Pumpkin a la Sophia

My cousin, Christine, just sent me an update on her little family. Little Sophia was born in New York this past summer shortly before they moved to Houston. They've got a website up and running with all sorts of fun pictures of Sophia, but I must say that this is my favorite.

Inner City Mission

In one of my last entries in 2005, I wrote of how toward the end of my initial six-month inner city mission, I extended for another six months. By the end of that extension, Lono was closer to having his mission papers done. However, there were other complications ... He and his girlfriend decided that they'd start seeing other people, but when she did, he got jealous and wondered if he should stay and marry her instead. Hmmph! I had to stay, see this through and help him in any way I can to make a decision that he can live with. So, another six-month extension ... In the end, Lono decided to serve a mission and was called to serve in the Mexico-Mexico City East Mission. By the time my second extension came to an end, Elder Folau was in the MTC learning Spanish. What a neat young man! I feel so blessed to know him as he prepared for this mission.

Helping to prepare Lono for his mission was a major reason for the multiple extensions, however it wasn't my only reason. Laura Laing, Andy Daniels, Anya Pasi, Marlene Angilau, Brittany Daniels, Ricky Washington, Marin Fisher ... just a few people who will always have a special place in my heart. Each taught me things that made me a better person.

My bishop called to tell me that he had a calling in mind for me, but something didn't feel right ... it wasn't time to go back ... yet. With Christmas just around the corner and my ward taking a few families from the inner city ward for Sub-for-Santa, I extended again until the end of the year. That felt right -- a nice conclusion to the year and a new start back in the Monument Park 19th Ward. And so what was intended to be a six-month mission turned out to be a 20-month mission.

What a great opportunity to work with some really awesome people. No doubt about it -- it was the best thing I've EVER done! If you are interested in volunteering, please check out the site at http://www.innercityproject.org/. I highly recommend it!

In the meantime, back at the ranch ...

I must say that meeting at 8:00 a.m. for church is not easy ... I am so looking forward to the new year when we meet at 10:00 a.m. When the announcement was repeated in Relief Society this past Sunday, the room erupted in a chorus of cheers.

Lono, our future missionary, is still working on his dental requirements. Sister Hall and I tried to find him some assistance to pay for all the dental work, but unfortunately, we couldn't find anyone who is willing to do the work for free. If only he was a single mom ... but of course, that would require some really drastic changes noone wants him to make ...

We've not had another activity since the Utah State Fair. With so few in number, you'd think it'd be easy to plan, but with the holiday season, it's just hard to pin down a date. We've agreed that we'll plan for something in the new year.

The Blog-less Months

I know, I know ... it's been months since I've posted anything. I think part of it is because this summer/autumn had been a difficult one for a lot of people in my home ward, the Monument Park 19th Ward. Since the end of July, we've had three (3) deaths. While that may not be so unusual in a family ward, it is quite unique in a singles ward. The first to pass on was Ginny Fischer. I heard that she died in a diabetic coma. In October, George Woolfolk died as a result of a work-related accident. Then just weeks after George's death, Ben Te'jere passed away ... just dropped dead while playing basketball. It was quite a shock to many of us. A few in my circle of friends have discussed estate planning and forming some kind of network so that someone will always know where we are and how we're doing individually. Naturally, I've been very contemplative and thinking a lot about death ... the topic isn't exactly an upper.

It's Official!!!

We had a "Linger Longer" after church on Sunday and Brother Fabert (one of the Assistant Project Directors) came up to talk to me and see how things are going. I told him how much I loved being a service missionary in the ward and told him that I've been thinking of extending for another six months and he said, "Consider it done!" ... so I guess this means I'll get released the same time as Sister Van Tielen in May 2006.

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!!!