Baby, Duck and Baptism

Hello Family and Friends,

We have had another great week here in New Orleans. The weather has been absolutely gorgeous with no rain all week.

We are the proud grandparents of Sara Rosemary Ashby, born on October 10th and weighing in a 9lbs. 9 oz. She has lots of dark curly hair and is very cute. Leslie and baby Sara are home and doing well. Congratulations to Leslie, Ben and the boys!

We prepared for the Ward Cultural Night most of the week and spent alot of time deciding how to get the name and phone number for each non-member that attended. This was a problem from last year. We decided to make a poster and display, then we had a sign-up for Church videos. This way the missionaries can contact them this week to deliver the DVD.

We got into our first car accident this week. We had just left the Church, we pulled away from a stop light in rush hour traffic and we got hit. Right into the driver's side mirror. By a DUCK!! Not just your normal size duck, but a duck big enough to adjust the mirror and then put a dent into our car. Don't worry, the duck got up and walked away while all of the cars behind us were honking at it. We still love seeing the ducks all along the roads here. Melody talked to us shortly after the accident and quipped, "It adds new meaning to the word Duck, huh?"

The Cultural Night went very well and we had about 200 people there. Many of them were less active or non-members. This is exciting work and the people are so friendly.

We were able to help the missionaries teach a lesson on Friday night to MIriam and Jose Praga. Miriam's mother is a member in Mexico and she wanted to be baptised. Her husband Jose is concerned about work. Then he explained that since Katrina more and more people have been coming here for work, so now they are having a hard time finding jobs - because there are so many illegals here. Don shared the part of the lesson on repentance and I bore my testimony on family. We got a phone call on Saturday saying that MIriam was going to be baptised on Sunday after church. The baptism was very nice and she was confirmed right afterward. Don was able to stand in the circle while she was confirmed.

Don's health has improved dramatically. He gets up before six and goes until 10pm. It's amazing what the Lord has done while we are serving him.