Bountiful

We stayed Saturday night with my sister in Bountiful.  She and her husband are service missionaries at the South Davis Community Hospital.  The Inspiring church service were provided by a Young Single Adult Ward.  The hospital residents and the service missionaries were wonderful.  There was such a wonderful spirit there, and loving Christ-like service given.

Going Home

Yesterday, all the missionaries who are going home today, met at the temple for a session, dinner at the mission home, and interviews.  We will miss all those we have served and served with.

Tonight we are staying in Oklahoma City, and will finish the trip tomorrow.



Yellow rose at our apartment complex

December 31, 2013

 

 

 

Sam Houston statue near Huntsville, Texas

Rest area

Mike Kennington

Elder Jenkins' cousin Mike is an attorney for an oil/gas company in downtown Houston and took us to lunch on Friday.  We haven't seen him for over 30 years.  He served in the Texas Houston Mission and served under Billy (in our ward) when Billy was the ward mission leader when he lived in Madisonville.

Christmas Eve

The elders just came by and told us that Elder Veamatahau's father (in Tonga) passed away about an hour ago. 

We had Christmas Zone Conference yesterday, so P-day was re-scheduled for today.

After Zone Conference we stopped by a Rehab Hospital to visit with Edna's 94 year-old mother who is Methodist.  We showed her a Christmas video and played some Christmas music.  It was fun.

Zone Conference was great.  President Pingree spent quite awhile teaching about the Atonement.  Some references I liked can be found at:

http://www.lds.org/ensign/1988/05/atonement-agency-accountability?lang=eng

 

http://www.lds.org/ensign/2001/06/justification-and-sanctification?lang=eng

There were a couple of other references that I haven't been able to locate on the internet yet.

 

President Pingree also taught about the process for accomplishing something with Christ--

1. Qualify (see Alma 26:22)

2. Identify something God wants you to achieve

3. Do everything you can to make it happen

4. Plead with God for what you need

5. Thank God for the help you receive

 

The CES senior missionaries (the Lebarons) in Huntsville cooked the luncheon.

 

 

 

 

 

Ward Christmas Party

Debbie is the Primary President

 

Seated: Pam, Arthur.  Standing: Billy, Elder Alvarenga, Elder Halterman

Billy and Billy

Elder Alvarenga and Tomas

Michael and Elder Alvarenga

Paul - Elders Quorum President

Debbie and Lei Lani

Mario - Counselor in Bishopric

Billy, Willie B., and Kay

Claire and Daniel

Elder Jenkins, Joe, Consuela, Mirta, Sister Jenkins

Charles & Carolyn had their baby

On December 19th, Charles and Carolyn had their baby boy.  They are investigators and gave the baby the first name of Matthew (after the Elder that first taught them the gospel).  They gave the baby the middle name of Silvio which is the first name of Carolyn's deceased Ethiopian father.

 



Christmas Season

We had a really busy week.  We were able to visit a sick ward member in the hospital (took a short Christmas video), go over records with the clerk, teach about prophets, do family history research, help members and a special nonmember with family history, attend the temple, and find inactive members.  

 

Nativity scene at the Houston Temple

 

Christmas décor for the living room.

 

Sister Loo and Sister King are the sister missionaries in our district.  They are fantastic!  They serve in the YSA Branch.

 

Sister Foster is my visiting teacher from the Far West Ward in Missouri.  She came to visit family here in Houston, and we were happy she stopped by to attend church with us.

 

Lei Lani and Kevin in family history class

 

Gloria can come to church again

 

Gloria and Bishop

 

Brother Dunn and Brother Asay