We've only been here for just over three months (we arrived 1 Oct) and we couldn't be happier or busier! We continue to build the attendance in our YSA (Young Single Adult) program and we constantly find new people to add to it.
We get a lot of calls from parents who want to make sure their sons and daughters know where the local ward house is and when meeting times are. We also get lists from the Bishops of the two wards we serve so we can go around and find out who is still in the area and who's not. Sometimes we're lucky and send the missionaries to an address and it results in lessons and a baptism. Quite simply, we love what we do...
So, here's what I think we've learned on our mission.
1) We're older than we thought we were! I've discovered that old people make lots and lots of noises; weird noises like blowing their nose, coughing, sneezing; those noises are not typically bad, until done by an old person! I feel sorry for the people upstairs!
2) While the young missionaries are in bed asleep by 10:30pm and up by 6:30am, we are not that lucky. Oh, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak!
3) We must pace ourselves! I keep referring to the fact that we're getting older but the reality is, we can't escape it. In our district meeting with the young missionaries last week, our new Elder Dunn asked, "So how many Senior Citizens are serving missions"? It was a harmless enough question. I told him, "Why don't you go ask a Senior Citizen"? He had a look of, "I thought I just did"! So, we plan our activities so as not to overtax our systems.
4) As tight as money gets at the end of the month, we've never run out of what's needed to keep the car filled with gas or enough money to buy food to feed us and our friends!
5) When we listen to the spirit, we know exactly what direction to go!
6) Sometimes we have to say NO!
7) We do better when we study the scriptures rather than read them.
8) When we pray for our families about specific issues, we're better able to turn those issues over to the Lord to take care of so we can focus on the reason we're here.
9) We love what we do!
10) WE REALLY LOVE WHAT WE DO!
We've had many opportunities to work with less active Marines and watched as the Lord has helped them come back into full activity. We've watched as missionaries have taught investigators about the Gospel which led to their baptism. It is amazing to watch the light in the new member's eyes as they continue to study and learn.
Elder Zollinger drives three hours every Sunday to pick up Marines who want to go to Sunday meetings. Our schedule on Sunday is the most hectic but it's one of our favorite days. On the second and forth Sunday we start with Jacksonville 3rd Ward Council at 7:30am. We attend their Sacrament but Elder Z leaves at 9:30am to start his pickups. I leave that meeting at 9:45am to attend the Jacksonville 2nd Ward Council and then all of the meetings to follow. After all of our Church meetings we take our Marines back to their barracks (we go to three different locations at Camp Lejeune). We come home, eat a quick pb&j sandwich and load up our stuff to conduct Sacrament meeting at the Camp Geiger Chapel. Sometimes we have one person show up and sometimes we have as many as seven. It doesn't matter to us how many, it is still a powerful meeting and is the highlight of our Sabbath day.
Monday nights we hold Home Evening for YSA Marines. Again, we have anywhere from two to thirteen people in attendance. We play games, watch movies etc. The focus is on giving these great kids a chance to get away from the influences of base living.
Tuesday nights we hold Institute and are currently studying the Book of Mormon. It has really helped us with our own studies. It also keeps us on our toes!
We've added a third night and opened the doors to our apartment so the YSA's can just come and hang out. They're free to play a game, watch a movie, talk etc. It's also meant to get them off base. We're told that some of them just want to come over and cook a meal. They're really limited on what they can still do while they're on active duty. Barrack living is, simply put, NOT conducive to Gospel living. It is, however, the life they've chosen and we thank them everyday for their sacrifice and service.
We hope that you can be as excited as we are about the work that's going on here in Jacksonville, NC and all parts of the world. There's so much you can do to further the Lord's work, even from the confines of your own homes. We have learned to be bold in our speaking, even as we meet people who cross our paths during mundane things like shopping for groceries. The Gospel message is true and in it contains all we need to be happy.
Our prayers go out continually for our family and friend who have sadness or adversity in their lives, but our prayers also go out to those who have chosen to walk "uprightly before the Lord".
Congratulations to three of our grandchildren who've made good choices this past week.
Alex, congratulations on receiving the Priesthood. We really wish we could have been there to watch you pass your first Sacrament tray. Get really involved in your Deacon's Quorum!
Alivia and Dani, we are so proud that you've both chosen to be baptized. You now have the ability to really know what you should do in your life. Follow the light you've been given and go do good things in your life!
We love each of you and hope that you are making good choices.
Much love,
Elder and Sister Zollinger
1 comment:
Your Sunday sounds more exhausting than mine and that's saying a lot. People always complain about Mondays. I love Mondays.
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