Wednesday, July 22, 2009
North Park Stake Picnic
The North Park Stake Picnic was held this year at Lion's Park. It was so much fun to see so many youth there. We had the priesthood making hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill. The Relief Society brought yummy salads and chips. Then there were snow cones, cotton candy, and watermelon. We also had an opportunity to make and launch rockets, play volleyball or just hang out. Thanks for all of you coming out and don't forget to click on the picture below and look at the pictures! Perhaps your picture may be there.
NP Stake Picnic
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Mission Activity
Youth that were able to attend:
The activity started on Friday the 5th at 9:00 am. Youth arrived dressed smartly carrying bags full of clothes, toothbrushes, and scriptures. They checked in, put in their order for dinner, and received information packets and "Preach My Gospel" manuals. Some of the parents were able to stay for the orientation which included the classic "Called to Serve" video and activity details and goals given by President Sabins. The parents were then invited to return home, walking out one side of the chapel, while the youth missionaries walked out the other. Before the youth attended their first classes of the day, Michael and Brad performed a short rap they wrote about the mission activity for the camera. Bro. Adams and Sis. Hames were asked to each teach half of the group, and then switch youth after an hour. These two classes focused on the first missionary lesson and studying the scriptures. Sis. Hames also shared an experience she had had while on a youth mini mission herself. She and her companion knocked on the door of young woman who was seeking for the truths of the gospel and after hearing them teach, decided to get baptized the following week. The spiritual feast the youth received in these morning classes was then supplemented with a 7-foot hoagie sandwich, chips, and water. As sandwiches and chips were washed down, Michael and Brad prepared and performed another two raps about Bro. Hames and then about the young women. All the youth then returned together for a large group meeting instructed by recently returned missionary Bro. Idos. He kept their attention well by giving insights into how to recognize the Spirit. He also managed to work in an entertaining object lesson where he threw a piece of cake. The youth then went to the cultural hall where they enjoyed a half hour game of nerf baseball. Before the young women completely embarrassed the young men with their mighty home runs, the youth gathered to practice a musical number. The final activity of the day included three rounds of teaching practice, where the youth were able to teach the first lesson to specially invited members of the stake. Some of the youth remarked how nerve-racking this was as they ate their Cafe Rio entrees for dinner. The youth were then partnered off with recently instructed host families that were in charge of providing transportation, lodging, and morning and evening meals for the remainder of the activity. The youth were able to meet the full-time missionaries and make a few visits with them Friday evening. Each youth was assigned to a missionary companionship and they worked with them throughout Saturday and Sunday up until the fireside. At the fireside the youth shared testimonies of how much they enjoyed the experience. Comments were made about how well the full-time missionaries prepared for each household they visited, how uplifting and strong the Spirit felt the whole time, and how great it was to have a chance to share how they knew certain principles of the gospel were true with people who were really seeking for the truth. Carson shared an insightful experience that started off with an uneasy meeting with a stranger that claimed to know her, that turned to be a case of mistaken identity. Carson looked like and had the same name as an old classmate of the gentleman and after realizing this, the man tracked down and contacted the real classmate. At church the next day, Carson found out that he had contacted the girl he hadn't seen for so long and that in the end she requested that he send the missionaries to teach her the gospel. Ruben also shared a wonderful experience with a single mother struggling with trials that seemed to intensify as she began investigating the church. He had the opportunity to share his testimony with her and was prompted to share a specific scripture in 1 Nefi were the Lord promises to prepare the way for those that obey his commandments. He shared with great emotion that the Spirit in the room became very strong, and that the mother thanked him through tears for the words he had shared. He said that it was one of the most amazing experiences of his life. The fireside concluded with a few thoughts from Pres. Sabins and the musical number prepared by the youth. Overall it was a great experience for both leaders and especially youth.
| Young Women | Young Men |
| Carson | Brad |
| Aubrey | Max |
| PJ | Jake |
| Marco | |
| Ruben | |
| Michael | |
| Daniel |
The activity started on Friday the 5th at 9:00 am. Youth arrived dressed smartly carrying bags full of clothes, toothbrushes, and scriptures. They checked in, put in their order for dinner, and received information packets and "Preach My Gospel" manuals. Some of the parents were able to stay for the orientation which included the classic "Called to Serve" video and activity details and goals given by President Sabins. The parents were then invited to return home, walking out one side of the chapel, while the youth missionaries walked out the other. Before the youth attended their first classes of the day, Michael and Brad performed a short rap they wrote about the mission activity for the camera. Bro. Adams and Sis. Hames were asked to each teach half of the group, and then switch youth after an hour. These two classes focused on the first missionary lesson and studying the scriptures. Sis. Hames also shared an experience she had had while on a youth mini mission herself. She and her companion knocked on the door of young woman who was seeking for the truths of the gospel and after hearing them teach, decided to get baptized the following week. The spiritual feast the youth received in these morning classes was then supplemented with a 7-foot hoagie sandwich, chips, and water. As sandwiches and chips were washed down, Michael and Brad prepared and performed another two raps about Bro. Hames and then about the young women. All the youth then returned together for a large group meeting instructed by recently returned missionary Bro. Idos. He kept their attention well by giving insights into how to recognize the Spirit. He also managed to work in an entertaining object lesson where he threw a piece of cake. The youth then went to the cultural hall where they enjoyed a half hour game of nerf baseball. Before the young women completely embarrassed the young men with their mighty home runs, the youth gathered to practice a musical number. The final activity of the day included three rounds of teaching practice, where the youth were able to teach the first lesson to specially invited members of the stake. Some of the youth remarked how nerve-racking this was as they ate their Cafe Rio entrees for dinner. The youth were then partnered off with recently instructed host families that were in charge of providing transportation, lodging, and morning and evening meals for the remainder of the activity. The youth were able to meet the full-time missionaries and make a few visits with them Friday evening. Each youth was assigned to a missionary companionship and they worked with them throughout Saturday and Sunday up until the fireside. At the fireside the youth shared testimonies of how much they enjoyed the experience. Comments were made about how well the full-time missionaries prepared for each household they visited, how uplifting and strong the Spirit felt the whole time, and how great it was to have a chance to share how they knew certain principles of the gospel were true with people who were really seeking for the truth. Carson shared an insightful experience that started off with an uneasy meeting with a stranger that claimed to know her, that turned to be a case of mistaken identity. Carson looked like and had the same name as an old classmate of the gentleman and after realizing this, the man tracked down and contacted the real classmate. At church the next day, Carson found out that he had contacted the girl he hadn't seen for so long and that in the end she requested that he send the missionaries to teach her the gospel. Ruben also shared a wonderful experience with a single mother struggling with trials that seemed to intensify as she began investigating the church. He had the opportunity to share his testimony with her and was prompted to share a specific scripture in 1 Nefi were the Lord promises to prepare the way for those that obey his commandments. He shared with great emotion that the Spirit in the room became very strong, and that the mother thanked him through tears for the words he had shared. He said that it was one of the most amazing experiences of his life. The fireside concluded with a few thoughts from Pres. Sabins and the musical number prepared by the youth. Overall it was a great experience for both leaders and especially youth.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Service Project at Countryside Manor
Only a couple of people showed up last month to plan what would be done at this service activity, but they came up with an excellent suggestion that went very well. Youth and leaders gathered at the Stake Center cultural hall starting at 9:00 socializing while eating some donuts and drinking hot chocolate. This was nice in that it gave time for everyone to show up so that they didn't miss the service project. There was a total of about 34 people, youth and leaders, join us. At 9:30 we dividing up transportation assignments and went to Countryside Manor assisted living facility. A large basket of books was taken with for the youth to use and the facility had lots of hymn books, and the youth and leaders were asked to go in groups of two or three and knock on doors to introduce themselves and ask if they could visit with the residents.Each group of youth and leaders was able to visit about two or three different individuals, singing them songs, reading them stories, and getting to know them. Many of the youth reported that they enjoyed themselves, and made comments of how the people they visited had humorous personalities and were fun to visit with. Some learned about challenging times in the lives of those they visited like living during the Great Depression, etc. Some young men even found a resident who was playing a WII video game and he invited the young men to join him. The activity wrapped up at about 11:00. It was an enjoyable activity.
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