Mission update 6/9/2024

 We started the week with a quick trip to Logan for brunch with a former Hong Kong missionary who served with both Gary and his brother, David. We squeezed that in in between a meeting which we did in a church parking lot (for decent wifi) in Logan and interviews here in Salt Lake after we got back. Then, that evening for our mission devotional, the two mission presidency counselors and their wives spoke. It was a beautiful evening and oh we're going to miss both those couples! 

Gary with his brother on one side and Dean Hare on the other

Tuesday we went to the Orem Temple again after a morning of non stop interviews with anxious students, it was lovely to feel peace and quiet in the temple. It gave us a much needed break before we came home and did the research and message sending for the next day's interviews.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we did more interviews each day than we've done before and it was great to get so many students through but oh so exhausting mentally! Most of these students are doing well and are really feeing the help of God as they work through their classes. Some, however, seem to be just in it for the education and aren't letting God into their lives as much. It's still great they get their education but it could be so much better! 

Friday evening was the first of the Concerts in the Park series for the summer. There was a chance of rain so it ended up being in the Tabernacle but was a great concert with Kenneth Cope and Tyler Castleton. We've looking forward to concerts every week again. We got so spoiled back in December with so much music every week. 

Gary interviewed a guy this week who did great and then a couple days later was baptized so he sent Gary his baptismal picture. So fun!  From Gary: This is the picture from Oluwagbemi Yoloye.  We talked on Monday, and when I asked if he was a member of the Church, he said, not yet, but I am getting baptized on Friday!  I was glad to hear that he was not baptized yet, because I cannot interview them if they have already joined the Church!  We got his interview done, then as promised, he sent me a picture on Friday with him in his baptismal clothes!  We talk to so many every week who have listened to the message of the gospel and want to join the Church!  

Meanwhile, I interviewed a guy who makes fancy cakes and he sent me a picture of one he did for the celebration his Pathway group had at the end of the class. He decorated it in "Pathway gold". 

Not a great picture but it was so fun that he wanted to share it with us

On the way to church today, a family in our ward had a car accident on the street right in front of the church. Their van ended up upside down in the road with everyone hanging upside down from their seatbelts. Everyone got out okay but so scary! Of course the whole ward gathered by the windows after Sacrament meeting to watch the tow truck and clean up. Not the way you want a Sunday to go!

Today is our monthly One Heart Gathering and we are a little sad about this one because in the group of soon departing missionaries are the Johnsons who we have been in Pathway with. They head home in just a couple of weeks and we'll miss working with them, eating clam chowder at Market Street with them and going on temple excursions with them. It is a real problem with missions, this whole leaving thing!

Have a wonderful week!