Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints function as ministering families to one another. During the Covid-19 pandemic Church shutdown, keeping in touch has been critical, especially for the elderly living alone. Communications have been limited to telephone, internet and distanced visits. Church missionaries are now being allowed out of their apartments to have limited exposure with members and people interested in the Church.
Robert and Billie Nicholson have been keeping an eye on octogenarian, Frances Roswold. She has been wishing for several months for someone to help clean up her yard and trim back overgrown bushes. On Friday, The Nicholsons included two sister missionaries, Elizabeth Judd and Elaina Eber, in the project, providing service as The Savior taught. Arriving at 7:30 AM, the four worked cleaning out weeds from Frankie’s flower bed, raking up front yard leaves and tackling the trimming of front yard bushes. By 10 AM, about half of one of the front yard azaleas had been trimmed, but the work team was melting in the sweltering Pensacola heat.They agreed to return on Saturday to continue the project.
Saturday, four young men missionaries joined the work team, thanks to the sisters asking for additional help. What a difference more help made! Elders Palmer, Flinn, Dietze and Webb went to work trimming and raking. 15 yard bags were filled with leaves and debris, the front bushes and better than half of the side yard azalea row was cut and raked. Bush trimmings were lined along the street for city pick up.
“I’m happy to be working,” said Elder Palmer, “Just wish I had a machete.”
“We’ll be back to finish the job when the temperature cools down a bit,” said Brother Nicholson. “
“That’s alright, replied Frankie, “things look so much better now, I really appreciate what you all have done for me.”
