Last Institute Class

Hermana Finlayson has already published a previous posting of her experiences and our last institute class. I thought I would add a few pictures as well.

About mid semester one of the institute students suggested that we have a class at the temple since the subject of the class was Preparing for Eternal Marriage. We thought that was a great idea so had our last class on the temple lawn in front of the temple. Since we live on the temple grounds it was very convenient for us but for some of the kids, they had to walk a ways in a very hot sun with a high humidity. Over 30 students came.

We had the temple president come and speak with them about the blessings of the temple. When I looked over at the parking lot, I recognized one of the stake presidents sitting in his car and invited him to also come and speak to the youth about the promises. He did a wonderful job. Sherrie had spent a great deal of time and effort writing over 50 individual notes to all of the students who had registered for our class and we gave them to those that were there. Many commented how much it meant to them to have the notes.

It also seemed fitting to have refreshments so Sherrie also made a wedding cake that we shared with the youth after the class. She did a beautiful job and the kids seemed to enjoy it.

It was so hard to say good-by to this class. They have been a remarkable group and we have learned so much from them. They have great insight and a wonderful faith in the Lord. They will always be in our memory and prayers.

Baseball

This past Monday I went with some of the other senior missionaries to a baseball academy owned by the San Diego Padres here in the DR. I am sitting next to Elder Crowder who is a retired teacher who taught at Ricks College for 20 years and coached football there. The facility was beautiful and quite new. They took good care of us. We were able to watch the first game of a double header between the Padre farm team here and the Denver Rockies farm team.

Many major league clubs have farm teams here.  I am told about 15% of the players in major league baseball come from the DR. It is the national sport here. Denver won but it was a close game with one HR by the Padres. The setting was beautiful with the Caribbean Ocean in the background of the picture of the ball field.

Before the games, we were taken on a tour of the facilities and then after the game were taken to the cafeteria and treated to lunch which happened to be hot dogs. It was a fun day and the price was right, free!

"Look to the temple"

Reed has been so great to keep up our blog but I wanted to share a special experience that I had last Sat.   I was feeling a little stressed out because of  a bunch of things coming all at once so got up at 6:00 to walk around the temple.  On my first lap I saw a little guy about 2 1/2 ' tall and kind of chunky running up an incline towards the temple as fast as his little legs would go and his arms pumping.  When we met up he looked at me and then at the temple and exclaimed with a huge smile and eyes shining,  "Mira al templo!!" (Look at the temple)  As I walked on, at first I just thought, what an adorable little boy, but as I kept thinking about him, the Spirit whispered to me that that is exactly what I needed to do.  There is no more important message to anyone than "Look to the temple!" and remember the teachings received in the Lord's Holy House and the covenants made with Him there.  That is what this life is all about.  I am so grateful for this message from Heavenly Father.  Then on Wed. evening we had our last class of Preparing for an Eternal Marriage on the lawn in front of the temple.  Looking into the faces of those valiant young adults I was overwhelmed with such a love for them and a desire that they would each know the true joy of being sealed in the temple for eternity and keeping their covenants.  I am growing to love my eternal companion more and more on this mission!