Drivers

As you might or might not know, as of last last Sunday I was released as 2nd counselor of the Angouleme Branch and sustained a few minutes later as the Branch President. I did not think the call was going to take place until the end of the month, so I didn't have time to get ready for it--which was probably a good thing. Stress is not a good thing. The prior Branch President had to come from 2 1/2 hours away each Saturday to handle the affairs of the branch. He and his wife were called for 6 months and they served 15. The 1st counselor is from Bordeaux and he and his wife have been coming to Angouleme for 33 months every Sunday. Brodeaux is an hour and a half south from Angouleme. I have had the privilege to work with these two men from the time we arrived and there are no finer members of the church than these two. Their unselfish service and the love that developed between us as we served together will last into the eternities.

I have called two counselors from the branch and we will find out how their interviews go when the Stake President comes at the end of the month. These two men have become close friends of mine. When I was asked to serve, their names were cemented into my mind by the Holy Ghost. I think that the 1st counselor in the stake presidency was surprised that I was already giving him names, but I had plenty of time to petition our Father in Heaven about the subject.

This will be a challenge, but we are looking forward to serve these great members and build the branch. I am sure the work will move along and we will progress with the help of God. This has been a great growing period in our lives and I would not trade it for all the world.

We would like to solicit for your prayers this Saturday when we have our open house. It is actually a national day and our activities chairman came up with the idea. We are looking forward to having some good success. Our activities chairman has made some classy invitations and we and the members will be putting them in the mail boxes in their local neighborhoods and we are saturating the neighborhood around the chapel. The missionaries are also handing them out as they make contacts throughout the city. We have 5 rooms set up for displays and we will have members and missionaries present to give 3 to 5 minute presentations on the: family, temples, the Plan of salvation, genealogy, and the restoration of the church. We will have church music playing in the chapel and refreshments in the relief society room.

We are grateful for your support and prayers.

Love Elder Dad