Pros and Cons

                                          Draw backs to our mission 

1st Sunday here we had church

2nd Sunday was General Conference

3rd Easter Sunday with one-hour church

4th Sunday Stake Conference

My question to you is, how are we to get to know our ward if we never see them?

Our Neighbors and neighborhood....

This was our morning walk today and the common sites along the way.

 Best one! 

                           We always find one or two around the temple.

                           The homeless are everywhere.... 

                 these are just a few on the way to the Stake Center.

The Elders tell us that the difference between gangs and the homeless are that at least you know what gangs will do but with the homeless it's anyone's guess. 

Some elders are just randomly assaulted by a homeless person.

                                              Positives .......

              This is what we see as we walk out of our apartment to the car.

                                  

                                              Pretty impressive Right?

We have met some nice and some pretty wonderful people. 

Let's start with Don. His name is Don Laughlin, and he is in a care center due to losing his leg to diabetes. His family owned the store that was on the corner where the Conference Center is now in Salt Lake. They sold the store to someone who sold Latter-day-saint crafts. I remember that store does anyone else? 

His Uncle began Laughlin, Nevada and at a very young age Don ran away from home because he wanted to be in the movies. He was pretty much an extra.

                      

 This is our very special friend Bart! 

I think everyone around here knows Bart. I had a Senior Missionary that had not ever met Bart ask if we had met him. (Well, yes, we went out to eat with him. Apparently, he is known to take missionaries out to eat once a month.)

Bart is now Unemployed.

His boss (Leslie Jordan) died in a car crash in Oct. thus Bart has no job at the moment. Bart is okay for now because Leslie left him a little money.

Bart is someone to admire. He has always had a deep love for the gospel but fell away because of opposite attraction and drugs. 

When he finally couldn't stand being away from the gospel he came back. He is now the Seminary teacher (twice a week) (Prop supported, Sugar-centered seminary?) 

Self-Reliance Specialist, Addiction Recover worker. And on Sundays teaches at the prison. He told us that he loves looking after the older ladies in our ward and helping them when needed. 

At Stake Conference he excused himself because he saw someone not in church attire, so he wanted to go get to know them. He is bold and is on fire.

                                      

Bart's room...

In asking Bart about how to approach a member that has teenagers, his advice to us was, "Just be yourselves! But Sister Cox be about 40% and Sister Snyder be your perfect balance of 100%!" Does he have us figured out or what?

Bart was one of the speakers on Easter Sunday. Sister Snyder and I had planned to pass out an Easter treat after the meeting, but it needed some explaining. When I told Bart that we were going to ask to take 5 to 3 min at the end of Sacrament Meeting to explain he informed me that he was to talk on the Attornment and was only given 12 min. 

He was concerned. I texted him later and told him we changed and would not need time to explain it (we were glad we mentioned it to him). I told him to surprise us and for him to take 15 good min. his comment to me was, " That's so kind that you gave up the time you never had! I'll be sure to do a shout out-from the mic and give credit where credit is due!" 

             We just love his witty sense of humor. He really keeps us laughing...

Bart later says about going over the 12 min. that, "It would be ridiculous for the bishopric to signal me, "Stop talking about the Atonement so we can get on with Easter!"

This Sunday when we get to start going to our ward for real we know without a shadow of a doubt that Bart will be there. He will be early and he will be making the rounds to greet and visit with everyone.

Let's take a break...

This is what we pass by all the time.

What do you think the meaning of this is? 

What is in all the containers he is carrying. 

We love the creativity in this.

The problem is that not far from the creative statue there is this glob! 

So is it the same artist? Did he just use all of his energy and creativity on the young boy? What in world is this pile of leftovers doing here? 

                       Did he just not know how to get rid of it?

I think we told you about our sweet and kind bishop and his joyous and talented wife. 

Elyse was one of our speakers in Stake Conference. As I sat next to one of our Senior Missionaries, I pointed to the program and said, "See how Elyse is towards the end? She is going to wake you up! She was in broadcasting, and she is full of love and life, SHE will wake us all up!" Of course she did. It was such a wonderful talk. 

While you're looking at the program notice that the songs are listed in English, Spanish and Korean. 

At Stake Conference the opening prayer was in Korean and the closing in Spanish.

Stake Conference

It's hard to imagine where and what you're doing when you sit in this building and the choir sings the song in Spanish.

The Councilor was giving his talk in Spanish so he had the words so we could read along. 

Oh yes! this is an interesting fellow who comes to our ward. 

On Easter Sunday when Sister Snyder and I passed out cookies at the end of the meeting he was sitting in the back. I noticed as I came into church that he had several fast-food bags and was eating. At the end of the meeting as I stood by the door, he was there in that back pew still eating his fast food.

At the end he came to me for a cookie and then went over to the other side to get one from Sister Snyder. 

I must say he came to the night session of Stake Conference, but they do offer a small lunch between meetings. He stayed for the adult session. 

He stayed for all of Stake Conference as well but they did once again offer a small lunch afterwards. I guess he truly is earning his food. He is quiet and not disruptive. 

We are still trying to find our way here. I am grateful to my neighbors the Hughes who I've watched do this. 

They helped people go to the temple and we followed their example. The missionaries asked us to come out to the Collage and pick up these young people from China and take them to the temple for baptisms. 

Sister Snyder and I were able to be witnesses and help with the confirmations. It was a great and wonderful experience for us. 

We then set the tradition and bought them all ice cream cones for on the way home.

The American girl is Sister Buxtoon from St. George (her family is Brinkhust). She has been attending this collage, the University of Southern California for about 3 years and has met these young people at institute. 

Good (or should I say GREAT) Missionaries!

As I said we are trying to follow the example of Gary and Ilene Hughes. We are trying to help support the missionaries and get people to the temple. We are visiting and trying to get into homes to help with the Come Follow me lessons and we are assisting to get our ward involved in Family History. 

So despite us, The Work Goes ON!... We love you all