from Loas

SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2009



DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS,



I AM NOT SURE WE ARE ON THE SAME SCHEDULE YOU ARE ON IN THE “JOSEPH SMITH” MANUAL, BUT FOR FAMILY HOME EVENING THIS LAST MONDAY, WE STUDIED LESSON 41. TWO STATEMENTS:



1. “THOSE SAINTS WHO NEGLECT IT (GENEALOGY) IN BEHALF OF THEIR DECEASED RELATIVES, DO IT AT THE PERIL OF THEIR OWN SALVATION.”



2. “THE GREATEST RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS WORLD THAT GOD HAS LAID UPON US IS TO SEEK AFTER OUR DEAD.”



THOSE ARE PRETTY POWERFUL STATEMENTS. SISTER RISER AND I ARE TRYING TO HELP PRESIDENT KHAMPHEE AND HIS WIFE BOUALAY GET NAMES READY FOR THE HONG KONG TEMPLE WHEN THEY GO THERE FROM NOVEMBER 2-6. WE ARE PUTTING THE INFORMATION WE HAVE FROM MEMBERSHIP RECORDS AND WHAT MEMBERS ARE GIVING US ON NEW.FAMILYSEARCH.ORG. IT HAS BEEN VERY REWARDING TO ME TO SEE THIS WORK BEING DONE.



I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE BRANCH FINANCIAL REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER AND SISTER RISER IS WORKING ON GETTING VISAS FOR THE NRT MEDICAL TEAM THAT IS COMING IN NOVEMBER. BY THE WAY, THE AIRPORT IN PAKSE WILL NOT BE OPEN IN TIME FOR OUR TRIP. SO NOW WE ARE RESCHEDULING EVERYTHING THROUGH SAVANNAKHET. LOTS OF SUPRISES! WE ARE FINISHING UP LAMINATING 200+ EYE CHARTS TO GIVE TO THE ELEMEMTARY SCHOOLS. SISTER RISER WAS PRACTICING BY GIVING EYE SCREENING TESTS TO OUR STUDENTS AT THE DIC SCHOOL. OUR NEW SCHOOL KIT PROJECT WAS APPROVED THIS PAST WEEK! WE’RE HAPPY! WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO TEACH SISTER KHAM WITH THE FIRST AID VIDEO THAT WE GOT FROM KIRK WENTWORTH. HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THIS GOING SOON. THEY REALLY NEED IT.



TODAY WE MADE PROGRESS IN HAVING A PEC MEETING. WE HOPE TO HAVE OUR FIRST BRANCH HOME TEACHING EXPERIENCE NEXT SUNDAY. WE HAVE 12 SETS OF HOME TEACHERS. THEY EACH HAVE A GROUP OF FAMILIES ASSIGNED TO A ROOM, AND AFTER PRIESTHOOD MEETING THEY WILL TAKE THEIR FAMILIES TO THAT ROOM AND GIVE THEM THE FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE LESSON FROM THE LIAHONA. (I HAD TO RUN THE LESSON OFF BECAUSE WE HAVEN’T RECIEVED THE LIAHONA’S FOR THIS MONTH FOR THE MEMBERS. PRESIDENT SMITH SUGGESTED WE DO HOME TEACHING THIS WAY BECAUSE OF THE MANY RESTRICTIONS WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY. WE HAD A YOUNG MAN BECOME A TEACHER TODAY. WE HAD A PRIEST STAND IN THE CIRCLE WITH US. A GOOD TEACHING MOMENT. --------PROGRESS.



“NOW MY BRETHREN, WE SEE THAT GOD IS MINDFUL OF EVRY PEOPLE WHATSOEVER LAND THEY MAY BE IN; YEA, HE NUMBERETH HIS PEOPLE, AND HIS BOWELS OF MERCY ARE OVER ALL THE EARTH.” (ALMA 26:37)



HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK. “TO BE HAPPY, MEMORIZE SOMETHING GOOD EACH DAY, SEE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL EACH DAY AND DO SOMETHING HELPFUL EACH DAY.”



LOVE,

DAD AND MOM, GRANDPA AND GRANDMA, ELDER AND SISTER RISER, SCOTT AND JOLENE