Well we are back at the Institute from 9-4 Monday thru Friday. Fall classes started at Shasta College on the 19th and the week was spent trying to sign up students for our Institute classes. Shasta is just a two year school so most move on to a four year school after a year or two. With the change in age for missionaries and a lot of YSAs going on missions that would normally be at the college for another year we are very concerned about recruiting students to fill our classes. We have visited all the wards and sent out notes, then texted as many potential students as we could think of.
That seems to have paid off because as of the 31st we have more signed up for classes than we did last year at this time. It has given us a boost. We were concerned that we would be teaching 1-2 in a class. Nan is teaching Old Testament on M/W then again on T/TH. I lucked out and just teach on M/W. I think I mentioned I am teaching the Book of Mormon. There are between 6 and 10 in our classes. We had 9 in our Wednesday evening class - Doctrines of the Celestial Kingdom. This is really Preparation for Eternal Marriage but we did not want to scare the YSA's away.
We met an 18 year old YSA at FHE on the 20th being taught by the 3rd ward Elders. Betty is a delight. An email from one of the sisters in the 3rd ward asked us to try and contact her and invite her to Institute. I texted her on Monday the 26th and she came over as soon as she could after her class that morning. She had been contemplating coming over to the institute and getting the text helped her make up her mind. She is taking both OT and BofM classes. We have had to make the BofM class fit her schedule so she comes to class on Monday and I (Kent) meet with her and another YW on Friday morning to go over the material I teach on Wednesday. Betty was there waiting for us on Friday and helped prepare the meal we served at Friday Forum. She fits right in because a lot of the YSAs that hang out at the Institute are from the 3rd ward. They all know each other and get along great.
We had loaded potatoes and chicken for Friday Forum. You cook cubed red potatoes and chicken in the oven then top with cheese and bacon. There are of course several spices added including some hot sauce, which Nan felt they could do without. Nan then made two large trays of rice crispy treats. Counting everyone that showed - including Nan and me, I believe there were 17-18 there on Friday.
A young woman from Weaverville - about 1-1 1/2 hours west of Redding - was baptized on Saturday the 24th. She has been attending the YSA branch with another YW for about a year. She has close ties with the family from Weaverville and we feel she should be solid in the gospel.
Martin, the YM that is investigating and has had to wait until he is off parole, has set a baptismal date of September 21st. We took him home from Institute on Wednesday and he is excited to finally be able to get baptized.
Last Sunday, the 25th, we heard from Jeff Whittington, a young man who attended Nan's class last year. He was originally from Missouri but had moved to Redding in the hopes of establishing a relationship with his estranged father and step-mother. Jeff spent many an hour at the institute talking to us - telling us his problems, asking for advice, etc. We found we were the substitute parents he so needed. The hope of a better relationship with his dad didn't work out so he moved back to MO at the end of the school year. He planned to continue his education there. He was excited to tell us he has met a nice LDS girl and they will be married in the Manti Temple on October 26th.
Friday, the 30th, Jaunita Marple, a mainstay at the Institute last year and the LDSSA President, received her mission call to the Bahia Blanca Argentina Mission. Her report date is December 4th.
Nan and I are both doing great. We're excited for this new school year to begin.
Until next time - bye.
Saturday, August 31, 2013
August 12-18
The Branch Presidency has decided to do a "Mentor Moment" at the beginning of each FHE. We think that's a great idea. One of the Presidency or his wife will take about 10 minutes and give some well-needed advice or counsel on topics that will help these YSAs get on with their lives. Topics already covered include "Being Wise Financially" and "How to Determine What You Might Want to do for a Living." Hopefully the YSAs will take this counsel to heart and get their lives on track.
Tyler Isacson introduced his girlfriend, Amy Wolford, to the gospel over a year ago and she was baptized shortly after we arrived here in Redding in July. Tyler and Amy set August 17th for their sealing in the Oakland Temple. Because Oakland is 4 hours away, Amy decided to set up her reception at the Redding Stake Center on Friday, the 16th. She asked Branch members to help if they could. Not only that, but she asked everyone to donate two dozen homemade cookies for the reception. So, on Friday the 16th Nan went down to the Stake Center and helped decorate for the reception. She took Pumpkin/Chocolate Chip cookies. Karlee taught her how to make them a few years back. Kent didn't go because he was finally feeling much better after a Crohn's flareup and we didn't want to push him too hard.
Saturday the Branch had an outing to Burney Falls. This was the second visit to the Falls for us and it is still breath-taking. That evening we attended the wedding reception. Since none of Amy's family are members of the Church and could not be in the Temple to witness her marriage, she and Tyler did a "ring ceremony" officiated by Tyler's Bishop at the reception.
Sunday, the 8th, found us at another mission farewell. Sister Chanae Anderson was a student in my class last year. She will be serving in the Londrina Brazil Mission.
So, another week has come and gone. Now that Kent's Crohn's is back under control we're both doing well and pray you all are able to say the same.
Tyler Isacson introduced his girlfriend, Amy Wolford, to the gospel over a year ago and she was baptized shortly after we arrived here in Redding in July. Tyler and Amy set August 17th for their sealing in the Oakland Temple. Because Oakland is 4 hours away, Amy decided to set up her reception at the Redding Stake Center on Friday, the 16th. She asked Branch members to help if they could. Not only that, but she asked everyone to donate two dozen homemade cookies for the reception. So, on Friday the 16th Nan went down to the Stake Center and helped decorate for the reception. She took Pumpkin/Chocolate Chip cookies. Karlee taught her how to make them a few years back. Kent didn't go because he was finally feeling much better after a Crohn's flareup and we didn't want to push him too hard.
Saturday the Branch had an outing to Burney Falls. This was the second visit to the Falls for us and it is still breath-taking. That evening we attended the wedding reception. Since none of Amy's family are members of the Church and could not be in the Temple to witness her marriage, she and Tyler did a "ring ceremony" officiated by Tyler's Bishop at the reception.
Sunday, the 8th, found us at another mission farewell. Sister Chanae Anderson was a student in my class last year. She will be serving in the Londrina Brazil Mission.
So, another week has come and gone. Now that Kent's Crohn's is back under control we're both doing well and pray you all are able to say the same.
August 5-11
Since we haven't posted for a few weeks, I (Nan) am going to take one week at a time. So here's what happened in our lives from August 5th - 11th.
On Monday I treated our Admin. Assistant (Brook) to lunch at Olive Garden. At the end of the school year in May she treated me to lunch and we decided we would go out again right before school started at the end of August with me as the hostess this time. As usual, it was wonderful food and good company.
On Tuesday, the 8th, the Zone Leaders scheduled our building to have a Zone Meeting. Kent and I cooked lunch for all the missionaries - 18 in all. They thought that was great and thanked us over and over again. We didn't do anything spectacular - just spaghetti, salad, garlic bread and popsicles for dessert.
On Friday the 9th Pam called to tell us the doctor still did not release Don to go back to work. (He hurt his back several weeks ago while on his delivery route.) The doctor wants to do some additional tests which had to have pre-approval. So Don's "doctor imposed 'vacation'" continues.
On Sunday the 11th we went to the mission farewell of Dallen Wood one of Kent's students from last year. Dallen will be a great missionary. He is well versed in the scriptures, a smart guy and a hard worker. He will serve in the Richmond, VA Mission.
Not a very exciting week but sometimes that's good for these oldsters on a mission.
On Monday I treated our Admin. Assistant (Brook) to lunch at Olive Garden. At the end of the school year in May she treated me to lunch and we decided we would go out again right before school started at the end of August with me as the hostess this time. As usual, it was wonderful food and good company.
On Tuesday, the 8th, the Zone Leaders scheduled our building to have a Zone Meeting. Kent and I cooked lunch for all the missionaries - 18 in all. They thought that was great and thanked us over and over again. We didn't do anything spectacular - just spaghetti, salad, garlic bread and popsicles for dessert.
On Friday the 9th Pam called to tell us the doctor still did not release Don to go back to work. (He hurt his back several weeks ago while on his delivery route.) The doctor wants to do some additional tests which had to have pre-approval. So Don's "doctor imposed 'vacation'" continues.
On Sunday the 11th we went to the mission farewell of Dallen Wood one of Kent's students from last year. Dallen will be a great missionary. He is well versed in the scriptures, a smart guy and a hard worker. He will serve in the Richmond, VA Mission.
Not a very exciting week but sometimes that's good for these oldsters on a mission.
Monday, August 5, 2013
15 July - 4 August 2013
President Weston was in Redding on the 16th for Missionary Interviews. He always includes us even though we don't have any "missionary" report to make. He always encourages us and thanks us for taking the time away from family and friends to be here in Redding as an example to the youngsters. His visits always inspire us.
July 17th was Kent's birthday. Received cards and phone calls from all the kids and emails and cards from other family and friends. Several gift certificates to a variety of restaurants were also received. That will give us a chance to eat out once in a while.
On Saturday the 20th we took the ZL's to Chico, about 1.5 hours south of here. One of the ZL's was asked to go back and baptize a man he taught several months ago. This man has recovered from drug dependency and is married with two children. It is very rewarding to see people's lives change as they turn their lives around. We see this a lot. People join the church against all odds, drugs, alcohol, or a family that turns their back on them. Brave modern pioneers!
A YW we became close to last winter got married on the 26th in the Boise Temple. She had invited us to attend the temple ceremony and we thought of going over because she has kept in close contact with us but we decided it would take 20 hours of driving for the round trip and we were not sure we were up to that. The car was in the garage having all the plugs replaced because it had been missing so it wouldn't have worked out anyway. Kassee called and talked to Nan the day before her marriage and we told her we would not be coming. She was disappointed but understood.
Nan has spent much of her time these past few weeks summarizing all the Apostles talks from the last conference in April. This is in preparation for the last couple of Institute Classes on 'Teachings of the Living Prophets.' This effort on her part has lead to some really good discussions between us. One of the section headings in her Student Manual states: "The words of the Prophets delivered through the Spirit during General Conference are Latter-day scripture." We should STUDY the current prophets words just as we do the Standard Works. This is instruction for us today.
Kent just finished teaching the 'Missionary Preparation Class.' His study of the teacher's manual and 'Preach My Gospel' has been really a good experience too. We are both learning a lot. So far we have taught - D & C - History of the Church - Pearl of Great Price & How to Study the Scriptures. This next semester we are teaching Old Testament, Book of Mormon, and Doctrines of the Gospel. We just finished reading the Book of Mormon together. This is our third time through. Kent has started studying and outlining it again in preparation for Fall Institute Classes.
Martin Kolberg has recommitted to baptism in September. This is the YM that is on parole and was having some doubts for a while. He is extremely smart and I think he is intellectually converted and needs a little more spiritual conversion. Martin does attend Institute on Wednesday evening and has only missed a couple of times while he was reconsidering his stand on things.
Dallen Wood, a YM that has regularly attended our classes asked us to go with him to the Temple this last Saturday as he received his own endowments. That was a wonderful day. The new temple film was shown. It's totally amazing. It had an impact on both of us. We are going to Dallen's ward this Sunday as he will be speaking. There are several more of our students that are leaving on missions in the next couple of months and several more preparing their mission papers for submission.
For the trip to Medford, we decided to use some of the gift cards Kent received for his birthday. So we wouldn't have to get up at the crack of drawn on Saturday morning to get to the Temple by 9:30, we made reservations at the Ramada Inn for Friday night using the "debit card" we received at Christmas; that evening we ate at the Outback Steak House using another gift card. After the temple on Saturday, we ate lunch at The Breadboard, a little place in Ashland that had lots of cars outside as we drove by. Didn't know a thing about the place, but the food was wonderful! Thank you again to all our loving children for the gift cards. We had a nice get-away weekend that cost us $15.00.
We are both doing great. Until next time. Goodbye.
July 17th was Kent's birthday. Received cards and phone calls from all the kids and emails and cards from other family and friends. Several gift certificates to a variety of restaurants were also received. That will give us a chance to eat out once in a while.
On Saturday the 20th we took the ZL's to Chico, about 1.5 hours south of here. One of the ZL's was asked to go back and baptize a man he taught several months ago. This man has recovered from drug dependency and is married with two children. It is very rewarding to see people's lives change as they turn their lives around. We see this a lot. People join the church against all odds, drugs, alcohol, or a family that turns their back on them. Brave modern pioneers!
A YW we became close to last winter got married on the 26th in the Boise Temple. She had invited us to attend the temple ceremony and we thought of going over because she has kept in close contact with us but we decided it would take 20 hours of driving for the round trip and we were not sure we were up to that. The car was in the garage having all the plugs replaced because it had been missing so it wouldn't have worked out anyway. Kassee called and talked to Nan the day before her marriage and we told her we would not be coming. She was disappointed but understood.
Nan has spent much of her time these past few weeks summarizing all the Apostles talks from the last conference in April. This is in preparation for the last couple of Institute Classes on 'Teachings of the Living Prophets.' This effort on her part has lead to some really good discussions between us. One of the section headings in her Student Manual states: "The words of the Prophets delivered through the Spirit during General Conference are Latter-day scripture." We should STUDY the current prophets words just as we do the Standard Works. This is instruction for us today.
Kent just finished teaching the 'Missionary Preparation Class.' His study of the teacher's manual and 'Preach My Gospel' has been really a good experience too. We are both learning a lot. So far we have taught - D & C - History of the Church - Pearl of Great Price & How to Study the Scriptures. This next semester we are teaching Old Testament, Book of Mormon, and Doctrines of the Gospel. We just finished reading the Book of Mormon together. This is our third time through. Kent has started studying and outlining it again in preparation for Fall Institute Classes.
Martin Kolberg has recommitted to baptism in September. This is the YM that is on parole and was having some doubts for a while. He is extremely smart and I think he is intellectually converted and needs a little more spiritual conversion. Martin does attend Institute on Wednesday evening and has only missed a couple of times while he was reconsidering his stand on things.
Dallen Wood, a YM that has regularly attended our classes asked us to go with him to the Temple this last Saturday as he received his own endowments. That was a wonderful day. The new temple film was shown. It's totally amazing. It had an impact on both of us. We are going to Dallen's ward this Sunday as he will be speaking. There are several more of our students that are leaving on missions in the next couple of months and several more preparing their mission papers for submission.
For the trip to Medford, we decided to use some of the gift cards Kent received for his birthday. So we wouldn't have to get up at the crack of drawn on Saturday morning to get to the Temple by 9:30, we made reservations at the Ramada Inn for Friday night using the "debit card" we received at Christmas; that evening we ate at the Outback Steak House using another gift card. After the temple on Saturday, we ate lunch at The Breadboard, a little place in Ashland that had lots of cars outside as we drove by. Didn't know a thing about the place, but the food was wonderful! Thank you again to all our loving children for the gift cards. We had a nice get-away weekend that cost us $15.00.
We are both doing great. Until next time. Goodbye.
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