Freshers’ Week 2013

Immediately following our YSA Sunday, there was a week of activities known as Freshers’ Week, including an Outreach Night, Institute Registration, a Talent Show, a Bad Luck Party, and cleaning the Church followed by a Barbecue.

Freshers’ Week, according to the Collins English Dictionary, is (British) a week at the beginning of a university year, usually with a program of events intended to welcome new first-year students. It is a big thing in Scotland at the major universities, such nearby St. Andrews University. As it turns out in practice, many of the “activities” involve lots of drinking and other partying, not in keeping with our standards. So the YSAs put on their own Freshers’ Week as an alternative. This year, for each of the activities Neil posted a clever Facebook announcement (in italics below). 

Outreach Night

Welcome YSAers to Freshers’ Week 2013! It all kicks off Tuesday with a most exciting interactive event with Hot Chocolate! Come along to the YSA Centre at Liff Road for 7pm and bring your laptops, iPads or mobile devices. Don't have one? No problem, come anyway! Can't make it to Dundee? That’s ok too, simply log on at home at 7pm, come to The YSA Dundee page and turn your Facebook Chat on so we know you are there and together we will build Zion...online! 

The basic idea was to send personal FB messages to the less active YSA. It was great for a first attempt at this type of thing.  Everyone had a fun time reaching out. There were a total of 21 participating throughout the evening, 14 in person and 7 only on FB.

        In addition Neil posted several questions on FB such as “There are people who have never been to YSA or haven't been for a while. There are people we care about but we haven't seen in ages. In this new year of Institute why should people come to YSA?” What is your favorite YSA memory?  

What has been one of your personal favourite YSA activities?

       

Institute Registration

Freshers’ Week continues Wednesday at 7 pm with our traditional institute Enrolment Dinner. Start the institute year right by signing up to study the new Book of Mormon course then sit down for the Bylunds’ home cooked meal with Chicken Enchiladas, salad and tigerbread and there is even dessert, too. If that wasn't enough there will be socializing, games and new friendships to be made. It is part of the plan for you to be here and it’s always better when we're together! 

We started with Br. Johnson conducting Institute Registration in the cultural hall with 37 YSA registering for the yearlong Book of Mormon course, followed by the sit-down dinner. After dinner, we moved to the YSA room for a few games (Never have I ever, Do you love your neighbor and Werewolf).   

Talent Night

Day 3: Is the Thursday Talent Night! Everyone has some sort of talent. It’s just some are more conspicuous - we just want you to come and share something - play a piano, dance, sing, read a poem, tell a joke, bake a cake, balance a dog, eat a pineapple whole, ping a rubber band on a target, transmogrify yourself into a badger, waddle back and forward to music, tell a story, do kickyups, move your supermobile knees, build a bridge, eat pies, train a monkey to wear roller-skates - the possibilities are endless. Come do something good or something with feeling but just come!:)

We had about 19 at the Talent night. The “talents” included Elder Winn roping Elder Burt, who made a feeble attempt to be a cow, and lassoing Elliot on the run around the ankles, Jordan playing the pots as drums, Sister Bylund tap dancing, readings in French and German  Jimmy’s impersonation of Elvis. The highlight was Stephen, a newly baptized member, doing his magic tricks.

  

Bad Luck Party

Does the bread always fall buttered-side down?

For Friday the 13^th don't hide away in fear, don't lock the doors and windows or run from black cats, and don’t worry if it’s safe to go near that step ladder. No! Come to the YSA Centre at Liff Road instead and try your luck. Bring an Umbrella and come dressed wacky or weird. Feel free to be creative, you can come frumpy or dumpy, goofy or geeky, mad as a hatter, or as chavy as a Jeremy Kyle guest. Just be an...ahem... unfortunate person ;) It’s a party but with a difference. How many parties pit you against the universe? Try our activities of skill, strength, endurance, intelligence and mystery and test how blessed you really are! So tell me do you feel lucky...punk? My name is Neil and I endorse this message!

The Bad Luck Party was attended by about 20 YSAs. There were an innovate variety of games/activities based on the theme, including things like buttered bread falling onto a face either buttered side up or buttered side down, renaming people, progressive bad luck/good luck stories, and dancing. It was a lucky night for those attending.

Service Project/Barbecue

Freshers Week is coming to end but it’s not finished yet - Our 2nd last activity is Saturday at 10:30 am - It’s a service project then a Barbecue. We have been blessed so much with a place to have fun and relax, to hold our activities, a place for institute and home evening group, a place where we play volleyball and werewolf and line up for the Bylunds home cooked meals. Tomorrow we can show our gratitude and take a little time to take care and make nice that place AND then afterwards bring your own food for the BBQ and let’s eat and have fun together. Please if you can make it come and be part of the YSA.

The Chapel was cleaned and tummies were filled.

CES Fireside with Elder Nelson

Well the end of Freshers’ Week arrives tomorrow with Home Evening Group in Liff Road at 6 pm - Elder Russell M Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in a broadcast from Salt Lake gives a special message for the young adults of the church. How blessed we are to have prophets, seers and revelators care enough to speak to us today. You can’t afford to miss this! Home Evening Group happens every Sunday at 6pm!

There were 26 YSAs in attendance for this wonderful fireside.

Last post

So Fresher's Week has come to an end. I would just like to write one last post. We pray in our meetings and give thanks for the service of our missionary couples and our institute teacher but there is one person I would like to formally recognize, whom we rarely give thanks to and that is Jonathan. As YSA President he has the near impossible task of leading a YSA program that has to please all of us, it’s difficult coming up with new activities every week and as a council we do our best we can always do better but he does it with love, hard work and never a complaint. I am grateful to have the pleasure of working with such a good man. All your worries are worth it. All hail the chief!

YSA Sunday

        Twice a year, the Young Single Adults have the full block of Church services for and by them. This one, Sunday, Sep. 8, was our first.  It started at 2 pm and didn't end until around 8pm.  Many of them also attend their regular Ward services in the morning. All of the YSAs in the Stake and surrounding areas were invited to join with us. About 36 YSAs from Dundee Stake and 13 from Aberdeen Stake attended all or part of the afternoon/evening, along with a variety of married leaders. We started with Relief Society and Priesthood, followed by Sunday School. The Sacrament meeting was a lovely testimony meeting.

       After having a bit to eat (Munch and Mingle) our Stake President presented an interactive fireside on standards, which was brilliant. He started with a video of the 2003 World Wide Leadership Training by Elder Eyring for Priesthood Leaders on giving temple recommend interviews.  He then had several of the YSA role play being a Bishop and the interviewee preparing to receive their own endowment. He stressed individual accountability and answered several insightful questions about our standards and the interview process. 

Young Single (now Married) Adults Weddings

It has been a good "season of love" and weddings here in Dundee area.  Temple weddings are not recognized officially, so the couples first marry in a civil ceremony, then are sealed (usually the next day) at the Preston Temple. So, it's kind of like having a "pre-ception", in that you get all the party stuff done first, then end with the beautiful Temple ceremony.  This arrangement does give us the chance to be part of some of the festivities. First, we had the marriage of Mark and Hollie. Mark's dad led the procession into the chapel with his bagpipe, parading down one aisle, up the other, then leading the rest of the wedding party. Mark, as well as his brother were in full kilt.  Hollie was a beautiful "princess"-looking bride.

The groom's dad at the church

Mark and Hollie on the Preston temple grounds

Next was the marriage of Matthew and Patrice.  Mathew comes from a large family, that has 4 YSAs in it! Patrice is from Edinburgh, so we didn't know her that well.  They were married at a castle near Perth, before heading to Preston Temple.

Castle wedding

At Preston Temple

.The 3rd wedding is coming up soon.  Dallin and Claire make such a cute couple, and will be married on November 1.

Dallin and Claire

This is what it's all about.  We hope more YSAs will get on board the marriage train for a wild and wonderful ride..

Strathardle Highland Gathering

In the latter part of August we attended the Strathardle Highland Gathering, which was 30 mi northwest of Dundee in a small village named Kirkmichael. It was just like a small county fair with animal judging, antique vehicles, games, track and field competitions, homemade foods judging, and rides for the kids and various food vendors. There was a tug of war that lasted for about 20 min – quite a test of stamina. There was place for piping, where young pipers were critiqued on their piping by two judges and similarly for young dancers..  It was a very interesting two hours.  

And of course a bagpipe band.

Young Single Adult baptisms and beyond

We were so happy to have had two young single adult baptisms this past month.  First was Aimee, whose mother joined the Church recently.  Aimee was then taught and accepted the gospel.  She was also already friends with one of our YSAs, and has been coming to Institute and activities.  Aimee is very sweet, and has been rather reserved and quiet, but right after she was baptized, she punched the air and did a wee jig of joy in the font.  It surprised everyone, including her.  She has been "coming out of her shell" ever since.  We are so delighted to have her in the group.

Elder Tinsley, Aimee, Elder McCarthy

A few weeks later, Jimmy was baptized.  He has been coming out to YSA activities for quite a while.  His girlfriend is a member.  He is a cheerful, happy person, but was even more so at his baptism.  

Elder Burt, Jimmy, Jonathan (our YSA president), Elder Winn

A week ago, we had a "skit night".  What we did was divide into two teams.  Each team chose from a random selection of props, wigs and hats, and then put together a "skit" using those props. After they practiced their skit, they were each given 3 "lines" from the other team to incorporate into their skit, such as "Pardon me, but I think that penguin stole your Ferrari."  It was quite a hilarious night.  

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Jimmy driving and Aimee behind him

Faith in Action in the Dundee Stake

 In a ward in Dundee Stake, there was a sister reactivated who hasn't been to church since she was a girl, she is now married and has three small children of her own and her husband is being baptized this Wednesday. The other part of this story is that the ward selected Wednesday 26^th June as a date to organize a baptismal service when they didn't even know who would be baptized – they just went forward with faith and prayed that someone would be found and the Lord provided this lovely family to strengthen and build His church. 

Act Well Thy Part - Reprise.

At the end of our first post, we mentioned the stone inscribed with “Act well thy part.” In April Conference,  Elaine Dalton, the outgoing Young Women General President talked about her experience seeing this stone many years ago when she visited the Mission Home in Edinburgh. The Elders in Edinburgh were very excited by this and quickly took a picture with the stone and sent it to the Ensign, in hopes of getting it published. This picture appears on page 74 of the May issue.

Front: L to R: Elders Orgill and Judd. Back Elders Johnson, Jones, Moser, Bland,

Graves, Åkebrand  (one of "our" YSAs from Stockholm), Stoica, Mauff.

The Scotland Ireland Mission has a monthly newsletter, cleverly titled “The SIM Card”, the title for which is shown to the right. 

The June issue of The SIM Card, contains an article about the legacy of the Stone, which I have included, in part, below.
It was in 1898 that David 0. McKay as a young missionary was assigned to work in Stirling, Scotland. After looking for an apartment he and his companion did some sight-seeing. On the way back to their rooms David felt homesick and rather down. Looking up he saw a carved stone above the lintel on the side of a house being built. He said "I was not more than half way up the pathway leading to it when it struck me, carved there-"What e'er thou art, act well thy part." It made a huge impact on him and encouraged him to make a renewed commitment to his missionary service, and indeed subsequently it became his often mentioned motto throughout his life.

The original stone at the Mission Home.

In 1965 two missionaries were teaching a family who lived in the upstairs apartment next to the stone. They told the missionaries that they were moving because the entire row of apartments was to be demolished. President Phil Jensen was then the Mission President, and they passed on the information and asked the demolishers to preserve the stone. Pres. Jensen drove hotfoot to Stirling and paid £30 to purchase it. (Estimated weight is about 500 lbs.) It was delivered and built into a brick frame-work in the front garden of the mission home and remained there until 1970 when David 0. McKay died. The Church then moved it to the Church Museum of Art and History among the artifacts in President McKay's section. There are 4 reproduction copies that we know of - inside the Mission Home in Edinburgh, Alloa Ward Building (being the nearest to Stirling) and in the entrance of the MTCs at Provo and Preston. 

The SIM Card also included the above picture of four of the Jensen children in the mission home garden with the original stone.