RAMON GIULIANI

What a wonderful surprise. Ramon Giuliani was in town on business for a few days. I first met Ramon in Argentina when I was serving in the Parque Urquiza branch in Rosario almost 45 years ago. In those days, he was attending another branch, but his girlfriend and future wife, Marta, was a member of the branch I served in. Following his mission to Italy, he married Marta and they immigrated to California where we renewed our friendship. Our families have remained very close ever since.
Ramon previously served as the bishop of a Spanish language ward in L.A. and then as the stake president of the Spanish language stake. He was able to attend church with us last Sunday. And I was not about to let this great opportunity go to waste and so I asked him if he would address our temple preparation class. His testimony and thoughts on the temple had a great impact on those in attendance. He is supremely qualified to talk about the blessings of the temple.
Ramon and Marta now live in St. Louis and is was so fun to catch up with him and share how are families are growing and what is going on in our lives.

TEMPLE BAPTISMS

Angie Hernandez was baptized a little over a year ago. She was so excited to have the bishop sign her limited use recommend this week and so we headed over to the temple. She was able to be baptized and confirmed for her grandmother. Her sister Jessica was also able to come and do additional family names. It is such a sweet experience to be with people as they go to the temple for the first time. The power and strength they receive can remain with them all their lives.
To celebrate afterwards, we went out to dinner with the whole family. Angie's nieces and nephew were excited to hear about her experience and expressed how much they look forward to entering the House of the Lord someday. What a blessing to have a temple close.

temple work completed 

Olive Garden with the whole Andrade family

New 'ENDOWED FROM ON HIGH'

TEMPLE PREPARATION SEMINAR

We have started a new temple preparation class during Sunday School. This time we have 3 wonderful couples that hopefully will be able to go to the temple prior to our coming home. Some of them have been previously endowed, but have not had an active recommend for a while, while others have yet to receive their endowments. We know that the covenants they will make will bless their lives and that of their families forever.

This is our second time to teach this class here in the ward and we are so grateful to the bishop for allowing us to be a part of it. As before, Robyn is the real reason they keep attending. Her testimony of the temple and her insight into the blessings that flow from temple covenants was key to our previous class and this current one also. 

Rita & Roberto Jeronimo

Gabriel & Lulu Gonzalez

Cirilo & Indelisa Garcia

 SKATING PARTY

We were invited to Ashli's birthday party along with Kelehua, Luke and Josh. These kids have grown close over the last year and we hope their friendship and association will continue after we leave. The party was held at the outdoor skating rink in downtown Kansas City. Unlike the last time I was here, it was a beautiful day, close to 70 degrees.

Birthday girl

Nine candles 

Ashli's favorite gift. Kelehua sewed the bag herself.

I only fell down once...

GREAT KAW RIVER WARD

I'm not sure when it started, but our ward is not known as simply the Kaw River ward, but the GREAT Kaw River ward. I think it is a way to impress upon the members here that our ward is something special. Even though the ward boundaries encompass the most humble part of the stake, the nick name is a point of pride for the ward members. The stake leaders have also accepted the name and when they visit, refer to the ward this way. 

The first counselor in the young men's presidency decided to take it a step farther and had stickers printed up to make it 'official'.  ;-)

ACTIVITY DAY GIRLS

WAITING IN LINE

Presidenta Perla Toraya de la primaria

Bishop Miller is very busy man. There always is a long line of people waiting outside his office to see him after church. Many of the members have work conflicts or transportation problems during the week and it is hard for them to come for an interview on days other than Sundays. Our primary president, Perla Toraya, had an appointment to see the bishop right after the block but people kept jumping in front of her. :(  She was too kind to complain. Noticing her dilemma, I decided to help and moved one of the chairs in the foyer and put it right in front of the bishop's office door. Needless to say, Perla was the next one to see the bishop. 

COMPLETING ORDINANCES FOR FAMILY NAMES

The outside temperature was freezing, but the Spirit was warm inside

ZONE LUNCH

Indian Fry bread, butter & jam, and lots of bacon

Robyn made lunch for the zone again last week. It was a make up lunch. We had planned to feed the zone 2 weeks ago, when we met at the stake center. Unfortunately, we didn't realize that it had one of the 'modern kitchens' that are now being put into the buildings... no stove. We usually meet in one of the ward chapel buildings that was built a few years ago. I miss the old buildings where they trusted you not to poison or sicken anyone and let you actually cook something in the kitchen. Fortunately, this time, we met in a chapel that allowed the chef to heat up the cooking oil on the stove. Luckily, everyone survived.

COMPLETING THE DENTISTRY MERIT BADGE

We finished up the requirements of the Dentistry merit badge with a tour of the University of Missouri - Kansas City, School of Dentistry. A lot of these kids come from homes where their parents have never attended a college or university. The Young Men's president is trying to expose these young men to other career opportunities that will hopefully help them make good educational choices in the future. Brother Clark Hepworth in our ward is a senior in the dental school and arranged a wonderful experience for all the young men. The kids got to see a lecture hall and the lab and then take turns examining each other's teeth in the clinic. I'm not sure that they are all cut out to be DDS's, but I've been surprised before.

Whether they ever choose to apply to dental school is not as important as opening their eyes to better possibilities for their future.

J.J. was not quite sure why his partner
wanted to cram 20 cotton rolls into his mouth.

Noe

The head of admissions explaining the purpose of the lab

Arturo and Tommy

Carlos and Jayro

Gabriel

Yael and Noe

J.J.

30 cotton rolls - the record

'ANGEL' AMONG US

Lucia and Angel Morillo

 Angel Morillo's name is most appropriate. He is truly one of God's angels that we have met while serving here in the Kaw River ward. His dedication and love for all the members is legendary. I stopped counting the number of times that his wife has had to take him to the hospital because of health issues related to his liver just since we have been here. A tainted blood transfusion years ago caused him to develop hepatitis C. He never complains but comes right back and continues to serve and minister to the needs of  the Saints. Originally from Puerto Rico, he came here after being drafted by the Oakland, Athletics baseball team. An injury ended his career, but it lead him to find the church and being baptized. He and his wife Lucia were the backbones of the original branch here that later became the Kaw River ward. I think they have held just about every calling possible and still are serving 24/7. Our love for him was immediate when we first met and he embraced us and made us feel like we were family.  His specialty is visiting the members in their homes and bringing the love of the Savior to all that he comes in contact with. He truly is an angel among us.

Copy and paste the link below if you want to read an article in the Deseret News about this 'angel'.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700042723/All-of-the-dominoes-lined-up-for-miracle-transplant.html

FINDING NAMES TO TAKE TO THE TEMPLE

Carlos and Anabell Bravo

Nayeli Bravo learning family history at a young age

Baptisms for Bravo family members completed

SISTERS WILKENS AND MALM

We enjoyed taking these two cute sisters out to lunch this week. We had talked to Sister Malm at the Liberty Jail last week and told her that we wanted to get together to share some pictures and stories about her mom that we had. She was excited to hear details about her mom's conversion in Scotland and some of her experiences after arriving in America and coming to California. 

KAW RIVER WARD AARONIC PRIESTHOOD

DATE NIGHT WITH KELEHUA

For P-day last week, Kelehua and I went out to her favorite all you can eat Italian restaurant. She kept the crepe chef very busy. I think she put away at least a half a dozen. She did say that her mom's crepes taste much better, having learned the art while serving her mission in France.