December 10th - December 23rd

We are actually posting this on the 24th - Christmas Eve. 

The highlight of this two weeks was the baptism of Desiree on the 15th.  Nan spoke and I was asked by Desiree to perform the baptism.  There were about 20 at the baptism Saturday morning and I performed the confirmation on Sunday at the branch. The branch also gave her the quadruple combination of the Old and New Testament, the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearle of Great Price.  We took Desiree and several from the branch to lunch following the baptism.  Just a really nice day. It even snowed a little to remind us of home. 

We gave our finals at institute on the 12th and 13th.  We do not teach classes again until January 23rd.  This will give us both a chance to do some studying and organization for next semester.  We have written notes to a number of young adults that did not attend institute last semester that we hope will reconsider this upcoming term.  We have several YW who have submitted their mission papers and will be receiving calls to serve missions within the next couple of months.  Several other YM and YW are leaving for school.  Most going to BYU Idaho.  Hopefully this group leaving can be offset by those coming home from school or missions. 

We both feel good about touching the lives of those we have been able to influence, either teaching them in institute, visiting with them at the institute between classes, or during the many branch activities we go to.  We are with the young people almost every night except for Tuesday.  We have attended several choir, dance, concert band and orchestra presentations at Shasta College, which some of the young people we know participated in.  We have enjoyed those presentations.  However, Kent would rather listen to people singing in English.

Friday the 14th was a dance sponsored by the LDS Student Association, which gives us representation on campus.  This last Friday the branch had its annual Christmas party.  Nan got out on the dance floor with one of the YM and tried to learn to Jitter-Bug.  Carlos was very patient but Nan ran out of steam before she had the foot-work down.  It still amazes us that when these young people say they are going to have a dance, they actually do dance. 

On the 15th we spoke in the 5th Ward and yesterday, the 23rd, we spoke in our branch.  We gave basically the same talks on charity and gifts of the spirit and then tied them into the true meaning or true spirit of Christmas.

Thanks to all for your gifts, cards and thoughtful wishes.   We have such wonderful memories of this time of year. 

May each of you find happiness during this time of year.  Hold your children close, give your spouse a hug and tell them how much they mean to you.  Pray for peace and stay close to our Father in Heaven.

Love to all,

Week 20 and 21 - Nov. 26 to Dec.9

A relatively uneventful two weeks.  We did get around to inspect all the Elder's apartments again.  We sure enjoy that.  Had to buy one set of Elders a new microwave which we will be reimbursed for.  Within the next couple of months we are to receive 60 new missionaries in the Roseville Mission.  The President may need help in locating new apartments for them. We will see.

For our Wednesday evening class on the 28th we taught "Symbolism and Symbols in the Scriptures."   It's amazing how often the prophets used body parts, animals, clothing, nature, colors, food, minerals, etc. to represent things.  It was a fun class the kids really got into.

For our "Break the Fast" meal on Fast Sunday, the coordinator always chooses a theme.  The theme this month was "East Coast."  I made Waldorf Salad.  You can't more "East Coast" than that!  The salad turned out great but we brought most of it home.  I wasn't surprised though.  We have found the kids don't eat much fruits and vegetables.  Oh well, their loss.  We enjoyed it. 

We watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional by live stream on the computer last Sunday and enjoyed every minute of it.  We are still finding it hard to not be able to just turn on the T.V. and watch all the "church stuff." 

Don't know if we mentioned it or not previously but all the missionaries have been given a challenge by President and Sister Weston to mark four things in our Books of Mormon as we read: 1) each reference to Jesus Christ (including any of His names or pronouns referring to Him); 2) His words (spoken by Him or by prophets when they say, "Thus saith the Lord"); 3) His attributes; and 4) the doctrines and principles of the gospel contained in the Book of Mormon.  Each of the four categories is to be designated by a different color.  We figured we had to read 3 chapters each day in order to be finished by the deadline given - March 2013.  We're a little behind, but catching up.  We'll be able to give much more time to the "challenge" during the Christmas break from teaching. 

The young woman we have been teaching with the Elders backed off her baptism on the 1st but has committed to the 15th - this Saturday, at 11AM.   She again asked Kent to baptize her which will be an honor.  Nan will be speaking. The branch has a nice, new quad set of scripture the branch president is going present to her at her baptism.  She feels very comfortable with moving forward now.  This has been one of the highlights of our mission so far.

Both of us are doing our final review then giving final exam's this week. We will not teach again until mid January.  This gives us a little break to catch our breath.  We are, however, speaking in the Redding 5th Ward on the 16th and in our Branch on the 23rd. 

We are giving all the students a Snickers candy bar with the following attached, "Don't snicker, at least you got something for Christmas."  We are giving all the Elders in the Zone a tube of cookie dough with the saying, "You can always use a little extra dough this time of year." 

We bought a six pack of bottled root beer and are putting a big red nose, google eyes, antlers out of pipe cleaners and a ribbon that looks like a scarf on each bottle.  The card will say, "Merry Christmas from Rudolph the red nose 'root beer.'  We saw this on a web site.  We are giving this to our Assistant at the Institute. 

Well this will be a fairly normal week except for Desiree's baptism Saturday and a choir concert that evening which we plan to go to to support a member of the Institute.
Oh ya, there is a dance Friday night (with live D.J.) the institute is sponsoring which we will chaperon.

Smiles to all from Redding