Matt and Vanessa Get Married

Matt and his beautiful bride, Vanessa were married on February the 13th at the Washington DC temple. We could not be there but the pictures they sent help us to know that they are a happy couple. We were thankful that the weather cooperated since the previous week they had received a record snow fall and the temple was closed the previous Saturday.

We were grateful that Matt's grandmother West could be there along with Adam and Wendy. One of his good friends from childhood was also able to attend with his sweet wife as well. Vanessa's parents and extended family live in the DC area so were a wonderful resource. We are so grateful for them and for the great family they are.

Fiesta, Fiesta, Fiesta!

The institute kids love to dance and to party! These are some of the kids with whom we have the privilege to work. As you can see in their faces, they love life and they love to play. This activity was a "welcome back to institute" activity after the Christmas break. There were about 250 kids at the dance. Sherrie made refreshments for them and had no idea how many would be there. She guessed pretty close so all went well. The kids love to eat as well. We were teaching one of our classes and Sherrie used cookies for part of her class. We took a 5 minute break and after the break, we had 4 new students! Because they love her treats so much, they talked her into teaching 3 cooking classes every other week on how to make her treats. They are well attended by both girls and boys. 

 

They also are equally as serious about the gospel and when we are teaching our class, they are so powerful in their insights and understanding of the gospel and how it applies in their own lives. They do not take the gospel for granted. The picture of the young man with the balloons is an example. He did not hear of the church until he was 25. He grew up on the streets without a father and a mother who was working. He shared that he had  a lot of painful experiences. The church turned his life around and he is very committed to the gospel. He asked a young lady to marry him last week that he met in the employment center which is on the 4th floor of the institute. The institute building is more than class rooms. It is a place to meet eternal companions. It is also a wonderful missionary tool. We have 4 non-members in the class on studying the scriptures that we teach and there a many more in the other institute classes.

Institute is truly an inspired program!