Started off the year with a party on New Year’s eve.
We worked 2 days in the Temple and then it was closed for cleaning for 2 weeks.
On Monday the 5th we were invited to the Osborne’s for dinner.
Interesting story about the Osbornes. Since they moved here to the area they had wanted to work in the Temple as ordinance workers. They asked their Bishop and he told them they could not because they were not able to serve at least once a week. We told them that is not true. We have several on our shifts that only serve once a month. So we got the application form from the temple, filled it out and turned it in to the Temple President. They soon got a call from their Bishop and were recommended to work in the temple. So now they work on our shift on Fridays twice a month. And as it worked out they also are serving twice a month on our shift on Sat. It has been fun to work with them at the Temple.
Jan. 7th we helped clean the Temple.
Then that evening we had the Merrells, Moyles & Harpers over for dinner. The Merrells have completed their mission and were heading home the next day.
Jan. 8th we went to the Brookside Gardens to see a model railroad exhibit.
Jan. 11th we worked at the Visitors’ Center.
Elder & Sister Eyring are being replaced as the Directors. They bore their testimonies at the program that night.
Jan 12, we went down town to see the American History Museum
Jan 15, We went down to the National Botanical Gardens
Jan 19th the Temple opened up after the cleaning. It was Martin Luther King Day. The Temple here is open on most national holidays.
Jan. 21st - snow out our window
It’s been a busy month for us. Sandra fixed dinners several times and we invited other missionaries over to visit. We took several missionaries to several airports to fly home for a visit during the closure. We also picked them up when they came back. As it worked out that ended up on Martin Luther King Day when we also worked at the Temple. That made an interesting day. The 2 airports are at opposite directions from us. And about an hour away each way. One of them was at night and we got lost and almost didn’t make it.
We are now on the down hill side of our mission. Seems like this is all we have ever done. We can't imagine going home and having nothing to do. We love it here and hate to think of it ending. We will see some of our best friends leaving in the next few weeks and that is really hard.
