Sunday And A Bye, 24 August 2014

We were off to church in the minibus.  The talks and lessons were great.  We discussed Job in gospel doctrine.  Myself and 3 other sister temple missionaries were off to Young Women to help with their lesson.   I played the piano for the opening hymn and they were so excited to have music!  We sat as a panel and they asked us questions about preparing to be wives and mothers.  It turned into a very good discussion and all seemed to enjoy the exchange.  I had two pieces of advice:  1.  Let your spouse be your best friend.  2.  As a mother you will need to forego things you may want to do or want to learn, for the good of your children.  Children take time, love, and care that comes from you, their mother.

Before we went to church, I made a cheese cake and got dinner cooking in the slow cooker.  When we got home, the meal was perfect - chicken, potatoes, and carrots.  I made gravy and a salad to complete it.  I was very happy I had bought the slow cooker.

We took the cheese cake and went to the "Bye" for the Wades and Sister Powell.  We had a lovely evening with delicious refreshments, visiting with one another, and then listening to them share testimony.

Sister Powell is a sweetheart.  She is always happy, upbeat, and has a joyful smile.  She said that when she came on her mission she was not sure if she would like it.  Her first hope was a humanitarian mission (she is a nurse), or then a proselyting mission (she loves to share the gospel).  Then a temple mission was the next choice.  She wasn't over joyed with the thought and wondered if she really could do a temple mission.  She wrote herself a letter when she first came and kept it posted on the wall of her flat.  She read it to us and it started off with:  "Dear Carol, Don't get discouraged, with other phrases of encouragement in the middle, and then ended with: This too shall pass."

She said she quickly learned that none of what she had written mattered because the love of the missionaries and the spirit of being in the temple each day wiped away any doubts or fears she may have had.  She will miss being here.

Elder and Sister Wade will be missed.  They are so kind and helpful and generous with everyone and everything.  We will miss them as they have helped us adjust to living here in so many ways.  They have learned they can live together in retirement!  They have learned to love the temple more and their testimonies have grown.  They are happy to be going home to children and grandchildren and the joy of family being close by.

President Irwin was the concluding speaker.  He is noted for his personalized "Ditties," he sings for departing missionaries.  He held true and sang for these three.  Both ditties were so cute and, of course drew out chuckles and laughter from the audience.

Word of the day:  Push chair - stroller.  The mothers bring their babies in push chairs to church. You don't see any carseats in the building.