Another Fireside - Sunday, May 30, 2010

We knew today would be long and busy, but enjoyable. The air is rather crisp lately, so probably our somewhat balmy late fall/early winter temperatures are over and the colder weather is here to stay. We may have to put our liners in our coats.

Elder Kroff put the finishing touches on the two lessons he is teaching today. He is teaching about Moral Discipline in Priesthood, and then his Sunday School Temple Prep class. I sometimes feel like a slacker not being able to help out in the teaching area. I have to make up for it in other ways, I guess.

Sister Bustos, with whom we had dinner last night, sat by me in Relief Society and was so excited that her daughter, Leila, came to church with her today. She said she came because Elder Kroff invited her to come today. Even the missionaries who work in that area of Virreyes were surprised to see her come to church and said they are sending us to all the inactive people if we can inspire them to attend. It will be interesting to see if she comes back next Sunday.

Carla and her mother, Mirta, came the Sunday after we visited them, but have missed the last two Sundays again. We understand Carla is still harboring feelings about the misunderstanding she had with someone in the branch. We hope she can work through it as the only one she is hurting is herself -- and of course her children who don't come unless she does.

After the block of meetings, we attended choir practice and found out the song we are practicing is for our Branch Conference in June. I stand with the altos but they really don't sing the part. They just can't hit the high soprano notes, so they sing the melody an octave lower. The young pianist plays the one note melody with the right hand, and chords with the left hand. So the alto notes aren't being played and I can't pick them out and concentrate on the Spanish words too. So I just sing soprano.

After choir practice, we attended the baptism of an 8 year old in the branch, and then stayed for the baptism of a lady in the San Fernando ward. Her daughter, Daniela, was baptized in November and having seen the change in her daughter who was once a problem child made her become interested in the church. We attended Daniela's baptism in November to support the elders, and then became acquainted with her. Even though she is not in our branch, we see her a lot on Sundays passing in the hallways and she just throws her arms around me and hugs so tight. She tells me every time that she loves me. She is a darling young woman and has a special glow about her. Now she and her mother are going to work on her brothers to get them baptized. We wanted to attend her mother's baptism to support Daniela.

We hurried home and had a pork chop, vegetable, and tossed salad for dinner. After a quick clean up we rested for about a half hour and then had to leave again to get the church open and the cracker crumbs from Sacrament meeting cleaned up before the missionary fireside at 5:00.

When we arrived at 4:00, a family was already there waiting to come in. A few minutes after, the first set of missionaries appeared. We hated to be picking up papers and crumbs from the chapel and redistributing hymn books when people were starting to assemble, but we had no other choice. Do we need to come at 3:30?? Hope not!

I began playing prelude music with the thought that I would be playing the hymns for the meeting. But just at the last minute, Elder Parra came forward to play. We had asked him to play if he was going to be there, but he wasn't sure if their investigator was going to be able to come with them. The missionaries are not invited to the fireside unless they bring an investigator. In addition to it being a farewell fireside where the ones leaving bear their testimonies and the President gives remarks, it is an opportunity for the investigators to be taught by the spirit which will hopefully aid in their conversions. The converts and friends of the leaving missionaries come to see them one last time and tell them goodbye. It is a fun time for all.

One of our senior couple friends, Grant and Marilyn Barton, asked us last week about the fireside and wanted to attend because they are going home at the end of June. They wanted to come and see what took place since they are under this mission even though they work at the Area Offices. Elder Barton plays the Cello and his wife accompanies on the piano. When they called President Argyle to find out the time, they asked if he wanted a musical number. He said, "Sure," so Elder Barton played a musical selection on his Cello. It really added to the meeting. Then President asked them to bear their testimonies too.

This fine looking group of missionaries are Elders Fuentes (Chile), Chandia (Washington), Egusquiza (Peru), the Bartons (Salt Lake) Hermana Gonzalez (Argentina), Wheeler (Ephraim, Utah), Wessman (Murray, Utah) and LeFevre (Illinois).

What happy parents, children, and grandchildren are awaiting this group of servants.

Elder Wessman's companion is Elder Ludwig and when I saw him we cornered him for a picture. Elder Ludwig's mother was referred to our blog some time ago and I told her that when we saw her son we would take his picture and post it. Hope you are reading today's entry, Sister Ludwig!!

Four of our sister missionaries came tonight and we are always happy to see the Hermanas. These cuties are Hermanas Gonzalez (Argentina), Peña (El Salvador), Reese (Colorado), and Romo (California).

After sufficient visiting there are always some small groups that linger longer and in order to give them the hint that the parties over, Rich starts turning off one bank of lights in the cultural hall at a time. It doesn't take long to clear the building. Tonight the President was still around at closing time, so the three of us locked up and he drove us home.

This was the last time he would talk at a fireside, and this week is his last transfer week. It seems so strange that in four weeks they leave to go home. This next month is going to fly by for them because they will be so busy.