Called To Serve Charlotte North Carolina: 7 Nov. 2017 Faith and prayer!

Couple of stories at the temple and branch, 4 November 2017 was the deaf branch temple day. This month was baptisms, initiatory, and sealings. We had a great turn out, several youth and adults. The baptisms were first, followed by initiatory, then lunch. We had all the deaf members, who were doing ordinances, in the break room of the temple. A potato bar was served and some cookies and punch. Patty made butter cookies cut out in the shape of the "I Love You" hand sign, they were a big hit, and tasty too. The day was capped off in the sealing room, where President Swift performed the sealings. I just want to say the temple presidency and particularly President Swift go all out to accommodate the deaf program. They love the people and do a lot to further their temple attendance. I feel it a privilege to serve with them. Sunday 5 November, as always we rode the Metro in to the city. It was fast Sunday and as always the entire time was taken (plus 15 min over), in bareing testimonies. The main topic was Temple day! After Sacrament we were talking with the first counselor when a sister (a mom) asked if we had seen her son, he is 5 yrs old with Down Syndrome, No we hadn't and neither has anyone else. A sense of panic was overcoming everyone as we searched the building and even outside, which by the way is in the city of D.C. We walked around the block and up and down the streets with no luck. Patty said we need to pray, and President Merrell said so also. He offered a prayer, very touching one, and then we started looking again. Literally 3 minutes later the mom gets a call from the police and they say they have him in the car. He was 5 blocks away and headed for a busy street, from this street you can see the Capital Building. I don't like to over do sacred things, but I just want to write one piece of President Merrell's prayer. He said, to Heavenly Father, We don't know where he is, but You do, please help us find him. Then they called. Anyway afterward we were asked to sub in the nursery, there were three small children, cute as buttons. Even more so was watching them signing, they are less than 18 months old, cute, cute. After the block was "linger Longer" we had a Thanksgiving dinner, lots of good food. Anyway what a great day on a mission. On Monday we went to DC with Wayne and Sue Slade, Gari and Arnold Gillespie and Paul and Pat Nelson. Basically thats Wayne Slade, Gari Slade Gillespie and Pat Slade Nelson with Jim and Pat Slade, wow. Here are some pictures: