We have received two new families from Bishop Kruger. We are anxious to meet them and see how we can serve them. Here is what the Bishop has told us about them.
The d'Hulst family moved into the area approximately 9 months ago from an Army base in Louisiana. Lianna recently went through a divorce and is working as a Single Mother. She has four active children. She works at a Bank and has desires to move forward and become a Paralegal, like her mother and eventually go to Law School. She's ambitious and determined, but is fighting through a number of obstacles. Her four children: Brennin - 10, Elike - 8, Joseph - 5, and Akasha - 3. She is a regular Sacrament meeting attender, then often gets discouraged and goes home as the children act up. You can survey the situation to determine how they can best be served. My goals for them are to attend church weekly at all meetings, have Lianna attend the temple on a regular basis, have FHE, and start to make and be a friend to others in the surrounding areas. The children are scheduled to visit/be with their Army father in Louisiana for the Summer. Address: 475 North Redwood Road #57 (Townhomes). Phone: 907-687-0443. I have talked to Lianna about having Service Missionaries working with the family.
Fetu Solovi is a Polynesian (Samoan) sister in the ward. She has nine children. Three girls stay with her in the home. They live in the Woodcrest Condominiums at 1860 West 500 North #(?). Three of her children are staying with her: Apaau Julie - 18, Seini - 16, Kaati - 15. Other children have been farmed to other relatives, some I know, others I do not know. Fetu works at night and is often away from the girls. The girls are left alone for long stretches at a time. I have talked with Sister Solovi about you. It would be probably advisable to go with you the first time. Seini and Kaati attend church most of the time, Apaau attends the YSA ward, goes to Magna with relatives and attends the ward. The girls are big into rugby and quite good. One daughter, Etta is competing to be on the USA team in the Olympics and has been under contract to play rugby professionally in France, but injured her knee. I think you will really like this family. The girls have some learning disabilities, I believe. Kaati, certainly does.
More to come as we get to know them and access how we can help.
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Friday, April 29, 2016
Addiction Recovery Program
At one of our recent missionary training meetings we were introduced to the LDS Family Services Addiction Recovery Program. This program has adapted the original Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous into a framework of the doctrines, principles, and beliefs of the church with special focus on the Atonement. When I served as Bishop this program was just getting started. This program is designed to help persons to be healed and cured from all manner of addictions.
Here are the 12 Steps:
#1 Honesty - Admit that you, yourself, are powerless to overcome your addictions and that your life has become unmanageable.
#2 Hope - Come to believe that the power of God can restore you to complete spiritual health.
#3 Trust in God - Decide to turn your will and your life over to the care of God the Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
#4 Truth - Make a searching and fearless written moral inventory of yourself.
#5 Confession - Admit to yourself, to your Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, to proper priesthood authority, and to another person the exact nature of your wrongs.
#6 Change of Heart - Become entirely ready to have God remove all your character weaknesses.
#7 Humility - Humbly ask Heavenly Father to remove your shortcomings.
#8 Seeking Forgiveness - Make a written list of persons you have harmed and become willing to make restitution to them.
#9 Restitution and Reconciliation - Wherever possible, make direct restitution to all persons you have harmed.
#10 Daily Accountability - Continue to take personal inventory, and when you are wrong promptly admit it.
#11 Personal Revelation - Seek through prayer and meditation to know the Lord's will and to have the power to carry it out.
#12 Service - Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, share this message with others and practice these principles in all you do.
Many of the people the Inner City Mission that the missionaries work with are suffering from one form or another of personal addictions. Alicia is not exception to this. She is dealing with current addictions as well as past addictions and the consequences of her actions. Bishop Kurger, 2 years ago encouraged her to participate in the Addiction Recovery Program. We likewise, recently have been encouraging her as well. We believe that because of the trust we have built with Alicia she finally agreed to participate and we took her to her first session Wednesday night. What a special experience. Her heart was touched, she expressed her feelings and problems to the group and is anxious to return and continue in the program. We told her we would take her every week and support her in her recovery.
We know that when old "scratch" as my Dad would call him, gets a hold your heart and spirit it is very hard and difficult to change. We are beginning to see that change in Alicia. We hope and pray that it will continue but are fully aware that there will be peaks and valleys in this process.
Here are the 12 Steps:
#1 Honesty - Admit that you, yourself, are powerless to overcome your addictions and that your life has become unmanageable.
#2 Hope - Come to believe that the power of God can restore you to complete spiritual health.
#3 Trust in God - Decide to turn your will and your life over to the care of God the Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
#4 Truth - Make a searching and fearless written moral inventory of yourself.
#5 Confession - Admit to yourself, to your Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, to proper priesthood authority, and to another person the exact nature of your wrongs.
#6 Change of Heart - Become entirely ready to have God remove all your character weaknesses.
#7 Humility - Humbly ask Heavenly Father to remove your shortcomings.
#8 Seeking Forgiveness - Make a written list of persons you have harmed and become willing to make restitution to them.
#9 Restitution and Reconciliation - Wherever possible, make direct restitution to all persons you have harmed.
#10 Daily Accountability - Continue to take personal inventory, and when you are wrong promptly admit it.
#11 Personal Revelation - Seek through prayer and meditation to know the Lord's will and to have the power to carry it out.
#12 Service - Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, share this message with others and practice these principles in all you do.
Many of the people the Inner City Mission that the missionaries work with are suffering from one form or another of personal addictions. Alicia is not exception to this. She is dealing with current addictions as well as past addictions and the consequences of her actions. Bishop Kurger, 2 years ago encouraged her to participate in the Addiction Recovery Program. We likewise, recently have been encouraging her as well. We believe that because of the trust we have built with Alicia she finally agreed to participate and we took her to her first session Wednesday night. What a special experience. Her heart was touched, she expressed her feelings and problems to the group and is anxious to return and continue in the program. We told her we would take her every week and support her in her recovery.
We know that when old "scratch" as my Dad would call him, gets a hold your heart and spirit it is very hard and difficult to change. We are beginning to see that change in Alicia. We hope and pray that it will continue but are fully aware that there will be peaks and valleys in this process.
Sunday, April 10, 2016
UNDERSTANDING POVERTY
One aspect of our mission training was a course entitled "Bridges Out of Poverty." This three hour course was nothing short of eye opening! I (Barbara) was so impressed I bought the book and read it. I don't know which it helped me with the most: my work at the prison or our service in the mission. These people generally come from a similar background. I feel I have so much more understanding of why it is so difficult to change these people's life for the better. The best hope for them is to have a mentor--hence, the inner-city missionaries. Everything we learned applies to Alicia.
A couple of weeks ago she texted and asked me to accompany her to her SS Disability hearing to provide moral support. I was touched that she would ask me so I took the day off work to accompany her. It turns out that I was not admitted into the hearing, so I waited in the lobby and read a book. I was just happy I could be there for Alicia. I truly hope she gets approved for the disability--with degenerative arthritis she's not going to get any better. Having that regular money coming in each month would be a major step toward her becoming self-reliant. She told me that if she gets approved, she wants me to help her set up a budget (something I happen to be pretty good at). It also looks like she is going to finish her high school diploma for June graduation. She said I will be the first one she will invite. (that's what makes this all worthwhile)
A couple of weeks ago she texted and asked me to accompany her to her SS Disability hearing to provide moral support. I was touched that she would ask me so I took the day off work to accompany her. It turns out that I was not admitted into the hearing, so I waited in the lobby and read a book. I was just happy I could be there for Alicia. I truly hope she gets approved for the disability--with degenerative arthritis she's not going to get any better. Having that regular money coming in each month would be a major step toward her becoming self-reliant. She told me that if she gets approved, she wants me to help her set up a budget (something I happen to be pretty good at). It also looks like she is going to finish her high school diploma for June graduation. She said I will be the first one she will invite. (that's what makes this all worthwhile)
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Tearful Good Bye
Last night we said good bye to Innocent.
We met Innocent for dinner and had a wonderful talk with him, learning more about his family. He has 5 children. Son 24, Son 22, Daughter 20, Daughter 18, Son 10 all who have not seen him for 6 years. As he would talk about each one he would smile as any proud father would do. Most of all I am sure is very anxious to she is wife. As we mentioned before she struggles with health issues, primarily diabetes and other related issues.
Innocent feels that after being gone for 6 years it will be safe for him to return. In 1995 he and his family fled Congo to Rwanda. He returned to Congo in 2010 to assist in the organization he was employed by and that was when he was captured. He said living in Rwanda will be safe. His wife has a job and makes a meager $250.00 per month which has been sustaining his family. He feels it will take him about six months to find a job.
We gave him the locations of the 3 branches in Rwanda and counseled him that the church will need him and he will need the church. He is planning on reaching out when he gets there.
After dinner we went back to his apartment and met Brother Weight the High Priest Group Leader of the Meadow Ward and gave Innocent a blessing. That is when the tears began to come. We have grown to love and admire Innocent for his courage and faith. We will truly miss him. I gave him my email address and hope we will be able to keep in touch.
He leaves Saturday on the bus for Las Vegas. The reason he is leaving from Las Vegas is the flights are less expensive out of Las Vegas, plus he left his passport their with friends when he briefly stayed there before he came to Utah. He leaves Las Vegas on Monday, flys to LA and then to Ethiopia and then on to Rwanda. It will be Wednesday when he arrives. He will have spent over 33 hours of traveling. He could have got there sooner but that would have been double to price.
We wish him well and hope to hear from him soon.
We met Innocent for dinner and had a wonderful talk with him, learning more about his family. He has 5 children. Son 24, Son 22, Daughter 20, Daughter 18, Son 10 all who have not seen him for 6 years. As he would talk about each one he would smile as any proud father would do. Most of all I am sure is very anxious to she is wife. As we mentioned before she struggles with health issues, primarily diabetes and other related issues.
Innocent feels that after being gone for 6 years it will be safe for him to return. In 1995 he and his family fled Congo to Rwanda. He returned to Congo in 2010 to assist in the organization he was employed by and that was when he was captured. He said living in Rwanda will be safe. His wife has a job and makes a meager $250.00 per month which has been sustaining his family. He feels it will take him about six months to find a job.
We gave him the locations of the 3 branches in Rwanda and counseled him that the church will need him and he will need the church. He is planning on reaching out when he gets there.
After dinner we went back to his apartment and met Brother Weight the High Priest Group Leader of the Meadow Ward and gave Innocent a blessing. That is when the tears began to come. We have grown to love and admire Innocent for his courage and faith. We will truly miss him. I gave him my email address and hope we will be able to keep in touch.
He leaves Saturday on the bus for Las Vegas. The reason he is leaving from Las Vegas is the flights are less expensive out of Las Vegas, plus he left his passport their with friends when he briefly stayed there before he came to Utah. He leaves Las Vegas on Monday, flys to LA and then to Ethiopia and then on to Rwanda. It will be Wednesday when he arrives. He will have spent over 33 hours of traveling. He could have got there sooner but that would have been double to price.
We wish him well and hope to hear from him soon.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
What Matters Most
Last Friday I received a text message from Innocent saying that he has a family emergency in Africa and really needed to talk to me.
I was driving on my way to work when I got the text and immediately called him. I could tell something was wrong but I had no idea what he was about to tell me. He asked if I could come and spend sometime with him. I had things at work I needed to get to but immediately a calm feeling came over me to not worry about that and go see Innocent.
Innocent is usually so happy and smiling each time I am with him. With tears running down his face he told me that his 18 year old daughter tried to commit suicide the day before and is in the hospital. He further told me that this was not the first time. She had tried once before a few weeks ago but was not serious.
He then told me that he needed to go home and protect his family. He could not stay in America any longer. He said his family is broken and he needs to be there to bring them back together. Innocent has been gone from his family for close to 6 six years; 4 years of running, imprisonment, and torture and 1.5 years in America.
In previous discussions Innocent has stated that going back to Congo would not be possible because he would be tracked and most likely killed. His family is in Rwanda and he feels he can be safe there.
As the conversation went on I could tell that leaving was what would be best for him and his family. I began to ask myself how can we make this happen? Innocent does not have the resources to get himself back to Africa. The only money he has to his name is $400.00. It would take close to $1200.00 for a one way ticket. Further more he wanted to leave ASAP. I told Innocent I would call Bishop Kruger and let him know since he was his Bishop. Bishop Kruger was surprised as I was but felt this would be best for him as well. We talked about how we could financially make this work. He said he would talk with President Keller.
On Saturday I received notice that the church would pay for the plane ticket to Africa. The love that the Savior has for his children and the resources of the church are just amazing. Innocent will be leaving on Monday April 4th and arriving in Rwanda on April 6th. Both the Bishop and the Stake President felt that there was a reason for Innocent finding the church and excepting the gospel in America. They felt he would be a great asset to the small branch in Rwanda.
At church Sunday Innocent looked so happy and relieved. He and his family will be reunited very shortly. Barbara and I will be taking Innocent out to dinner this Wednesday evening and then his home teacher and I will be giving him a Priesthood Blessing.
I was driving on my way to work when I got the text and immediately called him. I could tell something was wrong but I had no idea what he was about to tell me. He asked if I could come and spend sometime with him. I had things at work I needed to get to but immediately a calm feeling came over me to not worry about that and go see Innocent.
Innocent is usually so happy and smiling each time I am with him. With tears running down his face he told me that his 18 year old daughter tried to commit suicide the day before and is in the hospital. He further told me that this was not the first time. She had tried once before a few weeks ago but was not serious.
He then told me that he needed to go home and protect his family. He could not stay in America any longer. He said his family is broken and he needs to be there to bring them back together. Innocent has been gone from his family for close to 6 six years; 4 years of running, imprisonment, and torture and 1.5 years in America.
In previous discussions Innocent has stated that going back to Congo would not be possible because he would be tracked and most likely killed. His family is in Rwanda and he feels he can be safe there.
As the conversation went on I could tell that leaving was what would be best for him and his family. I began to ask myself how can we make this happen? Innocent does not have the resources to get himself back to Africa. The only money he has to his name is $400.00. It would take close to $1200.00 for a one way ticket. Further more he wanted to leave ASAP. I told Innocent I would call Bishop Kruger and let him know since he was his Bishop. Bishop Kruger was surprised as I was but felt this would be best for him as well. We talked about how we could financially make this work. He said he would talk with President Keller.
On Saturday I received notice that the church would pay for the plane ticket to Africa. The love that the Savior has for his children and the resources of the church are just amazing. Innocent will be leaving on Monday April 4th and arriving in Rwanda on April 6th. Both the Bishop and the Stake President felt that there was a reason for Innocent finding the church and excepting the gospel in America. They felt he would be a great asset to the small branch in Rwanda.
At church Sunday Innocent looked so happy and relieved. He and his family will be reunited very shortly. Barbara and I will be taking Innocent out to dinner this Wednesday evening and then his home teacher and I will be giving him a Priesthood Blessing.
Saturday, March 26, 2016
If it's not one thing, it's another!
Three months ago Alicia and her family moved into her new apartment. Her apartment (Fourplex) was recently sold and when inspections were being done they found that the previous renter in Alicia's apartment was cooking meth and because of that her apartment and the one next to her are contaminated with meth. Therefore, she has had to move out and stay in a hotel for the next three to four weeks so that Utah Has mat can come and clean the apartment.
The worst part of this is that she could not keep any of her furniture, or any thing that was made of wood or fabric; such as tables, couches, mattresses, etc. So the furniture we got her just three months ago when she was evicted from her other apartment because of beg bugs had to be taken to the dump. Luckily, the mattresses that the Bishop got her from DI, she never took the plastic cover off, so she can keep those.
Barbara and I spent a Saturday afternoon two weeks ago taking two loads of furniture and personal things to the city dump as well as moving other things to a storage shed that the new landlord is paying for while the apartments are cleaned and the meth contamination is removed from the walls, floorings, and air ducks.
When Alicia called to tell us this development we immediately went to see her and to help calm her down. While we were there I received an email notice that a couch, loveseat, and oversized chair...a matching seat was just posted on our resource website. I immediately called and we now have the furniture in our garage waiting for to give it to Alicia when she is able to move back in. The Lord and His tender mercies!
The worst part of this is that she could not keep any of her furniture, or any thing that was made of wood or fabric; such as tables, couches, mattresses, etc. So the furniture we got her just three months ago when she was evicted from her other apartment because of beg bugs had to be taken to the dump. Luckily, the mattresses that the Bishop got her from DI, she never took the plastic cover off, so she can keep those.
Barbara and I spent a Saturday afternoon two weeks ago taking two loads of furniture and personal things to the city dump as well as moving other things to a storage shed that the new landlord is paying for while the apartments are cleaned and the meth contamination is removed from the walls, floorings, and air ducks.
When Alicia called to tell us this development we immediately went to see her and to help calm her down. While we were there I received an email notice that a couch, loveseat, and oversized chair...a matching seat was just posted on our resource website. I immediately called and we now have the furniture in our garage waiting for to give it to Alicia when she is able to move back in. The Lord and His tender mercies!
Provo City Temple Open House
We took advantage of the recent open house of the Provo City Temple to take Alicia and Innocent. Both of them expressed interest in going but did not fully understand what they were going to experience.
Alicia knows enough about the temple that she expressed excitement at the possibility of going. Innocent has been to the temple to baptisms but, as well, has not seen the inside of one of the temples before it was dedicated.
Both learned more and it was fun to explain to them what goes on in the temple of what some of the symbolism means. Both Innocent and Alicia are young and tender in the gospel and any opportunity we have to help them feel the spirit, we want to take advantage of that.
Alicia knows enough about the temple that she expressed excitement at the possibility of going. Innocent has been to the temple to baptisms but, as well, has not seen the inside of one of the temples before it was dedicated.
Both learned more and it was fun to explain to them what goes on in the temple of what some of the symbolism means. Both Innocent and Alicia are young and tender in the gospel and any opportunity we have to help them feel the spirit, we want to take advantage of that.
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