Let There Be Lights

Let there be lights—thousands of them! Temple Square is ablaze with lights! We enjoyed “giving tours” to family who came to enjoy the delight. 😊   Monday, Dan, Janny, and Ella (Dan is Elder Challis’ brother) came and treated us to dinner; Tuesday, it was Jaynie’s family; and Thursday, Christopher’s family.  Amazingly, we had good weather all three nights, so we could take our time and enjoy.  And no, we are not tired of the tour.  Please come and be delighted!

            Thursday, about noon as we were walking to the COB, we noticed a section of lights was turned on. A “light doctor” was in a cherry picker up in one of the high trees that had gone dark on the top.  When we saw the tree on Thursday night, sure enough, the tree was lit bottom to top.  How is that done?  Surely, those tasked with keeping all those lights on, have better tools than I have. Pushing each light in along the string, surely is not their method. I want to know their secret.  

            Part of our “tour” included a stop in the Tabernacle where we heard the “pin drop” demonstration.  I love that beautiful building.

            We went to the COB on Thursday to meet our friends, Rick and Marilee Page, for lunch in the cafeteria.  (Rick is legal counsel for the Church and works in the COB.)  It was great to get caught up a little on their family.  I don’t think we had seen them since our trip to Hong Kong to visit them.

            Friday and Saturday, the spotlight was shining on the stage at Timp View High School for Lindsey’s dance program.  We were there both nights to help with the set up and the take down and to applaud.  Lindsey truly is a light to her students, hundreds of them.  In between shows, we helped her and Brent unpack boxes in their new home. Hard week for them with the show, the move, and the flu!

            Lest you think all we do is “play” on Temple Square with family, I assure you that we are working hard in training for the Library.  Monday, we hoped to continue the e-learning lessons that we had started the week before, but found that they were “down” for updating. Our assistant zone leader had us jump ahead to the lessons that are specific to the US and Canada:  looking for books and films; working microfilm and microfiche readers (thank goodness not much of that goes on these days); and searching census and vital records for various “case studies.”   Some of those studies required a lot of patience, sometimes because the "trails" and "hints" no longer work.  Maybe our notes can help with the re-write. Our fellow missionaries are a light in their examples and stories.  

            Friday was an anxious day when Megan texted from Anchorage about the earthquake there—many prayers said in my heart.  I am glad Megan was so thoughtful to let us know right away that they were all okay, despite the quake being “massive.”  Soon after her text, I started receiving many texts from family and friends asking about her.  It was emotional and scary, especially since they were part of the tsunami evacuation.   She happily reported that she was able to glue together some family heirlooms that had broken.  We pray, over time, that other things can be put back together and “settle down.”

           

Janny, Chris, and Ella

There is beauty all around

Nauman Family in the Tabernacle

Inspiring! 

Mary loves the lights!