2-23-2020 - Atlanta Zone Conferences

This week we enjoyed four days of Zone Conferences in our own Georgia Atlanta Mission. There is such an energy and feeling of love when the missionaries get together. I just love it! It was wonderful to see the elders and sisters who have transferred from our district once again.

During ZC, we learned about a great new website to share with people interested in learning more about our church. You can find it at https://www.comeuntochrist.org/  It answers common questions that people being introduced to the church have. I encourage you to check it out!

The AP's were assigned a presentation about how Missionary Work and Temple & Family History work are one work. President Clayton would like the missionaries to spend an hour each week learning how to use FamilySearch and then in turn help the people they are teaching prepare family names to take to the temple. Elder Merrell and I will be doing a little more training, which I love to do!

Atlanta Zone Conference in Atlanta, GA
 Sisters Clayton, Fotheringham, Elder & Sister Michaels, Elder & Sister Merrell

Atlanta Zone Conference in Carrollton, GA
Sister Clarke and Sister Merrell on right and other missionaries

Atlanta Zone Conferences in Thomaston, GA

Our District decided to have our District Council Meeting on Facebook Messenger.  One of the sisters took a picture during our meeting.

Top- Sisters Beardall, Fotheringham, Pack, Fielding, McKee, Cheney, & Ray;
Bottom- Elders Todd, Cambridge and Sister & Elder Merrell
(Sister Hyland did not squeeze into the picture frame on top left)

2-16-2020 - Transfers, Goodbyes, and Service

Transfers always bring change. Sister Osterhout was transferred to the Sandy Springs District where the Atlanta Temple is with Sister Nebeker as her new companion. Sister McKee was also transferred. We will miss them so much. They are two wise and excellent leaders. Our church leadership will be in good hands as it moves to this next amazing generation.

District Council Sisters;
Sisters Osterhout, Beardall, Fotheringham, Overmeyer,
McKee, Hyland, Cheney, and Ray

District Council
Back Row: Elders Merrell & Bailey
2nd Row; Elder Cambridge, Sisters Cheney, Hyland, Beardall, Osterhout, McKee, & Ray
1st Row; Elder Todd, Sisters Overmeyer & Fotheringham

District Council
Back Row: Sister Merrell, Elder Cambridge, Sisters Cheney, Hyland, Beardall,
Elder Bailey, Sisters Osterhout, McKee, and Ray;
Front Row: Elder Todd, Sister Overmeyer & Fotheringham

District Council
I need to practice making hearts for the camera!

This week Elder Bailey, who has been in our district as the AP for the last 5 1/2 months, finished his mission and went home to Alaska. When I mentioned to him that our daughter, Carlee, and her family would be moving to Anchorage in two weeks, he responded, "Does she need help moving in?" That is a typical response from Elder Bailey. We assured him that Conoco/Phillips would be doing the moving. 

Elder Bailey, Sister and Elder Merrell

We also said goodbye to Sister Williams and Sister Bacon, who completed their missions as well. They were in our district during the first part of our mission. Sister Williams will be going home to Centerville and Sister Bacon, to Las Vegas.

Elder Merrell and Sisters Bacon and Merrell

President and Sister Clayton invited us to a Valentine's Dinner at the Braelinn Golf Club in Peachtree City. The company and food were terrific!  

Valentine's Dinner with Elder & Sister Michaels,
Sister & President Clayton, Elder & Sister Kone, and Sister & Elder Merrell.

Sister Michaels worked with a service group in Utah called "Days for Girls." Volunteers create hygiene kits for girls in Africa and all over the world. She found a group that meets once a month in Carrollton, GA, so Sisters Clayton, Michaels, Kone, and I spent Saturday morning with a group of Baptist volunteers helping to make kits.  We plan to volunteer again next month.  There is always a good feeling when serving others.

This month my grandson, Hudson, was recognized for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. He also earned two bronze, one silver, and one gold palm. He loved the scouting program. We are so proud of him and his amazing accomplishment!  He is 14 years old.

Angie, Hudson, and Justin

2-9-2020 - Arrivals: My New Great Grandson and My Girls!

Tuesday we received a call from Colter to announce the arrival of our new and first great grandson, Calvin. All are happy and doing well! Calvin is the first son of the first son, Colter, of the first son, Justin, of the first son, Rodney, of the first son, William O. Merrell. 

Jaycee and Calvin

This week we enjoyed a delicious dinner with Ana and George at Frank's. We learned a little more about their story. George left Romania and came to America alone at the age of 16. He learned English on his own and began working as a mechanic in a car shop. Later he saw a Delta Airline advertisement for classes and training to become a jet engine mechanic and signed up. He worked hard and finished the top of his class and was offered a job with Delta. He continues to work there and loves his job. 

We asked all sorts of questions about jets. Things we've always wanted to know, but never had access to the inside scoop; like, how often are engines checked?  How often are they replaced?  Why do jets dump their fuel before making an emergency landing? (This question was inspired by the recent incident in Los Angeles where children on a playground were doused with jet fuel as the result of a jet releasing the fuel while making an emergency landing.) George told us a jet with a full load of fuel is too heavy for the tires and landing gear.  The impacted of landing may burst the tires, so fuel needs to be released to lighten the load and reduce the pressure for a safe landing.

Ana came to America as a dancer in a Romanian folk dance tour group.  After the tour was over, she didn't return to Romania as planned. It is a long story, but eventually she met George, fell in love, and they were married.

New arrivals, Ellie, my granddaughter, Brooke, Carlee, Andrea, and Chelsie
(Erin arrived the next day.)

Another highlight of our week was having Chelsie, Brooke, Andrea, Carlee, Erin, and Ellie come to Atlanta and stay with us. The idea that brought the girls here was the release of the movie, "Little Women." Of course, watching "Little Woman" was definitely an agenda item. We visited the Atlanta History Center, shopped in Senoia (where they film "The Walking Dead"), toured the Little White House (where Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt went often to soak his polio-diseased legs in the warm spring water there). We ate southern cookin' and best of all, we chatted and giggled and talked and laughed. In other words, our little apartment was filled with a "joyful noise." I miss them. I am grateful to my good son-in-laws and Justin and Trent for making it possible for my girls to come. It was a joy filled time for Elder Merrell and me!

Erin, Carlee, Ellie, Elder & Sister Merrell, Chelsie, Andrea, and Brooke
at the Cyclorama depicting the civil war battle of Atlanta 

Sister & Elder Merrell, Ellie, Chelsie, Erin, Andrea, Carlee, and Brooke
in the dining room at the Swan House

Ellie, Andrea, Carlee, Chelsie, Erin, Sister Merrell, and Brooke
at the Swan House, Atlanta History Center

Some down time, Erin, Ellie, and Carlee
at the Atlanta History Center

Warm Springs, Georgia
Franklin D. Roosevelt came to Warm Springs in 1924 in hopes of recovering from the effects of polio. His love for the area and hopes for the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation led him to build a small white clapboard cottage.  It was completed in 1932.  F.D.R. died of a massive stroke as he was sitting for a portrait in this cottage on April 12, 1945.

Erin, Brooke, Andrea, Chelsie, Sister Merrell, Ellie, and Carlee at the Little White House

Carlee and Erin bought matching coats.

The Red Oak Creek Covered Bridge
Built in 1840 by freed slaves, this structure is the oldest
and longest wooden covered bridge in Georgia.

Carlee, Ellie, Elder Merrell, Brooke, Andrea, Chelsie, and Erin
Red Oak Creek Covered Bridge

Red Oak Creek Covered Bridge from the opposite direction

Southern Fixin's at the Bulloch House
Erin, Brooke, Chelsie, Elder Merrell, Ellie, Sister Merrell, Carlee, and Andrea

This week a semi truck tipped on its side spilling the garbage it was hauling.  The driver did not negotiate the tight turn at the intersection where our apartment complex is located.  It took hours to clean up and restore the street back to normal.

Garbage spill on Lanier and Grady Ave in Fayetteville, GA

It's hard to believe that that much garbage can fit inside that semi truck!

2-2-2020 - A Week of Good Works

This week was filled with lots of good works that lifted our souls and blessed us with the spirit. We had three Mission Health Councils, a district council meeting, two temple trips, and I helped two of our senior missionaries with their Family History. We also attended a high school play, Mary Poppins with the senior missionaries. The male lead was a member of the church from the Peachtree City Ward. It was fun and reminded me of the days when Elder Merrell and I were in a high school play together.

Our district council meeting is always a highlight. We enjoy being around our wonderful missionaries and hearing about what they are doing and who they are finding and teaching and hearing how they are progressing. They also teach each other. There is a lot of collective missionary experience in our meetings. Our district has a new tradition started by Elder Inskeep called "roses and thorns." We each share either a highlight of the week, or a low of the week. Elder Merrell's and my highlight was when we delivered a loaf of bread to Ana and George and had another nice visit. George had hurt his back so we decided to pay a visit. They are such nice people, and we enjoy George's sense of humor. We have plans for dinner this coming week.

Our Fayetteville Ward Relief Society sisters go to the temple every Wednesday morning and have done so for the past nine years. Sister Stoker said that the secret to their success is consistency. These good women meet in Kohl's parking lot at 8:30 a.m. and brave the Atlanta traffic together. It is roughly a 35 mile trip that takes one-hour+ to drive. I finally had a free Wednesday morning, so I joined them. It was a blessing to be with them and enjoy their company and be in the temple. Sister Stanton our Bishop's wife brought her father who was visiting from Anchorage, Alaska. My daughter, Carlee, is moving to Anchorage in a few weeks, so I asked him how he liked it up north.  He said, "God lives there!" 

Elder Merrell and I also attended the temple Saturday with Sister Fotheringham from Washington State and Sister Beardall from Utah. These sisters are members of our district and needed a ride. Sister Fotheringham taught this good man and his wife earlier in her mission. She was so happy to be with them on this special day when he received his endowment. What a sweet reward for her missionary service!

Sister Merrell, Sister Fotheringham, Sister Beardall
Atlanta Temple

I enjoy helping people with their family history. Sister Clayton ran out of family names to take to the temple, so she asked me for help. What a treat! She was so thrilled when she found the name of her GGG-Grandmother. In the moment we just had to stop clicking the computer and experience the joy! The spirit is always close when we work on our family history, and I believe angels are as well. It is a sacred work.