July 1st Letter

HELLLOOOO Family!

This has been a momentous week!  

We got to see President and Sister McDonough (always a highlight).  President is just so kind and loving.  We talked about so many things that I needed.  He talked with me about my work here in the Sand Hill Branch.  I love this area and the people so much.  I don't want it to close, but we are really struggling to find work to do.    We did, however, have a BAPTISM! Linda McLain! She is such a sweet and humble woman.  She loves the gospel so much.  Her husband was a member of the church but for whatever reason is no longer a member now.  The missionaries right before me found them and started teaching them.  We really stepped up our game and started teaching them every single day.  We even helped her husband, Robert Dale McLain, give up his 40 year tobacco addiction. We found out yesterday that after meeting with some leaders at church, we will be having a re-baptism for him on Wednesday!! It has been so amazing to see how the light of the gospel has really changed them since I first met them.  They read the scriptures and pray together every day and you can see how their love for each other has grown so much.  Robert Dale was really quiet and shy (he has a severe speech impediment which makes him pretty much unintelligible) when we first started teaching them, but after he gave up tobacco, he has really opened up.  He smiles and you can really see a light in them.  This was really needed for the branch because it is a ray of hope that things can turn around here.  

I love these people so much.  They have hearts of gold and they give and serve so much.  They are wonderful examples to me and their charity never ceases to amaze me.  

I hear about some more hard things happening at home.  I want everyone to know that I love and miss you guys.  I try not to think about coming home in November, but my heart is so ready to be back with you guys.  I think, worry, and pray for all of you.

Love,

Sister McElderry

P.S. We got a ton of rain this last week.  We almost drove off of the dirt roads multiple times.  Who would have thunk that wet clay/sand could feel like driving on ice?