We had our first baptisms in the branch since we've been here.  On Saturday January 19, Bill and Sue Lee were baptized.  The Dutch Fork Ward had a baptism at 9:30 and ours were at 11am.  Next week another couple will be baptized and 2 children are also ready.  So many people are ready to hear the gospel and our wonderful missionaries are finding them and teaching them. We were able to attend the baptism at 11:00 and then go to the home of our new members for a luncheon with other branch members.  They are retired and Sue is very much into genealogy.  She'll definitely find her niche in the church! 

Bill and Sue Lee

Bill's cousin, Tedde Harrod,  from Moses Lake came for his baptism and we spent some time talking with her.  We made many connections not only from Quincy and Ephrata, but also with a wonderful couple that we know from our year living in Toppenish.  Bob and Maurine Winters are friends we met there.  They served a couple of missions on Temple Square in SLC and also witnessed our sealing in the Salt Lake Temple.  Tedde and her husband also served a mission in SLC and are friends with Bob and Maureen.  It is a very small world in the church!  We have never failed to make similar connections in our travels across the United States and at church sites.  It's amazing!  (We took this picture just for you, Maurine!)

Tedde Harrod and I

Elder and Sister Ripley with President and Sister Holm

On Friday we had a lunch date with a senior couple, the Ripley's, that will be going home on the 23rd.  They have served for the last 6 months and will return to Idaho.  We have a new couple coming very soon who will move into their house and serve in the Barnwell Branch.  A six month mission just flies by.

It seems that there are two things that you can really count on while on a mission, first is meetings and second is luncheons, dinners and other functions where food is present.  So, to attempt to balance this food thing...we try to eat carrot sticks and celery, or my homemade soups for lunch during the week.  We know it's healthy and portions are controlled.  I'm hoping that will be enough, because some of the food that we are served is wonderful and of course where would a wonderful meal be without some scrumptious chocolate desert?

Today was a beautiful day and Doyle went outside to take a few pictures.  The campground where we are staying has a reader board out on the highway and they change the message frequently.  These are the current messages:

 

 

 

 

And finally, our home, sweet home!