Independence : 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.