Busy but Happy

conference

pre-conference from the balcony

conference selfie

We had a great weekend.  Marc's Aunt and Uncle, the Shapiros came on Friday.  They will replace the other office couple (no they didn't ask to be sent here--the Lord works in mysterious ways.)  We are excited to have them here but sad to see the Dukes leave.  They are such a great couple and we have gotten close to them in the few weeks we have been here.

We entertained for our first time on Saturday when we invited the Dukes over to watch conference.  The Dukes have been living in the "holding apartment" (or that's what Marc and I call it)--a 2 room section of what the President calls the "Frat House," where the outgoing couple stays so the new couple can move into their apartment upstairs.  The frat house is a house with 3 apartments of elders and one apartment for the senior couple.

Marc went to Priesthood session of conference next door at the church on Saturday night.  He said besides himself and Elder Shapiro and his son, Ron, there were 4 elders and 2 Spanish members.

Sunday was the best.  We attended at our ward building.  There were 4 meeting rooms with Conference broadcast in Spanish, Mandarin, Korean and English.  English was in the chapel so we attended there and got to sit in the balcony along with 15 of the young missionaries.  It was awesome! We have grown to love these missionaries who meet at our building.

Between the morning and afternoon sessions (2 hours) there was a convert baptism which we attended.  It was all in Spanish.  We couldn't understand most of the words but the Spirit is the same in English or Spanish.  One of the ward members was kind enough to tell us what was said after it was over. I'm starting to understand more and more Spanish (but still not enough.)  Two of the sisters who live near the office are kind enough to teach me a few words here and there when they stop by.   At the baptism, one of the elders played the piano.  It made me think of Hayden who is learning to play the piano and hopefully will get to play when needed when he serves a mission.

After the baptism there was a potluck lunch.  The Spanish ward (and apparently the Korean as well) love to have food at everything.  The Koreans offered us some of theirs but we were rushing off to the baptism so didn't get to taste it.  I expected more hispanic food at the Spanish lunch but there wasn't any.  They did have spaghetti and pizza and lots of chips, popcorn and cheese puffs.  We realized the respect the people here show the senior missionaries.  I got to go to the front of the line (I felt guilty) and they had me take lots of food for Marc.  When I offered someone my chair during the baptism, they refused to take it and I hope I didn't offend them by offering.  Not sure if the respect comes because we are missionaries or because we are old or both.

Today was our first Transfer Day experience.  Yesterday we drove to the airport and picked up the new missionaries' luggage.  There were a lot of wide-eyed brand new missionaries with the same "deer-in-the-headlights" look we had a few weeks ago.  Lots of energy around the office today with everyone coming and going.  The young missionaries are all so very sweet to us and are always looking for ways to help us.  It is amazing to have so many clean-cut respectful, kind young adults assembled in one building at one time.  My main responsibility was to feed them.  They love it.  Marc got to do a few drive tests with the newbies.  We were sad to see the departing missionaries leave, but excited to meet the new ones.  After all is said and done, we are beat and will probably sleep well tonight.