HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  We had two Thanksgiving celebrations.  Here we are at the mission home with the other Anchorage senior missionary couples at a dinner hosted by President and Sister Beesley.  We always enjoy being with these energetic, faithful elders and sisters. They have assignments from taking care of the mission vehicles and apartments to finances and counseling. Along with the turkey, we got to sample each family's traditional favorite foods from "Dixie salad" to carrot pudding.  

Later in the day we ate again at the Institute where Brother and Sister Manumaleuma hosted a hybrid Polynesian/Traditional American feast for the area's young single adults who "needed a place to go."  We enjoyed games and relaxed visiting. As we drove home, we noticed the crowds already lining up for "Black Friday" deals at the local stores--even though it was only 4 degrees outside! 

On Thursday evenings, we team-teach the Pathway Book of Mormon class.  Here Mary is conducting a search and report activity.  The young man in the suit will be the "lead student" who will lead the discussion in the Pathway "life-skills" class which follows. 

This photo shows a recent Wednesday night New Testament class at the Institute.  Brother Bacon, center, is an effective, inspiring, and popular teacher.  We feel blessed to be able to work with him and these wonderful YSA students.

Elder Hawkins is a wonderful "sous-chef" at the Institute on Fridays when we have "Soup and the Spirit."  Here he is peeling a ton of potatoes for the potato and ham soup we served last Friday to about 30 people. Along with the soup (different each week), we serve homemade bread and brownies.  Along with the meal we are treated to wonderful spiritual messages delivered by a series of specially-chosen local Church members.

These are the two University of Alaska Anchorage athletes who attend Institute.  Teancum  is a guard on the basketball team.  He is from Auburn, WA, and played at Snow College.  In a recent tournament, he was the most valuable player.  Sariaye  is a gymnast.  She is from Las Vegas.  Her favorite event is the uneven parallel bars, but because of a shoulder injury, she is focusing on the balance beam.    Gymnastic competition starts in January.

Each week Elder Hawkins teaches the "Mission Preparation" class at the Institute.  These students either have a mission call or are currently applying to serve full-time missions for the Church.  Here they are practicing sharing Gospel principles with each other.  Since the Church announced a new lower age for missionary service, there has been a upsurge of interest, especially among the young women. 

 Every Friday night we hold "Waffle Night" at the Institute Building.  Kids come to eat waffles, play informal games, and just hang out.  This group got started on this 750-piece puzzle of St George and were so pleased to finish it!


The Regional YSA Halloween dance in Eagle River is an annual highlight.  The costumes were so creative; the YSAs filled the gym with rhythm, laughter, and good fun.  Refreshments included root beer, pudding and Oreo "Dirt," worms, brownie "eyeballs" and other delights.

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 One of our main CES missionary responsibilities is to conduct the BYU-I Pathway program for a cohort of 26 young adults at the Anchorage Institute.  In this photo part of our group is putting on a skit for class last week.  We meet each Thursday evening for 2 1/2 hours.  We missionaries teach a Book of Mormon class; then the students (directed by a "lead student") review together what they have been learning in their BYU-I online class.  These are dedicated students who are eager to try out college, and we hope to help them feel confident and successful in pursuing their education.

 

 Our tradition is to invite all the Anchorage YSA's to the Institute Building to watch the Saturday sessions of General Conference together.  They start arriving about 7:30 am to eat breakfast cereal before the first session starts at 8:00 am.  Between sessions we serve taco salad.  Here are some of our young men assembling some amazing creations from all the ingredients we have laid out.  There has been an enthusiastic response to the announcement of lowering the age for missionaries.  In the mission preparation class, we had two new 19 year-old young women who had already seen their bishop.