The Fireside- Sunday, Nov 1, 2009

Could we really have another rainy day? Yup, we could! Loud claps of thunder sounded throughout the night, but we weren't disturbed too much because of our earplugs. When morning came, it was still soggy and foggy.

Starting today, our church will revert back to the summer schedule of beginning at 9:00 a.m. instead of 9:30. With a new time change and rainy weather, it will be interesting to see how many show up for church. We really aren't sure why we have to change back. There are no other wards or branches in the building, and with travel and all, 9:30 seems like a better time to us. But, then we aren't in charge.

There was a small group like we thought there would be, so the Branch President had everyone gather in the middle section so we looked united. Good move!

The family we went to last night with the sister missionaries came to church today. The sisters went to pick them up. Some had to get out of bed, but they waited for them. We were sure it was quite a shock for them to be in church for three hours, but they seemed attentive and the father actually participated with a few comments in Elder Kroff's Sunday School class. The test will be if they return.

We made connections with the bus that takes us home with no problems, so we arrived rather quickly. The rain had stopped for the time being, so we were hopeful for a dryer afternoon.

We ate some lunch and talked with Melissa on skype. They will spend this week looking for an apartment or place to live in Littleton, Colorado. We are hoping for quick success.

Elder Clegg and Elder Roman came by at 4:00 to visit for a few minutes before we all had to leave to attend the fireside tonight honoring the ones going home. We had some delicious ice cream from Daniels delivered yesterday (a missionary favorite) and I had made some cookies.

We can't believe that it is time for Elder Clegg to return home, but all good things must come to an end. He has been an excellent missionary with the right attitude, 100% obedience, many converts, and valuable leadership experience. He will do well in life. It has been fun to get to know our young relative.

With 13 elders and sisters going home this transfer, the chapel was full with missionaries who brought investigators, and with converts and friends of the returning missionaries. It was packed. After the meeting, everyone meets in the cultural hall to greet each other and take pictures. Elder Kroff's job is to get random shots of everyone and especially groups shots of the missionaries and the people that they have baptized. Many of these photos are included in the DVD that he and Sister Argyle make to present to each missionary on Wednesday before they leave. Many cameras are passed around when a group is formed, and in the process of doing it with our camera, a setting was changed inadvertently and some of our pictures are blurry. It was so disappointing to say the least. We won't let that happen again!!

Here is the group leaving on Wednesday, minus one elder. We couldn't find him anywhere. There are a lot of mission leaders in this group who will have to be replaced. A great bunch of young people. It looks like the hermanas are wearing twin outfits. How funny!