Derby Cup - 1 loss 1 win

Robert's soccer team played in the Derby Cup this year!  They had a great run.  They lost one game that could have gone either way - they were a very competitive team, and then they won the next game.  Robert didn't play in the games on Sunday.

Go Robert!!!

Primary Olympics

We have been working for months preparing for this wonderful day.

We are hosting the Primary Olympics with a Scripture Twist.

The kids will be assigned onto a Country team.  There are 10 Countries - Australia, Columbia, England, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, South Africa, & the United States.  We had approximately 25 kids on each team.  The teams will earn points as they rotate through the five different Olympic events.

The kids will do Olympic type events such as Archery, Balance Beam, Weights, Sling Shot, and Running with Scripture Prophets as leaders.  I know that doesn't make sense so let me explain.

Archery is inspired by Nephi's story of Nephi's Bow.  Nephi will tell a little about his experience with the bow and then gave the kids a chance to shoot "safe" arrows at a deer target.  The team with the most hits won.

Balance Beam is inspired by Lehi's vision of the Straight and Narrow path.  Lehi told how he loved his family so much he wanted them to have eternal happiness.  Then the kids walked the balance beam.   The team with the most kids to walk the balance beam won.

Samson was the strong man, so to get strong in the gospel you have to know the scriptures.  The kids played Scripture Jeopardy to earn weights (5 pounds, 10 pounds, 15 pounds, 20 pounds and 25 pounds).  The team with the most weight on their dumbell won.

Running was done conducted by Joseph Smith because he had to run while protecting the Golden Plates.  We have to be quick in the gospel.  The kids did a shuttle run across the gym floor  - running over to pick up the golden plates and bringing them back, then someone else would run them back across the floor to the other side and run back.  The team with the most wins, won.

Lastly, Sling shots were conducted by David and Goliath.  David and Goliath shared how important it was to be accurate in the gospel.  David was spot on.  The kids got to shoot small marshmallows with sling shots at Goliath.  The team that had the most hits, won.

Marissa's Temple Endowment

SO SPECIAL

On April 28, 2016 Marissa went to the temple to take out her own endowments.  Dad was able to be the officiator and Mom was her escort.

It was such a special day.

After Marissa passed through the veil, Mom and Dad had a chance to talk with Marissa in the celestial room.

It was a perfect day!!!

Justin Beiber Concert in Columbus OH

Before Marissa leaves on her mission, she wanted to attend the Justin Beiber concert.  Betsy and her drove up to Columbus, OH!!! It's a three hour drive.  We had a great time talking in the car and sharing special moments.  We got to the concert early and found our seats.  The warm up show was very good but the Beiber concert was what we came to see.  We had a great time.  Marissa knew the songs, I didn't so I couldn't sing along as much as I wanted to!!!

here you can see Marissa

The only picture we got of the two of us was on the way out of the building

We had a great time.  We got out very late, and still had a long drive home, but it was worth it to have some time with Marissa!!!

Making Marissa's temple dress

I'm so excited that I get to make Marissa's temple dress! 

I let her design it completely.  It's amazing.  It's everything she wanted it to be.

It is a stretch white fabric with a scoop front neckline and high back neckline.  Long sleek sleeves.  A gathered waistline.  The dress is fully lined and goes to the floor.  It fit her perfectly!!!

An angel!!!

Week 97

This week was good.  We did a lot of service for members and non members this week.  We had a missionary mutual. They had us and two other return missionaries.  The youth had some great questions, however the Young mens president gave all the good questions to the RM's and gave us questions like how did you feel when you opened your papers.  I wished that we could have shared more, but it was good. 

  

We taught a 6 year old Primary class with our WML because the teachers who are recent converts asked us to do so.  teaching primary takes a new level of teaching simply. 

We were asked by a future mission president to teach the restoration lesson to them with the Pamphlets.  The next Montreal Canada mission president lives in the Vienna Woods ward named bro Phillips. It was a cool experience that I don’t think that many missionaries get to do.

We did exchanges last week and my companion went to the other companionships area and teach one of their investigators.  Funny thing happened that investigator wanted my companion to  baptize them.  so this Saturday we went to baptism and my companion got to baptize the other companionships investigator.  The investigator is actually a excommunicated person. I also don’t think that this happens to most missionaries as well.  

Week 96 Hal Barker's baptism

This week was a great week.  We found out that we are moving so we moved out of our tiny room and now have a bigger room and a basement to ourselves.  :)  Even though moving felt like it took an entire day we had more lessons this week than last week.

I went on exchanges with Elder Carson Carroll.  

It was a great exchange.  We committed to talk to everyone, because of our goal we spoke to a less active that has not gone to church for many years.  We were at the right place at the right time.  I wish moments like these happened more.  The spirit was with me as well as the spirit of discernment. I open my mouth and the Lord gave me what to say.  His name is Hal Barker. His main reason for not going to church and being active is that he is bipolar and has anxiety plus not wanting to change his routine. It was great to testify truth to him and to share my testimony of my conversion with him.  In the time we had talked to him his attitude went from “don't try to get me to church because I wont go" to a maybe someday  before I die I will come back" to "I will think about it."  I am not going to give up on him.  I want to see him at church at least once before I leave.  

In our area we are getting some good referrals but they have not been home when we have visited.

Robert goes to Mormon prom

Thank goodness Eden Theiss was brave enough to ask Robert to prom, otherwise I don't think he would have gone.  He is such a handsome and amazing young man.  I wanted him to have an opportunity to dress up and go out with a charming young lady.  Eden came over to the house before Prom for photos.  They were such a cute date!!!  Betsy, of course, went crazy on the photo taking opportunity :)

Robert was a complete gentleman.  He opened her door and took very good care of them.  Next stop is group photos at the O'Brien's house.

Eden, Robert and Kelsey

This is a repeat photo from when they were just little kids in Sunbeams together.  Eden and Kelsey came to Robert's 4 year old birthday party!!!  Twelve years later ...

The Guys

The Group

After photos the group went to have a nice dinner before going to the dance.

The dance

While at the dance, Robert was able to get together with his friends from Crestwood 1st ward and have a few photos taken too!  Especially since Eden is from the Crestwood 1st ward.  Betsy especially liked these photos because she made the dress of one of the girls in this photo.  Serena, the girl on the far left side!

Crestwood guys:  I don't know the two on the left of Robert,
Robert, Zach, and Trevor

Extra photos!!!