Sunday, December 29, 2013
Mike Kennington
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
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:
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:
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.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
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.
Monday, December 16, 2013
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.
Lei Lani and Kevin in family history class
Gloria can come to church again
Gloria and Bishop
Brother Dunn and Brother Asay
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Fallen Warriors Memorial
Last Thursday we stopped by the Fallen Warriors Memorial on our way to Zone Training.
Monday, December 9, 2013
It's cold in Houston
Brrr! I can't believe how cold it's been in Houston. The ward members says it's usually not this cold. I would expect this cold weather in Missouri - but not Houston.
This past week we've been busy helping ward members with their family history. Leva, who is from Samoa linked into her family tree that goes back to the 1600's. That was fantastic.
Mirta sent her mother's citizenship paperwork in.
We found that Kevin has several German lines that go back to the 1700's. We also found out that a few people on his family tree have already had their temple work done. He thought he was the only person in his Catholic family who had joined the church. When his parents get back from their cruise he is going to tell them they have Mormon cousins:)
It's our ward's turn to clean the church this month - so we help with that each Saturday.
Sunday, family history class lasted about three hours (for those who wanted to stay and get help). We finished in time for the Christmas Devotional broadcast. Since we didn't have time to drive to the stake center we hooked the laptop to the church's TV and watched it in the Relief Society room. The Elders from our ward, the Elders from the deaf branch (we selected sign language view), and Kevin & Millie stayed and watched also. We got home about 8:30 pm.
This past week we've been busy helping ward members with their family history. Leva, who is from Samoa linked into her family tree that goes back to the 1600's. That was fantastic.
Mirta sent her mother's citizenship paperwork in.
We found that Kevin has several German lines that go back to the 1700's. We also found out that a few people on his family tree have already had their temple work done. He thought he was the only person in his Catholic family who had joined the church. When his parents get back from their cruise he is going to tell them they have Mormon cousins:)
It's our ward's turn to clean the church this month - so we help with that each Saturday.
Sunday, family history class lasted about three hours (for those who wanted to stay and get help). We finished in time for the Christmas Devotional broadcast. Since we didn't have time to drive to the stake center we hooked the laptop to the church's TV and watched it in the Relief Society room. The Elders from our ward, the Elders from the deaf branch (we selected sign language view), and Kevin & Millie stayed and watched also. We got home about 8:30 pm.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Thanksgiving and November Ends
We were able to close November with an eventful week. We are glad for the blessing of health returning to some who have had surgery and are recovering well.
On Thanksgiving Day we enjoyed a visit to downtown Houston and unexpectedly experienced heavy downtown traffic. We found that Houston has a Thanksgiving Day parade and it was just ending as we got there. Streets were closed, and people were walking and then driving everywhere. The streets stayed closed on the parade route as floats and participants were gathering up and leaving, so we were sent away from where we were wanting to go. We did see the Budweiser Clydesdales up close as they went passed us going the other direction. We got a good look at downtown Houston as we traveled slowly in the traffic. We had time to look and observe while we stopped and waited so that we could move 20 more feet and stop again. We ended up west and south of our destination before they started opening streets up and we could make our way back to our goal, the theatre district . We then walked around to see some of the sites. Here are a few pictures of what we saw:
This sculpture was in front of one of the buildings. And with the parade over, we didn't have any crowds to contend with on our tour.
Friday, as we were going to zone meeting, the car's "check engine" light came on. We were near an automotive center we had used for an oil change, so we turned in to get it checked. We texted the elders to let them know we would not make zone meeting (yes, we have learned how to text). We spent the next 4 hours there getting it diagnosed and repaired. Now the car is fixed and we can travel safe and sound.
We spent a weekday evening and more time on Saturday assisting a member get his family history entered into the computer. His wonderful Aunt Mary had collected the information years ago and he had been given a copy. When we started the Family History class, he remembered he had it and pulled it out of a closet. What a gold mine. He is learning computer literacy and his ancestors are going onto the computer. And the stories he remembers as they are being entered are wonderful. He will have many opportunities for temple attendance in behalf of his family. This is a joy to participate in.
The month and week ended positively. The Lord loves and is mindful of all His children. ALL of them and ALL of us.
On Thanksgiving Day we enjoyed a visit to downtown Houston and unexpectedly experienced heavy downtown traffic. We found that Houston has a Thanksgiving Day parade and it was just ending as we got there. Streets were closed, and people were walking and then driving everywhere. The streets stayed closed on the parade route as floats and participants were gathering up and leaving, so we were sent away from where we were wanting to go. We did see the Budweiser Clydesdales up close as they went passed us going the other direction. We got a good look at downtown Houston as we traveled slowly in the traffic. We had time to look and observe while we stopped and waited so that we could move 20 more feet and stop again. We ended up west and south of our destination before they started opening streets up and we could make our way back to our goal, the theatre district . We then walked around to see some of the sites. Here are a few pictures of what we saw:
This sculpture was in front of one of the buildings. And with the parade over, we didn't have any crowds to contend with on our tour.
Friday, as we were going to zone meeting, the car's "check engine" light came on. We were near an automotive center we had used for an oil change, so we turned in to get it checked. We texted the elders to let them know we would not make zone meeting (yes, we have learned how to text). We spent the next 4 hours there getting it diagnosed and repaired. Now the car is fixed and we can travel safe and sound.
We spent a weekday evening and more time on Saturday assisting a member get his family history entered into the computer. His wonderful Aunt Mary had collected the information years ago and he had been given a copy. When we started the Family History class, he remembered he had it and pulled it out of a closet. What a gold mine. He is learning computer literacy and his ancestors are going onto the computer. And the stories he remembers as they are being entered are wonderful. He will have many opportunities for temple attendance in behalf of his family. This is a joy to participate in.
The month and week ended positively. The Lord loves and is mindful of all His children. ALL of them and ALL of us.
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