New Library!

Dear Famiree,

Aloha!

I'm sending my e-mails from the brand spankin' new Sevierville Library! It literally opened two or three days ago. It looks like a cross between a bank and a state capitol building. It's HUGE and REALLY REALLY nice. You oughta Google it to see if there are any pictures of it. Anyways...just thought that might be interesting :)

Here's a photo and an interesting article about the library:
"Sevierville Tennessee’s new King Family Public Library will soon receive its first books to stock its newest library opening May 14th to the public. The first books will arrive by hearse April 20th at 9a.m..
Now why would anyone deliver new books to a new library in a vehicle that is a symbol of ending? Well, Sevierville’s first library opened in 1920. The library was founded by the local mortician Fred Rawlings. Fred Rawlings delivered the new library’s first books from Knoxville by use of his hearse. In 1968 Sevierville built a newer library and Fred Rawlings was asked to symbolically transport the first set of books for the newest library once again in his hearse.
Steeped in tradition, Rawlings Funeral Home will provide its oldest hearse for the delivery of the first books for the King Family Public Library. A Rawlings family member will ride along for the delivery to Sevierville’s newest library."

Thanks for the update! I hope everything works out with the car. It really stinks not being able to drive places when you need to. We are in a car-share in this area and some places in our area take 2+ hours to bike to (including two of the prime Spanish areas...). The weeks when we do not have the car can be very frustrating! I guess it's the Lord's way to teach us how to plan and coordinate with members better. :)

We are kind-of going through a rough patch in this area. None of our most promising investigators have been progressing for several weeks because they have not been coming out to church. They all had dates for baptism that we had to drop because they never come to church. We've done everything we can for them to help them make it out, from to calling them to wake them up and having their ride knock on their door to fasting and teaching the importance of coming to church before they can be baptized. At this point, we are going to have to spend our time with new investigators that Elder Morente and I have found together. We have a lot of promising people we're teaching right now and a couple of progressing investigators who we are committing for baptism this week. We look forward to a lot of success in this area as we work hard, are exactly obedient, and follow the Spirit!

By the way, Sister Griffin did get her flowers. In the middle of zone-conference President Griffin stood up and said something to the effect of , "Let Elder Raymond, Sister Griffin's favorite missionary, be an example to you all: His mom sent her flowers." :) That was a little unexpected. haha! :)

Anyway...I gotta go! yup yup :)

Love you all!

Elder Raymond