This is a family home evening group that we had in Tell City. It was a fun time going and having FHE with my ward family.
This is the Emerson Family. The mother Leean and the two youngest girls, Marie and Amanda, got baptized shortly after I got there. Their family is great. They try their hardest to make sure everyone feels loved. Leean is just full of life and has a contagious laugh. Amanda (in the red shirt) always gave hugs. I think I got about 7 hugs in one visit. Marie (in the white shirt) was very mature for her age and wanted to be important in the church so she got a calling as the librarian.
This is my second companion Sister Moyes. Although she just got married a couple months ago so her last name is different. She will always be Sister Moyes to me though. We are ALOT alike. She likes to be outdoors and likes to play soccer. She is from Magna Utah. We found out that when I lived in Utah, the only thing that seperated our houses was a big highway. We lived so close to each other. That is pretty crazy.
This is my trainer Sister Graham. She was a great trainer. She was super nervous though. She had only been out for three months and found out she was training me. I tried to be the best missionary I could so that she would not be nervous. She always said that she was not training and that I came out trained. So her prayers were answered. She is one of my best friends. She is getting married pretty soon and I am very excited for her.
This is a wonderful family from Tell City. Well, technically Cannelton. This is the Skeen Family. Mamaw Skeen is next to the lady (Sister Biever) in the bright blue shirt. She fed us dinner every week and she is the best cook in the world. She makes this really good cole slaw. I don't like cole slaw except for hers. She is a very strong and diligent women. Her husband in the chair, has been paralyzed for 20 or so years from a stroke I believe. She is very caring.
This is the Hinkle family. The lady all the way to the right is Sister Jewel. She was a very sweet lady as well. She really wanted to make sure we were taken care of. She actually took the time to wash our laundry. That was a weird thing to get used to because I do my laundry. I have been doing it for many many years. But she insisted. Brother Hinkle is a spiritual giant. He is very knowledgeable and wants to do the will of the Lord all the time. Sister Hinkle is a very kind and compassionate lady. I enjoyed her very much. Daneen (in the plain black shirt) is going on a mission! I don't know where yet but after much prodding she will be going pretty soon.
This is Christopher. He is a member and he had been less active for a while. He really wanted to come back to church. He was very sincere in his desires to come back. He worked really hard and wanted to serve us as much as he possibly could. When I left he wanted to make me a scarve. Unfotunatly I didn't get it.
This is Katie and Chris Bowman with their son Garrett. They were very fun to teach. They had such a desire to come closer to God and to change their life around. Chris was amazing and tried really hard to stop drinking so much caffine. It was hard for him but he did it. Katie really pushed to make sure she understood everything. She read the pamphlets over and over and put to practice everything that we asked her to do.
This is grace. She passed away while I was there. She had been less active and wanted to come back. She was active by the time she passed away. I know that Heavenly Father is proud of her. She had hard life at home but she got through everything.
This is my dear Irene. She will be imprinted into my heart forever. I love her so very much. She is going to be turning 94 in feburary. She is one of my very best friends. She is a member and we saw her everyday for about an hour when she was in the nursing home. She taught us a lot and she is such a joker some times. She loved to eat these crackers that I got her to eat one day. When she was done eating a cracker she said, "Ralphy, get me another cracker." haha. I miss her so much. I don't know if I will be able to see her again but I know that we will have a blast up in heaven.
Thise is the Ellsion's. He became the new Branch President in Beattyville. They have a lot of perseverance. They lived an hour and a half away from the church building. They made themselves very available though to do anything that was needed for the area. I am greatful for them.
This is Sister Addison. We visited her every Sunday. She had a dog that didn't like strangers but by the end of our stay in Beattyville the dog was getting more and more used to us.
This is Sister Cathy Johnson. She became a member a few months before I got there. She has a very very tough living situation. She works hard though to keep her family functioning. she has a very cute laugh and makes the best out of life.
This is Sister McCintosh. She is a very very southern lady. Very thick accent. The saying that she said most was, "Honey, that just tickles me to death." Meaning that is made her laugh and smile. We were trying to teach her husband and one day he will come to church and be baptized.
This is another family of Addison's. There were alot of Addison's in the branch. They graciously fed us every sunday night. They are a sweet family and brother addison is very funny.
What would we do without these wonderful people. The Lloyds(far left) were senior couples in Beattyville with us. They drove us around alot. We were greatful because we didn't have very miles to drive around our area. The Westovers (in the middle) took over when the Lloyd's mission was over. The Westovers did a lot of good. They had a focus of getting members to the temple and they are succeeding. They are great.
Gladys Bellamy. I loved teaching her. We first met her when she was on a walk and we started talking to her and she wanted us to come on by. We got her a very big book of mormon and she read it really fast. She loved it. She didn't get baptized but she is a great person.
This is Steve (on the left). He got baptized almost a year ago. Time has gone by fast. He is a great guy. He was taught really fast because he just drank everything right up. He feasted on the words of Christ and wanted to do what was right.
This is Betty Johnson. She has a very tough living situation as well. She is not a member but she reads the Book of Mormon everyday. Her favorite book is Alma. It brings her much peace. I didn't want to leave her at all. She is a baker. She made us a lot of cookies and she made me a birthday cake. It was super good red velvet cake. She gave me one of her many rings as a present when I left. I will forever remember her.
This is one of my companions. Sister Mikami. We were in Beattyville toghether for 4 and a half months. She is truely one of the bestest friends I have ever had. We are holding a drink called Ale8. It is popular in Beattyville. It is not all that good. It is kind of like sprite but we wanted to be 'cool' like eveyone else and drink one. She is a great missionary and stives to be her very best even when she is sick. I trained her and it was the same thing when I came out. She came out trained and ready to work. I had the hardest time remembering her name. It probably took me three weeks to get it down. haha.
This is another companion. Sister Nelson. She is another best friend of mine. I have a lot of best friends. :) I trained her after I trained Sister Mikami. She is a very prepared missionary and once again came out trained and ready to go.
This is Sherry. She got baptized shortly after I left Corbin. She was mom away from mom. She took great care of us.
Steven Rodriguez had just gotten baptized and we were teaching him the lessons again. Well, HE was teaching us the lessons. He has plans to go on a mission so we were helping him get prepared.
Willard Cox. Amazing guy. He changed his life around so much before he got baptized. He is a great person who is striving to be the best that he can be.
Judy is a great lady. When she makes a decision she sticks to that decision. When she decided to be baptized she stuck to it and didn't let the adversary get in the way.
Jackie Sturgill. He was...tall. I think he said six foot 9 inches. My fingertips barely go over his head. haha. He was a homeless guy but took care of himself really well. There were members who found him. Doing your member missionary work really helps us out a ton.
Sister Ready. Her family was great. They were willing to do anything and everything for us. She went out teaching with us a lot of it was great.
This is Maryah Jonas. She is such a sweet little girl She got baptized finally after over a year of teaching her. There was a lot of family drama going on but she stayed strong and was baptized. She is going to be a great instument in the hands of God. She is a very special girl.
This is sister Ford. I trained her and we had a great two transfers together. They were my last two transfers. They were trying times but we both made it through together. I am greatful for her example and her willingness to do what is right.
(after caulking)