Winter Has Visually Arrived

The snow storm I have been waiting to see has finally arrived.  Six inches of heavy, wet snow has slowly fallen and turned everything into a wonderful fairyland of white.  Our Subaru Outback has proven to be the perfect choice for an automobile here.  The all wheel drive lets us go where we want to go. 

 

We held a missionary preparation class on Saturday morning.  Heather Malin was the only one to show up.  Our two 17 year olds had a basketball tournament, and Matt Adamson told us he would be camping up on the mountain

somewhere.  We had a wonderful lesson on the importance of being personally worthy to serve.  We then discussed the importance of the Temple.  As wonderful as it is to serve a mission, it is a bigger blessing to receive the blessings of the Temple.  She stayed for another hour visiting with us and asking all sorts of questions about missions, the gospel and the temple. 

 Sunday I woke up with the impression that I needed to let Carolyn Chenoweth know that she was thought of and loved.  I texted her and told her I was coming to give her a loaf of bread and see how she was doing.  She is doing better this week and did a very good job of teaching our Gospel Doctrine class. 

I have had a cold again.  Hopefully this will go away quickly, as this is a big teaching week.

I visited with the 2nd ward Ward Council, to present to them the daytime Institute class

Proposal.  They didn't jump all over it like the 3rd ward did, but they did announce it in their meetings.  We begin on Thursday.  I am anxious to see what kind of a response we get.   I substituted for the Sophomore Seminary class this morning.  The kids were very attentive and they participated a lot.  The lesson was the miracle of turning water into wine and Jesus cleansing the temple.  I've often thought it would be good to read the Book of Mary.  Wouldn't you love to see it all from her perspective?  We use the new Bible Videos whenever one is appropriate for the lesson we are on.

It is fun experiencing the sun coming up at 8:30 a.m. and then going down at 3:30 p.m.  Our hours of daylight are short.

Thanksgiving in Alaska

Our Missionary Prep lessons on Tuesday are not going as planned.  Our stalwart, Nia Ma'ake, is in Idaho visiting family for a couple of weeks.  Without her to round up the others, the others don't make it.  Vika is in California visiting family for Thanksgiving.  It is very important to these people to go south as often as possible to avoid the shorter days and the cold wet weather.

Wednesday at Institute we had a great turnout.  I announced on our YSA facebook page that Diane had fixed a wonderful meal, which she did.  She had a salad and some cheese Tortellini with pine nuts and asparagus.  There was a wonderful pistachio pudding and cook whip desert layered with chocolate grated cookies.  They loved it but she cooked enough for twenty I think.  We sent Matt Adamson home with the bowl of pudding.  He was so excited to have that. 

The Thanksgiving school break was going and so we had several show up that we don't see when school is cramping them for time.  Our discussion was a fun one to prepare, "The Signs of the Times."  I learned something I hadn't known, or thought about before.  That is, when the Savior comes in all of his glory there will be two left standing in the field and will be taken, and the other will be saved.  Then in trying to learn more about who these two individuals will be, the D & C teaches that those saved must be living at least a Terrestial law.  Those living a Telestial law will be burned as stubble.  This comes from the "The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith" as well.  Bruce R. McKonkie also preached this doctrine.  We used the parable of the Ten Virgins to apply this to ourselves.  We also discussed "Hypocrisy" into some depth.  It is a Greek word meaning to act or to deceive.  In other words, it is bearing false witness and would qualify one for the Telestial Glory.  The Savior was very forward in calling the Pharisees and Herodians hypocrites.  He then taught his disciples to not be as them.    We also discussed the signs of the times spoken of by the Savior in Matthew 24.  We included D & C sections 45, 101 and 133.  Then we included the fate of the unprepared in section 38. 

 

Should we fear that time?  No.  We should be able to recognize the signs, know what they are announcing, and keep our lamps trimmed and full of oil.  It was a fun lesson for me.

 

I made some more bread.  Diane baked a pecan pie and she made a salad to take to the Olsen's.  Pres. and Sister Olsen invited to eat Thanksgiving dinner with their family.  We were very appreciative of that.  We had a wonderful visit and the meal was absolutely spectacular to look at and wonderful to eat.  We enjoyed being with their son, Eric, and his wife Courtney, their daughter Jaimee and her husband Zac Kirkpatrick.  They had also invited Matt Adamson.  He is a student from Valdez and is very active in the branch.  He also attends the Saturday missionary prep class. 

Skyping is a wonderful tool.  We were able to be with Gregg's family in South Jordan as our grandson, Parker, opened his mission call.  He will be leaving February 27 for the Long Beach, California mission for two years.  Thank-you Skype.

Another Week

The week has been beautiful in so many ways.  Our trip to Yakutat was special.  We returned to colder weather in Juneau.  It has snowed a bit.  The snow is the kind you would see in a chick flick.  It is soft and powdery and there is no wind.  Then when the sun shines the temperature drops down to 20. 

Diane taught seminary for Erin Willis on Thursday.  I taught for Erin on Friday.  The kids were very respectful this time around.  Usually they understand after one experience with me that fooling around isn't so easily done without consequences. 

We did have a successful Missionary Preparation class yesterday.  Heather Malin came.  She is 20 or 21 and has a good job at one of the gold mines here.  She was called into the office and thought she was going to be laid off.  Instead they offered her a pay raise.  Matt Adams is a student at the University of Alaska S. E.  He is from Valdez.  We had been going 10 minutes or so when in comes the twins, Josh and Vili Tupou.  They are seniors in high school.  I met there priest advisor in a ward council meeting.  When I mentioned the Missionary Prep classes he asked if he could bring them.  They may two of the sharpest seminary students we have.  They will be tremendous missionaries.  Their Priest Advisor is their Uncle, Ongo Tupou. 

I think we are off and running with another Institute class.  It will be held on Thursday mornings for anyone that would like to come in the Juneau Stake.  We will start at 10:00 a.m. and at 11:30, after we finish, we will have a pot luck.  It sounds like the Relief Society sisters are the most likely to attend. 

I received a text from our Sunday School teacher again.  She was having problems with a sore throat and did not think she would be able to teach.  I grabbed the manual and read the lesson book and the first 6 Chapters of Ether so I would be ready.  I sent a text message to Carolyn, our Gospel Doctrine teacher, and asked if she would like a blessing.  She said she would.  She is living with her brother and also working with him laying ceramic and wood floors.  Her parents are in Provo.  Her mother decided she wanted her degree after Carolyn left home.  I took Landon with me.  Diane taught him the Temple Preparation classes.  He didn't act nervous at all and anointed her head with the consecrated oil for healing the sick.  I then gave her the blessing.  Her plans are to go to BYU Idaho for the next two semesters and then she will probably return to Juneau in July to continue making money for the next year of school.

Since keeping this blog, I have noticed that many from around the world have checked in to see what we are doing.  It would be interesting to know who you are and what draws you to this site. 

Earthquake

I can't believe that I was so focused on our assignments in Yakutat and then reporting them, that I forgot a most heart leaping into my throat experience.

Diane was studying at the kitchen counter on Monday and I was on the couch watching something on TV.  We had experienced that John's clothes dryer would vibrate quite uncontrollably while we were in the Red Roof Inn in Yakutat.  But we ignored it as you do.  But out of the blue, the furniture we were sitting on began to shake and wiggle.  It lasted for about 15 seconds.  We both recognized that were experiencing an earthquake.  We found out that it actually registered 6.4 or 6.5 on the Richter scale.  It occurred about 20 miles outside of the bay where we were located, and approximately 37 miles below the surface.  There were no Tsunami warnings.  It had been a "typical" earthquake and the locals say they happen all the time.  It was exciting though....for a bit.

Yakutat

12 November 2012

Diane and I have come to Yakutat, Alaska.  Our purpose is twofold; 1) The Burt Adams family, and 2) the Yakutat Seminary program.

I received an inquiry from CES about a Stephen Adams.  He is a returned missionary from Yakutat.  CES wanted to make sure he was on the CES rolls where ever he was.  I found out from the stake high council that Burt Adams Sr. was very active in the Yakutat branch.  I called him.  He verified that Stephen was his grandson, that he had been on a mission to New Hampshire (I think that is what he told me), and that he is now registered in school at the Church college of Hawaii. 

After getting the above information from him Burt Adams Sr. said to me, “When are the missionaries going to come up to Yakutat and teach my grand children, Cassia, age 16, and Christian age 10?  The stake promised me missionaries so they could be ready to be baptized when Stephen comes home from Hawaii for Christmas?” 

Of course I knew nothing of this promise from the stake.  In talking with him I find out the Stephen is the son of Burt’s son, Burt Jr.  (He doesn’t like to be called Jr.  So I got the telephone number of Burt Jr. and called him to confirm some things.  He told me that he did want the missionaries to come and teach his kids the missionary lessons.  I told him I would look into it. 

I called President Beesley and asked him if he would be ok with Diane and me being those missionaries.  There are none assigned to the Yakutat branch.  He said he would like that if I could make it work.  I then called Don Huntsman, our Stake 1^st Councilor and asked what he thought.  He said it sounded good to him and to see if I could make it work.  I then sent a proposal to CES in Seattle for permission for funds to fly us to Yakutat round trip and stay in a bed and Breakfast for 3 nights.  Finances for our travel can be a problem.  Sometimes we travel on the CES dime, and sometimes we travel on the stake dime. We told CES Seattle we would be visiting Penny James’ home school seminary class.  She teaches her three children, twin girls Geneva and Julia, and a son Josh. 

We arrived in Yakutat about noon.  Penny drove us around Yakutat and gave us the grand tour.  It originally was a Tlinget village and the Tlinget tribe is very prominent here.  Penny’s husband, Darrel James, is a Tlinget.  The Adams family are Tlinget.  Burt Jr’s wife is actually from a Pacific Island between Samoa and Fiji.  It is a small Island where the highest point on the Island is only 16 ft. above sea level.  That height is smaller by the year because of the rising ocean levels. 

The drive around the area proved to be a beautiful fishing mecca.  There are rivers and inlets and ocean fronts everywhere.  The rivers have cut throat trout in them right now and chum, or dog fish.  These are the final salmon to migrate.  The Bald Eagles hover over the river waiting for the chum to arrive.  They are slow this year.  We did see a lone Trumpeter Swan and a singlet in the river. 

A drive around the shore was beautiful.  The waves are great for surfing.  There were three young men in our bed and breakfast visiting for two days of surfing.  The snow was falling.  The snow was turning into slush and there was about 4 inches of it.  But they were dressed head to toe in neoprene and spent literally two full days in the surf. 

Penny took us to the local market, which reminded me of Anderson’s store in Thatcher.  Only it was much bigger.  We picked up some juices, fruit and snacks to get us from one meal to the next.  She then dropped us off at the Red Roof Inn.  Don’t picture in your mind a modern inn.  It isn’t.  It reminds me of Uncle Johnnie’s lodge in Buckhorn.  The owner lives alone and so there is absolutely no woman’s touch.  It is rustic.  And is a definitely a man cave situation for sports fishermen who come here to fish during the season.  In the winter he gets a few missionaries and surfers it appears.  John is his name.  There was no breakfast waiting for us Sunday morning so our fruit and juices got us through until Sunday afternoon late.  The surfers said you have to let him know if you expect breakfast.  Silly me.  What was I thinking?

We met Burt Adams Sr. at the airport when we arrived.  He has a vested interest in our visit.  He is counting on our visit to wake up Burt Jr. and his family to be more involved in the church.  Saturday evening at 6:00 he picked us up and along with Cassia and Christian we drove a few miles to the LDS church where the five of us found a comfortable room in this small church and taught the first discussion. 

It became very apparent as we taught that even though the kids attended church now and then, they were quite uninformed as to what the church is.  They were receptive though and seemed pleased to be learning the things they were.  When we gave the Moroni 10:4 challenge, Burt asked if he could tell the kids about his experience with the Holy Ghost.  He had been testifying throughout the hour to the truthfulness of the things we were teaching his grand children.  He told the kids that when he put this to test, praying to know if the things the missionaries were telling him were true, this happened to him.  He felt a whoosh over his head.  It seemed to call him to attention and he felt he was literally being told that the Book of Mormon was true, and that what the missionaries were teaching him was true.  And after he submitted to those feelings, he felt another swoosh as if the spirit had finished and left him. 

We explained prayer to them and then asked Cassia if she would be the mouthpiece for us this night.  She was reluctant.  So I got on my knees.  Shortly all of us were on our knees and she began the sweetest rookie prayer.  She asked that she might know these things for herself.  When she was through there were tears streaming down her sixteen year old cheeks and she was very humble and sweet.  Christian seemed happy. 

Burt Sr. then took us to his son’s home where we met Mina, Burt’s wife and the kids little brother Arthur.  I think he is eight.  Christian is 10 but is tall.  He is about 5 foot 5.  The whole thing reminded me of being in the mission field again.  Here we were among Native Americans again.  Burt is the local high school basket ball coach, girls and boys.  Cassia wrestles.  Christian is basketball crazy as is Arthur.  Burt didn’t want to join us in teaching his kids because he didn’t want to miss the BYU vs Idaho game.  When we walked in the home he was cooking some beautiful steaks he had his brother bring in from Anchorage on the plane with him.  The served us a wonderful meal.  It was kind of buffet style and we watched the kids fill their plates and return to the table and dig right in.  Diane and I took just a moment to pray silently over our food.  I tried to take long enough they would notice what I was doing.  We had a wonderful visit getting to know them.  Burt is the Tlingit tribe representative for the Yakutat region.  It is his paid job. 

After eating and watching the first half of the football game with them, Burt brought us back to the Red Roof.  Our room was around 85 degrees.  I figured out the thermostat and cracked the window for some fresh air.  I heard the rain and snow falling throughout the night.  In the morning, the slush had frozen into solid ice.  It was treacherous to walk on. 

At a little before 10:00 a.m. Penny James picked us up and took us to the church.  They had Sunday School first.  Penny’s sister Laura taught the lesson.  Her son, Elisha was there as were Penny and her two daughters.  Another sister, Becky was visiting from California.  She had a son and his wife deliver a baby in Anchorage and she came to see her new granddaughter.  Having never been to Yakutat, she decided to visit her sisters here.  After was Priesthood.  Burt Sr. came along with his wife Lorraine.  He suggested we all meet together as we were small in number.  The branch president, Penny’s husband Darrell, had to fly to Anchorage. 

We then had Sacrament meeting.  Darrell’s brother is the second councilor in the Branch.  He came with a granddaughter.  A few others arrived as well.  There were probably 20 of us all together.  And they were all related to one another.  Burt Jr. brought his family to Sacrament meeting.  Darrell had invited Becky to give a short testimony.  It ended up being a bit longer than that and Diane cut her talk quite a bit to make up for it.  I cut back on mine as well. 

The members had a pot luck dinner at 3:30 p.m.  They do this when they have special guests as a token of respect for the guests and for a good family get together.  The meal was unbelievable.  Penny brought a moose roast.  Lorraine brought a baked salmon.  Burt Jr. brought some turkey.  There was rice and mashed potatoes and salad and pie for desert. 

We sat around and visited.  As I was visiting with Laura she mentioned that she and her sisters had attended Brighton high school.  I told her that I had taught a Rebecca Burnham.  She said oh that wouldn’t have been Becky as she had graduated the year before I started at Brighton, 1981.  I got more curious.  I approached Becky and said, “Did you happen to attend Butler Middle School?  I taught a girl there named Rebecca Burnham.” 

She replied, “I kind of thought your voice sounded familiar as you spoke today.  And I wondered if you could be the same Waldron that taught me choir.” 

It is such a coincidence.  She just happened to visit this same week that we did.  The sister’s father worked for the church building temples.  They lived in Honeyville when they were young and then in Cottonwood Heights.  Their Father has an Indian heritage.  Now her sisters are married to Tlingits here in Yakutat.  We had a wonderful visit together.

After cleaning up the dinner, we had our second discussion with the Adams family.  I had asked Burt and Mina if they would please attend with us.  We discussed the Plan of Salvation and Joseph Smith some more.  Their Grandfather Burt added bits of Testimony and explanation.  At one point I couldn’t remember the second tree in the Garden of Eden.  Burt helped us with the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge.  (Getting Older can be embarrassing.)  I had warned Christian that he would be asked to say the closing prayer this time.  We again got on our knees and we joined that family as Christian offered his prayer.  He addressed our Father In Heaven and then paused.  After a lengthy pause I reminded him, “What are you thankful for?”  He then named each family member by name and included us. 

There was another lengthy pause so I helped him again.  “What would you like to ask your Father-In-Heaven?”  He then asked that they might know for themselves if what they were learning was true.

At the close of the prayer, both kids had tears on their cheeks.  It was beautiful to see how they had been affected by the spirit of the Holy Ghost.  Arthur went prone to the floor in tears.  And his tears were mixed with little spurts of laughter.  He couldn’t explain what was happening, but he had been touched with the spirit of love and didn’t know how to act. 

I had been a bit forward in the lesson.  I challenged Burt to take a more active role in leading his family with the Priesthood, and to also lead his family in family prayers.  I also challenged the family to become regular attendees at their Sunday meetings with the rest of their family.  I explained to him that with his Priesthood, he could be a great influence for good on the Tribe here in Yakutat.  He could be a great tool for his Father In Heaven if would honor his Priesthood.

We have one more lesson tonight before we must go back to Juneau.  Hopefully we can give them what they need to be ready for a baptism interview.  This is wonderful to me.  I love teaching as a missionary.  I enjoy administrating, but I love teaching. 

Monday and Tuesday morning Penny James picked us up from the B & B at 6:00 a.m. and drove us to her home where we joined them for early morning seminary.  The kids are pretty sleepy and lethargic but by the time the 50 minute lesson is over they are thawed out pretty good.  Everyone warms their home with Franklin stoves or wood boilers.

We spent Monday preparing for this week’s seminary and Institute lessons.  Penny’s sister, Laura, picked us up and took us back to Penny’s for lunch.  We had a nice visit and returned to the B & B to spend the afternoon.  In the evening we were again picked up by Penny and taken to the church for dinner.  Again we had a nice visit with Becky, Laura and Penny. 

They left a bit before 8:00 p.m.  At 8:00 p.m. the Adams family came for our final discussions with them before we have to leave.  We talked about the commandments and the commitments we make when joining the church, i.e. the fast offerings, the tithing, word of wisdom, taking callings and the like.  I then challenged them to consider letting Cassia again attend early morning seminary.  When I had visited with Burt on the phone about seminary he said Cassia didn’t go.  They had decided to keep her home.  They have had some sort of a disagreement with Penny over something she said one morning.  I promised the family that if their children would attend seminary their home would be blessed in some way. 

The B & B was quite pricey.  I had been told the rate would be $50 a night instead of $110 which is the usual price.  He likes to give church people a break.  What I didn’t realize was it was $50 a night per person.  When the fishing season is going he charges $120 a night per bed or person to stay here.

We came home to snow.

After posting this, I notice I don't have a picture of Penny James.  I'm so sad about that as she was so instrumental in making all of this happen.   

 

 

 

Tom Teaches Seminary

 My brother Paul, and my Sister Connie sent me their bread recipes when I requested them.  My first two tries weren't quite right.  They tasted good, they just didn't rise correctly.  I gave one loaf to the neighbor across the hallway who just returned from Seattle for some cancer surgery.  His name is Ash.  He had two jobs and we seldom see him.  He's about 50 years old and single. 

The second loaf we will be taking to the Munoz family today.  Paola has had some serious surgery on her foot and when it finally heals she will be having surgery on the other foot.  Her sister, Elizabeth, is our Relief Society president.  She is dating our Elder's quorum councilor John Mikesell.  John is a returned missionary.  His father, Harold, is our S & I representative from the high council.  Harold is a very big man and works at the correctional facility as a correctional officer.

Erin Willis has decided to home school her twelve year old daughter.  As she gets started she has been burdened with the time that it takes to be prepared for the home lessons.  She asked if Diane and I would teach her seminary class two days each of the next two weeks.  Diane taught on Monday and I taught today.  Her team teacher, Lynn Hirschi, has gone to Thailand for a couple of weeks.

These are all good kids.  They are Freshmen.  A couple of them have been known to be a bit unruly and talkative with Lynn and Erin.  They were so with me this morning as well.  I got pretty firm with them.  I was so firm Diane was worried I might have driven them away.  I had to explain to her that I used the D & C as my method.  "When moved on at times to reprove with sharpness and then afterwards showing forth an increased measure of love lest he esteem thee to be his enemy."  I did take each boy aside afterwards and told them I loved them but hoped they understood why I got after them.  They both responded great.  In fact Aiden even gave me a hug and told me he would do better.

Our lesson was on being Thankful and Grateful.  We used the story of the 10 lepers to get the concept and principle.  The kids were asked to write a letter of thanks to their parents. 



 Meke, Em and Naomi are helping themselves to some of the cinnamon rolls I made yesterday.  I spent yesterday making bread and making cinnamon rolls and washing a lot of dishes and pots and pans.  Meke is Samoan and stays with Emily and Lisa's family.  His family is trying to start a small business between Anchorage and Hawaii.  He is a 7th day adventist.  But he loves his LDS seminary experience.  Naomi is the daughter of our YSA branch 1st councilor. 

Diane spent the afternoon preparing a meal for the missionaries assigned to the 3rd ward.  That added to the size of the dishes load.  The missionaries came at 5:00 p.m. and we had a nice visit with Elder Martinez and Elder Hartilius.  They are the zone leaders in the Juneau Zone. 

We did experience a temperature of 21 degrees F this morning.  It warms up in the day time to above freezing.  That may change we are told.  It's the black ice that can be disconcerting.  I have been driving the car to the door step to pick up Diane so she doesn't have to walk on it. 

Our Numbers are Few

Our numbers are very few.  Last evening in Institute we had about 7, and several of our regulars weren't able to be there for one reason or another.  Dexter, our convert from February, has become engaged, and his efforts are towards his marriage.  The good news is he is marrying an LDS girl he met while she was up here working the summer months.  They will be getting married in the temple.  He's 25 yrs. old.  Another regular, Matt, missed his first ever YSA activity because he didn't have a ride from the University to here.  His usual ride, Amanda, has taken on a couple of tutoring jobs.  She tutors calculus.  Brad had to work late.  We do have a lot of other members, but Institute just isn't a priority with them.

I had a fun discussion with Matt concerning Dexter.  Matt is 18.  When he was told Dexter was engaged to be married he came right over to me.  He was concerned.  He said, "Shouldn't Dexter be going on a mission?  He's a new convert and single male."  I tried to explain that he was probably doing what was most important in his life now.  Being 25 he is past the age of most young missionaries and he has a good degree in mining and a high paying job.  He is probably making the best of the two choices at this point.  Matt had a bit of a thought moment but still seemed a bit unsure of Dexter's decision. 

Our Tlingit Indian investigator has pretty much quit attending the past two weeks.  The missionaries aren't sure what is going on there.  Michael struggles with his American Heritage religion and Christianity from his parents viewpoint.  He doesn't want to disappoint them, and knows he will if he joins the church.  He also has a drug problem.  He has been clean, as he calls it, 6 weeks now.  He is determined to be a dentist though.  He always tells the Elders that Institute is just awesome and that he learns so much when he is there.  He came 4 weeks in a row.

Last night was Institute.  The materials to be covered have always been some of my favorite.  They centered around the worth of a soul.  We discussed the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son.   Also discussed was the great feast and the parable of the fig tree.  As usual, there is so much material in the lesson that time negates a complete and thorough going over.  But we did compare the sheep, who unintentionally wandered, to that son or daughter of God who, through no fault of his own, doesn't stay with the flock.  We compared the neglected silver coin being misplaced to that of one of God's children being shunned or offended or neglected.  They opened up and went pretty deep on this one.  And we compared the prodigal son, who willingly left his home with his inheritance, and squandered it on riotous living and harlots, to that of anyone who willfully rejects God's commandments and turns from his home (gospel standards).  After a thorough discussion of each of these, we turned to the joy when each lost article or soul was found.  We discussed the repentant nature of the son who returned and the welcome he received from his father.  I loved the discussions of those in attendance.  They need a bit of prodding to get the jist of the parables sometimes.  But once they uncover the metaphore, away they go.

Diane was exhausted yesterday from preparing for the meal afterward.  The idea of snacks usually turns into a luncheon type of offering for those who come.  She fixed her fruit filled muffins, a green salad and some jumbalaya type of rice dish with sausage.  There was lots left over and she invited the two sets of missionaries to load some plates up to take home to their fridges.  And they did.  There was a young scout hanging around the good smell of the food.  I could tell he wanted to eat.  I asked if he would put away a table for me.  I said, "If you'll do that for me you can come in and eat with us."  He jumped right to it.  In fact he, even went and invited his dad to eat too.

We still have days of rain now and then, with a bit more sunshine than the first two months we were here.  It was cold last night.  With all of the humidity, it freezes moisture onto the metal surfaces into ice.  The cement and asphalt get very slippery with black ice. 

Our attendance at the Missionary Preparation classes has been dismal these two weeks.  They express a desire to go on a mission but their knowledge of the gospel is pretty limited.  We may end up having to have the class on Sundays so they can come.

Long Week

It has been a long week.  Many of our YSA were in San Diego on a temple trip.  We didn't hold Institute because of Halloween.  We started our second Missionary Prep class on Saturday and not a single one attended.  Time goes slowly when you aren't busy.  I am so thankful to see these kids back and Halloween behind us. 

I attended the 3rd Ward's ward council.  I presented to them a proposal for a 2nd Institute class to be taught on Thursday mornings.  The class would be from 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.  That is the same length of time for the Wednesday evening class.  The ward would be responsible for a child care in the opposite end of the building.  We would have a pot luck afterwards.  The ward council enthusiastically endorsed it and want to start right away.  I now have to get the 2nd Ward on board. 

We had our break the fast.  Afterward we watched the CES fireside with Bro. Clausse of the Presiding Bishopric.  I also recorded it for our archives.  I enjoyed his presentation on knowing who we are and becoming that person.

I have made bread twice now.  It isn't hard to give it away.  We took one loaf to Allison Holtkamp.  It was her birthday.  It was so fun to see her come bouncing down the capitol building steps to greet us all dressed in her pink parka and pink pants.  Her smile is something else.  We had a short greeting and then she was off for a quick bite before her rehearsal.  She is Ado Annie in Oklahoma that is running this month at the Perseverance theater on Douglas Island.  Douglas Island is just across the Gastineau channel from Juneau. 

Allison gets the first loaf

I baked my first bread today.  Of course Diane over saw the entire process as I kept asking questions.  It actually turned out pretty good tasting and looked OK.  It was Allison's birthday today.  We met her after work and gave her a loaf of bread all wrapped up. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the Juneau Museum located just across the street from the state Capitol Building.

Kitchen Aid

I've been thinking about this for several weeks.  Diane has not had adequate mixing utensils for her cooking for large groups.  And I thought I would like to try and get in the bread making business.  After all, the Savior tells us he is the bread of life.  I think I'd like to use bread as a home warmer when we visit. 

We did a bit of shopping and found that Costco was the better deal over Fred Meyers.  We'll be giving it a try today. 

We were ready for our little ghosts and goblins but alas; I suppose our apartment building is just too scary to enter.  We had nary a one.