Every day, find opportunities to serve, obey, forgive and repent. -Erick Erickson
"We have no right to ask when sorrow comes, 'Why did this happen to me?' unless we ask the same question for every moment of happiness that comes our way." -Unknown
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” - John Adams
21 Amalie Webber (Cara and Barry's) 2007
23 Ewan Mordecai-Smith (Erik and Angela's) 2007
23 Harper Thomas (McKay and Stephanie's)
Mission updates
Liam in Madagascar-So we have also been visiting an inactive member named David, who is actually is a returned missionary from South Africa. He works on Sundays and can't get to church. He has really been struggling with the little things as well. We really had felt that we had hit more or less of a dead end with him. Then as we were going to teach Angel this week we need a male member to come teach with us. We were thinking of who then we had the idea of David. We stopped by his place and asked him if he could help us. He seemed a little surprised about that request. He hesitated and thought for a moment then said he could help. So we stopped by later and he was dressed up nicely with his triple combination in hand. He was smiling and he would only speak English to us. It was very clear that he was feeling a bit of that old familiar missionary spirit. We went and taught Angel and her son and it went fabulous. David had some great input and it really seemed like he had a great change in him. As we got back into our car to take him home he told us, "I want to teach with you elders every week!" That the greatest thing we had heard from him yet! What a change! What a tender mercy of the Lord!
Easton in Canada ended his letter with, I will end with a thought from Conference. The first session began with an invitation from President Monson to "Listen and learn." We were then blessed to listen to inspired men and women and most importantly to the Holy Ghost. We were given the opportunity to gain revelation for ourselves for the next 6 months. Did we take advantage of this great opportunity? I think that Elder Hales put it best when he said, "We gather together to hear the words of the Lord and them go home to live them." I was so grateful for this council and I have seen it bless my life already. I know that God works in patterns and that as we follow the inspired pattern of Listening, Learning and Living we will see great blessings in this life and the next. I am so grateful for Conference. I am grateful for a prophet on the earth today. I know that these things are true.
Kieren in the MTC- On Tuesday, we listened to a recast of a devotional by Elder Holland where he was talking to missionaries in the MTC. He said that every single missionary should have at least one convert, and it better be yourself. He was talking about how in order to bring people unto Christ, we have to be there ourselves. We cannot guide someone to a place we have never been. I also thought it was cool to think about how we are all God´s investigators. He is up there, hoping we keep our committments and keep progressing, just as we as missionaries pray for and sincerely hope our investigators read the Book of Mormon when they say they will and go to church and keep on the path toward happiness and eternal life. Also, it is nice to think that we ourselves count as a convert. The scripture in D&C 18:10,15-16 (I think, I dont have my D&C here) talks about how great our joy will be even if we bring one soul into the kingdom of God. That includes us! And our families with whom we have so much influence. I am so grateful for loving parents who brought me to Christ.
Cameron in California-I found out this week that we really don't have any investigators because
they split the ward when I came in, and the other ward sort of got them all. We did a fast so I am sure that this week we will find some people....We do have some returning people we work with, and one of them just cut coffee, so we were happy about that.
Conference was awesome. I think it touched on every important part of the Gospel.
We woke them up one morning around 5:30am and told them to hurry and get ready or we would be late. When they asked where we were going, we just said, "You'll see". I had packed everything up (with the help of a dear friend) the day before while Barry was off with the kids. The car was already packed and ready to go. So once the kids were dressed and had eaten something, we were off.
They were dying to know where we were going, but we told them nothing. When we got to the airport, they figured out we were flying somewhere. It worked to our advantage that we got there right when the plane was starting to board so we got right on. The kids, unfamiliar with airports and flying in general, were completely oblivious to where this plane was going. As we were getting ready to take off, the captain announced we were headed to Chicago.
Being the genius that I am, I had mentioned to the kids a couple weeks previously that maybe we should go visit our cousins in Michigan over an upcoming long weekend. As I talked the idea through out loud, I told them that we would probably have to fly so we wouldn't spend the whole weekend driving. And that the closest big airport was probably Chicago (I have no idea if this is actually true...but neither did they). So maybe we would fly into Chicago and then rent a car...or maybe connect to a smaller airplane that would take us to a small airport. Thus my genius plan was accomplished. Chicago = visit to cousins in Michigan. Wahaha.
So...we are on the airplane and the captain says we are headed to Chicago. Instantly, all the kids think they have it figured out. I can hear Hallie behind me on the plane explaining to Amalie that when we get to Chicago, we'll probably catch another plane to Michigan and then spend one, maybe even two days with cousins. (I had given them some homework from teachers to work on during the flight so they knew they were missing at least one day of school.)
When we get to Chicago, we had a quick change of planes. I was all for letting them continue to figure it out on their own. Barry, however, was a bit nervous that they wouldn't figure out we were headed to Orlando until we were already on the plane (like they had before) and was afraid of a giant scene in a small space. So we pointed out the sign at the gate that said where we were going.
After a few seconds of shock and disbelief, they realized it really was true. We were headed to Orlando. And they already knew that Orlando = Disney World and Harry Potter theme park. They were pretty much ecstatic for the rest of the time. And the flight from Chicago to Orlando was the longest 2 hours they had ever experienced. :)
Family updates--
Cara sent a lot of blog updates. Cara and Barry had an exciting week. This entry is a bit long, but a fun, easy read. For details of the week, check out her blog. Here in her words...About nine months ago, Barry and I decided it was high time to plan our first trip to Disney World and Universal Studio's Harry Potter theme park. We decided to keep it a secret and surprise the kids with it. So we did. :) (Boy was it hard to keep the secret for so long!)
We woke them up one morning around 5:30am and told them to hurry and get ready or we would be late. When they asked where we were going, we just said, "You'll see". I had packed everything up (with the help of a dear friend) the day before while Barry was off with the kids. The car was already packed and ready to go. So once the kids were dressed and had eaten something, we were off.
They were dying to know where we were going, but we told them nothing. When we got to the airport, they figured out we were flying somewhere. It worked to our advantage that we got there right when the plane was starting to board so we got right on. The kids, unfamiliar with airports and flying in general, were completely oblivious to where this plane was going. As we were getting ready to take off, the captain announced we were headed to Chicago.
Being the genius that I am, I had mentioned to the kids a couple weeks previously that maybe we should go visit our cousins in Michigan over an upcoming long weekend. As I talked the idea through out loud, I told them that we would probably have to fly so we wouldn't spend the whole weekend driving. And that the closest big airport was probably Chicago (I have no idea if this is actually true...but neither did they). So maybe we would fly into Chicago and then rent a car...or maybe connect to a smaller airplane that would take us to a small airport. Thus my genius plan was accomplished. Chicago = visit to cousins in Michigan. Wahaha.
So...we are on the airplane and the captain says we are headed to Chicago. Instantly, all the kids think they have it figured out. I can hear Hallie behind me on the plane explaining to Amalie that when we get to Chicago, we'll probably catch another plane to Michigan and then spend one, maybe even two days with cousins. (I had given them some homework from teachers to work on during the flight so they knew they were missing at least one day of school.)
When we get to Chicago, we had a quick change of planes. I was all for letting them continue to figure it out on their own. Barry, however, was a bit nervous that they wouldn't figure out we were headed to Orlando until we were already on the plane (like they had before) and was afraid of a giant scene in a small space. So we pointed out the sign at the gate that said where we were going.
After a few seconds of shock and disbelief, they realized it really was true. We were headed to Orlando. And they already knew that Orlando = Disney World and Harry Potter theme park. They were pretty much ecstatic for the rest of the time. And the flight from Chicago to Orlando was the longest 2 hours they had ever experienced. :)
Disney World
Disney World
Harry Potter world
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Natalie and Kenny and kids drove to South Carolina to visit his family and attend his youngest sister's baptism. They had this coming up Monday off work (Columbus Day), so he got permission from work to miss some additional days and they drove there Wednesday. They had a great time with a lot of extended family. Kenny even got to go camping. Addie and Truman are practically mauled there with so many adoring family members to love them and play with them! Kenny and Natalie and kids will drive home tomorrow, Monday so he can be back to work on Tuesday.
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Katie writes, Emmeline doesn't nap anymore but still really needs a little one lots of days. So today I took her on a drive so she'd fall asleep in the car. She fell asleep in like 2 min so we're just chillin in the garage while she gets a nap. It is good because it will rejuvenate her but won't be a super long nap. (Long naps make it so she doesn't go to sleep at bedtime.) she needs this.
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While Bryce and I are in Utah for the Sperry Symposium, we get to do a lot of fun things. Ole got us tickets to a BYU football game (YAY!!!!), and we will see Jenna and Molly. Recently, I got a new (to me anyway) sewing machine that does embroidery. I don't know how to use a lot of the features, so Bryce's Aunt Roberta who used to teach classes at a Bernina shop, is going to spend a couple of days while we are there, teaching me how to use it. She is a quilter, and a better one than I am, so I couldn't make her a quilt to say thank you. But I decided to make a story quilt of sorts and give that to her. Most quilters don't make quilts like that. Here is the center. It is the Provo temple, where she and Uncle Larry have been serving in the temple presidency.
Finally, while we are there, Monta and Karen are organizing an extended family get together so I can see everyone. EVERYONE COME!! It will be at Karen's house on Sunday, 27 October at 5:00pm. Potluck. Be there or be square.
Guess that's all the news that's fit to print,
Work hard, Study hard, work hard
Carol
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