Akron Ohio Stake News

submitted by Brother Barnett

While many refer to the end of July and beginning of August as the “Dog Days of Summer” it has been anything but slow in the Ashland Ward. Ward members were busy with a Baptism, a couple of great social events, and, as always, taking advantage of opportunities to serve in the Ward and community.

On July 25th, the Ashland Ward welcomed our newest member when Kayla Girolamo was baptized by Dakota Whittenberger, a Priest in the Ward. Kayla is a Senior at Medina County Career Center this fall and was supported by nearly 70 members of her family, the Ward, and Young Women from across the Akron Stake. Kayla attended the Akron Stake Girls Camp the week prior to her Baptism and was instantly brought into fellowship by the leaders and girls from throughout the Stake. The assembled guests heard talks on Baptism from Brother Terry Barnett and on the Holy Ghost from Sister Katrina Summers, and joined for refreshments and fellowship afterward in the Cultural Hall.

On August 3rd and 4th, over 70 members and friends gathered for the annual Ashland Ward Campout near Loudonville. Brother Shawn Landoll and family welcomed the Ward to their property, where they have built a cabin and recently erected a pavilion for events just such as this. The Elders Quorum provided hamburgers and hot dogs, while Ward members contributed pulled pork, side dishes, and desserts. Elders Quorum President James Mathatas led the assembled group in a gospel sing-along around the campfire, after which young and old alike made Smores around the fire. Sister Brenda Lane provided a “Smores Bar” with three different styles of graham crackers and tons of chocolate. About 25 members and friends stayed the night in tents on the Landoll property and were treated to a massive breakfast of French toast, scrambled eggs, sausage, and bacon at the Landoll home the next morning. Brother Landoll and the Elders Quorum kept the food flowing, and there were smiles all around!

Then on Wednesday, August 8th, the Ward again gathered for a float trip on the Mohican River in Loudonville. About 40 members and friends met at 6 p.m. and floated downstream for about two hours on a perfect summer’s evening. The event replaced the youth’s regular Mutual meeting, and it was great to see several nonmember friends of the youth joining us as we lazily floated, splashed, and enjoyed our time together on the river. Following the float, the group enjoyed a high-energy snack of donuts and hot dogs before heading home for the evening.

Though the project is nearing an end, multiple members of the Ashland Ward have volunteered for hundreds of hours helping digitize nearly 550,000 historical documents housed by Ashland County. The project was made possible by funding from FamilySearch but required painstaking work to carefully unfold and prepare the documents (some of which date to 1846) for digitizing. Multiple Ward members have volunteered to make this process possible, and the work is expected to be wrapped up in the next few weeks. FamilySearch officials initially expected the work would take two years, but due to the overwhelming response of the Ashland community, they hope to complete the work in just 58 weeks. For more information, see this article in the Ashland Times Gazette: http://www.times-gazette.com/news/20180820/county-record-preservation-project-nears-close-about-550000-images-preserved

Finally, the Elders Quorum gathered at the home of Brother and Sister Jim and Eileen Nance on Tuesday, August 14th, to construct a wheelchair ramp for Brother Nance, who recently underwent surgery on both knees and will be wheelchair bound for several months. The brethren first used their Sunday quorum meeting time on the 12th to discuss the project and how best to proceed. Then, after gathering needed materials and researching zoning requirements with the help of Sister Nance, the brethren arrived on Tuesday evening to construct the ramp. With the outstanding response of so many Elders Quorum members, this ministering opportunity was completed in just about two hours, and Brother Nance was able to return to his home as planned on Friday the 17th after a brief stay in a rehab facility. Fellowshipping, ministering, and having fun – the Ashland Ward has been busy as summer turns to fall in Ohio. We are grateful to Heavenly Father for the bonds of fellowship that join us together, and for the opportunities to meet together and serve others as the Lord asks of us.