Monday And A Bank Holiday, 25 August 2014

It was predicted 100% rain today and it was correct.  We woke up to rain, it rained going to the temple, it rained while in the temple, it rained coming home from the temple, and it rained the whole evening.  It was steady all the day long.  Unlike Yuma, their drains work here and there were no standing puddles.

The banks take holiday on Mondays, and when that occurs, everything closes down, except the temple.  It was Shift A's turn to staff it.  Dad and I worked together as coordinators assisting patrons at the end of sessions.  We had 4 sessions in all, the first one of 23 patrons, the second of 33 patrons, the third of 49 patrons, and the fourth of 13 patrons.  We finished up at 2 p.m. and then we had a fire drill.  We were all given a specific place to be and told we were deaf, thus not hearing the alarm.  The coordinators were instructed to collect us up at the sound of the alarm and escort us to the gathering point which was the arrival centre at the Visitors' Centre, due to the rain.  When we got to the gathering point, President Johnson checked us off and once everyone was accounted for, we went home.

Brother Davis took the ALS bucket challenge and employed Dad and I to assist him, in the rain!

We were scheduled to have a barbecue tonight at 5 p.m., out in the back of the grounds where there is a fire pit.  Everyone was excited to have grilled meat and great company.  The location, due to the rain, was changed to the dining room at the accommodations centre.  We were busy getting meat prepared and cooked and I made a potato salad.  We joined the group for a very lovely meal.  Dad and I had a rare treat here in England; we brought glasses of ice to pour our sodas over!  Yummm, it was ever so good!  There were about 36 in attendance.  Brother Davis announced that since we couldn't play a game of flag football, each table was assigned to come up with some form of entertainment and we had five minuets to prepare.

Brother Vowels (sitting down, Sister Clark, Sister Bustamante, Sister Marsh, and Sister Vowels led us in a round of charades.

Brother & Sister McClellan. Sister & Brother Whitehouse, Sister & Brother Wade (different couple from the Wades that are leaving.  Brother Whitehouse is reciting the poem, "The Lovely Hand."  He humored us with a story from his time as an English policeman.  He is a very good story teller.

 Sister Powell, Brother Davis, Brother & Sister Mulholland, and Sister Smith singing their version of, "I Have Two Little Hands."

Sister Hale, Sister Freeman, Brother & Sister Cummings, and Brother and Sister Anderson, demonstrating a duck call made out of the pop top from a soda can.

Brother and Sister Masih, Dad, Brother and Sister Rogers, Me, with Dad entertaining us with poetry, "The Calf Path."

Brother Parkinson sharing his harmonica talent with us and Sister Parkinson looking on.  The Murdochs were at their table but ducked out when they heard participation was expected.

We ended the evening with a phone call from Dennis.  He is in country and will come tomorrow evening for an outing.  We are excited!!