This week we've been getting name lists from Bishops and contacting the YSAs by phone. Surprisingly, this has been fairly successful. We also spent lots of time preparing lessons for the first few weeks of classes.
Something that made this week so special was we received a note and picture from Madi and letters from Camille and Trevor. Madi's note was particularly touching when she wrote "I hope you don't stay forever." Two years does seem like an awfully long time even to me. Camille's and Trevor's letters were filled with news of their busy lives and the wonderful summer they had. Trevor even sent a family picture taken with Mickey Mouse at Disneyland. I put the picture in my Family Brag Book.
6 August - Monday night was FHE. We've been asked to attend that so we always do. After the lesson we played Mormon Trivia. I knew almost all the "easy" questions but hardly any of the "hard" ones. In the end, my team lost the 3-game tournament.
7 August - The highlight of the week was having lunch with Leroy and Ann Wagner. Yes - the Wagners from Santaquin 2nd Ward. They were visiting family in Walnut Creek (down south) and then driving north to visit more family. They told us before we left Utah they would like to take us to lunch when they were close to Redding. Ann called Tuesday and said they were heading north Wednesday morning and asked if 2 p.m. Wednesday would work for going to lunch. It was so fun visiting with them. They took us to Applebee's. The food was great but the visit was greater. They filled us in on what's happening in the Ward. The afternoon went by much too quickly. They had reservations at the La Quinta (about 5 blocks from our apartment) and were planning to get going early Thursday. It's wonderful to have good friends.
8 August - I taught my first Wednesday Evening Institute class that evening on "The Gospel and the Productive Life: Serving Others." I used my move to Utah and the help I received from my attorney in D.C., the family of "my missionary" and the family of my friend Debbie. They all were perfect examples of Christlike service. Only 4 young people attended but I feel the class went well.
9 August - Thursday one of the less active young men called at 6:30 a.m. and said he wanted to talk to us. KJ asked if we could meet him at the Institute building at 10 a.m. We were there but he never showed. Kent called him at about 11:15 to see if he was coming. He told Kent some family problem has arisen and he wouldn't be coming. So much for Thursday morning. A few days later we were informed by the Branch President that KJ is lovingly referred to in the Branch as "the amazing man of mystery." Seems to be an appropriate nick-name.
Friday was more lesson prep and getting information from the Bishops organized.
Saturday morning we went to the Farmer's Market at the Redding City Center. The Market will run until December. It was a lot like a boutique but it was outside. Vendors rented spaces for their booths. Most of the vendors sold produce from their farms but there were also cookies, pies, candy, wine, aprons, baby doll clothes, and preserves. We bought white peaches, green beans and tomatoes. We'll probably go again in a few weeks. We decided to eat lunch at the Mexican restaurant just down the street from us, Casa Ramos. The parking lot is always packed so we thought we should give it a try. The food was good and we liked the ambiance. The price was right too. The lunch special (which we both had) was $7.99. There was more food than we could eat, so we brought left-overs home.
The California State Young Single Adult Conference was this weekend in Sacramento. All the YSAs were encouraged to attend. The Conference started Friday evening and ended Sunday after an address from a G.A. There were no meetings at our Branch today because of the Conference.
So, today (Sunday the 12th) we decided to go to Sacrament Meetings for the 4th Ward (9 a.m.), 3rd Ward (11 a.m.) and 2nd Ward (1 p.m.) because they all meet at the Stake Center. We wanted to meet the members and let them know we'll be starting Institute classes on the 27th. Several said they had children who were planning to enroll. We made several good contacts with the YSAs and were welcomed heartily by the members in each Ward.
The Gardners (the Sr. Missionary couple we replaced) left a Cannon printer for our personal use but they forgot to leave the disc with the installation program. Actually, they thought we would be able to install the printer on our computer using an internet program but that didn't work. So, we contacted them and Bro. Gardner said he would send the disc. It arrived Saturday and we now have a printer here at the apartment. Life is good! When we leave in two years, we'll leave the printer and the installation disc for the next couple.
We went to the "World Market" (a lot like Pier One Imports but not so overstocked) on Friday and found a nice little table to put in the entryway. I wanted the table so Kent could drop his keys right when he came in the apartment. Of course, "dropping the keys" would require a basket. We looked all over the World Market but didn't find anything that really struck my fancy. We decided to try Michael's (just down the street) some other time. I think not finding a basket was providential because on Friday evening when I was sitting in the living room reading I needed some place to set the TV remote, my Kindle, etc. The little entryway table turned out to be just perfect for that. It's the right height and nestles right between the arms of the sofa and love seat. Guess I'll do without an entryway table for Kent's keys.
We're still walking every day except Sunday. We're eating well, sleeping well and still enjoying the best two years.
No comments:
Post a Comment