The last full week of January was a good one. Monday there was no school (MLK Day) so we had no students stop by. But that evening was FHE, at the church this time - volleyball, group and board games, and BB elimination at the end. Volleyball is their favorite.

Since we are in church clothes we never play. The "Branch Moms" (wives of Branch Presidency and Sister Mumford) brought the refreshments - soup, 7-layer dip and chips, apples with dip, homemade hot chocolate, and cheese 'n crackers (a feast actually). YSAs and food seem to always go together!

Speaking of food, we had 12 students for lunch on Tuesday (Gary taught about the feast with Simon the Pharisee) and 10 on Friday (Brenda taught about Lazarus being restored to life - not food related:). Sadly no non-members this week for Munch & Mingle. We need to remind our students more often to invite their friends! We had 30 here for Institute on Thursday night including 1 Muslim girl who attends the Book of Mormon class regularly - and attends the Branch on Sundays. In her faith she was taught that Jesus was a prophet but not divine. Hopefully one day she will come to know Jesus as the Son of God. Gary's Institute night lesson ended with talking about the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum. What amazing men!

More food: We took our Elders to a goodbye dinner on our free evening (Tuesday). Elder Magleby has nearly completed his mission and is going home in the next transfer. He said it was the best burger he has ever had! It was 6 inches tall! He ate the WHOLE thing. Saturday was a fun preparation day. We met the other senior couple in our district for breakfast and then went to see "Lincoln". Excellent movie. (senior missionaries have different rules that young missionaries!)

That afternoon, while our YSAs headed to Indianapolis for a regional YSA activity, we headed to a wedding reception. It was for one of our now former students, in Winchester - about 35 minutes away (you go by time in Indiana - not distance!). The Winchester Branch meets in a store that has been converted into a church building. It was pretty cool. The chapel is also the cultural hall - just move the chairs around. When Latterday Saint missionaries first came to Winchester in 1831 they baptized 100 people in the area and started a Branch of the church there. Those saints would have gathered to Kirtland, Missouri or Illinois and probably came to Utah with the pioneers. Today there is only a small branch there. We got a new Relief Society presidency on Sunday. Funny thing - the new president just submitted mission papers and will be receiving her call in a couple weeks. She will gain some valuable experience before she leaves!