Hello again. We've had a great past two weeks! Been busy! One of the most important was to witness the baptism of one of our grandsons, Oliver Wise. Since we just live 90 minutes from his family we were able to go there and be a part of his baptism. Sherrie and I sang a duet entitled "Where Love Is", his mother Amy and other Grandpa gave talks and his Daddy, Alph baptized him, and then Sophie his sister gave the closing prayer. Then those of us there that hold the Melchizedek Priesthood placed our hands upon his head for him to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. A very special event. For those you who are our non-member friends, our faith believes that children don't need to be baptized until the age of accountability. From latter-day revelation, we know that little children are redeemed through the mercy of Jesus Christ. The Lord said, "They cannot sin, for power is not given unto Satan to tempt little children, until they begin to become accountable before me" (D & C 29: 46-47) which means age eight. Prior to that age they are taught the principles of becoming a member through the churches program for the children which is called Primary. In these Sunday classes they are taught about the importance of baptism and of the covenants and promises they will make with God. That we will take upon the name of Jesus Christ, keep His commandments, and serve Him to the end. Oliver was so ready for this special day. For the last 30 days he has kept asking his parents "How many more days until I am to be baptized??"
     Last week Sherrie and I received two new companions!! Two senior sisters have been assigned to our area of the mission and are living in the same apartment complex as us. The four of us have now become our own District (No it's not an old people's district!) They both have energy that matches or exceeds us. They will principally be working in two wards or congregations in the northern part of the city and Sherrie and I will be assisting them as our time permits. Sherrie and I went to these areas last Thursday to seek out some recent move-ins of the church. They either hid when they saw us coming or weren't home because we went zero for ten! So we will go back in the evening when they might be home from work. We went to one apartment complex seeking one of the members and found the entire population were all Hmong's who all originated in Southeast Asia. What was unique was they have turned every available yard and ground space into gardens! Such productivity!! I'm not sure I like the order but one of the managers said the order of priorities of those that live there is first their gardens, then their cars, and finally their children. Hmmmmmm!
     Contrast that Hmong energy to the Marshallese members in our branch who due to cultural differences don't maintain gardens and aren't highly energized to find employment. Well today a step toward improving that has occurred. I had previously suggested several questions of accountability that the Branch President might use when members come to him for food or welfare assistance, such as are you seeking employment? are you attending English classes? do you know how to use public transportation? and do you have a family budget? The Stake President has helped us create such a questionnaire and with his approval we will now start implementing it. This will be a wonderful tool to help the members become more self-sufficient and less dependent upon the Church as well as the state and federal welfare system. We are excited to be a part of this. Sherrie and I will start going into the member's homes this week to help implement the program.
    As Gordon B. Hinckley once said "We must feel the need to emphasize with greater clarity the obligation for members of the Church to become more independent and self-reliant, to increase personal and family responsibility, to cultivate spiritual growth, and to be more fully involved in Christian service".  Then on a lighter but poignant note Brigham Young once said back in the 1800"s "Men and women need to pay more attention to the principles of economy in living . . . but some-times they want to have somebody feed them, and then some will not be satisfied, unless we baked plum puddings, and roasted beef for them, and then feed them while they were lounging in big easy chairs; and still perhaps they would think that they were ill treated, if we did not chew the meat for them".
      Well, I'm excited for this newfound energy and redirection that we now have in teaching these wonderful members. I know that the Lord has played a big part in this focus and direction. And I know with the Lord's help a change and redirection will start to occur here.

       Love you all. Take care.

                Elder John