Where Are They Now? ---> Alan Sheffield

My name is Alan Sheffield, I served under President Michael Madsen as a full-time missionary (夏長老) in the branch from August 2002–May 2004. I was trained by Elders Daniel Hsieh and Logan Hales, and served with Chad Muir, Benjamin Thatcher, Nicholas Rodgers, Dylan Landeen, and Mitchell Howe (and although I was never companions with him, Benjamin Chun Fung Li served almost the whole time I was here).

I'm not the best at keeping in touch with people, but I think of the branch often and fondly. What I remember the most is the remarkable willingness of the branch members to serve. So many members that had experienced great change in their lives, including reversals of fortune, and yet were always so willing to help come out on exchanges with us, or invite others into their homes, or serve hours and hours in callings. I particularly enjoyed fast & testimony meetings, and hearing the experiences and faith of the members of the branch. I also remember sitting in some great Priesthood lessons taught by Brother Shiu and Brother Zhang (the former of which, I'm sure, is teaching with just as much energy beyond the veil).

The other aspect of the two years I was in the branch that particularly stands out to me is the food. Hot pot at the Tsai's, spreads of food at Sister Hsueh's home, steamed fish by Sister Tung, spicy noodles with peanuts made by Sister Liu, fresh crabs with Wang De Chun, beef and potatoes in Sister He's apartment, and the homemade doujiang from Sister Shiu. I think my current love of food and cooking can pretty much be traced back to the experiences I had eating with branch members.

After I returned home to Utah, I attended BYU and graduated with a degree in documentary filmmaking. In April 2007, I married Kristin Hopper in the Salt Lake Temple and moved to the island of Galveston, Texas, where she was pursuing her PhD. I work as a Graphic Designer in the Ob/Gyn Department at the University of Texas Medical Branch, and following Kristin's graduation in April 2010, she joined the faculty in the Department of Surgery. So we're staying in Galveston for a few more years, but hope to move up north.

We don't have any children yet, but I take a lot of pictures of our two cats ;) We're very active in the ward down here; I'm serving as a counselor in the Bishopric, and Kristin is the Young Women President, and that keeps us very busy. The examples of service that I saw in the branch have had a great effect on my life; the devotion of branch members to each other and to the gospel is still a great motivation to me.

If you'd like to keep track of us, we have a family blog at http://alanandkristin.blogspot.com/. Photography is a hobby of mine, and I regularly put pictures on Flickr.
(And of course, I'm on Facebook.)

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Young Women Broadcast

Right after the branch homecoming fireside for Sister Jessica Tsai on Saturday, March 26, the Young Women of our branch went downstairs to the basement to watch  the Young Women broadcast from Salt Lake City.  With cake and punch in hand, they enjoyed being together and listening to the words of church leaders.

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Homecoming Fireside for Sister Tsai

Eighteen months after her departure to the Missionary Training Center on September 2, 2009, Sister Jessica Tsai returned home on March 23, 2011, having completed a successful mission in the Colorado Denver South Mission.  She labored diligently in four areas in Colorado with much success.  At the Tsai home on March 26, the branch welcomed Sister Tsai with a branch fireside, conducted by President Patrick Shen.  Accompanied by Joshua Tsai on the piano, Sister Tsai played a medley of "Amazing Grace," "As Now We Take the Sacrament," and "How Great Thou Art" on the violin.  President Shen welcomed her back to the branch by presenting to her a missionary plaque with her favorite scripture engraved on it.  Then she shared a slideshow, created by Brother Da Zhao, and discussed her mission experiences as everyone enjoyed the photos.  At the conclusion, the youth sang "Sisters of Zion/Army of Helaman" while Sister Tsai played the piano.  Afterwards, everyone had a chance to talk to Sister Tsai and enjoy cake, brownies, almond tofu dessert, punch, and red bean soup.  It was wonderful to see so many members, friends, and former members of the branch come to this fireside.  Congratulations on a mission well-done, and welcome home, Sister Tsai.

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Farewell Fireside

The last year and a half have passed by very quickly.  It seems as if they just arrived from Shanghai.  Memories of their darling daughters singing a Chinese song in traditional costume during the Chinese New Year celebration still linger in our minds.  A few weeks ago, Tim and Morgan delivered impressive talks on maintaining strong families.  Their daughters again treated us with all three verses of "Love at Home" in Chinese.  It was amazing that they memorized the whole hymn in Chinese, but the Spirit and love they shared with us that day was most memorable.  Then on the first of spring this year, March 20, right after church, our branch paid tribute to their family with a fireside conducted by Brother Da Zhao.  Tim and Morgan then shared with us their thoughts and feelings as they prepare to move on to the next part of their lives.  President Shen thanked them for their participation in and their contributions to our branch.  After the fireside, we enjoyed some delicious food together.  Although your time in our branch thus far has been brief, we are grateful that you have chosen to be part of our branch.  May the Lord bless your family.  'Til we meet!

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Where Are They Now? ---> Carol Ramsay Scott

I am Carol Scott, formerly Carol Serrano, aka Luan Jiemei. I was in the branch 1994-1995. I served a mission to Taiwan in 1983-85 after studying Mandarin for two years at the University of Maryland. I taught Gospel Principles in the branch, and my two daughters attended with me. They're now 19 and 22 (Liana-22 y/o-is attending ASU studying Interior Design, Ali (19) is studying at BYU-Idaho preparing for a degree in Nutrition). 

I have worked at LDS Family Services for 15 years, but am just leaving there to open a private practice in individual and couples therapy here in Gilbert Arizona (my new office will be down the street from the new Gilbert Temple when it's completed). My business website is www.chandlergilbertcounseling.com. 

We went to China (my girls, my husband and I) in 2008 for Bob's sabbatical trip. We spent 8 weeks, 1 in Taiwan, 4 in Mainland China and 1 in Thailand. It was amazing.

I loved the branch, seeing the faithfulness of the new Chinese members. How welcoming they were to my little family, and how eager they were to attend the temple. I appreciated my bridal shower when I married my husband Bob in the DC temple. The branch was so generous in helping us clean up and serve! We loved our time there.

Gongxi facai!

Carol Ramsay Scott (formerly Carol Serrano)

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