October Activities

October brought us past the halfway mark in our fall semester institute classes, and also included several branch parties and Halloween activities. We had a fall outing with the branch at an apple orchard near K'Zoo which included a hay ride, a corn maze, lunch together on the lawn and lots of fresh-pressed cider and donuts. Then we had the big regional Halloween dance which included students from all over southern Michigan and northern Indiana which was hosted at the institute. We helped decorate and undecorate for that, plus a FHE which included pumpkin carving (see pictures). Then on Halloween night we all got together at a member of the branch presidency's house for chili with half the branch there in costumes. It made for fun as the trick or treaters came to the door. If it sounds like CES missions are a lot of fun that is certainly true, since we are having fun all the time. However, we do have some serious lessons in our institute classes and in our branch callings. So we have the best of both worlds, great spiritual missionary effort and lots of great fun and good times with the branch members. We love them all very much. In October we car pooled for a trip to the Chicago temple with about 15 from the branch where we did baptisms and then got together for tacos and Mexican food afterwards. We pushed a bunch of tables in the restaurant together and all sat at one big table--see picture. It was extra warm in October and we have only just started to have frost on the windshield in the morning. You grandchildren will be happy to know that we have three different types of squirrels in Michigan. The missionaries have named them Nephite squirrels (light brown), Lamanite squirrels (black) and Jaradite squirrels (grey). We have lots of Nephite squirrels living in our housing complex and they are all busy gathering nuts for the winter. We see them scampering out of the trees as we leave for the church each morning. We have missionary work going well in the branch. Today, Nov 4, we started a forty-day branch fast for missionary work. That involved having each member of the branch sign up for a different day over the next forty days to fast and to offer prayer for three things: 1) that they will know who to talk to at school about the gospel, 2) that they will have the courage to talk with them and ask them to meet with the missionaries, and 3) so that the Lord will bless the teaching of the missionaries so we will have several new members join the branch. We are also having a campus dress up day when all of the students wear their Sunday clothes to school on the same day along with missionary tags that we are making for them. They have all committed to do this, which is no easy undertaking on the largely secular campuses. Well, that is our news for this month. We are really enjoying our mission and all the wonderful letters that we get from our grandchildren. Thank you. Elder Grandpa and Sister Grandma.