YSAs!
This is the week of YSAs. We sat in class from 8 til almost 5, with breaks of course and an hour for lunch. We were taught by three different men and one senior couple. It was all about teaching the gospel to YSAs, and I enjoyed every minute. The teaching skills can be used in any setting, and are invaluable for one who is teaching the gospel especially. It is more of a "Let's learn together" approach.
At one point, the teacher modeled the way to teach a lesson, and he chose a lesson on how to nurture a marriage. It was flawless.....I hardly realized we were having a lesson because it seemed so conversational. He asked us to turn to our companion (SK) and tell him something I appreciated about him. I actually got quite emotional about it....which is funny, because generally I am not emotional. SK - on the other hand - has been tearing up several times a day, when we are speaking about something very tender or very spiritual.
As soon as the last class finished, we went out to the front gate where Sister Heilner picked us up. She and her husband served in Oxford until July, and technically are the ones we are replacing. She drove us to her lovely home, where she had dinner prepared for us. Besides SK and me, Brother and Sister Wells (The couple who served there before the Heilners), four YSAs from England were there. Also there was a young woman who is the institute instructor, and from all counts is absolutely dynamic. She is here to present a lecture at BYU on a book she has written. Her boyfriend from Germany was there with her.
It was wonderful!!!!! You know when you have one child, you think you could never love another child as much. Then that second one comes along and your heart stretches out with great love for both. Then a third comes and you have even greater capacity. We already know that is similar to how we are going to feel about these young people at Oxford. We love the ones we met tonight.....they are so dear already.
Last night at the devotional, I looked around at the hundreds of scrubbed clean, fresh young faces. My heart swelled. I couldn't help but think, "These young people are the best we have. We are sending them out into the world with our highest hopes that they will be able to share the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ...Our highest hopes that they will bring about great things. I know everything in their lives isn't easy, but I so admire their courage and willingness to serve.
The Heilners and Wells told us that we will also be spending time with the young missionaries. It sounds like we will be interacting with them a fair amount of time. They will have their district conferences in our apartment, and we will be inspecting their apartments for starters.
That's good news.
At one point, the teacher modeled the way to teach a lesson, and he chose a lesson on how to nurture a marriage. It was flawless.....I hardly realized we were having a lesson because it seemed so conversational. He asked us to turn to our companion (SK) and tell him something I appreciated about him. I actually got quite emotional about it....which is funny, because generally I am not emotional. SK - on the other hand - has been tearing up several times a day, when we are speaking about something very tender or very spiritual.
As soon as the last class finished, we went out to the front gate where Sister Heilner picked us up. She and her husband served in Oxford until July, and technically are the ones we are replacing. She drove us to her lovely home, where she had dinner prepared for us. Besides SK and me, Brother and Sister Wells (The couple who served there before the Heilners), four YSAs from England were there. Also there was a young woman who is the institute instructor, and from all counts is absolutely dynamic. She is here to present a lecture at BYU on a book she has written. Her boyfriend from Germany was there with her.
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| Aren't they cute? |
It was wonderful!!!!! You know when you have one child, you think you could never love another child as much. Then that second one comes along and your heart stretches out with great love for both. Then a third comes and you have even greater capacity. We already know that is similar to how we are going to feel about these young people at Oxford. We love the ones we met tonight.....they are so dear already.
Last night at the devotional, I looked around at the hundreds of scrubbed clean, fresh young faces. My heart swelled. I couldn't help but think, "These young people are the best we have. We are sending them out into the world with our highest hopes that they will be able to share the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ...Our highest hopes that they will bring about great things. I know everything in their lives isn't easy, but I so admire their courage and willingness to serve.
The Heilners and Wells told us that we will also be spending time with the young missionaries. It sounds like we will be interacting with them a fair amount of time. They will have their district conferences in our apartment, and we will be inspecting their apartments for starters.
That's good news.
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| This is the line yesterday for dinner. Normally, meetings are staggered so that everyone isn't in the cafeteria at the same time. Someone must have erred, because this line was just as long on the inside of the cafeteria as it is in this very long hallway! |
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