Juneau, Alaska in September

The real Juneau has again reared its damp and cloudy head.  We are experiencing copious amounts of rain.  The car washes here are quite pathetic.  The best car wash is when I work the car over in the rain with a scrub brush.  The rain rinses the dirt from the car.  I placed the carry all back on the Subaru so I won't have to do it in the cold when our release date comes.   There is nothing I hate worse than having to work outside with my fingers when it is freezing.

Kayleen Sekona lives in Juneau and attends our Wednesday Institute classes. 

The past week has been repetitive as each school day we roll out of bed with the 5:00 a.m. alarm.  We arrive at the church in time to open the doors for early morning seminary at 6:15. a.m.  Diane does a lot of cooking and baking in preparation for Wednesday and Thursday institute classes.  I believe the kids look forward more to her meals than they do to the lessons.  I continue to index and dabble with ancestors names while Diane gets right into the genealogy.  She has turned in names consistently to the temple lately.

Josh Sekona is our Young Single Adults Branch President.  He is from Tonga and went to Samoa on his mission as a young man.  He is a spiritual giant.

The Coho (silvers) are in the water in very large numbers.  I have been out a couple of times with my fly pole but I guess I won't get to experience catching one on a fly.  They won't take it from me.  They are congregating by the ladders at the fish hatchery in huge numbers.  The seals are in front of the ladders waiting for easy meals.  One seal chased a silver right up to my feet yesterday.  He got a good chunk of the fish before he let it go and the fish kind of sunk right at my side.  That was exciting.

Emilyann Lohrey graduated from seminary just this past June.  She has been attending our missionary preparation class on Sunday afternoons.  Her papers are in and we expect to see a mission call in the next week.

Our Institute lesson on Wednesday night was centered on the Book of Mormon chapters 6-11.  We had a group of 15 attend.  Most of them were our local young people.  The summer workers are sifting their way out of town and back down to the lower 48.  I enjoyed the discussion of the principles that can be learned from those chapters in the Book of Mormon.  The vision of the Tree of Life is so important to understand.  It can contribute immensely to our understanding and to our ability to be content and happy while on this journey through life.

Eric Mullen has begun to attend the missionary preparation classes.  He spent the summer as a commercial fisherman.  He has recently been called to be a branch missionary and is one of the many success stories we have been able to experience.

Yesterday's Adult Institute centered on the last half of the book of Hebrews in the New Testament.  We compared the role of the Levitical high Priest in the Tabernacle on the Day of Atonement to the Savior, He who allowed Himself to be the final and one time sacrifice, performing for each of us the infinite atonement.  We discussed that the rituals of the sacrifice in the Old Testament were never designed to offer man exaltation.  It was simply a similitude of the sacrifice to come.  Those who come on Thursday mornings contribute greatly to the discussion and we are enjoying learning together.

Jaymie Lawrence was baptized in late summer up in Homer.  She moved here a week later and is very active and upbeat.  She has been called to be the Family History specialist in the branch. 

Bryce Anderson lives here and has been attending BYU Hawaii.  He is working to make money to finish his education.  He is an exceptional photographer.

As I study more, and as I age, I feel as if the gospel is a mural in front of me.  I am gradually stepping back from the picture and getting a broader glimpse of the whole work.  It is truly a masterpiece.

This is Shawndel Wilcock.  She has graduated from college and is finishing up her summer job before returning home.  Randon Calderwood has received his mission call to Las Vegas, Nevada.  He will be leaving in a few weeks.  Wendy, his sister, just returned from her mission at the beginning of the summer and is our Relief Society President.