Seems like we are so busy we haven’t had time to keep our blog up to date. We will try to do better in the future.
March 16th we had Stake Conference. It was a broadcast from S.L.C. Rich was asked to usher at the Visitors’ Center so we were able to watch on the huge screen in the auditorium. It seats about 1500 people. It was great. That evening we attended a fireside given by a couple that had served in Durbin Africa. They also had several participants that were recent converts. Like a week or so. One of the brothers that spoke looked like a return missionary. He said he was accused of that a lot.
On Monday we had another snow storm. About 5 inches. We took this photo the night before at the fireside.
We stayed in the whole day.
During the week at the Temple we were in training on all the various things we are asked to do as Temple Workers. In this Temple we are asked to serve in different capacities each day. And the assignments change each week on the same shift. We never do the same thing 2 days in a row or 2 weeks in a row. So we are getting a lot of different training from different shift coordinators. It is quite confusing. But we are sure we will eventually catch on to all of it.
On Thursday we decided to venture out to find a Walmart. The only one we could find on the internet that was fairly close was about 20 miles away. According to our map app. it was 30 minutes away. Well after about an hour and a half of traffic we arrived. It was an okay store but nothing like what we are used to in a Walmart. We purchased what we needed and headed back. Traffic was moving at a snail pace all the way home. It took over 2 hours. We decided we needed to find somewhere else to shop. That didn’t make Sister R. very happy. (BTW, we later found a Walmart 16 miles away which is a much nicer store.)
On Friday a bomb shell was dropped on us. We received a call to meet early with the Temple Pres. We were asked to serve as Assistant Coordinators for the Friday mid shift. We looked at each other and the expression on our faces probably scared the Temple Pres. to death. We don’t even know how to do the things we are being asked to do. And they want us to be in charge???? Needless to say, we are in shock!!
On Saturday Rich was asked again to serve at the front desk to organize the baptism groups as they come in. That is such a spiritual experience. Rich would enjoy being assigned there forever. But in this temple that won’t happen as our assignments change all the time. That evening we attended the Washington DC Temple Orchestra presentation at the Visitors’ Center. It was really good.
Sunday evening we invited the next door couple over for dinner. They are Dale and Gwen Evans from Pocatello. They were our host couple when we arrived and we have enjoyed going out to eat and visiting with them.
Monday evening we held a “Hail & Farewell” as they call it here. It is a get together where new couples introduce themselves and leaving couples speak. We didn’t have any new couples this time so we just heard from the 2 couples leaving.
Thursday evening we attended a local presentation of “Savior of the World” at the Visitors’ Center. It’s a production put on in S.L.C. during the Christmas season. The local talent was not quite as good as in S.L.C. but it was still very spiritual and uplifting.
On Friday we experienced our first day as Assistant Coordinators. Interesting day. We pretty much just followed the assistants we are replacing around to see what they do. And it appears they just put out fires. There are always people who don’t show up and so things they were assigned to do need to be covered. And quite often groups will show up for baptisms that are not scheduled so we have to shuffle people around to cover that. Then if there is a very large session we have to shuffle people to cover the veil for that. Most all the shifts in the temple are short of workers to cover all the assignments so it is a real challenge to cover all the bases. That evening we went exploring to find a Mexican Restaurant. We found one in the basement of a building over by the Costco store (or at least in that area). It was pretty good. Quite authentic atmosphere and workers.
Saturday the temple was only open half a day because of the General Women’s Meeting. So we were asked to attend as patrons. That evening Sister R. went next door to watch with Sister Evans and Rich stayed home and worked on genealogy.
Sunday was Fast Sunday due to Conference next week. Rained all day and turned to slush in the evening. We invited the Williamses over for dinner. They came here the same time we did but they did not go to the training in S.L.C. They are from Canada and winter in St. George. That evening we went to a fireside (presentation) by Bro. Adams on Isaiah. He was a professor at BYU and had some really interesting insights on Isaiah.
Monday the 31st a group of us went to Alexandria. VA.
We drove our car and took 2 other couples. We only got lost 2 times going and 1 time coming back. After parking we walked a few blocks to the center of town. On the way we came across a cute little shop.
We all had fun shopping there.
And Sister R. bought a bunch of cards and stuff.
We went up and down King Street on a local trolley type bus that stops every couple of blocks.
We visited the Torpedo Factory Museum where they used to make torpedos for World War I and II.
It is now pretty much an art museum.
Then we went all the way up King Street to the Metro station and up to the George Washington Masonic Temple.
On the way back down we stopped at several places and visited buildings like:
Freedom House which was a slave trade business place.
Several old churches,
and other buildings. Note the quality control on the construction here.
Looks like they started the ground floor with the slope of the street. Then added extra bricks in to get the next floor level.
Then we stopped and ate at a pizza place and ended the day with ice cream.
Then on the way back to the car we went by that same little shop again. Only this time on the other side of the sign it said:
and Sister R. just couldn't resist.
We returned home through the center of Washington D.C. and just could not believe all the buildings there.
Still no cherry blossoms so tune in later for that.
2 comments:
Thanks for the link. Love you guys
I am so glad you sent your link. I stopped what I was doing and sat down to read every word. We are in such different places doing such different things but all of it is the Lord's work so we just do it. Sometimes we feel a little disconnected so we love to see the pictures and notes from friends so keep blogging. It is a blessing for us. And FYI you will be terrific coordinators. Your temple president made no mistake in calling you. Thanks again for the link!
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