Week 74

Tuesday started very early--up at 3:45 am so we could drive to the Leesville seminary.  As mentioned previously, class is now held at the teacher's home on Fort Polk (and starts at 6:05 am) so we had to leave early enough to get to base, go through security check, and get to class.  The teacher is absolutely wonderful and it is a constant source of amazement to think of all the dedicated sisters and brothers all over the world who willingly and lovingly teach youth in early morning, home, or on-line seminary.  The teachers have an enormous impact on the youth.

Driving home from Leesville we passed the area where the tornado hit in December.  Even though cleanup has been taking place, it still looks pretty bad.

This was a gas station until December's tornado

Debris at the destroyed church, but at least it's in piles now

Tuesday afternoon and evening we spent visiting members in Marksville.  All expressed their love  and appreciation for us serving a mission here.  We've certainly made some good friends.

After the prison on Wednesday we drove up to Many to visit the new institute class there.  Rain was forecast all afternoon and night, so I drove up to avoid darkness coupled with rain coming home.  Frequently the rain was torrential and none of the 1 1/2 hour drive was pleasant because of how wet the roads and windshield were.  But at least Kerby was going to have to deal with the double whammy of dark and rain.  After class the rain stopped and he got to drive home on almost completely dry roads.  Just can't trust the weather man!

We had stake conference this weekend.  Kerby needed to attend the leadership meeting at 3 pm, so I helped the Marksville folks who had been asked to prepare the meal for the interim between that meeting and the Saturday evening session.  We were able to catch our mission president and wife, President and Sister Varner for a picture after dinner.

We love the Varners

Our Area Seventy is Elder Rene R. Alba.  His talks on Saturday and Sunday were so very spiritual and interesting.  He was born in Mexico.  His father was a member of the Church when he married, but his mother was Catholic.  She became interested in the Church because of the hymns, which she loved, and she finally agreed to let the missionaries teach her.  When they gave her a Book of Mormon and asked if she would read it, she began to cry.  She was finally composed enough to tell them she didn't know how to read.  They came every day and taught her how to read, using the Book of Mormon. And she never missed a day of reading the scriptures, albeit slowly, until her death at age 95.  Elder Alba shared many more stories from his life and insights from the scriptures in most uplifting meetings.

Before they headed back to Baton Rouge today, the Varners had lunch with us.  We always enjoy visiting with them.  They are very loving and have influenced us so much on our mission.