Week 20

We entered the MTC five months ago today.

On Tuesday we spent the afternoon in Marksville trying to visit less active members.  We had a gap between visits so we went to the Tunica Biloxi  Cultural and Educational Resources Center.  It was fascinating.  We'd never heard of this tribe until we began driving by the casino quite often.  Just a note--Willie Nelson and family performed at the casino last year, and I suspect never in his life did Willie expect that one day he'd be performing in Marksville, LA, population 5,500.  Anyway, this tribe had very astute traders and worked with the French, Spanish, and English.  All of whom alternated between trading/commerce with the tribe and trying to enslave them.  This was one of many tribes relocated to Oklahoma in the 1800s (the Trail of Tears).  After native American tribes could leave Oklahoma and return to their homelands, the Tunica had difficulty proving that they were a tribe so they could be given Sovereign Nation status.  They were inadvertently helped by a grave robber in the 1960s when he dug up over two tons of artifacts (also destroying all the bones in the process).  When the goods (called the Tunica Treasure) were confiscated, the tribe was able to prove it had existed and was given sovereign status. 

The education center and the casino next door

The Center has one of the best archeological conservation/preservation labs in the country.

Some of the Tunica Treasure

Still in our gap of time, we drove to Grand Lake near our little church trailer.  It was nearing sunset and we thought the view was lovely.

The dock and the cypress trees at Grand Lake

And two more Marksville history notes:  I mentioned the home of the lawyer involved in returning Solomon to freedom in a previous post.  

More on Mardi Gras:

We bought our first King Cake this week and quite liked it.  There are different types, but it's sort of like a cross between a sweet roll and a cake with a filling.  We chose cream cheese, but there are other flavors.

The hidden baby and the King Cake

Here is the message on the cake box:

• At long last our journey was joyfully fulfilled.  The star we followed shined brightly over the stable where we found the holy baby Jesus.  This is now known as the Twelfth Night of Christmas, January 6th, the Feast of the Epiphany.  With much revelry, this is now the beginning of Mardi Gras Season and is celebrated with the oval shaped King Cake commemorating our journey and decorated in the carnival colors of green for FAITH, yellow for POWER, and purple for JUSTICE.  As it is served, look for the baby Jesus, for you who gets the symbol buys the King Cake for the next party.  Enjoy this delicious cake and celebrate as we did.  In the name of Tradition, The Three Kings, Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar

We also decided to put a little Mardi Gras decoration in our apartment: 

A plate of Mardi Gras orbs and some tinsel just for fun

Our weather has been pretty mild--got up to 79 degrees on Monday, but the high was in the 40s for the last two days.  Outside the food bank on Monday beautiful big yellow irises were in bloom.  The pink magnolias are blooming all over town.

On Tuesday we visited the seminary class in Many, and on Thursday we oriented the new seminary teachers (husband and wife) in Leesville. As always, we're so grateful for the dedication and testimony of our teachers. 

 Friday night was the annual Evening With a General Authority for all Church Education System employees and volunteers.  Elder Rasband was the primary speaker, following a few remarks from Elder Clark.  Elder Rasband was asked by President Nelson to be on the city's suicide prevention task force, and his remarks were quite sobering.  He talked a lot about the importance of providing love and support to young people, especially those who are struggling.  Our leaders are so incredibly in touch with events, and so in tune with the Spirit!