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.
No comments:
Post a Comment