LAUNCHING into Summer Term

Our two-week respite between school terms is over. Where did it go? We just can’t figure it out. We had plans to accomplish so much. Find more students, activate more souls.

Yet, just four hours before our Wednesday “Building Lasting Relations” class was to begin - we were in a bit of a panic.

We knew many of the students had gone home for the summer. We knew only 4 students, all female, had signed up for the Wednesday night class. BUT the reality of going through our summer with such small numbers in our classes was just now sinking in.

Of course, we know that every soul is precious - so four souls are fantastic! But “how” we wanted to approach the teaching of the class was highly dependant on having both males and females in the class to participate. AND there is something to be said about having at least a dozen students to ensure good and lively discussion. We knew those kind of numbers would be a tall order to fill in summer. But we had four hours left, , ,

SO we decided to throw all caution to the wind and LAUNCHED a summer institute enrollment extravaganza.

The first thing we did was have Mike climb up some brick chimneys, in the middle of red-square on campus, and raise a “small” banner:

AND believe it our not, Mike didn’t even fall once.

Okay, so the banners were really put up by a stunt-double and they actually don’t have anything to do with LDS institute, but hey, they can’t hurt.

Actually, what we did was this. With only a few hours remaining before the class began, we earnestly prayed and felt inspired to “text” two of the students who earlier had expressed an interest in taking the class. We texted – “PLEASE spread the word we NEED more participants, ESPECIALLY of the male variety.” And what do you know? Our prayers were once again answered. They came through with flying colors. 20+ students showed up, including the male variety! That might seem like small potatoes by BYU numbers, but it was BIG to two small Idaho potatoes.

SO thanks to the power of prayer and modern technology the class got off to a great start! Because we knew it really wasn’t because of us or anything we had done personally. So here’s to PRAYER & TWITTER POWER! And lest you think us strange, did you know more and more general authorities have FACEBOOK pages? A new day is dawning! AND we have a special surprise for our daughter Katie when she arrives next week for a visit, but SHHHH, don’t tell her – it will just be our little secret, okay? (Yah, we know Katie actually gets this email too. We just want to see if she really reads them, since we may NOT have received a letter from her for a while! Hint, Hint. What is up with these college students thinking they have a life full of school, work and some play, beyond writing their missionary parents?)

Soooo, just how did we get two students to encourage 20 others to join us?

Well, we may have offered something like a free boat-ride to them:



No, not on that ship you silly! But we did see that beautiful sailing ship last P-day.

Because last P-day, we boarded a Washington State Ferry and went and visited the San Juan Islands.


This is a pic of a place called “Friday Harbor.”

Actually, our good friends, Brad & Karen Beagles & family had invited us and also made arrangements to meet us at Friday Harbor.

They met us and were gracious enough to give us a boat ride on the boat named “Amazing Grace” for our P-day. We thought the boat’s name was very appropriate for a missionary couple to ride, don’t you think?


Anyway, we asked permission to come aboard, and since the biggest boat we are used to riding is a rubber raft on the Snake River, we felt something like a scene out of the PBS British comedy series, “Keeping Up Appearances.” You know, the one where “Hyacinth” and “Richard” go yachting for the day. (If you haven’t seen the series, this may not make any sense to you, so we will leave it at that.)

Anyway, Captain Brad did a great job of maneuvering the boat out of port and we sailed from Friday’s Harbor to “Jones” island. Jones Island is very small. The entire island is actually a state park. It is only accessible by private boat:


While there we explored the island with the Beagle family: (That is “Mom” Karen, son “McKay”, daughter “Elizabeth”)

And just had some good ole’ fashion fun:

And saw some wildlife:

And went to church (just kidding, but it is a “cute” little church isn’t it?):

Actually, the “church” and boats in the picture are located in a harbor back on the main San Juan Island. We were dropped off by the Beagles at “Roche Harbor” the end of a wonderful day.

BONUS: I didn’t even get Sea-sick! That is a FIRST for me!

The Beagles even arranged for a cab to pick us up and take us back to reality (back to using public transit via the Washington State Ferry):



Well, that of course was fun and wonderful. Thank you Beagles!

But it is also great to have at least some of the students back for another term. And “no” we didn’t actually offer to take them on a boat ride.

We also kicked off our Tuesday class with our West Seattle students by having an opening Social at Alki Beach. We had a fun pizza party right on the beach and found this, , , well, plank, , , and the picture best explains that:



Once again, yah, we know, it’s a tough mission. But somebody has just gotta have some fun with these kids.

And though we try our hardest to act like the “Seniors”, at least ONE of us just might get a little carried away. Which one of us? You will just have to guess now won’t ya?

Well, Thanks again so much for all your prayers and support.

Love,

Elder “Mike” & Sister “Jenny” Thornton


P.S. Of course our thoughts and prayers go out to the Benson family. We hope Travis’ recovery continues to go well. Thank you so much to everyone back home who keep us informed.

And a sneak peek for next week email:

More visitors come to the U-dub!

Diggin In - 3 BIG Shout Outs

We are digging in for a big start to summer term.Summer term starts next week and there simply is not much to tell til' then.Except THANKS to one and all for your information which will greatly assist our first-time teaching of "Building Lasting Relationships" aka, Marriage Prep. Any additional info is always appreciated.

AND we do want to give a BIG shout out to THREE soon-to-join the full-time ranks of the Lord's army:

Elder Josh Barton - Brazil Brasilia!!!

Elder Alec Matthews - Billings, Montana!!!

Sister Michelle Crosland - Managua, Nicaragua!!!

Congratulations to all!

Until next week,
Elder "Mike" & Sister "Jenny" Thornton,

Friday Harbor, Washingon

Smore Transfers to Sing about

As all missionaries know, an important event routinely occurs – that of Mission Transfers.

It usually happens via the telephone. Someone calling and announcing your efforts to publish glad tidings in that particular part of the Lord’s vineyard is now over. Announcing what little time you have left will now be devoted to a new area and with a new companion.

Before the phone call ends, your emotions usually drown out the person speaking. The spirit simply carries your mind and heart away to another place. Mostly away to those whom you have come to serve and love. By design, there is little time to exchange good-byes.

And so was the case for us. We knew our time was far spent. We knew our week of transfer at the Institute had arrived.

Yet, it didn’t come by telephone. Our companionship remained intact (despite my companion not getting me anything for Mother’s day – but that’s another story – which he has since made full restitution for.) And we are to remain at the U-dub Institute.

Despite all that, a transfer occurred. How you may ask?

Winter term ended. Though we remain, some of our students are leaving. Some are getting married. Some are graduating. Some are going on missions. And for some, it’s simply time to head home for summer.

All these transfers have been a little jarring. Somehow we had it fixed in our minds that since we were serving but a year - it would be us leaving the U-dub - not them.

Despite the jar, we had a splendid time with all the Institute students at the closing social. We held the social at a place called the Golden Gardens:

Golden Gardens is basically a very beautiful beach along the Puget Sound. And as luck would have it, we have been experiencing some very beautiful sunsets:


You might have thought that “Bond – James Bond” was the only person you can think of who would ever wear a suit and tie on a beach. But move over Bond, because can you believe it? Elder Thornton was the ONLY one on the entire beach dressed in a suit and tie that day, (However, note the orange/purple “party” tie he is sporting.) And I might have been the only person wearing a skirt.

But no matter. In fact, our attire ironically turned out to be a very good thing. You see, with a very large beach and thousands of people, it was a little hard, especially for the 30+ BYU interns who had just arrived in Seattle for the summer, to actually spot our “Institute” group on the beach. But have no fear, what other group would have a couple, dressed in missionary attire, besides the Institute? So, due to our dress (and maybe because no one was holding a beer bottle) our group was easy to spot. We roasted hot dogs, melted smores, threw a football and just had a swell time.

On Sunday, we held Institute Graduation. The Institute Choir sang:

And 12 Institute students graduated – 4 of which attended our classes. We were so very proud of them!

And so ends another term here at the Seattle Institute of Religion.

Summer now officially begins. We start our new classes in two weeks.

One of the classes we have been assigned to teach is entitled “Building Lasting Relationships.”
With a title like that, who can tell? This could be the summer of love at the Institute!

(But, help! We are in need of some good material for this class, so any suggestions are WELCOME!)

As always, you have our love and gratitude for all you do!

Elder “Mike” & Sister “Jenny” Thornton