Well, it has been 4 weeks since our last entry. We are between sessions of conference and so we are going to take some time and do another post - finally.
Our new Branch Presidency, changed on the 10th, seems like they are going to do great. They have some really good ideas and attend all the activities. We are all trying to come up with ways to build the branch, the institute, and activities associated with both. With the 'wave' of missionaries leaving on missions, along with the usual departure of those leaving for school and marriages, we will see a large % of YSA's leaving the Redding area. We must reach out even more to those who have not yet become involved with the Branch and/or Institute.
We found out more about Alecia's diagnosis of cancer. She had a CAT Scan on the 18th and surgery on the 22nd. The days following were up and down but the final lab results were positive showing that the lymph nodes were free of cancer and she should expect a complete recovery. They removed a portion of the paritoid gland and surrounding tissue. The incision went from behind her ear, along the jaw bone several inches. Tissue was put into the area where the tumor was removed so scaring and the indenture would be minimal. That was a scare for the family.
On the 17th we attended the farewell of Trinity Eide who left Saturday for Utah to go into the MTC prior to her departure to the North Carolina, Raleigh Mission. She came and said her farewells at the Institute Friday during Friday Forum.
On the 19th, Dave Phillips, the Director of Seminaries and Institute in Northern CA, came to visit. He sat in on Nan's Church History class and then visited with us afterwards. He reminded us that, no matter what topic we are teaching, we should always include instruction on gospel principles and doctrine. That hasn't been an issue with Kent's class. Nan is refining her lessons to relate history with the gospel.
The YSAs at Mt. Shasta have decided they're not as interested in having an Institute class as they originally thought they were. So, we have discontinued the Tuesday evening classes. Although we feel badly the members in Mt. Shasta weren't more committed, we know we gave it our best shot.
On Saturday, the 23rd, we attended the 1st Ward YM/YW Dinner/Auction Fundraiser. We had "Adam Wilson's Famous BBQ Chicken," potato salad and baked beans. And Nan actually won the auction on one of the items she wanted.
After the auction, we headed to the Branch "All Green" Party - a late St. Patty's Day celebration. The kids had green punch, green candy, green food, decorations, games and even a D.J. for dancing (which they actually did). We stayed long enough to visit with everyone and then were home by 10:30 p.m. It was a very long day.
Shasta College spring break was the week of March 25th. We used that week to finalize getting two new apartments for a team of Elders and a team of Sisters that arrived on the 3rd of April. Sister Lowman just arrived in the mission field on the 2nd. Sister Tittle will be a great trainer and is an 'Exchange Sister' who has many of the responsibilities of a Zone leader, including exchanges with other sister missionaries. Sister Lowman became extremely car sick on the way to Redding and was quite sick when they finally arrived about 8:30 PM on the 3rd. We met them at their apartment to give them keys and help them settle in. Brother and Sister Bell brought much of what was needed for the apartments up from Roseville on the 28th. The Zone Leaders and Kent spent most of that day helping put beds together, stocking the kitchen with appliances, etc. Both apartments still need a kitchen set, a couch and the sisters need a couple of other things which we will get for them this next week, probably at WalMart (for which we will be reimbursed). Since Redding is three hours from the mission home we have tried to help as much as we can with all the changes happening.
Tyson, Karlee, Max and Ellie spent the week of April 1st with us. They just left on the 6th. It was fun being grandma and grandpa again for the week but was sure hard watching them drive away Saturday morning. We both missed them before they even left the apartment parking area. Living in Santaquin we saw them quite a bit and the two kids acted like we had never been away. They didn't want to do anything without Grandma by their side. Sister Lowther, our assistant, covered for us a lot of the time at the Institute and even though we taught all our classes, we did not spend as much time there as we usually do. Tyson spoke as our "special guest speaker" at our Friday Forum on the 5th. He told the young people to always remember to include Heavenly Father in decisions they are making. He added that through his career-deciding days he changed his course of action a few times, but always with the confirming knowledge that Heavenly Father approved. He reminded them to attend the Temple and be faithful Saints. What a great guy with great counsel!
We are right now enjoying General Conference and in a few minutes the last session will begin.
We are both healthy and learning a lot about the gospel as we spend much of our time studying all the scriptures.
Bye for now.
Kent and Nan
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