We started our week with a mission devotional Monday morning. The Family Search International Zone presented and did such a great job. My favorite part was when the zone all got on stage, lined up behind the sign for the language they spoke (or the one they at least know well enough to be of use to people doing research) and sang I am a Child of God with sections of the song in each of the languages. It was beautiful! I love hearing from the missionaries in family search about the ways they are able to help people find their families and how many times they are helped by the Spirit to know where to look for that missing grandparent, great uncle, etc.
We had a few interviews this week and most of the students now have accepted the fact that they will need to wait until January to take classes. I had a delightful interview with a woman from Nigeria who had a little baby boy on her lap. He was just so cute! He also kept trying to grab the phone during the interview so that was funny.
In the two weeks before conference, everything gets crazy at the Church Office Building with so many trainings going on. Our mission devotional got moved to the Church History Library basement and choir practices ended up on the 26th floor of the Church Office Building. It all worked out fine but we did do some directing to make sure people didn't go barging into the auditorium where Elder Soares was doing a training :)
View to the south of the Church Office Building from the 26th floor
We visited the prison ministry district this week, mostly to see how they were doing but also because they always have fun decorations up there. We love the work they do to support people who are looking to make changes and want to bring Christ and his gospel into their lives.
This month's decor
Thursday, Gary had appointments in Logan so we spent the afternoon up there at the dermatologist and dentist. It was no fun for him but I got lots of time to read in waiting rooms so it was great for me. We also got to drive back and forth through Sardine Canyon which is showing off it's fall colors quite nicely.
Fall Colors in Sardine Canyon
Friday we went over to City Creek for lunch and got entertained by all the costumes of people who were in town for the Fan X convention. There was a whole lot of work put into the costumes, hair (wigs) and makeup. Meanwhile, we looked like we always do of course. Blaine and family went to the convention on Saturday and we got to hear from their three year old all about how many Spidermans he saw. It was a pretty entertaining couple of days to live downtown.
We had our weekly conference choir meeting on Friday and this is getting very real! We have a few assignments but are mostly just amazed with all that goes on behind the scenes to make the music happen in conference. It is going to be an amazing week ahead with several rehearsals and then the Saturday session. This evening we had a rehearsal in the MTC with most of the missionaries and it was fun to get almost the whole group together.
I loved the height difference between these two elders walking to choir practice
We went to the funeral for Gary's Aunt on Saturday and it was wonderful to see so many family members and celebrate the life of Gary's mom's sister. Every time we were around her, I always felt so noticed and loved. She was always giving of herself to others. We love thinking of her having a lovely catch up chat with all her sisters now. We are very blessed to be able to attend family things while on our mission!
Here is a picture of all nine Alldredge children and their Dad. Many of the Daniels, Reeses, Bybees, Daines, and Packs showed up for the funeral.
Alldredges
Funerals are now becoming about the only times we get to see our extended cousins due to the many things we are all doing with our own families. With Aunt Marilyn being 95 years old, it was more of a celebration than a sad moment. She will be missed, but because we understand the Plan of Salvation put in place by our Savior's atonement, we know we will see her again soon!
With this coming weekend being General Conference, we are very excited to be part of the Missionary Choir for the Saturday Evening Session!
Have a wonderful week!
Elder and Sister Pack
No comments:
Post a Comment