A Month Already! Time Flies...

 

We got to see Durk's Grandfather Andrus' house in Archer near Rexburg ID when we went to the burial service for his Aunt Helen Mae, a very good friend of my mother's. It was a good day with many friends and relatives to visit with, though a strong storm made the drive home extra long. Durk said the house had shrunk a lot since he was little.

The jackhammering has gotten loud enough (or moved) to where we could hear it as we worked, though not as much as the reception area. Downstairs there were days it was very loud and vibrations bouncing off the walls. I can't imagine what it's like for those whose offices are close to the work. One more reason many are glad to be working from home. This last week was supposed to be the big return, with workers required to actually come to the office two or three days a week. Then renewed covid warnings set that back. In our area there are very few people in the office and its still surprising to ever hear multiple voices. 

The air has often been smoky or hazy from fires far away but we did get some cooler weather and had to break out the light blanker we brought. Not for long though.

We continue to meet other senior missionaries and hear their stories. We rode to the group activity with a couple who thought they were going to go to Hawaii. They had needed skills for the Polynesian Cultural Center and had talked to people there, but to their surprise they are here doing Family History Library things. They greet people and show artifacts, help with transcribing journals, keep an eye on research room, etc. 

We had our first activity with a group from our "Zone" (which is how the hundreds of missionaries in the mission are divided into groups), a new musical down in Provo that was very well done. It did make for a late night for mid-week!

(Masks were worn, by the way, most took them off for quick photo)

The set didn't look like much but was cleverly designed and well used and the show flowed well and the singers were excellent. It must have been an interesting challenge to decide what bits to portray and how. I would be very curious to know what it would be like for someone not already familiar with the story.

Occasionally we run into something interesting in even the tedious parts of our work (i.e. sending out hundreds of letters, fortunately now by email and not stuffing envelopes)  and we wonder what nickname would you give Teancum? Again we are impressed at how much care is given, notes are made of follow-up calls to see how missionaries are doing that went home early, etc. Plus even though it seems it would be SO much easier if things could be sent out in big bunches, individual care is taken over letters for individuals and their situations, just like Christ reached out to the one and we are taught to minister one by one. 

We are also starting to take phone calls -- and even know the answer once in a while, or at least where to find it. We are about to have the main person in our group out of the country for a few weeks so it could get interesting with only one other (who has been here a few months) and us trying to do reports, letters, take calls, deal with the mechanics of  reassignments and reinstatements, etc.  (The decisions are far above our pay grade, we just make calls to inform and send letters and get info to the people who arrange travel)

On Sundays we are probably one of the only meetings where everyone is in their place quite early and it's silent during the last five to ten minutes of prelude music. Here are a couple of views outside the room we meet in.  

Think about all that carving being done by hand back in the day...

What impressed me this week? We have wondered about the IFR's (Infield Reps) who are on duty 24/7 to help mission presidents and sometimes stake presidents deal with the really tough stuff their missionaries are going through. It means they see all the worst. How do they do it? I understood when I had to talk to one personally about a call I took and his reaction was of love and sympathy. I realized they are doing this out of love and concern to help those involved. Today in our priesthood/Relief Society discussion on zoom one elder spoke of when his father died. He had been scared of nothing - except he was very afraid of dying because he hadn't lived a good life. The brother prayed that his father might be greeted with love and peace and then realized that of course he would! Heavenly Father would certainly be sure he was greeted with love, comfort, etc.  This tied in to the IFR's and their job, how they are Christ-like in their love for all God's children, even those young missionaries who do something really stupid (it happens) and they simply want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to learn and grow, find joy,  and that they feel God's love.

Our RS/Priesthood lesson was from Sister Aburto's talk "The Grave Has No Victory" and the majority of those sharing talked about the loss of their husbands. This mission has more single senior sisters than any other, mostly widows who are using their time to serve others. It was reaffirming to hear how the gospel and faith in Jesus Christ makes a huge difference in times of sorrow.

And another week zips by....

We have found it interesting to watch the giant cranes as they work on Temple Square and build up the scaffolding around the temple.  

We usually cut through the corner of the conference Center block on the way to the office, a few stairs are a nice break from walking uphill and its maybe a bit shorter.

Here's a good look at the cranes and scaffolding

The office is still more empty than full, here's a look down the area from our desks on a Monday - Mondays and Fridays have the fewest people coming in, generally, and almost none at eight a.m.

This last Saturday we were taking the shortcut through by the Tabernacle and saw signs about "Harp Entrance" and peeked in, they were preparing for a big harp gathering and had about 130 harps set up! We like going through that area - the evening before we met and talked to a family from Brasil who knew someone Durk knew from his first mission. We were on our way to meet my sister Chris Graham and her husband to eat out after their shift at the Beehive House, where some newly restored historic rooms are going to open in late September. Its so nice not to have a 40-minute Uber or Taxi drive through horrendous traffic to eat out. We keep marveling about the lack of really heavy traffic in downtown SLC - all that space between the cars! And you can see halfway across the valley straight down a wide street.

I also found a little time to start getting creative again. We really need relaxation and a change after long days of work with no break or end to tasks in the office! 

Our Sunday School lesson challenged us to find a way to better worship in our daily lives; First I thought of Colossians 3:23 (And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men), and (reminded by the teacher) this song came to mind as something to consider as we go about our daily work that is often more administrative than personal:

My life flows on in endless song;
Above earth's lamentation,
I hear the sweet, though far-off hymn
That hails a new creation

Through all the tumult and the strife,
I hear that music ringing
It finds an echo in my soul
How can I keep from singing?

What though my joys and comforts die?
I know my Savior liveth
What though the darkness gather round?
Songs in the night he giveth

No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that refuge clinging
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?

I lift my eyes, the cloud grows thin
I see the blue above it
And day by day this pathway smooths,
Since first I learned to love it,

The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart
A fountain ever springing
For all things are mine since I am his
How can I keep from singing?

No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that refuge clinging
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?

Robert Lowry