Week 3

Sunday 29 Jul - This was the first time we were asked to speak in Sacrament Meeting.  The tradition in the YSA Branch is to invite the missionaries to speak.  Since we are the newest missionaries, we were asked.  I related my conversion story and the Lord's miracles that still occur in our lives.  Kent spoke on being one of Christ's friends - getting to know Him better - being better disciples.  At 6:30 p.m. we went out to the home of Elder Zack Cobabe for his Farewell Open House.  This is the first young missionary who has left from the Branch since we arrived.  Also today we were asked by Amy Wolford to speak at her baptism next Saturday evening.  We were pleased to be asked. 

Monday 30 Jul - Housekeeping chores this morning - out to the Institute right after lunch.  We worked on some of the first lessons we will teach for the fall semester and the first Wednesday Evening Class Kent will teach on Aug 1st.  That evening we attended the Branch FHE at the Institute.

Tues, Wed & Thur were spent traveling (far and wide) to try to introduce ourselves to some of the YSAs who are a little less active.  The evenings were devoted to more lesson prep

Wed evening (Aug 1st) was our first Evening Institute class.  Kent taught it on Honoring Covenants.  Only 6 students came but we're told not to be discouraged because there is always low attendance during the summer. 

Saturday was busy with grocery shopping (again), paying bills, light housekeeping, sending emails and general everyday living things.  We finally went out to The Sundial Bridge.  It's a modern foot bridge over the Sacramento River connecting the north and south areas of Turtle Bay Exploration Park.  A real tourist attraction.  It actually indicates the correct time only on the summer solstice (20 and 21 June).  That evening we attended the baptism of Amy Wolford.  She asked Kent and me to speak at her baptism.  It was a good experience.  We gave short but meaningful talks and the young missionaries showed a few Mormon Messages while Amy was changing her clothes.  It was a nice evening. 

Today, Sunday 5 Aug - I decided to change the way I update the blog.  From now on I'm updating from Mon-Sun so I'm including today's activities with this post. 

We finally met President Weston this morning.  He came up from Sacramento for meetings with the Stake Presidents and asked to meet with us also.  I strongly felt the spirit as I finally got to see him face-to-face and shake his hand.  He encouraged us to be the kind of teachers we have always been.  He said the Lord knew what He was doing when He called us to Redding and these students need what we have to offer.  We just need to be ourselves.  The feeling that the students take with them is far more important than the words we will say.  That made me feel much better because I had been worrying about being a college-level teacher when I don't have any formal teacher training.  It's comforting to know I can just be myself. 

We are trying to concentrate our time and energies from Mon-Fri on Institute.  That means I have to change my way of doing things around the house.  Usually when I think of something that needs to be done - bill paying, cleaning a toilet, writing a thank you note, balancing the check book - I just do it right then.  Now I'm adding these things to my "To Do on Saturday" list.  That way I'm able to keep focused on our missionary work during the "work week."  We'll see how that goes. 

Still enjoying the best two years!