Office Revamp

Elder Hoopes has been working on this office for a long time. He built an extended counter for the printer right by the door of the Clerk's Office so that those needing to use it use it could do so without everyone being crowded in the back corner to do everything. Especially important when much of the work is confidential and needs to be totally accurate. The room is tiny. Today's efforts were to divide the room so that the confidential work was separate from all the printing etc. We only fell once.

Palmyra Pageant

We had a wonderful weekend with Laura and Brian at the pageant. We met the Preston's there who are previously from the Shalimar Ward in Tempe. They live and teach in China. They wanted to do something valuable for their children so they chose to come and be IN the pageant. We missed seeing Diane and Farrell Smith who came the next day and met the Preston's also. It is so fun to make these connections and even more connections. We sat next to people who are in-laws to Hoopes' in Wyoming. The Church makes the world a small place.

Next morning we went to an early temple session. We then visited Hill Cummorah, the Sacred Grove and downtown Palmyra before heading back to Ohio driving along the shores of Lake Ontario.

In Laura and Brian's ward on Sunday they announced that we were there and available to consult with people on there employment needs. We met with three people and are still consulting via phone and email. It is so nice to enjoy family and still be serving our mission needs in our service area. Yes! All the way to Ohio, and to Western New York, Indiana, Western Pennsylvania, Northern Kentucky, Ontario, Quebec and of course, Michigan.

Alumni Networking Luncheon July 14, 2011

This Networking Luncheon was for our clients who have come to the workshops as well as resource people who are employed. This is the first time this office has tried this. We obtained the idea from the Chicago Employment Resource Center. The key element of the event (besides a fabulous lunch) was that every person was asked to introduce themselves to every other person and learn of their connections to person's who could help them in their job search.

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Other special times at the Branch. Caring for little ones and enjoying birthday cake made for me by Elder Phinny.

Baptism July 10, 2011

Joyful Baptism.

Elders Phinny, Bradshaw, Kitchen, & Hunt.

Bradshaw's last weekend, painful but happy.

As we were taking Elders back to their apartment they started yelling, "stop! stop! turn! turn around! turn!" They jumped out of the car and called a family. They stayed and stood by the truck while we went and picked up the family. I was worried about leaving them there. Ten minutes later there was joyful celebrating for their stolen truck had been found. The next evening the family prepared a beautiful dinner for our Elder going home. What great and wonderful events happened just before leaving his mission. We sure do miss Elder Bradshaw.

Our new Sister Missionary stayed with us July 11.

July 8-9 CWS in Cleveland.

Another great Career Workshop.

Another Sabbath Car Day

We are concerned about having car seats for children and obeying the law. Surprisingly when picking up our Sisters, extra people were coming as well, so we didn't really have enough room. I actually had to sit sideways for six miles. It was fun. From now on we will make sure before hand that we know the exact number so we will all fit correctly and safely in the car.

Deborah's Wonderful Baptism

A very special day. She had been investigating for a year.

Our car full and fun at the sandwich place.

July 4th Drive Around the Michigan Thumb

We had a day to drive and see a part of Michigan we hadn't seen in this past year. Ten hours in the car we drove from the blue waters of Port Huron on the East side to Port Austin at the top to Bay Port on the West side and then back to Farmington. It was a beautiful site and day.

On our drive we received a call from a young investigator Sister in our branch asking Elder Hoopes if he would baptize her. That really made our day.