Post Women's Conference/Broadcast

Sept. 26, 2010
Dear Elder Alex,

Well, another week, another Sunday. I hope you enjoyed your Sabbath. I remember a few weeks ago you said you really enjoyed Sundays so you could meet with the members. I hope they are all treating you well. Do you get many dinner appointments with them? How is it being on the other end of those appointments? Now you're the one the whole family looks forward to having in their home. I hope you're able to leave them all with a message each time.

I also hope this was a little better week for you. Have any of your new investigators wanted you to come back?

We had a very full weekend. The big BSU home game took place and they won. I can't believe how big it's getting here. ESPN had their college game day here, so you know what kind of hype that is. Then they won against Oregon State 37-24. BYU lost again.

Our big neighborhood news is that down the street from us (right next door to the MacDonald's who live next to the Thomas's) they are filming a feature length film. It's been fun seeing all the cars, the gear, the campers, the lights, the cameras, etc. It's going to be called Three of a Kind. I talked with someone there for a little bit when I was on a walk one morning. So we'll have to try and remember about it when it finally comes out in the theaters. Hopefully it won't be rated R. We'll keep you posted on that.

I, of course, was not really concentrating on games but instead the big Women's conference and broadcast. It all came together beautifully. We had the whole cultural hall full of tables and women. The food was beautiful, the skit was hilarious (headed up by Julie Jensen and written by Emily Allen). I spoke afterwards. I wasn't supposed to speak, but our speaker called us 2 days before and said there was a death in the family and wouldn't be able to be there. I thought at first that we should just call someone else, someone who wouldn't be nervous with 2 days warning. But the next morning I awoke early and felt strongly that I should speak and the words came so clearly to me what I should say. I was amazed at how clear it was, so I got up and wrote it down, fine tuned it during the day a bit and then spoke on Saturday. I was especially happy when I heard Pres. Monson speak later on at the broadcast and his thoughts and words were so similar to what I had talked about. Several women mentioned to me about the similarity. It was a very spiritual experience for me, the whole thing. So many sisters came together to make the whole evening wonderful. I was totally exhausted afterwards though. Maybe next time we'll get someone to do the decorating. That took us a long time even though it was simple. It was just the vast numbers of things we had to do because of it being on the stake level that we didn't expect. Pres. Monson's talk was so funny and so uplifting. He left us all feeling so good. I'm so grateful to have a prophet.

I loved your Wal-mart story from last week. We all had a good laugh about it. People sound like they speak very openly about religion there. I don't think we'd ever hear anything like that here at the Idaho Wal-Marts.

Today at church Tim Givens spoke in our ward. He did a great job. He said to say to you. He told some stories from his mission to Germany. Germany's not known for it's God-fearing people-in fact, probably quite the opposite. He told a story that his mission president told him, a parable. He said that if you fill a paper cup half full of water and place it next to a fire, the flames would burn the top half of the cup. He said the water represented the love of God and His love would protect us. Then he said that in order to fill the rest of the cup, we need to love God. Then the cup would not burn. But then having charity, or the pure love of Christ, would actually add so much water that it would overflow and put out the flames.

The reason he told this parable was because when he first got to Germany, especially in one town where there was much hatred and atheism and antagonism towards the elders, he couldn't see how he could possibly ever love these people(they became the flames in the parable). But even when they wouldn't listen to what they had to say, they began serving them through several different types of service and he couldn't believe how his love for them increased. Tim said he felt such a Christ-like love for the people of Germany and those feelings he had initially about them went away and even though he never saw much success in the way of baptisms, he continually had people make comments to them about how happy they were and how much good they were doing. He said he learned so much about the way Christ loves from his mission.

Sean has been here at home this past weekend. He got tickets to the BSU game from Jared and actually ended going to the game with Jared's girlfriend, Kendra and then they came over here afterwards and watched a movie. Sean headed back to Provo today, but got as far as Mountain Home and realized he had forgotten his computer, so he turned back and is now spending the night and going back tomorrow.

The Taylor girls got their mission calls this week. Alyssa is going to Louisville Kentucky Spanish speaking and Becca is going to Atlanta. They both are leaving 4 days after Christmas.

Spencer is in the MTC, his mom is doing "ok". Last I heard from Cameron he was waiting to get his visa and hoping it would come this week. I won't find out til I read his letter tomorrow. Also I should be able to read Austin's first letter from the Peru MTC this week. Next week, I'll get your first newsletter out to you.

So where are you going to watch conference? Do you go to a stake center or to a member's home? Tell me more about some of the people you're working with, members and non-members. What are the wards like there?

Family updates-
Kirk-still broken up with Laura. This may actually be the real thing. He went to Yellowstone yesterday with a group and said it was really fun. He's going hiking again next weekend and they're all getting dates. They have to do all these fun outdoor things now, because the weather will turn bad in Rexburg fairly quickly.
Sean-doing well at school. Will be going to Nate and Aaron's weddings in the next 2 months.
Alex-serving the Lord :)
Kristina-her Spanish teacher is very pregnant and will be taking maternity leave. Heather Pinder is going to be her new teacher so she's very excited. Kristina is still the Stake dance queen. She loves them. She's also really enjoying seminary and has done what you've asked and has been reading her scriptures every day. She's not so sure about your challenge to bear her testimony.
Leah-lacrosse is now her thing and Sean even brought her some new lacrosse stuff from a store in Utah.
Nikki-had a great birthday. She was so fun to watch as she opened each present. She loved them all. She's now looking forward to her friend party this next Friday. I'll give you that report next week. Both she and Leah and doing pretty well with scripture reading at night as they go to bed. I'm proud of both of them. Nikki is actually really improving with her singing since she's started this Cantus group. The software she uses at home is such a great help. It forces you to sing over and over again into the mic of the computer and then it grades you. So you can instantly see how close you were to the notes and then work on correcting them.
Dad-taught Nikki's primary class today and had a fun time. Got the kids all worked up with his explanation about leprosy. They loved it of course. He's getting quite a few boys in the 11 yr old scouts now. Hopefully, he'll get an assistant to help him, because right now it's either me or Kristina. He said he got the note from Elder Richins, but at the time it sounded a little cryptic. Since then, he's worked at Weiser and the people there told him about the Richins family and that they used to live by the golf course, but now they live up in the hills and the dad's name is Brad. Hopefully, that's the same family. We were confused when he first wrote because Sean had a companion named Elder Richins. If dad runs into them in Weiser, he'll be sure to say something.

Say hi to Elder Mix. You haven't really told us anything about him. Where is he from? How long has he been out, etc. What are some things you are learning from him?

I hope you have a miraculous week. Heavenly Father is very aware of you, where you are and who the people are around you. I know He loves you and I hope you always know and feel that too.

Love you very much,
mom
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxooxoxox