Hey everyone,

Well this last Saturday our ward had it's first Pig Out.  For any of ya'll that think it's just getting the ward together to eat a bunch of food, your partly right.  They get two full pigs and slow roast them all night long, and then chop them up.  It was a good turn out.  It was held outside under the pavilion.  Mostly because it was pouring rain the whole time we were eating.  They actually let the missionaries be the judges of the BBQ sauce contest.  It was pretty fun and it gave me the chance to meet and mingle with a lot of the ward members.  I guess the point I'm getting to is - I was talking to one of the ward members and said, it doesn't get much better than good food, and he said, it ain't the food I came for.  It's the people.  Then we just sat and looked around and just smiled.  How blessed we are to have this gospel in our lives for one thing, and to be able to have our own families in it.  As if that wasn't enough we are blessed with gospel families!  That is such a blessing here on this earth.  Especially in these times.  We often talk to people who gather in large masses at their church.  Between 500 and 2000 people.  Most of them say that they know very few in their congregation if any.  We are so blessed to know each other.  What better support system is there than a ward family.  As we looked around it was like everyone grew up together.  It was like a family reunion.  Children of God brought together because of this gospel.  Adults and teens laughing and talking and all the kids out basically swimming in the rain.  I guess I just want to say short and sweetly that we have been given a great blessing.  Let's not take it lightly and introduce ourselves to each other.  Don't be afraid to go to a ward activity.  You never know what kind of support you will be for someone.  Remember God has made everything for a purpose.  We are in families so that we are able to learn and grow together in this gospel.  I promise you that as you magnify your callings, and keep the commandments, your not only blessing your family at home, but your ward family.  And if everyone is doing that! Oh My!!! It's like a snowball fight of blessings.  Everyone is just throwing them at each other, and I know that by blessing others we can truly be happy.
Yours truly,
Elder Alvey