Utah State Fair

We had our first Young Adult activity on Saturday and went to the Utah State Fair. Pretty good turn out, even though we were small in number ... Brittany Daniels, Lono Folau, Marin Fisher and Dinah Olino from the Pioneer 25th Ward and Darcy Dillingham and Rosann Doney came along too. I think we had a pretty good time. I hope more will come to the next activity ... whatever that might be. We got to the fair just in time to watch the Preston HS Glad Hands Club perform (of "Napoleon Dynamite" fame). I think we all got a good chuckle out of their performance, even though it wasn't supposed to be funny. None of us were prepared for the weather to be so cold so fast, so we went indoors for a few exhibits after eating our dinner in the cold.

While in the buildings we went our seperate ways to check out exhibits, etc.; apparently, there was a booth dedicated to anti-Mormon material. As we were attempting to regroup and figure out where everyone was and where to go next, I found out that Brittany and Marin had gone to this booth to find out why the people manning the booth were bashing Mormons. It was obvious that their conversation was not going anywhere. Each party firm in their belief of what Mormons are or are not. As I pulled these two young ladies from the discussion, I was really quite proud that they were not afraid to share their testimonies and for standing up for their beliefs.

Gospel Doctrine Class

Taught my first Gospel Doctrine lesson today, "Faith in Every Footstep." I think it went really well -- excellent participation and comments. I only had to "forward" two students (which was half of the class) to the Temple Preparation class, but I told them both that I expect them back in my class in a couple of weeks when the Temple Preparation class is over. I'm happy with the way things turned out and I think I'll celebrate today's success by taking a nice, long Sunday nap.

Early to Bed ...

I went in for my annual physical earlier this month. I asked Dr. Ahn to prescribe to me some kind of sleep aid to help "reset my body clock" in the hopes that I'll be able to fall asleep earlier and have more restful and uninterrupted sleep. My goal most every night is to get to bed right after the weather on the late evening news and wake up at about 6:00 in the morning. Of course, as in all best laid plans ...

Last Sunday, which was the first Sunday the Pioneer 25th Ward met at 8:00 a.m., I slept through my alarm at 6:00 a.m., but I did get up by 7:00 a.m. and was able to make it just as the congregation sang the last verse of the opening hymn ... not too bad. This morning, I woke up thinking, "Gee, that was a nice restful sleep!", but when I looked at the clock, it was 9:00 a.m.!!! I rushed to get ready and got to church in time for Relief Society. The Temple Prep teacher didn't show up too teach the class again, so apparently the young adults just went in and joined the regular Sunday School class. I feel bad for not being there. At least I'm not the only one who missed the alarm ... Sister Van Tiellen also overslept and missed sacrament meeting. Is it a companionship thing? :0) I need to make some changes in my habits ... the most important is that I need make sure that I'm home by 10:00 p.m. on Saturday nights ... at least for the next four months while the ward meets at 8:00 a.m.

We had Welfare Meeting after church and Bishop Angilau formally instructed me to teach Gospel Doctrine material to the young adults. I've never taught Gospel Doctrine before. The "doctrine" part really freaks me out, but I'm sure with enough preparation I'll be okay. I hope Brother Machon won't take offense when half of his class disappears to come to mine. I've asked for a member of the bishopric to notify him ... we'll see if that happens this week.

Changes

Well, next Sunday the Pioneer 25th Ward will start meeting at 8:00 a.m. I'll be lying if I said that I'm excited about getting up that early. But wait, there are other changes. Bishop Angilau came into our Sunday School class on Sunday, and he thinks that we'd be better off in attendance if we have a seperate Young Adult Sunday School and no longer combine with the Temple Preparation class. I actually think that it's a good idea, but that would mean I would have to have my lesson ready before I am at church at 8:00 a.m. in the morning. Ugh! Well, I hope those who have been avoiding coming to Temple Preparation class will now be coming to my class at 9:00 a.m. ... I hope ...

We've not had a teacher for the Temple Preparation class for about three weeks. I've thought about going to the Distribution Center to purchase a manual for the class, but I occurred to me that on Sunday that I'm just not willing to rob the person who was called to that calling of his blessings to teach about temples. So, in many ways, Bishop Angilau's instruction to seperate our classes again was an answer to my prayers.

Funny Sister Van Tielen

So, we were sitting together in Relief Society, Sister Van Tielen and I ... when the clipboard came around. Sister Van Tielen took one look at the top sheet that had today's date and the word "Rolls" on it and asked me, "What activity are the rolls for and why do we need so much bread?" Isn't she just precious!!!

Schedule Change

Well, it was inevitable, really. My biggest fear when I started this mission was that my assigned ward would meet early in the morning. When I found out that the Pioneer 25th Ward meets at 1:00 P.M., I was so happy! I guess the Lord sought fit to humble me. Bishop Angilau announced today in Sacrament Meeting that starting August 21st, our ward will be meeting at 8:00 A.M. to accomodate the extra ward who will be utilizing our building while the new Stake Center is being build. We won't move up to the 10:00 A.M. block until the new year and will continue to change meeting schedule every four months. Ai yay yay! I don't get up in time to go into work at 9:00 A.M. on the weekdays ... how am I going to do this? Well, whatever it takes ... I'll be there. Maybe this will make a morning person out of me and I'll learn to be more productive that early in the morning. If I've learned anything from my life experiences, it is that Heavenly Father has a sense of humor and to never say "never!"

Busy Sunday

What a busy Sunday I've had. Started out with my first Welfare Meeting in the Pioneer 25th Ward. As we discussed families of concern, I am amazed at the love this bishopric, its leaders and the service missionaries have for them. I'm glad I can make a contribution. My companion ROCKS! She is so funny and quite the mover and shaker! I wish we had some assignments in common. I'm sure that time will come when the appropriate family is in need of us.

Sister Van Tielen and I gave talks in church. Funny how we each interpret the same assignment so differently. She gave a talk and sang about keeping the Sabbath day holy. I introduced myself and shared my experience of becoming a service missionary in the SL Inner City Project. Bishop Angilau's son, Willey, gave his missionary farewell talk. I think he'll be a fine missionary. He cried when his dad gave some closing remarks. I think he'll miss his family a lot, but that's all part of the missionary experience.

I came prepared to teach a lesson in the YA Sunday School class, but it was decided that for the next few weeks, we will be joining the Temple Preparation class instead. Brother Machon did a great job in getting people to participate. I look forward to great lessons which will serve as reminders of the great blessings available in the temples.

Ward Enrichment Night

I walked into Enrichment tonight thinking that they had not finished setting up the seats, so I offered to help. The Enrichment Counselor, Sister Betsy Young, told me that setting up a dozen chairs is a sign of optimism. Wow! When I was an Enrichment Counselor, we usually planned enough refreshment for about 50 each month. I remember a particular meeting when we exceeded our goal and got over 80 people there and my committee and I had to run out and get more food. I'm sure the low attendance can be attributed to mothers having to feed their families and get them situated for the evening before they can be at the Enrichment Meeting at 6:30. I'm sure it's even worse for the single moms or if husbands are not home by that time, who's going to watch the kids? Singles take so much for granted ...

Anya Pasi and I went out for some dim sum at the Hong Kong Tea House after Enrichment. What a fun place! Must remember to dim sum there again ...

Young Adult Sunday School Class

Well, I taught my very first Sunday School class yesterday. We had five people come ... that's better than none. I don't think I gave a very good lesson. I was sweating bullets -- don't know if it was because I was so nervous or if the AC wasn't working ... I think a bit of both. The participation was minimal. I need to get these kids to talk. I'll have to ask more questions, I guess ...

The young adults are pretty cool. One of them, Ricky, just graduated from high school. He's working as a telemarketer right now. He wants to go to culinary school because he likes "good eats" and maybe even more schooling to study mathematics. Big and tough looking, but really a nice guy.

Marlene is the Bishop's daughter. She is very pretty. Quiet and a beautiful smile. Very supportive of her dad and has a great love for her family.

Willy, the Bishop's son, will leave for the MTC in a couple of weeks. Already took his endowments out and looking forward to Seattle. I asked if he's got a good raincoat yet ... just said, "yup". He was the last one in the class and first one out of my class room.

Anya was there with her only nephew, Tevita (cute 1-year-old boy). She is so sweet and always have a smile on her face. I was grateful for the comments she offered on the lesson.

Dinah is new to the ward and is the oldest in the class. She is Filipino, served her mission on Temple Square about four years ago, working at some Australian health supplement place at some really weird hours (4:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m.) and is living with an elderly woman in the ward, Sister Smith.

I hope as we get to know each other better, the young adults in the class will feel more at ease and will participate more. I'll have to better prepare next week's lesson and be sure to incorporate more opportunities for them to participate in.

SL Pioneer Stake Conference

We had Stake Conference this past weekend. There were a couple of talks that really impressed me. The first one was a testimony by a Latino brother at the Adult Session on Saturday. He spoke in broken English, but the Spirit was strong and I understood him perfectly and WOW! He spoke of how his father taught him as a young man to accept callings (no matter how big of challenge you think it might be), of the need to implement the principles you've learned and to share that knowledge with others. Watching and listening to this brother's talk and how nerveous he was reminded me a lot of my very first talk in English. I was about ten-years-old and I read Psalm 23 in a sacrament meeting. Mom and dad helped me write the whole chapter phonetically in Indonesian. I was so nerveous, but I remember people coming up to me afterwards and told me what a great job I did. Of course, I had to do the same with this brother, I think he appreciated the support and encouragement.

The Sunday Session of conference was a good one too. The talk that hit home with me was one on reverence for our church buildings. The speaker quoted Leviticus 19:30:

Ye shall keep my sabbaths,

and reverence my sanctuary:

I am the LORD.

I like that ... we've been taught to revere our temples, but I think that was the first time I've ever heard how we need to treat our church building with reverence. I had to pass the scripture along to Kent Hepworth who is in charge of getting my home ward chapel cleaned up.