Monday, the 20th, and Tuesday, the 21st, found us starting our Institute work schedule. We're back to being "9-5ers." Well, actually, only "9-4ers" but that doesn't sound as cool.
The highlight of the week was going to the "One-Half Mission Conference" in Gridley, CA. Gridley is about 1.5 hours from Redding. The drive was mostly beautiful as we drove through huge almond, walnut and chestnut orchards. Elder (of the First Quorum of the Seventy) and Sister Cardon were the guest speakers for the Conference. The Conference started at 9:30 with counsel from John Weston, our Mission President and the Cardons. The sisters of the Anderson Stake provided lunch at noon and the Conference was concluded at 4 p.m. It was wonderful to be surrounded by all the young missionaries. It was fun to see their happy reactions to reuniting with former companions. And the singing - oh how I would love to be able to listen to those young men and women sing all day.
Not much happened the rest of the week. We worked on preparing lessons to be taught and mixed and mingled with the young people as they came to the Institute building to just "hang out." We have learned this mission is as much about running a Center for Young Adults as it is about teaching Institute. We will probably have as much or more influence outside the classroom as in the classroom. Several of the young people bring non-member friends with them to spend a few hours just relaxing and playing games. It's good to hear laughter and light banter between them. Makes me feel almost young again.
Saturday was a fun day. We went to the city of French Gulch to celebrate with the locals their "Old West Days." The entire town is only about 2 SLC blocks long. But little doesn't mean the residents don't know how to celebrate. There were booths selling everything from food to antiques. Ladies displayed their wares by hanging them on the fences outside their homes. The parade featured the French Gulch pipe band, the Tractor Club (yes, there is actually a Tractor Club with vintage tractors perfectly restored and running smoothly), Mountain Men and Women, American Indian ancestors, 1 fire engine, horses (with accompanying pooper-scoopers), an authentic stagecoach that gave rides up and down Main Street after the parade, a political hopeful, and a home-grown French Gulch gal who is a member of our Branch and a State Champion in discus, hammer and shot put. She has won a full-ride scholarship to Weber State and will start there in January. Jazmin, a new convert, is the reason we traveled to French Gulch for the town celebration. The "color commentators" are local Redding "celebrities" who own a radio station here. They told of the earlier days of French Gulch when there were 5 saloons, 2 churches, a school, a company store, post office/jail combo, and 3 houses of ill repute all within the 2 block area. We enjoyed sno-cones, foot-long hot dogs, pulled pork sandwiches, several musical, dance and acrobatic acts, browsing through the antiques in the French Gulch Hotel Bed and Breakfast, and lots of craft booths. We're still amazed that this little former gold-mining town has an operating hotel. We can't figure out why anyone would stay in a hotel in French Gulch. When we went into the hotel lobby it wasn't immediately apparent it was an operating hotel. There were several tables covered with things to buy - some antique some not. However, there was a gentleman who appeared to be the proprietor so Kent asked about the hotel rates. We were even more amazed when he said, "$100 per weekday night and $120 on weekends." With those rates we're absolutely stunned the hotel stays open. It was an exceptionally fun morning. Jazmin was so surprised to see us. The smile on her face made the trip perfect.
So that's it for Week 6. We're keepin' the faith and carrying on.
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