Monday, August 13, 2012

Monday, August 6, 2012


It is FIREWEED season in Anchorage and the magenta spikes are blooming everywhere!  Huge stands like this one along the Glenn Highway are thrilling. The show has has been on for a month already and will continue for several more weeks.  Some (patient souls) pick bushels of the blossoms to make a beautiful, dark-pink jelly.
 August 4 we helped with a Seminary Teachers Symposium held at the Anchorage Institute.  Thirty-five volunteer early-morning seminary teachers from all over Alaska met for a day of instruction and inspiration as they prepare for teaching the New Testament to high-schoolers this fall.  These brothers and sisters are impressive for their dedication, energy, humility, and Gospel scholarship.  It was a joy to be with them and cook for them!
On August 3, 4, and 5 over 300 Young Single Adults from all over Alaska met for a conference here in Anchorage to culminate an Area-wide "Summer of Service." (Along with other service, Alaska YSA's have completed over 2,300 temple ordinances this summer!)  They enjoyed dances, games, spiritual workshops, temple sessions, and a final block of Sunday meetings. We got to teach one of the Sunday School classes.  Here some of our wonderful Wasilla YSA's work to make hundreds of lunch sandwiches for the overflow crowd.