LDS Mission- Galax, VA

My LDS Mission

Galax, Virginia

April 1988-July 1988

I arrived in Galax home to the world's oldest and biggest Old Fiddler's Convention. I found myself living in a small trailer park. This trailer was quite the improvement on the one in Roanoke. We had the view of a golf course and wide open spaces. In the evenings we could catch the sight of hundreds of lightenin' bugs just outside our residence.

We lived next door to a nice middle aged couple. They would tease us (friendly like) about what we were doing in preaching about the 'Mormon' church and we would return the favor and asking them about smoking and drinking coffee. It was all in good fun. When it came time for me to leave they brought over a very nice going away card...saying they would miss me.

For the first four weeks in this area I served along side a Sister Ursenbach. She showed me the area and I learned my way around fairly quickly. She introduced me to the old time mountain music of a local guy by the name of Othar Fortnar. His sang about the New River and the people who lived in the valleys along side it. One of the songs he sang was about a young boy and his grandpa who both drowned in that river. This song hit home when I met the family of that boy. The boy and his grandpa had died the day I arrived in Virginia.

While I was serving with Sister Ursenbach we made the acquaintance of a rather interesting guy. He called himself 'Smiley Joe'. Smiley Joe had been baptized as a member of the LDS church sometime back, but had never attended any meetings after that. He liked to hang out with the missionaries, however.

After the first month of being in Galax Sister Ursenbach left and I had the opportunity of serving with Sister Widdison.

It was through 'Smiley Joe' that she and I learned of his wife, who was not a member. At first she did not like us. She had some preconceived notions about Mormons and did not want anything to do with us. We decided to make her some cupcakes one day and pay her a visit. She kindly thanked us for the cupcakes and was about to turn us away when she changed her mind and let us in.

She was full of questions. She had a lot of things to clear up. We then asked if we could share our message with her. She accepted, but, to my knowledge, has never accepted baptism. Our experience with her was not without merit, however. She gained a new appreciation for the church to which her husband belonged.

When she learned that I was being transferred to Pembroke she offered to make us dinner. We accepted. After the dinner was over she brought out a big chocolate cake with my name on it. We had a few pieces and I was told to take the rest of it with me.

What started out as a few cupcakes was returned with a big chocolate cake. We had gained a friend, not just to us, but to the church.

I left that place with many friends and memories.

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