As we celebrate our one year anniversary in Vermillion, SD, we take thoughts to paper to share with you. We love it here and have made a real niche for ourselves in this wonderful town. The year has brought many changes. We came to Vermillion to start our home and family and, in the process, we have grown so much as we've had the opportunity to serve. We have opened our home to our friends and they have become family.
We started having Family Home Evening in our home every other Monday, but changed that to every Monday when we realized how important it seemed to be to those who came. We have had as many as 26 people in our tiny home and we have loved every second of it.
We began having families over after church every Sunday. That changed when this last semester started and we had so many new students here without their families. We have taken in 6 girls and 2 boys this semester. Three of the girls come over frequently to wash clothes, eat and just hang out. They are such wonderful girls. So often Scott comes home to find the girls sprawled out on the floor doing homework, clothes hanging all over the house, drying. They giggle, cry, laugh, joke, fight, and get away from the dorms in our home.
Jessica has moved in with us and we have loved having her here. We watch as she grows and learns and teaches us.
We have had the opportunity to start Foster classes and learned so much through that process. As we have so many wonderful friends and family in our home we have decided that, right now, is not the time to Foster. We love having the gospel focused activities in our lives and are not willing to give that up at this time.
Melissa has been called to Relief Society Presidency as the first counselor. She is often found (it what spare time she has) preparing lessons, activities, organizing enrichment, and following up with visiting teaching. She has been a great example of what it is to “magnify your calling”.
Scott started off the year being called to teach the CTR 5-6 year old's. When he first started this calling he was (shall we say) less than enthusiastic about it. Over time, and through Scott's dedication to doing what the Lord has asked him, he very quickly grew to love all of his children. He loves his kids so much so that when he was called as ward mission leader – and was asked to be released from his calling as primary worker, He requested to stay on at both callings, as his kids had already been through multiple teachers in one year.
Speaking of Missionary work, we have the missionaries over at our home frequently. Now we have Sister missionaries in the area – something this area hasn't seen in 15 + years. When the sister's first came Sister Shields (who had been serving for 9 months) came down with what is believed as H1N1 flu virus. Not knowing anyone she called Scott over to give a blessing (as he is the ward mission leader). Scott reported that never has he felt so adamantly about telling someone that they would be healed. He felt that the Lord had specifically picked these sisters to this area for a reason. He told the sister that she would be healed. And by noon the next day she was. Ever since then they have been working harder than we have ever seen a pair of missionaries work. They have at least 2 new investigators every week. It has been very fulfilling and has brought us both more joy than we have ever imagined possible in our lives to be apart of this great work. Scott's only complaint is that he can't go on splits with the sister. But he has been so busy with all the other activities and work that he is able to be ok with it.
Melissa has been working tirelessly on her school work to become a Medical Transcriptionis. She even does her homework while she is at work in the Holiday Inn. She is almost done, and we hope that she will be finished by semester's end. The plan is, once she is able to get a better paying job, Scott will then go to back to school, he is currently undecided about what his major will be – though he is considering Acting or Journalism as his top choices.
It has been a wonderful year, full of growth and peace and wonderful experiences. We look forward to more growth in the new year and pray to expand our little family even further. We are grateful for this wonderful gospel that teaches is so much and allows us to feel the love of our Savior. We are grateful for the growth of our testimonies and the strength that our wonderful marriage has brought to us. We are grateful for the little things~ for life is full of so many little things that bring such great joy. We are grateful for answers to prayers~ our girls were an answer to our prayers and they bring such joy to our lives. We have much to be grateful for in our lives.
We wish you the best of Christmases and a Happy New Year.
Much Love,
Scott & Melissa
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