"Old and New" Young Bishops

Bishop Glass, and his girls are a family we love. Our first Sunday at church, Kristy asked for my email address so she could send me, "everything she'd learned the hard way about Astoria over the last ten years!" It was a fun list that's printed and in my scrapbook. They also reached out and invited us to spend Easter afternoon with them. When Kristy needs some help we love to have their daughters sit with us in Sacrament Meeting. Jason has been serving as the 2nd Counselor in our ward, so we were not surprised that he was called to be our new bishop. He is a talented leader, appreciative and thoughtful. He and Kristy met at a YSA Sunday School class while he was in school in Chicago. So with all of the YSAs in the Astoria Ward he created a class for them that has been a warm environment for all to meet each week. Chas also enjoys monthly visits to the Glass family serving as their home teacher. This special family represent all of the Astoria Ward well.

During our lives we've been so thankful for bishops that have counselled and inspired us. The Astoria Ward is no exception. We learned last Sunday that our bishop, Jason Howell and his loving wife, Rebecca van Uitert, will be leaving Astoria, and moving to Chicago, where he will begin medical school the end of the month. How all will miss them. He is kind and gentle with a giant spirit. Jason began his career with the Church working for Public Relations in Manhattan, before he decided to return to school to become a doctor. Becca is an attorney with a Manhattan firm. She will continue with the same firm in their Chicago office. We arrived in Astoria late on a Thursday night and Bishop and Becca were at our home early Saturday afternoon to welcome us and deliver a ward directory and a list of their favorite places in our area. We found them to be so delightful from the moment we met them. Utahns, Becca is from Ogden, and Jason is from Alpine. They have been married for about 5 years. We have marvelled at the wisdom of our young bishop and are so glad we've had the chance to serve together. We send them off with lots of love and best wishes. We already know that they will find great success. Thanks for rendering such heartfelt service.