Ward Split

On Sunday, November 1st, our ward was split. They took a portion of our ward, Katy 3rd, and a portion of Katy 1st to form the new Katy 4th ward. Our family will be remaining in Katy 3rd. It's the first time since we've lived here to not be moving into the new ward when a major split like this has occurred. I have had mixed feelings over the split. Part of me is actually jealous of those families starting the new ward. I loved the excitement and newness when we have been involved in splits in the past. We will definitely miss the families that will be going to the new ward. The sad thing is that we won't even be meeting in the same building. Our ward will continue to attend at the new Richmond Stake Center and Katy 4th will go to the old Katy building. Yesterdays meeting was wonderful! The testimonies shared and spirit felt was wonderful! I loved how the wife of the new Bishop (who we just think is going to be wonderful!!) said that the event that was happening that day was an ordinary miracle which is occurring all over the world within the church. How faithful members of the church don't choose where we want to go to church, but rather, we are assigned which ward we are in by where we live and that is where and when we meet for church. During the meeting it was announced that a dear sister in the Sealy Branch had died that morning from cancer. Pres. Allen told of how she has been the seminary teacher there and they asked her if she wanted to be released when this new school year began. She replied that she wanted to serve and do her part until she no longer could. What a wonderful example of enduring to the end she was!!

This picture was taken at the back of the gym prior to the meeting starting. 850 members from the Katy 1st and Katy 3rd ward attended the special sacrament meeting. We actually had a very unique meeting. They passed the sacrament to the entire congregation. They had the sacrament table set up in the chapel with 12 deacons and 3 priests and one also set up in the gym with 12 and 3. Katy 3rd was in charge of those in the chapel and Katy 1st in the gym. Eyn actually got to bless for his first time. He did GREAT!! He was nervous, but didn't miss a word. He couldn't stop smiling when he was done! This is the map they passed out to everyone with the new changes.
It's always great to see the growth of the church in our area. When we moved here 11 years ago we were part of the original Katy Ward. We have since then been in Katy 2nd Ward, Katy 3rd Branch, and Katy 3rd Ward. During this time we have seen portions of our ward when in Katy 2nd put into Katy 1st and Nottingham country Ward. The growth here is amazing!