How to make scripture mastery fun! And a recipe...

Exactly two girls regularly show up to seminary. They are intelligent, bright, sweet, sometimes sassy students and we have a wonderful time talking about the Book of Mormon together. However, only two students with the possibility of a few more popping in occasionally made teaching scripture mastery a challenge at the beginning. I grew up in Utah and had release time seminary; there were thirty kids in my seminary class. We played games that involved lots of people to help us memorize our scriptures.
I want to share a few things we have been doing, with a small group, that the girls really enjoy. I hope they help anyone who needs ideas, as well!
1. Scripture Chase--even if it's just the two of them, they are really competitive and love scripture chasing. Often, we end up having my husband, the students' mom, or my sweet newly-called assistant teacher participate, as well. I call out references, the subject line of the scripture from the SM bookmark, or start reading the verse. Once they've identified it, they race to open their own books and whoever can read the entire passage first gets the point.
2. Memory Game--this is really helpful to learn references and scripture topics and can be played with 2 players and up. I write the references on small cards and then portions of each passage on other cards, turn them all upside down on the table, and we go around flipping them over trying to make matches. If they're not familiar with the scripture and don't know if it is a match, I have them look up the reference and check. This is a great way for them to start learning where the scriptures are and what each SM reference is about.

3. Scrambled in an Envelope--I love this one. Once we've worked on a verse on the board (erasing words one at a time to memorize), I'll play this game to help push us over to a more memorized position on that scripture. I write out the scripture, and then cut out each word, and then put all the words mixed up inside an envelope. I make two envelopes. This morning, we had two teams: my husband and Sianneh worked on one envelope while my assistant teacher Munah and Siawale worked on the other one. They race against each other to see who can put the words in the correct order first, without using their scriptures. Once a team has completed assembling the scripture, the other team takes their scriptures and checks their work. This is highly effective; everyone had the scripture memorized by the end of the activity.

4. Treats--I don't ever say, "And whoever gets the most points, wins....a PRIZE!!" I feel like they wouldn't buy into the incentive to play and also don't consider a treat a prize. However, I am pleasantly surprised that simply getting points and winning really satisfies them. They are good sports and like to play games. So, treats make it sort of fun and special without being a reward. This morning, I made these adorable rice crispy treats that look like gold plates. I didn't have any left by the end of class; they loved them. (Which made me very happy because last week I made pumpkin spice bars and they didn't touch them, not even to try the taste! I think they were put off by the fact that I would put pumpkin in something meant to eat. That's fine, I ate them all myself.)

Do you want to make these cute treats?? They are super simple. I made the classic Rice Krispy Treats recipe. For those of you who aren't familiar:

3 TB butter, melted slowly in a large saucepan

Add a bag of big marshmallows, about 40 marshmallows

Once all the marshmallows are melted, stir in 6 cups of rice crispy cereal.

Spread it out in a greased 9x13 dish, allow it to cool completely before cutting. 

Once the treats are cooled, I made a chocolate icing:

1 TB cocoa powder

(almost) 1 TB water

1/2 TB oil

1/2 TB corn syrup

1/2 Cup powdered sugar

I cooked and stirred that mixture on the stovetop until my icing was smooth. I sort of add more or less water depending on the consistency I want. 

I let the icing cool, then spooned it into the corner of a small plastic sandwich baggie. The icing shouldn't be runny; if it is, put your bag in the fridge to let it cool down more. Then, I cut the tip of the corner off the bag, and squeezed the frosting out in three lines on one side of each rice crispy rectangle. Making a bit of a dot of frosting on the top before taking it over the edge of the treat made the frosting stick better, giving it an anchor. Also, the dot kind of made it look more like the binding rings for the gold plates. 

And, Voila! You have the cutest treats in the world. Stick them in the fridge, covered with plastic wrap, overnight. And then let them sit for about at least hour before you serve to your class.  Have fun!!

To be obedient

I am touched by other people's testimonies and their dedication to sharing what they're learning. I stumbled upon a blog called Inspiration today, and wanted to pass it along. She takes simple lines of scripture and personalizes them. I've been thinking about the phrase, "to be obedient" since reading her post about Nephi's willingness to make a second record of his people, even if he didn't understand why it was important.

Sometimes I don't see the logic or importance behind a principle. For example, why should I sit through an hour of relief society when I can't understand what the teacher is saying and my husband is starving and wants to go home and make lunch? Well, I can actually think of several reasons to do it, such as being an example, supporting the other sisters in their callings, and sharing my testimony. But really, if nothing else, I should do it simply to be obedient. Like Jesus. Jesus always obeyed the Father, and gave us the perfect example of obedience. I may not know what purpose the Lord has for me attending relief society in this ward. He may have plans for my own benefit or other people's benefit down the road, that require me to be attending and getting to know the members. So this next Sunday, I am going to think of Nephi's example and be obedient. 

I can see other areas, as well, where my obedience should eliminate complaining and hesitancy. As I have been identifying them, I have also been reassured by this thought: I trust Heavenly Father and I know that He directs and instructs me for my own good, so that I might become like him through daily, small choices of my own agency. His commandments are a blessing and a help, and an indispensable guide. So, the next time I do something simply to be obedient, I will also be comforted by the knowledge that I'm taking a step toward the fulfillment of my creation.

Love Stories and English Letters

I just finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Shaffer and Barrows. I have had it recommended to me several times over the last year or so and finally gave it a chance--it was DELIGHTFUL!

The novel is composed entirely of written correspondence between the characters, which I thought might limit the depth of the story. However, it actually lends a richness to every aspect of good fiction: the characters describe stories and people through their own unique paradigms and lend the reader a sense of discovering real relationships by snooping through old mail. The protagonist is smart, bold and unorthodox. The supporting cast is endearing. Their stories made me laugh and sigh with sadness, and I read it all too quickly once I hit the real love story at the end, racing to find out if they meet happiness or disappointment. 

Read it! It's going on The List*

*You know, when people find out you like to read and they ask you what they should read and you feel suddenly overwhelmed by the responsibility to direct someone to something they would like, something that will turn them to reading, and something that will reflect favorably upon yourself. For times like these, I pull out a mental list of books I can rely upon to either satisfy the person's honest query or alert me to their poor taste and views. 

Happy Birthday, Mama

My beautiful mama is celebrating her birthday today. She is sincerely generous and giving, the way only mothers can be. Being newly-wed makes me think of her often; I imagine her as I prepare meals she taught me how to cook, as I do the laundry and use the detergent she always bought, as I scrub the kitchen sink and then wring the rag out really, really well, just as she always insisted we do growing up, so it doesn't mildew--my hands look like hers when I do that. 

I'm so grateful for her example of loving kindness. She is my unfailing cheerleader and sacrifices time, money, and her heart in order to help anyone in need. She seeks joy in small moments, soaks up sunshine like a kitty cat, and loves green, growing, lush landscapes. She is full of life and leaves people feeling revived; she sends people off with a hug, always, that shakes a little energy and happiness off on the person she's embracing. Mothers determine so much of what the world becomes, their influence is far reaching. I'm very blessed to have been taught and raised by this amazing woman, and she blesses me to this day. 

I love you, Mama Llama. Thank you for all that you are! Have a fabulous day today!!

If you plan it, they will come...won't they?

After a great first day of seminary, I was looking forward to day number two. I even told the alternate teacher that I would teach again, so that she only had to teach two days this week. Monday evening, I had rehearsal for A View From the Bridge, so I was home late. Thus, Tuesday morning, I woke up at 4 a.m., planned a fabulous lesson about how to study the scriptures, and rushed to the grimy community center our ward is renting for seminary class.
I dashed from my car, unlocked the door quickly, and slipped inside to get off the dark street. I flipped the light switches by the door; nothing. I set my bag down and used the light of my phone to scan the walls for another light switch; nothing. I started reaching up on my tip toes, shining the light along the old brick walls. I found a smelly kitchen and turned the lights on in that room, but ten minutes later my search for the main room's lights was still fruitless. I prayed. I searched. I prayed aloud. I wondered when students would show up; my phone showed about 6:10. Okay, no big deal, everyone is ten minutes late. It's the second day, it's fine. At least when Sister Zizer shows up, she'll know where the light switch is.
I sat down at the table and positioned myself to face the open door, where light from the street lamp outside weakly hovered, not quite illuminating anything but giving an idea of orientation by creating shadows. I spent a few minutes browsing Instagram, then checked the time: 6:28. I felt my throat tighten and could sense a self-pity creeping into my thoughts. I prayed for patience and then told myself, "You will be blessed for being here whether anyone comes or not. Do not get angry or make this about you, something good can still come of this."
I felt that half an hour was plenty of time to wait. I decided to call Sister Zizer, let her know I was leaving, ask her where the heck she was, the phone was ringing, it went to her voicemail--
And a car pulled up outside. I would have missed them had I left five minutes earlier. It was Sister Victoria and her two twin daughters, Sianneh and Siawale.
"Sorry we're late," they apologized, explaining that their alarm clock hadn't woken them that morning.
Between the four of us, we still couldn't find the light switch. So we dragged some chairs into the kitchen and had a short 20 minute lesson, accompanied by a lonesome, bothersome kitchen fly. I didn't expect them to be so willing when I suggested it, but Siawale joined in, "Hey, y'all don't mind meetin' in the kitchen, huh?"
The girls surprised me with insightful answers to my questions and full participation during the short lesson. At one point, I asked them if they had written anything in the scripture journals I had given them the day before.
Siawale, again, spoke first. She mentioned reading  the beginning of the Book of Mormon. "I thought about Nephi believing his father's visions and I thought that was so amazing," she shared. "I don't think I could have done that if our dad started talking about visions I would have said, 'You crazy, Dad.'"
I was grateful for their participation and for sharing their thoughts so willingly.
That day, I couldn't contact the other teacher, Sister Zizer, so I went ahead and prepared the next day's lesson, as well.
Wednesday morning, the twins and Sister Victoria beat me to the building. "Good morning!" I greeted them.
No one else came. It was just the four of us.
Sianneh gave the opening devotional. She had read about the vision of the Tree of Life and gave us this thought: "Even if we make it all the way to the tree, we can still fall away if we pay attention to the people in the world. We can't ever let go of the iron rod. Which means, if we focus on Jesus Christ and always have God and Jesus to be with us, we won't fall away. It's up to us." BAM. These girls knew way more than I had expected, based upon the other students I had previously met with at the church.
Their mom, Victoria, participated, as well. She commented about our personal responsibility to learn the gospel, and way others might make it seem unimportant, "Yesterday, I told these girls. On the first day, you have ten people show up, then on the second day, you're the only ones there. That doesn't mean you won't still get the blessings and the things you need by being there."
The rest of the week--Wednesday, Thursday, Friday--only the girls and their mother came. We had wonderful discussions and got to know each other well. On Friday, Nick came with me and we all ate German pancakes during the lesson about obedience. Sister Victoria shared her conversion story: she had been searching for the right church for 14 years before she fasted from 6 am to 6 pm every day for a month, in a desperate plea to God. Toward the end of the month, a friend called her and invited her to come to the LDS meetings that Sunday. She described feeling the Spirit, "It was a like a little child who has been away from home for a long long time," she said in her African accent. "And it was as if I had finally come home, that I was welcomed home at last."
 I have been incredibly touched by the power of this mother. Not only has her faith, patience and humility led her to the Gospel, she has dutifully learned it, learned it well and accurately, and then taught it to her children with consistency. She brings them to seminary and sits with them, participating and sharing on an equal level, before driving them to school and then going to work. She shows them what she believes, and lives it, and expects them to do what is right. AND IT WORKS. These girls not only know doctrines and principles that other students in the ward don't understand, they also understand why they are important.
Today, Sister Victoria sang "How Great Thou Art," a capella, in sacrament meeting. It was supposed to be a duet, but the other sister never showed up to church. She was nervous, humble, and beautiful.
I am certain this experience as a seminary teacher will teach me and bless me this year, in ways I can't imagine. But already, I have learned a great lesson about the power of parents. The best way to teach ethics, doctrine, truth, and Christlike attributes is to live it and learn it with your children. I hope I can be like this sweet convert mother and teach my children just as well.

Early morning seminary

When we moved to Philadelphia, we prayed frequently that we would be guided to an area where we could serve the Lord as instruments in building the Kingdom of God. We felt that we ended up in the right place. And last Sunday, I was called to be the early morning seminary teacher. Whew! What? First of all, that's a lot of time. And it means sacrificing our morning ritual of cuddling, packing Nick's lunch, and kissing goodbye every day. But I feel prepared and upon reflection maybe I should have seen it coming. To be honest, I was very excited. I love teaching. I love the gospel. I love having a project. Seminary fits the bill nicely. My only apprehension came from the circumstances: I was called a week before classes were supposed to start, none of the inner city kids knew about seminary, and we didn't have a space in which to meet and teach.
A little more about our ward here: it is different from the average Latter-Day Saint experiences I've had in Utah and North Carolina. Many members are immigrants from Africa, a few from Persia, and the teenagers represent the first or second generation of those immigrants born here in America. Sacrament meeting is a whirl of color--bright Afrikaan dresses and traditional garb light up the brown pews and beige walls. The ladies wrap  and tie tall, boldly-neon scarves around their heads. Every third row or so, you can see a blond girl in a pastel skirt with a cream-colored blouse, corralling a couple toddlers, invariably a transplant from Utah who followed her husband to Philly for school or work (this is the category I technically fall under). 

Fast and testimony meeting is a delight. During any occasional pause between testimonies, a member of the congregation will burst out in a spontaneous, spiritual song. He'll sing it loud and slow, with conviction, until he has shared his message and his a capella reverberates in the air. If there aren't any pauses, you'll still get to hear the sung testimonies over the pulpit. They'll stand, deliver a beautiful verse from the heart, and then share a few words. I'm getting better at catching the gist of what's  being said in meetings; it's a toss-up between born-and-raised-in-the-hood Philly kids and everybody else speaking what I think is Creole/Broken English. My ignorance reminds me of being a missionary in Korea, and I know from experience that as time goes by, I'll learn more about these other cultures and be able to participate more. Really, our ward is charming and unique.
Anyway, Sunday they called me and set me apart. Another sister was also set apart; we'll be team-teaching to help lessen the time commitment. Thursday, they had found a space to rent close to the majority of the youth's homes (ahem, smack dab in the middle of what some might consider a bit of a sketchy neighborhood). The following Sunday, day before classes, we went with the Bishopric to 14 houses and invited the kids to come the following morning.
Monday morning I showed up bright and early. The alternate teacher came, as well, with her daughter Sarah. Another mother showed up with her twin 14-year-old girls. And then! The only boy from the students we had visited, Hansen strolled in ten minutes late. I was overjoyed! The day before, he had opened the door with no shirt on.
"Hi, is Hansen home?" I asked.
Choking on a giggle, he said, "No."
The first counselor in the bishopric said, "Come on, Hansen, give her a break."
"So, you're Hansen, huh? I'm Jessica," I said and shook his hand (what 15 year old doesn't love a strange girl from church shaking their hand ?).
I got the sense that he could be a great leader in the church; he's very sincere, and sweet. But, he's also very focused on fitting in and being cool.
Day 1 was great. I was impressed with their creativity during the icebreaker activity. I gave each of them a sheet of paper and asked them to make something out of it that represented an aspect of their interests or personality. Everyone* made something insightful and I was surprised with the insight it gave to their interests. 

*Hansen didn't touch his paper, he just told us he liked football. But he did participate during all the other activities! I was just so happy he came!!
I sent them all off after committing them to reading the Book of Mormon daily. I had high hopes that they'd start bringing friends and soon we'd have a whole classroom of kids eager to learn the joy of the Gospel.
Stay tuned...tomorrow I'll let you know how the rest of the week went. Some disappointments, but also some very sweet, tender experiences.

What's been happening

I haven't blogged in (ahem) quite some time. Let me put it this way: I fell in love with the most wonderful man and decided to marry him. I hardly had time to pop in here and announce our engagement, as things unfolded somewhat rapidly. In April we were engaged, before a week had passed we drove from North Carolina to my hometown in Utah. We planned a wedding in 10 weeks, married in the Salt Lake temple, and the next day started our journey back to the East coast. We enjoyed a bed-and-breakfast honeymoon across the country, made it to North Carolina in time for Nick's sister's wedding one week after our own (a detail we shan't dwell upon) and then drove to Philadelphia and lived in a Marriott hotel for four days before signing a lease for our apartment. So here I am, moved to a new city, in search of a new job, and blissfully happy with my new (and first and only) husband.

I've missed blogging because I'm a verbose person and I get a lot of jumbled thoughts and unnecessary worrying straightened out when I take the time to ramble up a post. I feel a sort of confidence that if I record my life, it fits more easily within a comprehensible frame and I am able to review it and see it, hold it, analyze it and make sense of the whirlwind around me. Reflection is ultimately connecting the dots and reassuring yourself of the destination of your path. I pray and I write in my journal and I talk to my friends and family on the phone and tell them my stories, but this blog gives me a place to put it down chronologically, wrapped up neat and tidy. My journals aren't neat, tidy or chronological--I just dump my brain in scribbles across the page. This blog is the place where I take the time to organize it all a bit. 

So, we're back! Now if only I can get my dang wedding photographer to get me some pictures (it's been ELEVEN weeks!!!! I'm going crazy!!!), we'll start posting some fun and important things from this summer. 

Here we go!! 

Love,

Jessica