Sister Manwaring: Serving in North Carolina

  Gardenias May 23, 2022   Dear Family and Friends,   Gardenias caught my attention Saturday morning when I was out walking.   I was kinda wrapped up in my thoughts until I smelled the gardenias.   After that, I removed my earbuds and started paying attention to God’s creations.   Maybe that’s what it means to “Be still, and know that I am God.”   Cardinals, mockingbirds, and frogs were making a ruckus.     I even saw a couple blue tailed lizards.   I’m surrounded by forests.   I tried to take a photo of the trees, but my camera doesn’t do justice, and I can’t describe it in words.   It brought to my mind the words, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1Corinthians 2:9) Truly, we have a loving Father in Heaven who loves us and wants to bless us. Forest Trees Saturday evening my friend Crystal caught my attention...

  Cousins Setting up a refugee family May 15, 2022   Dear Family and Friends,   My activities were all about families this week!  On Tuesday I got to help set up an apartment for another refugee family.    We cleaned, set up furniture, put bedding on beds, dishes in cupboards, etc.  One of the men from the furniture moving company was very interested in the church.  He told us he had recently moved to the area and was looking for a church.  He said he had been praying and asking God to guide him.  He liked what he observed at our service project.  We chatted with him and  Sister Madsen and Sister Hansen  were able to connect him with a ward and missionaries near where he lives.   On Thursday, our friend Mauricio, who had recently moved back to Colombia,  texted Hermana Morales a photo of him with his family  and the missionaries who were teaching them in Colombia ...

  My district May 8, 2022   Dear Family & Friends,   Sorry I didn’t write last week.  Sometimes it’s difficult to think of anything new or interesting to write about. But when I saw two angels building a ramp so that my friend Margaret could get in and out of her house with her wheelchair, I knew I had to tell you.  No, they didn’t have wings.  But one of them drove a jaguar!  These “angels” were two retired men who volunteer for an organization that helps senior citizens--for free!  They were senior citizens themselves, but that didn’t stop them!  Well, I’m no good at pounding nails, but I understand their motivation.     Angels did this! I work with young people every day who willingly give up large chunks of their young lives to serve others and teach people about Jesus.  At an age when most young people are focusing on themselves, these young missionaries are thinking of others.   And speaking of charitable ac...