VC Devotional last weekend

        We had our monthly Devotional at the VC last Sunday evening.  There were several testimonies born from recent converts.  This is Rick.  He has had a very rough and hard life.  He has spent years in and out of prison.  But, he had a dream that motivated him to change his life and turn it over to God.  He tried to do just that and felt much better about himself and where he was going.  Then, time passed and he moved here.  He met the missionaries who told him about the Book of Mormon and the doctrines of our church.  He came to church and began to listen and study.  He recently joined and feels better than he has his whole life.  God has directed him back to where he is now.  He told the group, "you think it's hard to follow the straight & narrow?  It's a lot harder to go the way I've gone."  Good advice for all of us.

        These are two of the missionaries who taught Michael.  Michael began many years ago to date a Mormon girl.  He went to church and loved the people and the feelings he felt there.  But, time passed, he went another way, drifted from God, and was lost and alone.  He believed he needed help, but was told by other friends that, "God is not going to help you, you have to do it yourself!"  Then, he met the missionaries.  Elder Griffin told him that "God will help you if you sincerely ask!"  That began a quest that brought him back to the church.  He continued attending even after the missionaries left the area.  Then other missionaries contacted him and asked him to pray about a baptismal date.  He had a dream where he saw himself in white clothing.  That was his sign to prepare for baptism.  He now has been baptized and has done additional baptismal work in the Temple for family members he knows have accepted his work.

        This is Duane (Wayne) and his wife.  Wayne was raised in a rough childhood.  Several of his family members were on drugs.  He tried to raise his little sister and take care of her by selling drugs himself.  Then, his older brother told him not to follow the road he had traveled; to stop selling and get back to a church.  Right after their conversation, his brother was killed.  Wayne had hard times again, but always remembered his brother and how much he loved him.  Later, he married a Mormon girl.  He came home one day to find the missionaries in his home. "Why are they here?" he asked.  But, he sat down and listened to their message.  They made a lot of sense!  He began to ask lots of questions.  They told him to make sure he read and prayed about their message.  He prayed.  His sign was: "If I feel good, I'll just keep going."  So, he kept going until he was baptized.  He stated that he still needs to read more, but he always prays and he feels good1

        This is Wayne's new baby who was also at the devotional just sitting quietly, listening to her dad.  She was so cute!

        This is Karen.  She is now 17.  She was raised Catholic and was very active in her church.   She always wanted her family to go to church with her, but they weren't as ready.  When she moved here, she began going to another church.  She sang in the choir and again wanted her family to join her.  Then, she began dating a Mormon guy.  He invited her to attend our meetings.  Everyone accepted her and treated her well.  Sister Heylen and Lettig taught her.  She came to know it was true.  But, her parents wouldn't let her join.  She continued to pray until 5 months later, when they saw how happier she was, they allowed her to be baptized.  It had taken her 9 months to realize her desire for baptism.  Thru her testimony, her dedication, and her fervent prayers, they even attended her baptism.  Now, they are beginning to ask questions too.  She hopes to spread the gospel through her own testimony to them.

Last Week Events

         Our three sons, Marshall, Weston, and Shane, came to visit us over Labor Day weekend.  We took them to most of the historic sites in the area.  Here we are at our first stop, Far West, where the temple site was dedicated years ago, but never able to erect the building because of mobs and persecution.  It is kept up now by the church and the grounds are beautiful.  Someday a temple will be on this very site.

        This is the same site, only the South East Cornerstone, where our 5th great grandfather (Levi Hancock) stood with his brother and sang the Song of Freedom which he wrote for the dedication and the 4th of July event here in Far West.  It was right after this event, that the Prophet Joseph Smith was arrested and taken to Independence Jail, Richmond Jail, and ended up in Liberty Jail.  We also visited the 80 acres just outside of Far West where Levi and his father owned land back in 1838.

        Here is the inside of Historic Liberty Jail where Joseph & Hyrum Smith, Lyman Wight, Caleb Baldwin, and Brother McCrea, spent the winter of 1838 in the dungeon below.  It was cold, dark, miserable, yet several sections of the Doctrine & Covenants were written here.  Joseph grew stronger through these trials and continued to become the polished stone he was chosen to become.  We owe him so much for his faithfulness and strength.  No matter the trail, the work will progress, and we can be refined in the process if we continue in faith.

        Of course, we had to eat!  Here we are eating at one of the 13th most desirable places to eat in the world, Oklahoma Joe's Bar B Q.  We only waited in line for an hour and a half.  But, it was Saturday night and it was worth it.

        After the boys left, we had a big week of Arriving Missionaries and Departing Missionaries.  The top picture is the Arrivals.  They came in on Wednesday, September 3, and spent the night at the President's home.  Here they are: 11 Elders and 2 Sisters.  Most are from Utah, except one Elder from Washington, and the Sisters from California and Virginia.  They were taken the next morning to the Stake Center where they met their new companions and began their work.

        Then, on Friday, we took the departing missionaries to the temple and then the airport.  This is the KC Temple with: Elders Javeloza, Goodale, Rudd, Ingram, Larson, and White.  In front are: Sister Medel, two members, Sister Wood, Sister & President Vest.  This group of missionaries were all going different places. (only a couple to Utah)  We also had our last two Visa Waiting Missionaries receive their Visas and go on to their assigned country, both to Brazil, but different missions.  They also flew out this week on Tuesday.  The missionary force is awesome all over the world!

   
        I almost forgot, another thing we took our sons to; the missionary's apartment.  They helped their father, Elder Atwood, move an apartment of missionaries.  It was three stories high, so Elder Atwood needed some strong young men to help.  He had two missionaries and his sons.  They were done in half the time.  Service is an important part of the gospel and it is important to help our missionaries doing even the daily chores to keep them taken care of.  This is Elder Atwood's calling and responsibility here in our mission.