Congo Bars and Apple Pie

wonderful thing:  We really want to get to know people better.  We feel that is the way to serve best.  We've had several groups of GANS over for dinner.  We've visited people.  We've had a few service opportunities.  We had our neighbors over for dinner; it just so "happens" that one of them is our dear friend Ornela.   She's the only member in her family.  We had a super time the other night with her parents, her brother and sister-in-law.  She wants my recipe for Congo bars.  Today we went over to Cristina's, another GANS, to show her and her mom how to make apple pie.  Now, y'all know pie crust is no easy task; to make it worse, I forgot the shortening, so we had to use butter.  The pan they had was super big, too, and I was concerned there wouldn't be enough dough.  We had to roll that piece of pastry out super thin - and you know that super thin pie crust dough tears easily.  Cristina rolled out the part for the top crust, it was her first try.  Even in this, though, I feel tender mercies pouring down upon us.  The crust and the pie turned out beautifully!  Can you imagine that?  I was amazed; I could almost feel a guiding hand.  We had a great conversation, and they helped us to understand the "paradigm" of the Prato Ward.  All of these experiences help to build a firm foundation upon which to build - who knows? - a marvelous work and a wonder.

fun thing:  Cristina's mom, Sorella (Sister) Ogunleye, told us that if you put a basil plant in the room, mosquitoes stay away.  We're going to try that tonight.  Last night was the worst mosquito night so far;  we had grown complacent, thinking that the advent of cooler weather and Blaine's nightly prowlings about the house before we go to bed, hunting for the critters, had eliminated the trouble.  We just happen to have a basil plant on the balcony; it's comin in tonight!  I'll keep you posted.