Comments:
Since our release from the Belgium Brussels Mission in 2000 I have served at BYU-Idaho for three years on the stake high council, then for three years as the Bishop of the 2nd Ward. I am currently serving as the Patriarch of the BYU-Idaho 5th Stake. I give the blessings in my office in the new Student Health Center near the Hinckley Building on the campus. There is a splendid view of the new Rexburg Temple from the window. Sister Hart served for 6 years on the Stake Relief Society Board and was assigned by the stake to my ward--we got to continue to work together. Now, she welcomes those coming to receive their patriarchal blessings, attends the blessings, and assists with the transcribing of the blessings. We are having a wonderful and very new experience. I am blessed to be learning another language, the language of the spirit. We have also been asked by our stake president to attend a different block of ward meetings each Sunday on the campus. There are twelve wards so it takes most of the semester to rotate around to each ward. This is a great blessing because we have the opportunity to get to know all of the members of this student stake. Most of the blessings are given on Sunday afternoon or evening and sometimes on Tuesday evenings. To date I have given 80 blessings to students from all over the world.
We have five married children and 15 grandchildren. We have been able to see all of them this summer.
Two summers ago we had the opportunity to spend seven weeks in Europe finishing with two weeks in the Belgium Brussels Mission Area. What a great reunion that was.
We just returned from SLC where we attended the 24th Pioneer Parade, visited with 12 youth from Belgium who were visiting the US from July 4th to July 25th. They were on a float in the parade. They had the opportunity to go to EFY, the MTC, see the Joseph Smith film, spend an hour with President Thomas S. Monson, and conclude with a lovely testimony meeting in the chapel in the Joseph Smith Building. What a life building experience each of them has had thanks to the planning and organization of Bro. and Sis. Orlando Casares and their four children.
Our testimonies are growing every day as we study the Sunday School lesson each morning for the upcoming week. We love to serve the youth of the church. We live in difficult times and it is essential to hold firmly to the rod of iron, to be obedient with exactness and always remember Jesus Christ.
We wish you peace and happiness in all of your endeavors. We shall always remember you and be grateful that we had the opportunity to serve our Lord and Master with you. We acknowledge the hand of the Lord in our lives each day. We are especially grateful to read the Book of Mormon together each morning.
We love you. We trust you.
President and Sister Hart |
