Our Students

We have had such wonderful experiences with the students here. We have been teaching a class every week on Wednesday from 5 to 6:40 called "Studying the Scriptures; The Power of the Word". It has been inspirational to teach the class and learn from the students. They have such a wonderful understanding of the scriptures and love them. It is clear many of them have had the benefit of seminary and scripture chase. They love to play games and eat. One week Sherrie made cookies for class and gave them out during a break. After the break we had 4 new students! It is also inspirational to know what some of the students have to do to be at our class. Some take the bus and have to travel an hour or more. Others have to take public taxies. They do not have much money so to travel is a big commitment. Even though we are next to a large university, some of the students attend other universities in the city and have to make a special trip to the institute.

You can see in the picture of the class some full time missionaries. They have started attending institute at our request since there are so many non members attending institute. Since they have started attending, they have more teaching opportunities than they can handle. The first time they came to the building, they had four teaching appointments by the time they left.

Many of the students are the pioneers in their families and are the only members. The picture of the young man in front of the temple is one such pioneer. He is the only member in his family. He has been a wonderful help at the institute and has shared his testimony and enthusiasm for serving a mission openly with the other students. He entered the CCM (the missionary training center here in the DR) last week which just happens to be above us in the building in which we live. It is wonderful to open the door to our apartment and hear what sounds like a choir of angels; the missionaries singing. Sherrie has been spoiling this young missionary with cookies whenever he and his companion stop by. Since our door is next to the stairs, many missionaries have learned that if they are walking by, they get cookies. Sherrie makes cookies for all of the missionaries on Sunday from time to time. They like Hermana Finlayson!

The other pictures are of Sherries cooking class. She teaches three classes every other week. The kids wanted to learn how to make the good things she makes for treats for them. It is hard to keep the other kids out of the kitchen! As you can see, they love to eat! Sherrie spends a lot of time baking for the institute kids but she feels well rewarded when they enthusiastically "inhale" all of her goodies.