Meeting People

Here is a picture of the branch

First of all, notice that it is Jasper county.  Yeah, don't take that too seriously.  We also include several adjoining counties.  The two yellow stickies in the center indicate Rensselaer.

The name, by the way, is from Killaen van Rensselaer, the original landowner of a large region of New Netherland.  Back to the map.  You may notice a dark line on the stickies.  Those are names that have been highlighted.  Specifically, those are names that the Branch President has asked us to focus on.  Right.  Keep in mind that each yellow sticky is an average of 25 - 30 miles away from the center of the map.  The reason the stickies are on the edge of the map is that the map doesn't continue out far enough for me to place them where they actually go.  Each day, we choose a direction.  Monday, we went to Lake Village in the upper northwest corner of the map.  We contacted two members and stayed for about 45 minutes at each home.  (Neither of them were on the President's list, but both are inactive and we were heading up that way anyway.)

Here is a view of our apartment.  (Random insert)

Tuesday, we headed directly west.  We had three families on our list.  We couldn't find one.  We spoke for 30 seconds with another as she was heading out, but she invited us back and was very nice.  The third sister never came to the door.  We left cookies and note.  She called back to thank us and explained she was sick.  Her husband is not a member.  BUT, he has a really, really big tractor and Craig is dying to ride on it.  She thought that could be worked out and invited us back next week when she is feeling better.

We're having dinner at the Stake President's house on Friday (he is in our branch).  They are up in the northeast corner - on fast time.  We will make our visits in that area as we travel up that way.  I still have cookies, so we may head south today and make some visits, dropping off cookies along the way ------- like Hansel and Gretel.  

This is the building where we meet.  It's actually very nice inside.  There were 12 sisters in Relief Society.  The RS President conducts, plays the piano, and gives the lesson.  The Primary chorister is also the YW president.  She does primary the second hour and then does YW third hour.  She is amazing.  She lives at the very top of the map.  She and her husband were the first to hold sacrament meeting in their home and wait for the branch to be organized.  

We have heard great things about the former missionary couples in the area.  I'm very nervous about having to live up to their example.  I feel very inadequate.  Everyone is counting on us.  I know that of all the couples at the MTC, the Lord designated that we would be the ones to come.  That must mean something.  We must let Him guide us.  I plead for that each day.