Ward Assignment

I finally met with Bishop Angilau and got my ward assignment ... I am to "restart" the Young Adult program in the ward. The few friends I called Sunday night laughed at the irony that I left my home single adult ward only to be called to work with the single adults. It is somewhat different in that I will be working with the young single adults in the ward between the ages of 18 and 30.

We are going to start by having a Young Adult Sunday School class first. As attendance increases and needs are assessed, we will start having activities. The main focus of the program will be to prepare the single adults attend the temple. Many are not recommend holders and Bishop Angilau would like them to start working toward that goal. I've contacted a single sister in the ward and will work with her in increasing awareness of the program and inviting them out to join us.

YW/Enrichment Night

Sister Van Tielen is so adorable. I called her this afternoon to find out if there's anything I need to be aware of and she told me of tonight's meeting. She asked if she could bring me a sandwich for dinner, since I was coming straight from work. Hanna was waiting for me at the curb when I pulled up. Cute!

It has been so long since I've been in a family ward that this experience of going to a combined RS/YW Enrichment meeting is a new one for me. I think that this is exactly what I need to feel more comfortable in family wards. Tonight we went to workshops on yoga, journals, and gardening.

Inner City Project: Training and Assignment

I went to training this past weekend. Those who know me know that I'm not a morning person. So, to have to be out of the house before 7:30 a.m. was a bit of a concern to me. I didn't sleep well Friday night and woke up several times because I was afraid I might have missed the alarm. But I made it just fine to my training meetings and was actually wide awake without the aid of a Coke.

Here come exciting part ... I have a mission companion! She is a 78-year-old widow called Hanna Van Tielen. Initially, Hanna expressed some concern over my work schedule. She doesn't want to do night visits for safety reasons. But when we were assigned as companions, she willingly agreed to some early evening appointments. Then we got our ward assignment -- the Pioneer 25th Ward. Ha! Before her husband died and Hanna moved to Murray, she lived in the Pioneer 26th Ward area. She already knows half of the people who meet in our building! I hope she feels much more at ease now that we are in her old stompin' ground. Just like Elder Bednar talked about ... another example of the tender mercies of the Lord.

Icing on the cake ... Since I won't be around next week to go to my newly assigned ward, I decided to go to the ward and introduce myself to the Bishop. As, I drove to the chapel, I recognized the neighborhood. So, after sacrament meeting, I asked the Bishop's counselors if they might know my friend who lives about a block away from the chapel ... I've been assigned to Kurt Gibbons' home ward! What are the chances???

My new ward is very diverse. I saw Polynesians, Asians, Hispanic and a good dose of Caucasians. Our bishop is Tongan. This is going to be so much fun!!!