Women's Conference in Kansas City & Independence

        We met at the local Pizza Place for afternoon lunch before the World Wide Women's Conference.  There were about 30 women there to eat pizza & salad.  We had a great time!  The Bishop bought everyone's lunch.  His wife is in front with the paper cups.

        This is just one table:  Sister O'Laughflin is in the white sweater and Sister Loya is with her two daughters.  Her husband is taking the lessons.  She is the Young Woman's President in the ward.

        This was the youngest sister there.  She is ten months old, but a constant companion to her mother, Sister Tollefson.  She reminds me of Bowen in the face.  Her daddy is a Med student here in KC and the ward clerk.  Her mom is the Seminary teacher and ward choir directer.  Yes, I still go to choir.  Love it!

        Just a few sisters:  Wellerman, Givens, Merchan, Banks, and Becker.  Four different nationalities right here.

        After pizza, we went to the Stake Center where they had a musical singing program before the Broadcast.  It was in the chapel and I couldn't take pictures.  But, different groups stood and sang wherever they were sitting.  So, here and there they stood all over the chapel room.  First, all the Young Women stood and sang, "I Walk by Faith."  Then, all the Primary girls stood and sang, "I Am a Child of God."  The Polynesian Sisters sang a song, the Spanish Sisters sang, "More Holiness Give Me" and all the women sang, "As Sisters in Zion."  It was so wonderful and brought tears to my eyes to see all the different sisters singing praises to God in there own language.  It went right along with the Conference.  This particular picture, was the Stake officers singing a fun song after the conference and during our refreshments of Cheese cake. (my favorite!)

        Then, President Cato stood and spoke for a few minutes.  He is a man for his time; so devoted and converted to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He said Satan is selling diversity.  But, we must hold together and be ONE.  We have the most divers stake in the church, he said.  But, we can be unified in the gospel and do great things.  His talk absolutely fit with the General Women's Conference talks about being united in our differences.  We are truly all children of God and brothers and sisters here on the earth.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us that, and teaches the true way back to our Father by accepting his way, his ordinances, and his laws.  We will only go back to Him by lifting, helping and carrying our brothers and sisters!

        This is a lady in our ward, Sister Nativita Dite Monique Laforgue.  She is from Haiti and is 81 years old.  When we asked if we could take her picture, she ran upstairs to change her top.  She is so agile and healthy!  She loves the gospel, joined the church while in Haiti, and has three kids.  Two are still in Haiti.  Her daughter, in Haiti, has eight children, all active in the church.  We met the granddaughter who was visiting here and going to school in Montana.  She brought her grandmother to church, where we met her.  She speaks Spanish, French, and Creole.  But, we only speak English, so need an interpreter.  But, she brought out her family pictures of kids and grandkids and great grandkids.  She was so proud of her pictures.  We understood that language very well!