Week 10: September 16th- 23rd.

Wednesday we had a young woman come into the institute building just sobbing.  We found out she is a member but had not been to church for years.  She was on medication for depression and bi-polar syndrome, has a five year old daughter, never married, and lives with her boy friend, who is her financial support.  This is not a terribly uncommon story here.  We talked to her for an hour or so.  I had a young returned missionary come in and assist me in giving her a blessing.  Following the blessing one of the young women who often practices the piano here, began doing that - practicing.  She was playing 'Nearer My God to Thee'.  This troubled YW went in ans sat next to the piano to just listen.  In a few minutes they were singing and shortly after, a couple others were singing with them.  It brought tears to my eyes to hear them singing and laughing.  We were able to get her name, address, and phone number and permission to have the missionaries contact her and possibly her boy friend.  Shortly after she left, the Zone Leaders, who are assigned to the YSA Branch, came by to teach the new member discussions to a recently baptised YM.  We spoke to them and gave them the information for this YW.

Nan and I have had another great week.  Our institute classes are going really well.  The Wednesday evening class has grown from the six we had the first week to 12 at our last class.  This is the most challenging class we teach because we selected "Scripture Study: Power of the Word" as the subject and the lessons have turned out to be very boring.  We have done some things to make them more interesting and decided to actually make them a one hour to 90 minute scripture study session. Instead of teaching them what they should be doing, we are doing it in class.  Last week went great.  We had students involved and teaching each other.  We also brain-stormed on what they wanted to learn about and from now on we will study different gospel principles and doctrine in class. We also will begin next Wednesday giving out 'GOOD JOB' cards.  They can earn a card for 1) getting there on time, 2) bringing someone new with them 3) reading their scriptures 6 days during the week, 4) attending 3 weeks in a row and 5)having studied the subject we will discuss. (Nan and I will have done a lot of research on the subject and will have resource material there for them to use each week during class.) When they earn 10 cards they get a reward.  We're offering a homemade pie or a fresh baked cinnamon roll from the local Harvest Bread Co.  Nan did a similar reward program when she taught institute in Santaquin many years ago and the YSAs seemed to enjoy the program.  We're hoping the GOOD JOB program will encourage attendance and recruitment. 

Today we spoke in a small branch about an hour and a half west of Redding.  The drive was beautiful but we missed the turn off, which we realized about 10-15 minutes past it.  We turned around and found the right road but had 0 extra time at that point on these terribly winding roads.  Got there at 9:30 which is when the meeting was suppose to start and no one was there except the branch president and one of his counselors.  The meeting started about 9:47.  They have their own little building with a meeting room about the size of a small R.S. room that is used as the chapel and adult classroom, a fully equipped kitchen, library, Family History Center (that is not functional just yet), several small classrooms and a baptismal font.  We found out that many people in the area grow marijuana in their gardens and on their farms.  It is legal in California to grow it for medicinal purposes.  Interesting to say the least.  After the meetings they served a pot luck meal to the branch members there.  The branch president said that in the last year attendance has grown from a few to about 20. We had about 15 there today.  One brother came in during the combined RS and Priesthood with a T-shirt and cut off jeans.  Great guy - participated in the lesson, stayed for the dinner, helped clean up then left.  He was the son of one of the older sisters, who said she grew up as a local bar tender. 

We find we are having one experience after another where we see the hand of the Lord at work. We also see His hand taking care of our children while we are gone and blessing us as we teach and work with the young people in Redding.

Have a great week.  Kent and Nan (Elder and Sister Barlow)