Welcome to our new Relief Society Sisters!

Peggy Snyder*  Angela Snyder*  Anita Snyder*  Deborah Featherston*
  Mary Hamner* Linda Ford* (all from the Shelbyville Ward)

 Melody Bonnet*  (Amy Swihart's mother)

Denise Recarte*  Jackie Recarte*Arantxa Recarte*  (Jackie and Arantxa go to school at IU and come home on weekends to our ward)

Leta Zollman -95 yrs old and residing at Willow Crossing Health and Rehab

Debbie Kirts

Our Relief Society sister Debbie Kirts passed away on Thursday January 17. We know she is happy with her parents and brother Mike, who passed away in 2016. We offer our love and condolences to her brother Brad, Cindy, and their kids Libby, Sarah, and Matthew.  

Debbie told me last week that one of her favorite memories was when she and Brad worked in a hotel doing laundry in Jackson Hole, Wyoming one summer. They went on a river rafting trip that she loved and called it her greatest adventure. 

When her niece Libby was a teenager, Debbie accompanied her as her assistant on two different trips. One was to Washington DC for her 8th grade field trip, and the other was on our Stake's Youth Conference trip to Palmyra, New York and the Sacred Grove. I know she loved James Patterson books and I will personally miss her slightly irreverent political Facebook posts that always made me smile.

The arrangements for her funeral are pending. We will let you know when we have the information.

  Sister Jenessa Vincent  

Our Relief Society Sister, Jenessa Vincent flew directly to the Sao Paulo Brazil MTC.   She had her farewell this past week and spoke on charity and brotherly kindness and how those qualities can help us as we try to be more Christ-like.  She sends her thanks for all the cards, letters, gifts, and prayers. She is anxious to get going and learn Portuguese.  

Nell Hill

      Nell Hill and her husband Reinhold have just moved to our ward from Chicago.  Their youngest daughter Kira (14) is here with them and attends Columbus East High School.  Their oldest daughter, Zaida, is married and works for a senator in Washington DC and her husband works for the Department of Agriculture. Their second daughter, Anja, is a sophomore at BYU.  

     Nell is an educator in English and is finishing her PhD where she is focusing her dissertation on English as a second language. She plans to be done next summer. Reinhold Hill is the Vice Chancellor and Dean at IUPUC. Nell is enjoying being back in the classroom teaching at Ivy Tech, as she spent the last few years in an administrative role.

       Nell grew up in Lancaster County Pennsylvania which is known for being Amish Country and is  near Philadelphia. She studied at BYU-Hawaii and BYU where she met her husband.  She had a desire to serve a mission, so he waited for her while she served in the Brussels Belgium mission. She still speaks French fluently and has taught it at the high school and college level. 

      Nell has lived in a Branch for the past 15 years; five in Chicago and ten before that in Big Rapids, Michigan (North of Grand Rapids). Before she took time to work on her PhD, she spent some leisure time singing and acting in local theatre. She was cast as Helen Keller's mother in The Miracle Worker.  Another favorite role was to be part of their community Labor Day weekend music revues. Her favorite was when she performed and sang the music to Phantom of the Opera.

       Welcome to the ward Nell! We look forward to getting to know you better.  

Stephanie Smith

“I’ve lived in California, Maryland, Louisiana, Texas, Utah and now Indiana. I graduated BYU in 2012 as a Mechanical Engineer. I’ve worked in the aerospace industry on the F-35 fighter jet as well as on a pair of VVIP Boeing 747-8’s. I left the industry when Chris and I got married in April of 2014, and have enjoyed being a homemaker ever since! I’m currently substitute teaching, and finding places to volunteer around town. We spent last summer here in Columbus, and fell in love with its small town charm and friendly nature. I’m thrilled to work with the Young Women’s in the ward, and am also excited to get to know all of the Relief Society sisters here!”

What's Next For Our Seniors?

We will miss these girls, but are so excited for them, as they leave home for new adventures! It will be wonderful to continue to see these young women grow! 

Here are some fun facts and future plans for our Seniors!

Emily Fischvogt

Attending Indiana University

Work-a-holic

Enjoys unhealthy food

Wants to study apparel merchandizing and business management

Wants to live in New York City or San Francisco and work as a fashion buyer or a textile buyer for a clothing business

Aleese Thomas

Attending BYU-Provo

Loves musical theater-performing and watching (also her planned major)

Loves to read and write

Favorite candy is Twix

Obsessed with Disney and Harry Potter

Favorite color is purple

Favorite author is Brandon Sanderson

Loves kids

Favorite movies are the Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Loves to do hair and makeup

Aubrey Vincent

Attending BYU-Provo

Not sure what she wants to study

Planning on going on a mission after her freshman year of college

Wants to travel the world when she is older

Favorite colors are red and green...but not together

Likes all kinds of music

Loves food!!! Mostly her moms cooking

Loves to read and watch movies

Played trombone for 6 years and euphonium for 4 years

Considers naps to be very important

Read all of the Work and the Glory books except for the last one because she didn't want the series to end

Favorite person in the Book of Mormon (other than Jesus Christ) is Captain Moroni 

Likes musicals

Favorite scripture is somewhere in D&C but she isn't really know where...

Likes long walks in general (not necessarily on the beach)

Jenessa Vincent 

Attending BYU-Provo

Loves any milk/dark chocolate dessert

Loves the outdoors

Loves to travel and see and experience new things

Loves to play sports

Loves her family and friends

Loves quality time

Loves to bake

Micah Shoaf
Attending Utah State University
Majoring in Math/Stats education
Favorite foods are chicken, fettuccine alfredo and Hershey's chocolate bars
Loves doing anything sports related
Also, loves to hang out and watch movies
Favorite books are the Hunger Games Trilogy (read all of them 5-7 times)
Favorite movie is Hot Rod
Wants to be a high school math teacher but most of all a wife and mother

Joyce Ann Scalf

Joyce grew up in Columbus. She lived in Illinois for four years then returned to Columbus. She graduated from Columbus High School back when there was only one school in town. She has one brother and four nephews. Joyce has taken several classes work related at IUPUC and photography classes for pleasure. She worked in accounting for several different companies and retired from Sears after 23 years. She enjoys photography, reading mysteries and British mysteries on PBS and liked to travel when she was still able. Joyce has been active in Beta Sigma Phi for 60 years. She was married to Dick Scalf for 41 years and has 3 stepchildren (Rick, Laura & Mike),  3 grandchildren (Ricky, Ginger & Erica) and 1 great grandchild (Jackson). Her favorite seasons are spring and fall and her favorite color is aqua/turquoise.

Marie Caudell

"During WWII the Japanese forced the young people to work in the rice filed, I was one of them. The Americans reclaimed the island the war was over. The civilian hospital was under the control of the Naval Government and needed more nurses. I decided to go to Nursing School. After graduating, I was hired to work in the new wing as charge nurse and assigned to relieve the night supervision on Wednesdays. Work for 5 years and got married and left for the states. I lived in Indianapolis for 10 years, then moved to Princeton, IL. I went back to nursing, working in the local hospital there for 3 years. I moved to Rolla, MO and worked in the Phelp Co. hospital in the ICU. I enrolled in Nursing Psychology in University of Missouri, Columbus and Guiding and Counseling in University of Missouri, Rolla.  I moved back to Indiana, where I start working in Columbus Regional Hospital in surgical services. My specialty was surgery and laser.  I have a degree in BS in Professional Art, concentration in Health Services Administration (a long distance education). I took summer residency -to take ethic, leadership training, and strategic management-Saint Joseph College, Windham Maine. Joined the LDS Church and sealed with my husband in Washington DC Temple. Served in Louisville Temple, young woman advisor, cub scout leader and teacher. Retired from C.R.H after 30 years, my husband was very happy to have me home."

Spotlight

Amy Swihart

• Grew up in Indianapolis
• Attended Ricks College
• Graduated with B.A from IU
• Moved to Columbus 1 1/2 years ago
• Currently a Spanish teacher at Columbus North High School
• Married to Andrew for 19 years
• Has 4 kids (Marissa-18, Nathan-16, Marc-14, Eric 11)
• Serves as a Beehive teacher in our ward
• Loves to read and work in the flower garden during the spring and summer
• Favorite season-summer
• Favorite color-yellow
• describes herself as "quiet but enjoy talking to people once I get to know them."

Called to Serve…Jim and Karen Flint

Retirement means something entirely different to Jim and Karen Flint than it does to most of us. When most people think of retirement as slowing down and spending their days in quieter pursuits, these two are busier than ever! Karen Flint, along with her husband Jim, are currently serving TWO missions for the Church. They are Home Storage Center missionaries, and Employment Resource missionaries. They have become immersed in the world of serving our fellow man through two very needful avenues. 

Karen tells us that the HSC (Home Storage Center) serves many non-members as well as members. She says, "It used to be about 70% non-member usage, but that has slowed down in the last year. It is picking up again. Many of the non-members are better prepared than we are today. They are worried about the economy and scared about what might happen. We know that if we follow the prophet and are prepared we shall not fear." She mentioned a recent experience with a non-member who stopped in: "The humanitarian aid that is given by the church locally is extremely impressive. Just the other day we had two women from the Bloomington area come in who had helped during the tornados in the Henryville area for several months. One woman mentioned she was by the way the church helped, and loved the cleaning buckets that the church has available. Apparently she knew from experience that that church could be counted on to come through with bleach and other items. It sounded like she has a small group of people that have a commune-type religious organization in Bloomington. At the end of the tours Jim always bears his testimony and gives them an opportunity to take a Book of Mormon and very few turn the offer down."

She goes on to say, "We have had some choice experiences and have made some wonderful friends. I am still working with a non-member friend and we have wonderful gospel discussions all the time. Jim and I have taken excess items to Eastside Community Center, Turning Point and Love Chapel. We have had the opportunity to help with Hurricane Sandy service projects and helped fill the first trucks with items for Henryville and dropped off quilts in New Albany for them as well. A church service mission is extremely fulfilling and is the best of both worlds. We serve but when family needs or special occasions arise we are able to co-ordinate our time to enjoy the best of both worlds. We may be in Colorado but we are in touch with the people we are serving by computer and cell, even while we are gone."

Their other mission, serving in the Employment Resource Center, is rewarding as well. Karen tells us that, "the Employment Resource Center is a great place to come for help if you are unemployed or interested in upgrading your job. We can help with resumes and job searches, help you with interviews and networking skills, and also give you career testing. If you need extra help with education or skill development the church has additional resources available that can help you to become more self-reliant." They travel to various wards and give presentations to the leadership so that these resources can be tapped into. 

The ERC Office is open every Tuesday and the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month from 9 to 3. They are also available by appointment. 

The Home Storage Center is open every Tuesday and Saturday from 10 until 2. Everything comes prepackaged but they also carry red and white wheat in bulk. They still have some black beans, great northern and refried beans in bulk as well as dehydrated onions and carrots, but when they are gone they will not be getting any more of this items in. The HSC takes cash, check or credit cards. You do not have to call ahead. 

They also have some amazing water bottles that are available. They filter approximately 200 gallons of water and are great for your emergency supply. The price list of all items are on the provident living.org website.