Hot season is here.

Our work in Ubon continues. We spend our weeks with the common denominator of biking around the city in 39 degree heat and smiling at the good people who love to practice their English on us as we ride by. Our days are very full. As leadership support missionaries we are serving in the branch and district YM presidencies for Jim and as YW president and district YW counselor for me. Each week is also busy with teaching English classes at the church and at a school for the handicapped.We have been spending time with a delightful family. The father has a baptismal date for this weekend and his wife is earnestly studying for a testimony as well. I love this good, kind family!

I am planning a district YW gathering in Srisaket, one hour away, for all the YW. We will visit about Personal Progress, have some fun with photoshoping each girl in front or the temple of their choice, practicing a dance number for the upcoming nationwide youth conference in May and end with the inspiring Young Woman's Broadcast from SLC. It will be translated one week after the actual broadcast and I think the girls are looking forward to seeing it. Two weeks ago I asked two young woman to prepare talks for this district meeting on how their personal progress is helping them to follow the Savior. One young woman shared in Young Womans on Sunday how preparing and studying her Personal Pyrogress book for this talk helped her with a challenge she had this week. I loved watching her as she shared her experience. The other young women were enthralled with her story. I understand limited amounts of what is said but can easily see the enthusiasm and feel the Spirit pouring out on these choice young girls.

Yesterday we watched an inspiring DVD from the church. Dallin Oakes quoted Abe Lincoln,"The Lord must have loved the common man because he made so many of them". Then Elder Oakes said,"The Lord must have loved the people of south east Asia because he made sooo vvveeerrryyy many of them!". This Mormon message is on LDS.org and I hope you watch it. I am so excited seeing how there is now a stake in India and in more and more countries in this area of the world. The work of the Lord is hastening and it feels good to be part of it. Somedays are harder than others but we feel the Lord blessing  and sustaining us.