Let me count the ways...

We started out the week with a soldier who blessed the sacrament for the first time, ever.  He has been recently reactivated and already held the Priesthood but just needed the opportunity and encouragement.  What a sweet experience. He has been very faithful here at Ft. Eustis.

Some previous Ft. Eustis Senior missionaries (the Adamsons) came to the area and stayed with Brother & Sister Lord.  They attended our meeting last week and were pleased to see how things were running since they left 2 1/2 years ago.  We were invited over to the Lords' home along with some other friends for pie and visiting.  Brother Lord entertained us with some magic tricks.  We are still laughing.

These soldier dinners probably look the same to the readers of this blog, but they are all different and very dear to us.  Each picture has different soldiers with different stories.  Let me tell you about some. 

Soldier F is going home this week because he could not pass his PT tests. (Physical Training)  He did fine with the academic course work, but without passing the physical tests (running fast enough) he is getting "chaptered" out.  He is considering serving a mission and will be speaking with his bishop when he gets home.  He has been leading the music in our meetings. We will miss him.

Soldier N is a faithful member who has been newly activated after joining the Army.  It is interesting how often this happens, and so wonderful.  He is hoping to pass his PT test this week then graduate.

Soldier X was activated as a young man by a friend who cared enough to keep inviting him to church.  He serves as an assistant to the Group Leader, Elder Elkins. He misses his wife and baby. He can't resist the brownies at our Family Home Evenings.

Soldier K is a returned missionary soldier who is getting married in the temple in December when he finishes his training at Ft. Eustis. He is our faithful sacrament coordinator on Sundays.

Soldier O is graduating this week and moving on to his new assignment.  He is the only soldier that we have known who bought "church clothes" to wear because he didn't feel good about coming to church in his uniform or jeans and tee-shirt.

Soldier Z is newly activated in the church and attends faithfully.  He misses his wife and daughter and gets a sweet smile on his face when talking about his little girl.

Soldier T is an RM and is serving as an assistant to Elder Elkins.  He is fun to play games with at Family Home Evening - says his family likes games too. Sounds like our own family! He is so helpful and nice to be around.

Elder D is one of the full time Elders assigned to our group.  He and his companion, Elder S take turns attending (we pick him up at the ward building) because the ward and our group meet at the same time. The Elders enjoy the games at our Family Home Evenings also. (lots of laughing out loud)

Soldier C arrived recently from Idaho.  He plans to begin his mission papers when he goes home for Christmas. (He is National Guard so he'll be able to leave for 2 years after graduating here.)

Soldier S is our most faithful non-member.  He has been attending regularly since he arrived at Ft. Eustis in June. He loves to learn about Jesus and soaks it in like a sponge. He never goes to sleep in the meetings - even general conference. He sometimes says the closing prayer.

Soldier F is new here.  He will be getting baptized by his father-in-law when he goes home for Christmas.  His wife is a member of the Church.

Can you see why we love every one of these people?