp Geiger. We got our first opportunity to conduct Sacrament last Sunday.

After meeting the Chaplain, his wife (who sings beautifully while playing the piano) and his daughter, we waited for our little group to arrive. Little is the operative word here. We will have as many as zero to 5 or 6. Last Sunday we had 2 show up. For the first time I felt like I was in a Branch. The other room sounded like a loud revival meeting while our meeting was just a few of us with small voices, to say the least. However I felt such an overwhelming feeling that while the world is drawn away by loud music and religion wearing a mask of "fun and good times", we are led by the quietness of the Holy Spirit and preach a Gospel of simplicity and truth.

Erin was one of our attendees and we were able to attend her graduation on Tuesday. It was quite impressive. All those sharp Marines!

I think from here on out I'll take the example of our good friends Elder and Sister Rush from Whidbey Island, WA and make short posts rather than wax poetic. So...

Wednesday we met with the missionaries for District training. What a fun group they are as you can see by the picture. They had five cameras set up to use a timer. You should see them scramble to get into place.

They are from left to right Elder Brockbank, Elder Petersen, Sister Zollinger, Elder Zollinger, Sister Bowers, Sister Felton, and the two DL's Elder's Freeman and Farrer

We finished out the week doing the following; Elder Zollinger assisted in giving a blessing to a young Marine who had blown a hole almost through his hand. His dad called Church headquarters and got our name. We had a chance later to meet his mom who came to be with him. His dad will get here on Sunday (10/10) and probably take him to Pensacola, FL for further treatment. There is no guarantee that he will be able to again do the job he was training for, but the Lord may have other plans for him.

The young Elders are moving out of their apartment so our trailer was a big help in moving all the furniture out of the apartment. What a blessing that little red trailer has been to our family and now the mission.

The highlight of the day was the baptism of Garrett Sattoff. He's a twenty-two year old Marine. He was baptized by Brother Cale. We found it amusing to walk in and see a heavily tatooed man and immediately thought he was the one getting baptized. Well he's the one who performed the baptism. That's Garrett on the left and Brother Cale (Exec Sec).

It's been a very good week! We're lookin forward to flying solo after the Madsen't leave on Monday. I'm not one bit worried about our ability to do this work. We have, after all, been preparing for it for a long, long time!

Much love,

Sister Zollinger

117 Cordell Dr

Jacksonville, NC 28540

BTW, we love our apartment, lots of room for the occasional visitor!