Ward Fast

Today our Ward held a fast for our family.

Again, for non LDS people, a LDS Ward is equivalent to a Congregation. Where we live Wards are found every few city blocks. Our Ward has 64 families with probably 320 members. We fast each month where we go without food for two meals followed by a testimony meeting where we attempt to build each other's faith. In addition to fasting we also donate the cost of those meals to the Ward where they are used to provide relief to those needing short-term financial support. Many members donate far more than the cost of the meals although there are no monetary requirements.

I thought that the meeting might be a bit uncomfortable because I don't enjoy being in the spotlight. However, the meeting was wonderful. Following our 3 hour block meetings we met as a Ward in the chapel. The Bishop opened the meeting explaining to the members the purpose of fast. One of our Home Teachers offered a prayer. It was heartfelt and sincere.

A Home Teacher is a man who is assigned to visit our family each month and to look after our welfare. We have two wonderful Home Teachers who are very interested and have great love for us. It's great to be LDS!

Generally, I am feeling much better excepting for night sweats. I sweat so much that I have to change my undergarments each night and then I crawl back into a wet bed. The smell makes me nauseous so I go downstairs for a few hours and catch up on sports center. We have three bedrooms up stairs and I can sleep in any of them. I think starting tonight when I get up I'll just change to another bed. It makes a bit of work for Kathy to wash and change the sheets each day but I suppose that this might be a permanent condition.

Thanks to all of you who have sent me emails and made phone calls. It is much appreciated. But don't forget about Eric Jackson and Andy Young in the mission field and Richard Jackson who is assigned to Baghdad.