Robert writes home #121 September 5, 1999

September 5, 1999

Dear Magdalene,

                I didn’t make it down to see you at symposium week. Did I tell you that I happened into Emma Kate in the cafeteria? That was fun.

                I’m enclosing another check for Mom’s funeral expense.

                Our stake has an 80 acre raisin grape vineyard for a welfare project. The church members all go down to pick them and lay them our on paper trays to dry each year about his time. Grape harvest was the easiest ever this year. We had a light harvest. We were done by 8:30 AM (started at 6:30). The mutual kids went down on Wednesday, after school, and did about half of the rows. It was nice and cool and we had a good time.

                I have really been having everyone write their dreams of what they want to be in 10 years and put them in it. I’m curious to see what happens. One student suggested that we agree to not give names when we read the dreams and see if we can guess who wrote it by what they’ve become. I feel pretty sure that at least 90% will be identifiable by their dreams. A turning point in my life was when I heard a Sunday  School teacher quote someone who said,”Be careful of the goals you set for yourself, they are almost sure to come true”. I had trouble believing it then, but I believe it now. Most people’s big mistake is not selecting the right goals for themselves. They often aim too low because they lack self esteem, but if they had faith in their Heavenly Father and would consult him about choosing their goals they would know that they could accomplish any goal that was in harmony with his will. Faith gives a big upgrade to one’s life power. Just like the story of Gideon conquering the 13,000 Midianites with 300 men, in Judges 7.

                We’re going to wait to bury the capsule until after the Dos Palos-Los Banos football game, so we can include the newspaper article about the outcome in our time capsule. We want that and other NP articles giving an insight into the cultural interests and activities of our time.

                I did a lesson with a Shofar, trumpet,(animal horn trumpet) for an object lesson. It was fun.  I was able to borrow a hunting horn made from a cows horn. They are hard to blow. I finally made it blow. One of the girls blew it the first time. It’s loud. We used it with the story of Gideon and the Midianties in Judges 7.

                I went to a Los Banos scrimmage last Thursday night to watch one of my students, Mike Buckley, who was playing on the team this year. All the DP coaches were there scouting the team, getting ready for the game on the 17 of Sept between Los Banos and Dos Palos. Jenna Nunez, one of my students, is an LB cheerleader this year, so I’ll get to see two of my students at one event.

                Early morning Seminary is a real trial of faith for the students. Your faith isn’t tested until you’re called to do things that are hard and even appear impossible things that seem beyond your power and force to venture out, relying on divine help for success.

                I’m planning to go to Cedar Rapids this week end to visit Susie and Paul and kids. I hope I don’t get bumped off of any flights. Flying stand–by can be exciting sometimes.

                The gospel is true and it’s exciting to be involved with it in this important point in time when so much preparation n for the millennium is happening.

Love,

Robert