The New Hazleton Branch

Our little Branch moved from Hometown in the 1st part of December 2013 and is now called the Hazleton Branch. It was important for us to move for a couple of reasons. 

1. Hometown branch is over 10 miles away and most of the members reside here in Hazleton and the surrounding areas. Many of our members don't have cars!!

2. The old Church building had mold and leaks from the foundation. It also had a top floor for classrooms, ground floor for Chapel, Branch President's office & clerk's office. The basement had some classrooms, kitchen (very old!!!) and a Baptismal font. The font would fill with Mud and Slugs!!!  It certainly had fulfilled its purpose but it was time for a move!! 

We have two of the strip mall stores. Our Church is the 2 store fronts with unmarked white signs.  The Church leaders will not allow their name to be posted on a marquee sign, so it makes it difficult for our members/investigators and others to find us. With all of  its "drawbacks", we are very grateful to have something that is in Hazleton and is newer.

More of the strip mall.  It can be a busy place during the week but on Sunday it is all ours  Yeah.  

We had to get special permission from the Church to hang this BIG sign, but this is the biggest sign the Church would approve, to bad it is behind the pillar but we are fortunate to have a "mounted ash tray" for the convenience for some of our investigators.  Ha ha ha.

This is our chapel, priesthood room, gospel doctrine class & recreation hall. 

We have doubled in numbers from 30 in Hometown to approximately 60 here in Hazleton.  We are hoping to have a "REAL" chapel built in the future because in 3 months time we have averaged around 60 and our  capacity is only 68!!  The "Brethern" are aware of our growth and we are praying for a building with a "font". It's Great to grow sooo fast and have this problem!!

Our Relief Society room is very narrow but is also our biggest "classroom".  It is the only classroom with windows. 

This classroom is very typical and we have several more just like it.  It measures 8 feet by 7 feet!!  Sister Wilson teaches her Temple Prep class here and has 5 attend.  It's a challenge to write anything on the blackboard for them to see.

Our huge foyer all decorated up for Christmas.

This is Sister Fairall who loves to take care
of the library.  We found that  most of the pictures,
 manuals, etc were very outdated and we are slowly
eliminating  them. 

 All  moved in.  It is very compact but we love it!!

No Church is complete without the kitchen and the Relief Society no matter what size.  We are sooo grateful to have a refrigerator and a microwave.  

President Molanos office.  It's a super challenge to have the Branch Council as we have over 14 to sit, etc.. 

This hallway goes to all of our classrooms.  It's a bit of a challenge to pass members in the hall.  The Primary  kids sure love it as they can run and run and run.