Feliz Cumpleaños Elder Kroff - Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009

Today was Stake Conference so we didn't have to be out the door at 8:15. It felt good not to be so rushed this morning.

It was a beautiful sunny day to celebrate Rich's birthday. We would be doing church and missionary things all day, but then that's why we are here, right? We wouldn't have it any other way.

We don't know how old age crept up on us so fast. We are still in good health and able to do a lot more than some people our age, but we tire more easily and know our limitations.

The stake center was full clear back to the stage, with seating on the stage. We sat in the cultural hall with our sister missionaries. By the time we got there, the chapel was full, so the members here do come early to claim a good seat.

The Stake Patriarch was released today after having been in that calling for 30 years. His wife was helped to the podium as she could barely walk, in order for her to bear her testimony. He followed, as did the new Patriarch and his wife. Then one of the counselors in the Stake Presidency is moving back to Rosario where he is from, so he gave his farewell speech.

An interesting thing happened today. When the leadership was presented for a sustaining vote, a man close to the front stood in dissension to the Stake President. This presidency is fairly new and were caught totally off guard. Instead of just acknowledging his vote and telling him they would speak to him after the meeting, he proceeded to state his reasons. He said he was in support of everyone else except the president. President Argyle and Sister Argyle were sitting on the stand and he could hardly contain himself from jumping up and controlling the situation. But he kept telling himself that he wasn't in charge and didn't have the authority to step in. Pretty soon the man sat down and the meeting went forward. But I felt bad for the Stake President. We remembered that happening in General Conference once.

After conference, we, and our office elders and the two assistants and their companions, had a scheduled meeting over in our office. I decided that if Elder Kroff was to have any kind of a party or gathering to celebrate his birthday, it would have to be now. I made a cake and served each a piece as we sang Happy Birthday. The elders were all in favor of a treat. We ate the whole cake. When they found out how old Rich is (67), some had wide eyes and dropped jaws. We are sure that seems ancient to these young boys in their late teens and early twenties. They thought he was a young 67, however. They were kind. All the missionaries love him.

Our meeting after conference was to discuss the upcoming hernia surgery for Elder Davis (the smiling blond on the right). We needed to come up with a plan of how he was going to be taken care of, who would be with him at all times, how he would get from here to there, etc. He is having the surgery on Tuesday, the first day of transfers. Dr. Petersen will take him to the hospital and wait during the surgery and until he is back in his room, but then he will leave. Another elder will stay the night with him.

After he is released the next day, then we are in charge from there on. After a couple days at home, he will come to the mission office and be with us so his companion can go out and work. We will make him a bed on mattresses in the President's office so he can rest throughout the day. He will help us with easy things to do as he is able.

After the meeting, we went home to have some dinner and only had two hours before we had to be back at the church to get ready for the fireside that is held for the ones leaving. We had to open up the church and have everything ready for the starting time of 5:00. It is a good thing we planned on getting there a little early because the chapel needed some attention with the clutter that accumulated due to conference. The missionaries and their friends and converts arrive early also.

We have ten missionaries leaving on the 15th. Two are not in this picture because they are down South and will not be here until Tuesday. Kneeling are Elders Poteet, Curtis and Lee. Standing are Elders Garrett, Crane, Green, Harris and Heaps.

We are dwarfed by Elder Crane. He is our only claim to home, because he is from Tooele. We didn't know him before our mission. Glad we do now!