July 10, 2009

I started looking for the last time that we reported, and went back a ways before I found something - so we are behind. We wondered what we would do during the summer, but we have kept busy every day.

In our CES work, we are trying to arrange classes and teachers for next year. Most of the ones from last year will continue, but we are finding more youth sprinkled all over the stake who would like Seminary or Institute. We are still attending the Minot institute Wednesday nights, and we are sending out email Inservice lessons to help the teachers prepare for this year's study of the Book of Mormon. We're re-reading the BOM ourselves, and working to memorize all 25 Scripture Mastery scriptures before the start of the year.

Because we don't have Bismarck Institute on Thursday nights, we are able to work in the Temple on both Thurs and Friday nights some weeks. This saturday we will also be there with our District, and another Saturday we will go with a sister receiving her endowment. With summer vacations taking members different directions, the temple presidency are always happy to see us come through the doors to help.

We're enjoying our Elders in this Zone. We feed them lunch after the weekly District meetings (12 people), and feed the Transfer Train when it comes through every 6 weeks (as many as 22). We inspect their apts and cars (the level of cleanliness and order is improving), give them a big candy bar as a reward, and take them to breakfast or lunch afterwards. They like to see us coming. We also have weekly opportunities to visit and teach investigators with them.

We have been at the McLaughlin Branch for about 2 months now on Sundays. I think this week we will begin to attend at Ft. yates again. We love the members in those branches and are involved in their lives and challenges. We were in McLaughlin for the 4th of July and enjoyed the parade and pot luck at a member's home.

We have Stake Youth Conference in two weeks. They are going up to a Youth Camp about 40 miles out of town. We asked if we could attend to be with our Seminary youth and help in any way. We liked the thought of standing by the wall observing. This morning we got a call saying their key note speakers couldn't come, and could we speak for an hour, introduce the theme, and make it fun and exciting for the kids??? The theme is about being an outward example of inward beliefs, taken from 1st Timothy 4:12. I don't have to describe the overwhelming feeling we have about this assignment. Will you please pray for us?? That is a serious request. Please - we need your faith and prayers.

We are in the season of serious thunderstorms. Wed night a tornado took out part of Dickinson, where we have attended seminary and church. But inbetween the weather is beautiful. Some of the planted fields are canola, and right now their yellow blossoms turn the whole field bright yellow. It is beautiful to see as we travel. We'll put on some pictures. We are happy and healthy.

Love to all of you - Elder and Sister Harris