Yesterday's FHE

Yeah, that's right, I said "yesterday." As in "less than 24 hours ago." I'm getting better at this!

After a wonderfully timed lesson on dealing with stress, we took care of some of ours with a trip to Dairy Queen and a game of frisbee behind the Mountain Lair.

Meggie's best friend is visiting for a few days. We're super excited to have her here!

Oh, and Sam is back from training... I guess that's exciting too. ;)

Meggie and Hampton dominated. Too bad they were on different teams.

The frisbee game lasted long into the night... maybe. I left before 9:00, but Sam, Hayden, and Match were still there.

This was a great way to end FHE for the semester. The fun isn't over yet, though. Tonight is our institute movie night at 7, Book of Mormon class is still on for tomorrow, and we have Friday forum for the next two weeks, in addition to our end of the semester cookout this Friday at 6!

Chalking Up Campus

For FHE tonight, we split into three teams and wrote scriptures, quotes, and inspiring messages on the sidewalks around the downtown campus of WVU. I don't know about everyone else, but Brad and I had the opportunity to talk to a few people about what we were doing, and we heard people talking about the messages we'd written. It was a fun activity and a great missionary opportunity.

Jackson's Mill YSA Conference

Our theme was Anchored to the Lord. Our service project was writing testimonies in copies of the Book of Mormon for the Charleston WV mission. Our speakers were Mara and Danny Kofoed of "A Blog About Love." Our people are awesome.

Upcoming Events

Tomorrow, the 19th, Bishop... Brother... Don Chapman is speaking at Friday forum. We get started around 12:30, and there's always great food, great company, and a great speaker.

The Clarksburg Stake YSA Conference is April 19th-21st. I promise this will be the last time I remind you.

Those of you who aren't going to conference should be sure to go to church at the university ward anyway.

Lucas is being baptized on April 26th.

April 27th is the stake temple day.

Also on April 27th, there will be an event for incoming WVU freshmen at Vandalia Lounge in the Mountain Lair. LDSSA is going to have a booth, and we're looking for volunteers to sit behind it and look friendly. Talk to Hayden if you're available to help with that.

On April 30th at 7 PM, we'll be watching the full-length Prophet of the Restoration movie as our last Tuesday night institute class of the semester. Please join us!

The end of the year cookout for both the institute and the ward will be on May 3rd at 6 PM. Sister Lund from the family ward has graciously agreed to allow us to use her yard.

Stake conference (another one!) is May 4th and 5th.

There will be Friday forum during dead week and finals week!

The YSA Conference for People Who Hate YSA Conferences

We are mere days away from the 3rd Annual Jackson’s Mill Young Single Adult Conference.

At what point did reluctance become enthusiasm?

I don’t know, but here I am. I’m sitting in my room furiously researching service projects for large groups and pirate-themed decorations at 2 am on a school night. This is my life.

It is safe to say I am not the typical college student. However, in typical college student fashion, I must proclaim: The 2013 Jackson’s Mill YSA Conference is going to be the PARTY OF THE YEAR! No, really. There is going to be some seriously fantastic stuff happening from April 19-21. You definitely do not want to miss this.

We’ve been working on this for several months and I assure you all that there has been a great deal of thought, sweat, and prayer put into this year’s event-- especially the prayer part.

Let me take a moment to say this: Heavenly Father cares enough about our conference to answer our prayers. Early in this process, I prayed that we can find the right speakers and establish a friendly and loving environment, and I imagine my fellow planners have been doing the same. Funny how things work out—I believe our prayers were answered in the form of a series of emails between myself and a delightful LDS couple. Ladies and gentlemen, we have keynote speakers: Mara and Danny Kofoed, authors of A BLOG ABOUT LOVE and the hippest cats around. I, for one, am over the moon!

We also have a fantastic theme: Anchored to the Lord. Be prepared for an abundance of nautical puns (we’ve been working pretty hard on those).

Planning is hard. Organizing any group of people is hard, especially when they all have ideas and they all want to succeed. At least that’s what I’ve heard. I really wouldn’t know because the group of people behind this Conference is amazing. I am serious. They rock harder than a group of busy-body LDS college students should be able to rock.

But, you know, the nine of us planning this thing need some support.

What’s that you say?

“I don’t like YSA conferences,” you say?

“I HATE icebreakers,” you say?

“No way I’m giving up my weekend for this,” you say?

Well, let me ease your worries right now. My nickname for this event is the “YSA Conference for people who hate YSA Conferences.” As it turns out, a lot of people hate YSA conferences, including yours truly. It’s like sitting through an awkward sales pitch, except you tend to leave empty handed. It doesn’t need to be a big weekend of awkward glances and uncomfortable human knots (though, I cannot guarantee these will not occur). Our main goal is to create an environment where friendships can be made, where our fellow YSAs can be spiritually edified, and naturally, where good, clean, fun can be had. If you try hard enough, you might just have a good time too.

Planning this Conference has been quite a journey. It has been an exercise in faith, in leadership, and in flexibility. I have loved every step of this journey, but now I need you to jump in and do your part!

I need you, my dear reader, to register, show up, and share this incredible weekend with us.

Registration is open until Wednesday. Don’t forget your dancing shoes!

~ Kathryn

Upcoming Events

April 5th (Friday) is the last day to register online for the YSA conference! If you register online (here), the cost is $22.09. If you wait to register at the door, it will be $30.

General Conference is this weekend. We'll be watching it at the institute, with pizza between the sessions on Saturday and a meal on Sunday. The first session on each day begins at noon.

There will be a missionary booth on Thursday, April 11th, from 11:30 until 2 at the free speech circle on campus. If you have even a few minutes to stop by, the missionaries would greatly appreciate it!

The YSA conference at Jackson's Mill is April 19th-21st, in case you've been living under a rock and haven't heard.

The stake temple day is Saturday, April 27th.

On April 30th, we'll be watching the full-length Prophet of the Restoration video during institute class. Regardless of whether you come to institute regularly, please come to watch the movie. I've personally seen it at least three times, and I'm super excited to see it again! Every time I watch it, my testimony grows. {Not that regular institute classes aren't testimony building...}