Week 45

It seems like my posts lately have been photo journals, but that's the most interesting part of my week. I experienced the transition of a mission president this past week, and it has been sweet to watch. I was asked to help arrange for a lunch for our mission office zone. President Fenn wanted to say thank you to those who had worked most closely with him. We catered it from R&R Barbecue, and it was a wonderful meal. We also ordered fruit and cookies from the COB cafeteria for dessert. President & Sister Fenn gave a brief thank you, and everyone loved the lunch. 

I want to include this photo of Sister Vanja Watkins, who was released this week as the director of the Elijah Choir. She is the kindest, most genuine person, so sincere in all she does. Her music is beautiful - Families Can Be Together Forever, Press Forward Saints, and many more. She gave me a signed book of Christmas music that she wrote with Marvin Gardner. I can't wait to play it! 

On Tuesday, many missionaries went home. It was the last day for the young elders to be part of this mission, and they will be greatly missed. There was such a fun air of excitement as they all gathered in the mission office. At 15-minute intervals, their parents and families gathered in the reception area and were greeted by President Fenn. The elders would wait excitedly inside the office door and wait for the knock. They then would push through the doors and get that first hug from their moms with all kinds of cheering from family members and missionaries. It was such a bittersweet day. 

Several of the missionaries who have already gone home were also there. 💓

The missionaries who had worked with the elders were also released on Tuesday, as well as President and Sister Fenn. They left such a big hole in the hearts of us still here.

Taking off his name plate

Someone asked me recently what is going on with the temple. Here are a couple of pictures. They have torn down the annex where we used to enter the temple, as well as the little place where the brides and grooms came out to their cheering families. You can see that the spires are coming down brick by brick. We were hoping that someone has a good numbering system for when they go back up!

The Come Follow Me lesson for this week was such a wonderful set of chapters, particularly those relating to missionary work. In our Sunday School discussion today, someone pointed out Alma 26:27 - "Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success." I think this relates to all of us right now, in all that's going on in our lives. We have experienced so many changes and challenges this year, and we need to remember that "behold, the Lord comforted us," and we need to remember to "bear with patience [our] afflictions, and [the Lord] will give [us] success." We need to remember that He is in charge and has prepared the way for us to carry on - to be successful as missionaries and teach the gospel "from the rooftops," to adapt to a different way to go to church, to partake of the sacrament in our homes and still feel the Holy Ghost. We have been so blessed and we need to remember that!