There is a senior couple that is serving in the DC 3rd Ward where Seth has been transferred.  They post a blog like we do for Seth, but do a much better job of adding pictures.  I'm probably breaking some copyright rules or something, but I know how to copy and paste very well....hahaha.  The Porters seem like a great couple & it is nice to be able to keep up with the area by following their blog.  As a parent it is also good to see that someone else thinks your son is doing well.  So here goes the copy & paste function in action!

On Wednesday September 4th we had transfers and two of the missionaries in our ward went home. Elder Wery from Belgium, one of our French speaking Elders finished his mission and went home and Elder Salanoa from Samoa finished his mission.  We were very sad to see them go.  They were both great missionaries and provided a lot of strength and help to our area.  Elder Salanoa was serving as our District Leader.  His replacement is Elder Stoor.  Elder Stoor is one of the missionaries we served with at the beginning of our mission.  We're delighted he could come back for his last two transfers.  We also got three other missionaries transfered in.  Elder Bledsoe and Elder Monsia are French speaking missionaries and Elder Hansen was added to our district.  Below on the back row  are Elders Szabo, Vaterlaus, Stanley, Wilcox, Hansen, Lussier-Houle, and Monsia.  Seated in front are Elders Stoor, Owens, Parlegean, and Bledsoe.  This is a great group of missionaries and a blessing to the DC 3rd Ward.

On September 15 we had a baptism of Lloyd Solis.  He was born and raised in the United States, but his family is from Philippines.  He is a great man with a super education.  He has a PhD. and teaches history and geography in a Baltimore inner city high school.  He has been to 40 of the states and loves to come and play games at our weekly Family Home Evening on Tuesdays.  We are looking forward to teaching him the new member lessons.  Since he rides the MARC train to and from Baltimore, we will need to find a time that works well for him.  His missionaries with him are Elder Stoor and Elder Owens, both from Eastern Idaho.

We had a great service project of "Packing the Pantry" for the Capital Area Food Bank.  Our ward's assignment was 600 cans of condensed soup.  The Bishop had announced that if everyone who comes to Sacrament Meeting would bring 4 cans, we would make our goal.   That is every man, woman, child, and baby. Well, we did make the goal with a few being extra generous near the end.  What a great time to help the people in DC who have to rely on others for their basic needs.  Here are a few of our ward group that came to serve this day.

Thanks Elder & Sister Porter!!