Hey, Y'all,

          Hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day on Sunday.  We sure did!   It was sooo GOOD to see everyone!  President Bernhisel gave permission last week for the missionaries to skype their families on Mother's Day and we loved every minute of it.  Most everyone seems to be growing taller except us but we're making up for it in other ways - thanks to some delicious Southern Cooking that we've enjoyed.  Brother Walker had us and the Sisters over for dinner after church in Kinston.

          Last week was great!!!  We took a trip to the Raleigh Temple.  We love going to the Temple and are so blessed to have one in our Mission.  It brings us closer to our Savior and gives us the peace and strength we need to carry on.   Thanks everyone for remembering my birthday.  I love you all so much and feel very grateful to have you in my life!

Sister Burdick in the left picture,  Elder Heindrick, Sister Burdick, Sister Fitzgerald and Sister Davenport.  

Sister Fitzgerald below, she replaced Sister Arkell in the office.  We really loved her and are happy to get to know Sister Fitzgerald.

             This special trip with the Couple Missionaries took us to Duke University to walk around and enjoy the Sara P. Duke Gardens.

Walking on campus with Elder Myers are Elder and Sister Heindrick who replaced Elder and Sister Yerkes as CES missionaries at the Duke University Institute.

          In the library, we got to see one of the first printed copies of the Book of Mormon.  It was a special treat for us to be able to look through it's pages and read from it.  Elder Heindrick was a librarian and it was very interesting to hear him share his knowledge about the miracles that occured in order for us to enjoy the Book of Mormon today.  Also pictured are Sister Fitzgerald, Elder Myers and Sister Burdick.

The Book of Mormon is nearly 200 years old.  It has stood the test of time.  This book is true.  Please keep reading from it's pages and praying for your own testimony.  Heavenly Father will answer your prayers as He has for us.  We enjoy reading from it daily and the warm feeling we get as we read. We love you!  Take care!

Hello again!
Just want to show you how much fun we have doing Missionary Work.

We handed out Invitations to attend the Church Pageant on June 21, and 22 in Bath at the Pirates Fest.  These are only two of the lively folks we found on Town Commons.  We also took our annual ride on the Trolley to learn the history of Greenville.


Sisters are Hoyt and Vasquez

This is our District minus 1.  We lose Elder Henderson on right looking off to the distance.  The rest of us get to stay here in Greenville.  Back row: l-r Elder Balaich, Elder S. Jensen, Elder B. Jensen (our District Leader), Elder Dewey, Elder Elkins and Elder Henderson. We will miss him.   Front row:  Sister Hoyt, Sister Vasquez, Sister and Elder Myers   

Last Thursday, we went to a Missionary Couple's  Retreat and Conference at Atlantic Beach.  After a wonderful  training with President, Marc Bernhisel and his wife, we enjoyed a delicious fish dinner together in Beaufort.  The next morning, our group was to drive to Harkers Island and ferry over to Cape Lookout but there was a Severe Weather Warning for our area. It rained hard through the night accompanied with lots of  wind.  We were told that there would be no ferry ride if the weather was rainy.   As we proceeded to the Island, the sun came out.  We were able to load in the ferry, cross to the Outer Banks and spend time at Cape Lookout, listening to the Park Ranger teach us about the lighthouse, walk along the beach looking for seashells and enjoy our selves in the warm sun - a miracle!

   

Later, after a wonderful meal and talk on the history at Harkers Island Chapel, we shared our testimonies about the rich blessings that come from serving our Heavenly Father.  Our family has been watched over and we have been blessed with safety and protection as we have traveled around in North Carolina.                  We are so grateful!

Fort Macon

We then went to visit the Fort Macon State Park.  This fort was built from 1826 through 1834.   It saw fighting during the Civil war when the Confederates took it over and the Union fought to take it back.  It also played a part in defending our shores during WWII.  We found it very interesting and well done.

 Walking along the ocean looking for seashells before driving back to Greenville.

    Stake Conference was held on Sunday in New Bern, NC.  We were blessed to hear Elder Robert Hymas of the Seventy.  It was a very Spiritual Conference.
Out enjoying the windy weather afterwards before traveling home.

Have we convinced you to come and serve a mission yet?  We hope all is well at home.  You are always in our prayers and we love you very much!  Take care!

Hello Family and friends!           

           Hope that you are all doing well!  We are having a great time here on our mission and are enjoying Spring with all the blossoms. 

           The pollen has begun its annual visit.  Thank goodness we are not allergic to it like lots of people.  I think it is fun!  It looks like yellow chalk dust everywhere.  Elder Myers washed the pollen off our car one morning after our walk, just to find it looking exactly like it had before we washed it - only a couple hours later.  We had a wonderful rainstorm which helped the pollen situation today.  

          Our Super District plus one.  I guess once a member of the Greenville District always a member.  Elder Gibson joined us for our District picture (4th from right).  We love him too.  He feels related since he is from Price - so close to home.

          This picture was also taken at our Zone Meeting in New Bern.  Look how many sisters we have in our Zone.  We are so lucky to have served with five of them.   

     On April 5th,  the Sisters and Couple Missionaries went to the Raleigh Temple.  The picture below contains only half of the sisters in our mission.  We were in the second group and the session was completely full -quite a change from having only 12 sisters in our mission.  It's so exciting to experience the wave of missionaries coming to North Carolina.  

   

This was a GREAT DAY for us!!!!  Our LDSSA (Latter-day Saint Student Association) has been officially recognized on both Pitt CC and ECU campuses.  Here we are at Pitt CC's Spring Fling Festival.  Several students joined us in giving out copies of the Book of Mormon as well as our Institute pamphlets, brocheurs and pass-a-long cards.  We have several contacts to follow up with and teach the gospel.  Below are Sis. Vasquez, Sister Hoyt, Jordan Harrell, Aaron Jesmer and James Oliver.                                                                   Thanks for helping with the pictures Brittny.  :)

          Another hike into the Swamp with the Sisters as there isn't a lot to do here on preparation day.   We love the birds and the peaceful quiet of the Park.  This time we got all the way through the park because the water level was much lower.

Don't know what these flowers are but I sure like them.

           Yesterday was our Activity Zone Conference in Kinston with both Kinston and Goldsborough Zone Missionaries. It was a fun warm day to play outside.  Our blue shirts have "Scripture Power" written on the back.  It was a colorful day!  Most every district had their own colors and words.  New Bern District wore Piggly Wiggly shirts (A grocery store) - a must have on some missionaries lists.  

           Time to say, Goodbye!  Wish we could share more pictures - It is hard to choose.  Hope you enjoyed General Conference like we did!  We pray that you are all doing well.  We love you very much and are grateful for your prayers and support in our behalf.   Take care!!  

Hello,
 Hope that you had a  HAPPY EASTER today!
           Our Branch was very small in numbers at Church today with everyone home for Easter break, but what it lacked in numbers it achieved in spirituality.   We focused on our Savior, and His Atonement.

                            "No matter how daunting the challenges in our lives or in the world around us,
                              we know we can have peace through the power of the infinite Atonement."
                                       Elder Paul V. Johnson Of the Seventy

Weekly we are traveling to Havelock and love to stop at New Bern for lunches so here are some pictures of our adventures.  Sister Hoyt and Sister Smith below.

 This was St. Patrick's Day just before the parade.  Showing their Irish side are Chris Downey and Brian Moran - some great members of our Branch.







          Below is our green meal.  Yes, we dyed our milk, and mashed potatoes green and tried something new, "Shamrock meatloaf" - Sister Smith's family tradition.

 Above is a monument which is dedicated to the
soldiers who fought in the Civil war, "To our Confederate Dead".
We toured the Robert Lee Humbert home on our Preparation Day as well.  And as it was our last day with Sister Smith we just had to throw in some shopping too.  Like the shoes?


     The next day Sister Vasques arrived and  Sister Smith went to New Bern with Sister McPherson.   We ALWAYS look for the Sisters when we are in Havelock and New Bern - but haven't seen them out riding their bikes yet.

 Below, Sister Vasques and Sister Hoyt are helping make the veggie kabobs for the First Ward's Relief Society Garden Party that the Branch was invited to attend.  It was FUN!

  We were trying to find a member while enjoying all their birds - peacocks, chickens and pigeons.


We experienced a lesson on the importance of living close to the Savior and trusting in his love for you - even during trials.  As the young man we were teaching expressed his doubt in the Lord and His caring about him - discouragement, darkness and sadness  filled the room.  Then as we (the Holy Ghost) taught him about hope, faith and the love our Savior has for each of us, the feeling in the room changed completely to peace, hope and happiness.  The difference in the room was so strong that the young man felt it and commented on it.
Dear family and loved ones, this Gospel is True!  Our Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ love you more than you know.  Please live close to them through scripture study and prayer.  There is power in these two daily habits.  We love you!  Take care!

Hello Y'All  
 March has been a good month and here are some highlights!
 A week ago went hiking with Sisters Smith and Tillman on preparation day knowing that we were coming up to transfers soon.  The weather was cold but we had a fun time anyway!  This is our usual picnic on the bridge (Town Commons) before going to River Park North. As the water was still high we were only able to walk half way through the park but we saw lots of awesome birds.

 This flower is a gardenia which bloomed all through the winter.




          Our next adventure was to Wilmington with the Couple Missionaries.  We toured the Poplar Grove Plantation which built in the 1800's.  It was a peanut plantation which hired 65 task slaves.  Their tenant houses were out back.  Our guide presented our tour as Harriet, a daughter of the Foy family who built the home.  We also enjoyed walking around the property and watching a weaving demonstration.  These people were very frugal people - they grew, and harvested everything including their salt for cooking.

O

                                        The tree on the right is Spanish Moss.   Lovely to look at but do not touch as it is full of ticks and chiggers.   

On the boardwalk at Wilmington by the ocean.  

Our Branch has been extremely blessed this month.  The first week,  Lauren was baptized.   She is a very sweet girl who is loved by everyone.  

         The second week was a day of baptisms in all three Greenville wards.  First we had a very special baptism for a lady named Trish who is fighting cancer.  We felt priviledged to get to know her as the Elders taught her.  The second ward then held a baptism for a young man and next our Branch had a baptism for Alicia.  Again we learned how much the gospel can change lives, and the miracles that happen as we follow our Savior, Jesus Christ.

          And finally this WAS our Greenville District before Tuesday.  We grow so close to the Elders and Sisters as we serve with them.  We love them so very much!  It is hard to have them transfer as they feel like our family here.  
                                                                    
         We have enjoyed doing service with Elder Perryman and Elder Dewey - from raking lawns,  putting in a toilet, to working at the Food Bank as well as singing with them in Lannie and Canary's home and Christmas Caroling.

          Elder Mortensen has been a wonderful district leader with his companion Elder Balaich.  We have enjoyed going out with them to teach lessons and singing with them as well at the Rest Home in Grifton.  We enjoyed Christmas with them also.

       The sisters have served with us in the Branch.  We have gone shopping for clothes, jewlery, traded hair cuts, hiked, gone to lunch, remodeled clothes, traveled to many meetings and have appreciated all their help fixing the food for Institute and Break the Fast too.


       And as these three missionaries move on, we know that we will learn to love Elder Jensen, our new district leader, Elder Jensen and Sister Hoyt as well. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is TRUE.  Miracles are happening here everyday and our Heavenly Father is preparing people to hear the gospel. This is a GREAT TIME in our Church's history to be a missionary!   In the Raleigh Mission we have grown from 12 sister missionaries to 31 in two transfers and are looking forward to more coming here soon.

     Thank you for reading your Book of Mormon and praying everyday.   We are so proud of you and the good things you are doing.  Thank you for your support and prayers.  We love you very much!!!  Take care.