Sunday

As expected Sunday was a very busy day.  On Saturday President Bekker had called us and asked us if we would take another assignment, not serve in the Tongan ward but add the YSA Branch instead.  We were a little disappointed for a minute but knew there must be a reason for the change.  So we headed for the YSA ward at 10:00 Sunday morning.

It is a pretty small branch, and started typically not on the hour, but was really nice.  I've done as I did while serving at Jamestown and asked for a special blessing on being able to remember names,  and I saw this happen again yesterday.  There were about 20 young women there and only 4 men, not counting the full time Elders and Sister Missionaries.  

The Relief Society President is Michele and was so sweet.  Everyone welcomed us and was so nice.  It's kind of fun being around young adults!  The Branch President is just turning 40 this Saturday and is fun too.  He is President Fullmer and was fun talking about his ADD and how he deals with it.  He is very energetic and the kids seem to love him.  We stayed there until 1:15.  We were kind of put on the hot seat for a bit during the last hour, it was a combined Priesthood and Relief Society meeting and we sat in a circle and anyone could ask any kind of question of us older people.  There was also a missionary couple from BYUH who serve with us.  The first question was "Do you believe in hitting your kids?"  I answered a loud "NO", then we all went on to explain about reasoning with them, gently but firmly counseling, what to do with kids who scream in grocery stores for items, etc. , swatting their bottom etc.  Next question was how do you explain to your friends/family  that can't go to your temple wedding why they can't go in.  Good questions.

After this meeting we drove home, I made us sandwiches and we only had time to eat a half before having to run to Kahuku to our Sunset Family Branch where we had to speak at 2:00.  We rushed and barely made it before the opening.  Our talks were on the blessings of a latter day prophet and how we benefit from them.  I guess it went okay.  Mine was written up and Ramon's was from the heart.  You can guess which went over better!  He mentioned the many times of living in the 18th ward where a lot of General Authorities attended as well as Prophets.  He has had some unique and special experiences with them through the years of his youth and later moving so many of them in the moving business.  He mentioned having to speak before going to Viet Nam and President Joseph Fielding Smith spoke right after him.  I think he was an apostle at the time.  Ramon had people in tears as he related special times.

This meeting went from 2:00 until 5:15, finished up with a Priesthood, Young men. Young women, 

and Relief Society in a combined meeting talking about the recent fireside President Nelson had counseling our youth.  They went over the  5 things he asked the youth to do.  Great meeting.

We drove home again, ate the other half of the sandwich and ran back into Laie to attend a 24th of July musical fireside.  We sat by the Tuitupos but we left half way through.  The music was nice, but not what we expected.  It was modern LDS music, songs I'd never heard but not about the Pioneers nor any good old Pioneer hymns.  We left just too tired to sit on hard chairs any longer.  

Was a good day but a big difference from our short Sundays at Jamestown!  I think we'll like the YSA ward.  There is  pool party for Relief Society sisters in a couple of weeks at Turtle Bay, I'm in!   Also, a break the fast next Sunday with Cafe Rio food,  I'm cooking some of the pork and other stuff. FUN!