CHATAM TO GREENVILLE, MS

April 25, Saturday
25 miles (short mileage to be in town for Church day!)

OUCH!! Our first fall! It was my fault! Poor judgement and timing and heavy bike easily thrown off balance with the weight. We were actually stopping. I was along side Rusty and misjudged his space as I pulled ahead. Didn't even have my shoes clipped in with my feet on the ground and saw him in the corner of my eye, lost my balance and knocked us both over. We must have looked pretty funny. I buggered up my shoulder but will ride it out. Every ride doesn't have to have a fall, does it?

We checked in to a motel down by the Miss. River for the weeked. We noticed that the water coming out of the tap is YELLOW! The toilet looks like it always needs flushing. There is a sign on the desk in the lobby about Greenville water - yes, it is yellow and yes, it is safe to drink. (we got a picture of the sign) I have to say I had to really be thirsty to give it a try.


April 26, Sunday in Greenville, MS
(I missed putting this post in chronological order...maybe I'll figure out how to insert it )
We called the bishops number on the website and his wife, Cheryl Dean, picked us up for church. She lives in Cleveland, MS 45 minutes from the church. Her husband is a farmer and it is his second time to be the bishop. (He must be doing a really good job!) She is a third grade teacher.
During the sacrament meeting we noticed something that is kind of unique to this area. When the speaker would start his talk and say "good morning" the congregation said "good morning" in response. It happened several times. Kind of nice and friendly and reminded me of going to church in Hawaii where the congregation replies to "Aloha".
They just happened to be having a baptism at this ward also. We've got great timing! This baptism was of a 10 year old young girl . She was all dressed in her white baptism suit but she didn't want to take her tennis shoes off. Before the baptismal meeting started I heard the missionary, who was going to baptize her and was also dressed in white, talking to her trying to convince her that it would be okay to take her shoes off. It was really cute but she was nervouse about it. She was out in the hall and I could see and hear this. After the discussion I wanted to get our picture taken with Chery Dean who had brought us to church. The young girl who was going to be baptized wanted to take it for us. I made a deal with her. That she could take the picture if she took her shoes off when she as baptized. She said she would. We took a couple of pictures to practice and her brother and sister got in on it as well. We got some really cute pictures. I don't know if she took her shoes off or not. We didn't stay. But of course it "wouldn't invalidate the ordinance" if she didn't. :-)
On the ride back to our motel, Cheryl told us about the young girl's family. She lives in an apartment with eleven children and two moms. No dad. Cheryl said there are a lot of families living like that...lots of kids, multiple families living together, no dad. This girl's older brother had been baptized and a couple of the other children were going to be. No one else in the family are members. They live in extreme poverty. I couldn't help but think how their lives will be blessed if they live the covenants they make at baptism. How their lives can change and they can help bless the lives of others in their families.


A Few Quotes from Sister Washington, the RS instructor who taught the lessons "Come What May, and Love It": (I have a picture of us together)

Her mother used to say to her "when you're grown, it will be all right."

She says: "There is more of God in me that me in the World" and it will work out.
"My woes and sadness today will be my gladness tomorrow"