WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH MISSION: THERE IS BEAUTY ALL AROUND

This home really does have beauty all around it -- surrounded with a wall of color. These neighborhoods are found in our Annandale zone. I hope to take pictures in more places this coming week. But all of the zones have beautiful foilage right now. We took an hour today to drive around and take pictures. We drove through lots of neighborhoods and took a variety of pictures. I took pictures on winding country type roads with homes spread far apart and also of neighborhoods with homes closer together. But all of them were lovely.. The trees just frame the houses with color and make everyone look like a masterpiece. You'll also see some of our church parking lots, a mall parking lot, and the ivy on the freeway walls are even turning color. This is really the most beautiful season I've ever seen. Our missionaries love tracting this time of the year. The weather is mild and it has been raining quite a bit. But the clouds move quickly and sun shines through and brightens everything making it all appear like crystals with prisms glistening from them.

This is my favorite! Breathtaking

Fountainhead lake surrounded with color

Driving through the roads at Fountainhead Park and neighborhood.

The driveway to an estate.

Horse properties.

Entrance to the Fountainhead Park and neighborhood

Surrounded by beauty

The church parking lot with maple trees--they have the bright red leaves.

Almost like a tunnel.
Another tunnel of color.

A house in the woods.

The ivy is turning in some places but here it hasn't yet seen the sun.

What a pretty neighborhood.

Ivy on the freeways -- turning red

more ivy

The mall parking lot

Stephanie Smith Fireside

Last Sunday evening we were privileged to attend a fireside in the mission. It was held at a beautiful old chapel in McLean. One of the pictures shows the inside of the chapel and the wood beams on the very steep-pitched ceiling of the room. The gym is under the chapel in the basement. I have never seen a floorplan like this one. Very unique. This fireside hosted Sister Stephanie Smith. Her story was in the Ensign sometime in the last year. She has a remarkable conversion story. She has held very high government positions and at one time was 5th in command at the CIA. She said something at the first of her talk that I wrote down: she said, "I've been on some remarkable adventures. But no adventure in my lifetime has been as extraordinary and life-changing as my path to conversion and baptism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. She then told about her introduction to the church. She was at a time in her life with tremendous worldly success achieved after clawing her way to the top without any regard for others, and she felt her life was shattering into a million pieces. At this time she turned to a colleague she admired who was a member of the church. He told her two things. That her Heavenly Father knew her by name and loved her and that Heavenly Father had a plan for her success. The next day he sent her a map to the temple visitor center. She told how when the missionary sisters came to her door, she didn't think she could relate to these young women. The first thing they did was ask if they could sing to her. They sang,"I am a Child of God." That was the beginning of her conversion, a long a beautiful story. You can read it on the web at Meridian Magazine. Her testimony was a real inspiration to me. There were over 350 people there and she does a great missionary work speaking to investigators. What a blessing to have heard her and felt her spirit.

Chelsea Our recent Convert

We have met the sweetest young sister. Chelsea is amazing. She joined the church during the last year and has an incredible testimony also. She never misses any missionary function and we were able to take her with us to the Stephanie Smith Fireside. She also came to the mission home a few weeks ago and we had family night. She gave the lesson and is was unbelievable. She is hoping to go on a mission next year. What a great young woman. This is a picture of her with Elders Ganaway and Gifford.

WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH MISSION

Saturday, October 24, 2009

THERE IS BEAUTY ALL AROUND

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