Sunday, April 27, 2008

The Gift of the Holy Ghost

I am so thankful for the gift of the Holy Ghost! I have relied on it heavily since we were called as Family History Missionaries a year ago but never more than last week. Since they called me in January to teach the PAF classes there at the center and I found out it would be both the beginning and advanced PAF classes, I have worried about the one I taught yesterday. It was on Notes & Sources. This is the part that teaches how to document the data on your PAF program. Anyone involved with Family History or Genealogy will tell you that documentation is very important. Without it one would never know the correct dates and places of the events we place in our programs whether it is on paper or computer. I had attended two different classes on it taught by two different teachers. I had an inkling what it was about but as far as teaching it to someone else so they could understand it, I was very fuzzy. The first ADV PAF (as I call it) was a week ago yesterday. It was showing and understanding the Tools menu on the program, especially the preferences part where one can customize how his own program looks. I spent a few hours on it off and on during the week but was able to fairly quickly figure things out. I could feel the Spirit guiding me on some of the things that I had never been shown on.

Well, last Monday, I spent 1 ½ hours on the Notes & Sources. Tuesday morning as I got up I tho’t I would go to my 9:00 water aerobics class and then the 10:30 Silver Sneakers class and then come home and spend time trying to figure out Notes & Sources. Well, I got up about 7:30 and came in and started trying to figure things out. I had been praying for days for guidance and understanding of the program so I could teach it. Once I started except for occasional trips to the bathroom and getting a drink of water or something to eat I spent 7 hours trying to figure things out. When I first started, my mind and brain felt so muddled and foggy. I could feel the Spirit teaching me and guiding me as I tried the different ways to add things to the program and figure out just how to do it. I also wrote up the things that I would say and figured out a step by step handout to give to those who attended the class. When I finished, felt sooo enlightened and at peace! It was a wonderful experience. The rest of the week I just reviewed my materials that I had written and added some sources into my PAF. I figure I spent at least ten hours on preparation for that one class!! I thank my Heavenly Father for the Gift of the Holy Ghost for I know without it I never would have been able to do what I did.

Yesterday when it came time to teach the class I was very humble and prayerful. The class went very well. As I was going thro’ the materials, I’d hear someone say, “I didn’t know that!” or ”that’s how you do it!” They asked pertinent and important questions that if I didn’t have the answer, I replied, “Let’s see what works.” I learned things even as I taught. It was such a satisfying feeling as I finished the class. There were eight people there, two patrons and the others missionaries.

Today, we had our second historical Regional Stake conference by Satellite. There were 67 Stakes present from Pocatello to St. Anthony here in Southeast Idaho. President Uchtdorf was presiding, Elder Tingy of the Presidency of the Seventy, Sister Elaine S Dalton and Elder Russell M Nelson also talked. It was sooo inspiring. President Uchtodorf told us of three things we can do to insure our place in the Kingdom of God.
!. Have a current temple recommend. He said that CTR could also stand for that.
2. Read the scriptures daily.
3. have daily prayer.
I need to improve on my scripture reading. I have really fallen away from doing that regularly, which is too bad.

It is wonderful what we can experience now with the modern technology that we have now. I’m so thankful to be alive now with all of this technology and especially with the Priesthood restored and all of the blessings of both. It is a wonderful time indeed.

Monday, April 21, 2008

it's Been A While

We have been kind of busy lately. I enjoyed conference sooo much. The Spirit bore witness to me that Thomas S Monson is now the prophet of God. His humility is very touching. I remember thinking when he was sustained as an apostle that he would probably be someday the prophet. Your dad was two I think at that time…if that old even. I loved all of the talks and tho’t they were so timely.

Last weekend we were in Utah. We left Thursday and came back Saturday. We stayed at the Kims in Orem Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. We went to Alex’s baptism on Saturday and spent the day with the Kims. Friday we spent in American Fork with Grandma Wendel. Joy and Tom were there. We had home made chicken noodle soup and home made rolls for lunch. Rachel and her son, Wyatt, Rebekah and Deborah came over after lunch to visit for a while. It was very nice to see them. We went up to Roy and Cindy’s for dinner. Bonnie and David were also there and Julie, Johnny’s wife came after work. We had a lovely dinner and really enjoyed visiting with everyone. The last time we were all together was at Johnny’s funeral six years ago. We had a delicious dinner and great company. Bonnie & David had worked at the SL temple that morning. I think they have to be there by 3:45 AM, of all times! We got back to Orem close to 10:00 pm. Since both the Kims and Michael & Tanya’s church starts at 1:00 pm we decided to visit with Grandma W on the way to Michael’s. Because others were there when we were Friday, it didn’t count as a visit. We spent Sunday night at Michael’s. We were going to play Pinochle but Grandpa watched a Star Trek—Next Generation show and Natasha and Michael and I just talked. It was sooo enjoyable. Tanya wasn’t feeling well at all so she was up in bed. On the way home Monday, we stopped in SLC at a Golden Corral on 34th West and 35th South to meet with my best girlfriend in high school and her husband. We hadn’t seen each other for at least seven years. It was sooo nice to catch up with each others’ family and what we all were doing now that all of us have retired. They are ordinance workers at the SL temple. They work Fridays with Bonnie & David.

I was soo tired when we got home Monday evening. We stopped in Blackfoot at Karen & Kent’s but no one was home. I didn’t do anything Tuesday; I should say I didn’t go anywhere Tuesday, just did things around the house. They’ve asked me to teach both the Beginning and Advanced PAF classes at the FHC. I started the first Advanced PAF last Saturday. I spent 3-4 hours total preparing for it. it was on the “tools menu”. This week it is on Sources, Citations and Notes. That is the documentation and how you do it for the dates that you have on your program. I’m a little worried about it. Mainly because I haven’t done that much with it. I spent a couple of hours on it today and so far some of it is as clear as mud. Next week is “multimedia” which is putting pictures and actual documents on your computer, PAF program. That one doesn’t bother me that much. I’ve done it quite a bit. The Lord has blessed me so far in teaching these classes and I’m sure he will continue to do so.

In just two weeks we will be going to Papillion for Bryce’s graduation. We leave May 6th and come home May 13th. I’m really looking forward to being there with everyone (everyone that is except you and Chris. That will really be different.) You all have always been there when we’ve been there. Natasha will graduate on May 29 and Kylie on May 30 so we will be able to attend all three for which I am very grateful that it worked out that way. I haven’t really worried about it but I have wondered if we would have to choose and hoped we wouldn’t.