HELLO from President and Sister Grow!
Since we’ve been home five years, we thought this was a good time for a California Sacramento Reunion. SO MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Date: October 5, 2007 (Friday before General Conference)
Time: 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. (start early to avoid rush hour traffic)
Place: Granite View Stake Center
9880 South 3100 East Sandy, Utah 84092
(same location as previous reunions)
Short Program: 7:00 p.m.
Dress: Casual
Snacks & Drinks Provided
Dates, Spouses and Children Welcome!
President Grow is traveling much of the time these days, so if you want to say hello, the reunion will be the perfect time! We look forward to meeting new spouses, new babies, and just "catching up" with all of you. We have enlisted the help of Richard Ure (richard_ure@hotmail.com) and Gary Fears (gfears@gmail.com) for the reunion. If you would like to help with set-up or clean-up, please email them. We also need updated email addresses. (We will be in England from Sept. 16-26 tracing Parley P. Pratt’s missionary footsteps.)
MICHAEL KELLEY
Yesterday, we received some sad news. Michael Kelley, who served the Hmong people in the California Sacramento Mission from 2/16/2000 to 4/4/2002, died September 11, 2007, in a tragic car accident on the way to work. He had recently graduated from the police academy and was in training with the Seattle Police Department. He was married to Kendall Steelman of Portland, Oregon and leaves behind a 20 month old, Elise. Kendall is also 5 months pregnant with a baby girl. The funeral will be held on Monday, September 17th at 11:00 am in Maple Valley, WA. Kendall is updating a blog where you can find more information:
http://www.michael-kendall.blogspot.com.
OUR SUGGESTIONS: First, in memory of Elder Kelley, we would like to send Kendall some money from us and from any of you that served in the California Sacramento Mission who would like to contribute. If you would like to participate in this effort, please bring your contribution to the reunion or send a check made out to Robert Grow (9767 Little Cottonwood Place, Sandy, UT 84092) and we will see that Kendall gets the money as well as the names of those who contributed. Second, if you knew Elder Kelley, it would be very appropriate to send Kendall an email about your service together. These memories will be meaningful to Kendall and will help her children know their father better as they grow older. We know that many of you have choice experiences that you could share with them. At your age, most of you have not lost friends in death, and although you may feel prompted by the spirit to write to Kendall, you may feel uncomfortable or inadequate to express your feelings. Set those feelings aside and reach out to her with your memories so that Elder Kelley’s children may have a special record of his missionary service. You can reach Kendall at kendallkelley24@gmail.com. It is at times like this that we are most grateful for the atonement of the Savior, and we are especially grateful that Elder Kelley lived the gospel of Jesus Christ and has successfully completed his mission here on earth. His loss will be felt deeply by his family as well as by all of us who loved him.