Staying the Course

Since our last posting, Elder Zabriskie baptized Elizabeth Groves, age 32, single mother of three. Her children are Diamond, Blue, and Ga'dashia. She has many challenges in life. Please pray for her.

We are grateful the Lord continues to sustain us in our work here in Quincy. We are currently teaching 6 people all of whom present big challenges in some way. If only we could speak Spanish and French! We are studying and praying more intensely hoping that we can find that special something that will "click" with those we teach.

President Summerhays is such an inspiration to us each zone conference offering just what we need to leverage us to higher ground. Last week he focussed on the attributes of diligence and humility. It is a huge temptation to mummer when "other" people impede the work of building the kingdom. We all know what happens when we complain, even if it is just in our hearts. We lose the spirit and the power to teach effectively. Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the world, knew all about barriers in doing the work of His Father. Yet, whatever was thrown at him, he was meek, lowly, humble, and submissive. Diligently, He stayed the course, doing what he could do, not fretting and stewing about what He could not do. It always comes back to how we respond to the adversities we face. We continually remind ourselves, "The Lord is in charge here."

Elder Z and I are having a HUGE STRUGGLE being out of the loop in an election year! You all know what a current events/political junkie I am. Bill says it almost matches his desire to watch BYU football. Now, that's saying a lot. I rank it next to being deprived of MOVIE POPCORN! Our waistlines are showing how much we are compensating for these and other DEPRIVATIONS . . . Oh, well . . .

Come February 13 we will have six months under our bigger belts. Boy, oh, boy, do these people know how to cook. Last evening we were invited to a farewell dinner for a young missionary who chose the following menu: hot wings, sausage links, macaroni and cheese, fried ocra, fried onion rings, cole slaw, broccoli/cheese casserole, wild rice salad, lemon bars, and two kinds of home made cookies. Before the main dinner we enjoyed goat cheese, hummus, assorted crackers and olives. Oh, well, again . . .

The weather here is not all sunshine. The "cold snaps" are REALLY cold requiring all the warm woolies we brought with us. We are using a lot of propane, even with the little heat dish we bought.

We miss you all and love to get ANY KIND OF MAIL. We have been known to get really excited over the vitamin catalogue.

Here are a few pictures of the area where we live.

Love,
Elder and Sister Z