Pat and I are on the Stake Self Reliance Committee, which means we have been helping to train the ward and branch councils. We also train the ward membership in the third hour of the Sacrament meeting block so the members have an idea what to expect when they go to the devotionals. This initiative was first rolled out at the Huntington I and II wards as well as the Galipolis Ward on March 12th earlier this year. We are now in our second round of class offerings. We've just completed three Sundays away from our ward to do the trainings. We trained the members in Ashland, KY, Martin, KY, and Paintsville, KY. The devotional for folks to sign up is Aug 13 and 20 for the wards and branches in the Stake.
What a divinely inspired initiative ( FYI, the brethren don't call it a program). To have a spiritual component along with the temporal component is brilliant, in fact it is the Lord's way. Which is why it works. The Church has combined the Perpetual Education Fund and the Employment Services departments together to create courses to better the lives of everyone. The classes are 1- Finding a better job, 2-Personal Finances, 3-Education for better Work, 4-Starting and growing my business. These folks in this depressed area are so blessed to be some of the first to participate in this initiative. We also feel blessed to get to be on the Stake committee which is bringing it to the members.
We have finished the second semester of our Pathway/Insitute classes. We love these YSA's and they are so dedicated and devoted to the gospel. I as so proud of Jackie, Jamie and Haley to finish their year. That's real dedication. We now have 4 weeks off then will start up again in September. There are only a few Pathway programs that are on this January to December track.
Our stake had a stake youth conference this past weekend. As we have a Sam's Club card (evidently most folks don't, can't figure that out) Wednesday we took the planners of the conference to do shopping for all the food. We then spent a good part of Thursday, Friday and Saturday preparing or serving the food. One day we had the full time Elders and Sisters come and help us as we made Sloppy Joe's for 280 people. One of the activities for the youth was to go to 2 different homeless shelters and serve them lunch. So all the meat, buns, cold slaw, potato salad, chips, fruit were divided in two groups to go to the two shelters. Our youth's eyes were opened to how hard life can be and how blessed they are.
Our literacy learners are doing well. We enjoy our time with them. They sure try hard. Pat's is retaining a little bit more each week of what he has been learning. He has a happy spirit.
A real highlight Saturday was a visit from Scott Jackson. What a great fellow. He came to town to visit the Marshall Football Stadium and we felt lucky to get a visit too. We felt so loved to receive cookies, burritos, tortillas and a picture of the Savior from you dear family that I love so much. Scott is a stitch and we should adopt him into the family. I've already got the picture framed and up on the wall.
We love the mission, the people, not the humidity.
Almost Heaven, Traynors
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