Dear Family,
Mission NewsI went to two very good district council meetings this week and gave my little lesson on remembering the tender mercies of the Lord and writing them down and to help new converts to write their conversion stories. I went to Woodbridge and Mom went with me to Oakton. Mom was very, very impressed with the spiritual maturity of the missionaries in Oakton. They taught using the scriptures very easily and comfortably. We love being with the junior missionaries.
Wednesday the carpets were cleaned in the mission office. We went to a district council in Oakton. Afterwards we went to lunch with Elder and Sister Taylor who are Self Reliance missionaries. The more we are around them the more we admire them and enjoy them.
Friday I was asked to give a baptismal interview to Mariama Bangura. She is a sweet, humble sister from Sierra Leon. She really has a strong desire to follow Christ and live the gospel. She has a tough life. Her husband is in Sierra Leon with 3 of her children. She has one child here. Trying to make enough money to get by is hard.
Afterwards we went to the baptism of Yami – also from Sierra Leon. A member of the ward who has spent some time in Africa said that for some Africans, being baptized is may be traumatic. Because is some places water is so scarce and the bodies of water around can be dirty, dangerous and shallow, some Africans have never been in water to swim or play. For them going all of the way under in a font may be a little scary. Elder Saunders had a hard time getting Yami all of the way under. It took 4 times.
It is fun to see how much these new members love their missionaries. The ward is very welcoming and encouraging.
I learned that in Sierra Leon to say, “How are you?” they say, “How da body?” The reply is “Da body fine.”
Mom and I were asked to take five minutes in the 8 year old valiant primary class to talk about what it means to feed my sheep. I was going to wing it. Mom has talked with me about this several times. She wrote up a full page lesson plan and color coded the things I am supposed to say and do. No wonder she is a great primary teacher.
WES NewsJune was a profitable month, but July, August and September are looking very lean. We are talking with a sales rep that may be able to help us – starting November.
Mom and I want to sell WES now for a lot of money. We just need to find someone who wants to buy it – for a lot of money.
Family NewsElizabeth had her eyes checked and the doctor was pleased. She does not need to wear glasses to see well. However she will still need to wear glasses so her one eye won’t go “cross-eyed”.
Kent went to the hot air balloon festival in Panguitch.
It sounds like the plans are set for the family get together (without us) on Amanda’s family ranch on July 13. Have fun and take lots of pictures!
Love,
Dad
Mission NewsI went to two very good district council meetings this week and gave my little lesson on remembering the tender mercies of the Lord and writing them down and to help new converts to write their conversion stories. I went to Woodbridge and Mom went with me to Oakton. Mom was very, very impressed with the spiritual maturity of the missionaries in Oakton. They taught using the scriptures very easily and comfortably. We love being with the junior missionaries.
Wednesday the carpets were cleaned in the mission office. We went to a district council in Oakton. Afterwards we went to lunch with Elder and Sister Taylor who are Self Reliance missionaries. The more we are around them the more we admire them and enjoy them.
Friday I was asked to give a baptismal interview to Mariama Bangura. She is a sweet, humble sister from Sierra Leon. She really has a strong desire to follow Christ and live the gospel. She has a tough life. Her husband is in Sierra Leon with 3 of her children. She has one child here. Trying to make enough money to get by is hard.
Afterwards we went to the baptism of Yami – also from Sierra Leon. A member of the ward who has spent some time in Africa said that for some Africans, being baptized is may be traumatic. Because is some places water is so scarce and the bodies of water around can be dirty, dangerous and shallow, some Africans have never been in water to swim or play. For them going all of the way under in a font may be a little scary. Elder Saunders had a hard time getting Yami all of the way under. It took 4 times.
It is fun to see how much these new members love their missionaries. The ward is very welcoming and encouraging.
I learned that in Sierra Leon to say, “How are you?” they say, “How da body?” The reply is “Da body fine.”
We went to another baptism. Three were baptized – a mother and here two children. They have been attending Church for some time and there were enough members there that they moved the service to the Chapel. Elder Stoddard and Elder Fisher really love these folks
There is such a good feeling at these baptisms. I think there were 15 baptisms this week – a good week.
We are taking care of a missionary that badly hurt his ankle in February. He needs to stay off of it for 4 to 6 weeks. We also had one missionary in the office for 2 days before he went home for a medical leave. Next week this elder, Elder Southard will be staying in our apartment at night.
Traditionally we take the departing missionaries on an excursion to Mt. Vernon the afternoon after their companions go off with new companions about 1:30 the day before they fly home. However I proposed to the president that we take them to a busy location and have them street contact. Some others suggest that the missionaries hang around together a couple of hours before their farewell dinner at the mission home. We will see what happens. I think the president likes my idea. Going to Mt. Vernon will cost about $500 for our 25 missionaries. With travel they are only there two hours at most. Also, President Caplin will have to have departing interviews with 5 or more missionaries that afternoon. These missionaries would not be able to go to Mt. Vernon.
Fun Stuff
The temperatures are in the 90s and the humidity is also in the 90’s. As we were driving home from the baptism I thought there was a light low fog. We came to realize that there rained a bit and the “fog” was steam coming up from the road. When I got out of the car, my glasses were cool from being in the air conditioned car with Mom and they fogged up in the steam.
Fortunately we are only outside a few minutes a day. So the heat and humidity are not much of a trial. However I am much more impressed with George Washington, Tomas Jefferson who lived through this every summer and still were able to function.
Berry Fun: Along the trail that I walk many Saturdays are wild berry plants. A fellow was out picking berries for his morning smoothie. He said the berries would be “on” next Saturday. These berries are some sort of black berry and other places there are raspberries.
There is such a good feeling at these baptisms. I think there were 15 baptisms this week – a good week.
We are taking care of a missionary that badly hurt his ankle in February. He needs to stay off of it for 4 to 6 weeks. We also had one missionary in the office for 2 days before he went home for a medical leave. Next week this elder, Elder Southard will be staying in our apartment at night.
Traditionally we take the departing missionaries on an excursion to Mt. Vernon the afternoon after their companions go off with new companions about 1:30 the day before they fly home. However I proposed to the president that we take them to a busy location and have them street contact. Some others suggest that the missionaries hang around together a couple of hours before their farewell dinner at the mission home. We will see what happens. I think the president likes my idea. Going to Mt. Vernon will cost about $500 for our 25 missionaries. With travel they are only there two hours at most. Also, President Caplin will have to have departing interviews with 5 or more missionaries that afternoon. These missionaries would not be able to go to Mt. Vernon.
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| Yami, Yami’s friend and Mariama Bangura after Yami’s baptism |
The temperatures are in the 90s and the humidity is also in the 90’s. As we were driving home from the baptism I thought there was a light low fog. We came to realize that there rained a bit and the “fog” was steam coming up from the road. When I got out of the car, my glasses were cool from being in the air conditioned car with Mom and they fogged up in the steam.
Fortunately we are only outside a few minutes a day. So the heat and humidity are not much of a trial. However I am much more impressed with George Washington, Tomas Jefferson who lived through this every summer and still were able to function.
Berry Fun: Along the trail that I walk many Saturdays are wild berry plants. A fellow was out picking berries for his morning smoothie. He said the berries would be “on” next Saturday. These berries are some sort of black berry and other places there are raspberries.
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| Black berries. Although you can’t see any in this picture there are a few berries that are black. |
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| The path with wild black berry bushes on either side. |
WES NewsJune was a profitable month, but July, August and September are looking very lean. We are talking with a sales rep that may be able to help us – starting November.
Mom and I want to sell WES now for a lot of money. We just need to find someone who wants to buy it – for a lot of money.
Family NewsElizabeth had her eyes checked and the doctor was pleased. She does not need to wear glasses to see well. However she will still need to wear glasses so her one eye won’t go “cross-eyed”.
Kent went to the hot air balloon festival in Panguitch.
It sounds like the plans are set for the family get together (without us) on Amanda’s family ranch on July 13. Have fun and take lots of pictures!
Love,
Dad
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