Well, we have been about this mission for over a month now and are pretty settled into a routine. We have five days of temple assignments – 3 morning shifts and 2 afternoon/evening. The Temple is beautiful and amazing. President Condie describes it as being a small temple inside a large building. There are five floors. The ordinance rooms and some sealing rooms are on the third floor.
Like most temples, we are busiest early mornings and evenings, although we are starting to see more tourists coming now since Memorial Day. The “performing missionaries” from BYU recently arrived, and they are busy with rehearsals and starting their shows. What energy and enthusiasm they add to everything. Abe Collier (Cynthia Sorensen Collier’s son) is very charismatic and is featured several times. He said he didn’t know he would have to dance, but he’s doing it well. There is a very good brass band that performs regularly; we heard that 300 tried out for the 20 spots. These young people often attend the temple for baptisms, initiatory, and sessions. There is much to do and experience.
The focus and center of everything is the Temple. All temples are special, but this one is extra special because of the history and tragedy associated with it. Only by being involved inside the temple can one really feel the special spirit. Some call the temple – Joseph’s Temple – because it was his vision. He designed it spiritually and on paper but did not live to see it nearly finished and functioning.
The Temple Missionaries – 58 couples – contribute to the spirit. All are well seasoned, experienced temple workers recommended by their temple presidents. We are making many new and wonderful friends, another blessing of serving a mission. We have a nice social life centered around activities here and eating too much, I’m afraid.
We do take time – P days and off time for a variety of things. We have only played golf twice because of frequent and almost constant rains. We drove to Burlington, Iowa where there is a nice mall and a movie theater. We saw”42” – the Jackie Robinson Story – very good; we recommend it!
Today, Saturday, we are assigned to manage the Arrival Center across the street from the temple. It functions as an annex type building to the temple with facilities for changing clothes, restrooms, showers, small kitchen, children play are and mother’s room. Many young families come and the parents take turns going to the temple while one tends the children. We had several in that category today.
Two young mothers – one with three little ones under 5 – baby three weeks old – and the other expecting her third in July met for the first time. Both of their husbands are in dental school – one in Iowa and one in Illinois. They had so much in common and loved visiting with each other.
We thank Mindi for helping with our blog. Check it out for updates.
This month will be our 60th wedding anniversary. The older we get the more we appreciate the lives we have lived, the wonderful family that we have, and the straight path outlined by the gospel, which is true!!
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| Grandpa |
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