Where Has Time Gone?

We've been in Jacksonville, NC for almost six months now, seven in total for our mission. We love it here and the work is so rewarding. The schedule is hectic some days (daze) and relaxed on others. Sunday continues to be our favorite and our busiest. Here's the gist of it;

We are up at 6am, out the door by 7:30 for Ward Counsel (3rd Ward). Z attends a half hour of the 9:00 Sacrament meeting then leaves to pick up Marines from all of the areas of Camp Lejeune (Camp Geiger, Camp Johnson), I leave the meeting fifteen minutes later to attend another Ward Counsel (2nd Ward). Z gets back by the start of the next Sacrament (11:00) and we stay for the remainder of that ward's block of time. Afterwards, we reverse the route and take the Marine's home, unless we provide a "Break the Fast" on Fast Sunday. Total driving time for Z is almost three hours. Total gas used is half a tank. Having them all with us for Sacrament...PRICELESS! Later that evening we conduct Sacrament at the Camp Geiger chapel for those who are just coming in from 29 days of Marine Combat Training (MCT). They're totally exhausted but they come because they want to partake of the Sacrament. It's also a day we provide Priesthood blessings for those who need it. Our attendance ranges from none to seven. It IS our favorite event of our mission.

Mondays we hang out with the other missionaries for games of basketball or freedom ball (we watch, they play, we all laugh), later in the evening we have Family Home Evening with our YSA Marines. Usually they decide what they want to do and we facilitate.

On most Tuesdays we attend the MCT graduation of the Marines we met on Sunday and get all of their information so we can let their next training/duty station know they're coming. We've been really successful at doing this and it really helps the Marines know someone will be waiting for them. Tuesday nights we conduct Book of Mormon study. We love it and we've increased our own love of that book.

Wednesday is district meeting and we meet with the other Elders and Sisters to learn how to be effective missionaries. We spend the day planning on what we will do later in the week.

Thursday is our own Prep Day because we are old people and we need a full day to recuperate, however, sometimes we are called away to help someone out or make a visit.

Friday is usually pretty calm and we find ways to fill it. Sometimes we have a baptism.

Saturdays are the biggest day for baptisms and we've had opportunities to participate. Last Sunday Z got to confirm a young mom and it was quite a spiritual experience. It is ALWAYS a spiritual experience when Z gives a blessing. Sunday starts the week all over again.

We have Zone meetings in Wilmington or Kinston. We take missionaries to Raleigh and drop them off to go to other areas and we pick up the ones coming to Jacksonville. We love every minute of everyday and wish we could do this forever. We will, at least, do it again a few months after we get home.

I've noticed that when we are busy, the pain in my hip doesn't go away BUT I'm not really aware of it. I use the Jazzy (generously provided by my mother in law) when I know I'm going long distances. Otherwise I just use the cane when I'm out and about. It has improved greatly as I've been more diligent about exercise. Z was able to put my bike on stand that we bought so it's now functioning as a stationary bike. We both use it.

We know that the problems have been many at home and hope that people can realize how blessed they really are while we've been serving this mission. The sacrifices have been many for all of us. What son doesn't want to be at his mother's side when she is ailing? What grandma or grandpa can honestly say they don't miss their grandchildren? What grandparent doesn't want to hold an injured child or give a parent a break from a sick child so they can get a little rest but as we continue to serve we know we're exactly where we are meant to be. We know that our time spent here is precious and what little we spend with each of these young Marines is golden.

We only got to spend ten minutes with Lucas Pyeatt (see my FB posts) but it might have been the most important ten minutes we ever spent with anyone. He was killed two weeks after he left here to serve in Afghanistan but before he left he told Elder Zollinger that he would get active again when he got home. How prophetic were those words. He is most assuredly active now that he is HOME.

So, is what we do important? We believe that it is!

We love our family, each and every one and hope they can see how important the Gospel is in our lives. We pray for each of you and have you on our minds always. This Gospel is true and we love the part we play in it and hope to see our grandsons out here soon.

So, in a nutshell, that's what is going on in Jacksonville, NC!

Love to all,

Elder and Sister Zollinger