The Fireside - Sunday, November 14, 2010

We are always up at 6:00 on Sunday mornings, just like on regular work days. Rich had his Sunday School lesson done days ago so he left earlier than usual to go to the office to print off some visual aids and copies for the class members. Today's lesson was on The Sacred Role of Mothers and Fathers. He came back home, had some breakfast and we walked together to church. It was a beautiful Sunday morning for our stroll.

Once at the office, Rich walked over to the church a couple minutes before me to help set up chairs for Priesthood meeting. Soon he came back telling me that he was just asked to speak in Sacrament meeting. One of the speakers was ill and the counselor asked him if he could take his place. It is times like this that I am so glad I don't speak Spanish. He thought of a great article in the Liahona that he had read, so he copied it and highlighted a few areas and would read it over and think about it while in Priesthood meeting.

Our Relief Society lesson was taught by Marta on The Gift of the Holy Ghost. She is a young mother going to have a baby and she looked very uncomfortable, but very pretty. She did a great job, but probably will deliver before her next lesson.

Rich informed our class today that we would not be there next Sunday. We are going to go to the Tigre branch one more time to say goodbye to our many friends there. I'm wondering if we need to be prepared to bear our testimonies in case President Torre asks us to take a few minutes. Hmmm, good idea, I think. I'm not going to like this saying goodbye thing, however.

There were three speakers in Sacrament meeting and Rich was the last one. This was the first time he has been asked to speak in this branch, and he received many compliments on his remarks about listening to the spirit and having the faith to follow the promptings. Most members who speak in church read quite a bit and they use Liahona articles most of the time. So Rich held their interest as he spoke from the heart and didn't read his talk.

We came home and had a super easy dinner. The other night while at one of the baptisms at the church, the youth were in the kitchen putting together pizzas to sell. So we bought one and saved it for Sunday, knowing today was going to be a busy one with the despedidad (fireside) going forward tonight at 6:00.

We are the ones to open up and we take it upon ourselves to pick up all the litter and papers from the chapel, evenly distribute the hymn books throughout, and make it look presentable for investigators, converts, and missionaries. We also check out the cultural hall and put chairs away and sweep up clutter and garbage should their be any. We print off copies of the program and have them up front so the missionaries being honored know when it is their time to bear their five minute testimony. Tonight we were being included in this farewell fireside even though we don't go home for three weeks.

Usually this fireside is at 5:00, but since President Gulbrandsen came, he has been setting it at 6:00. Today when we went to the church at 4:30 thinking we had ample time to clean up and get things ready, there was a group of people already at the front gate waiting for it to be opened. Even two elders were there who listened to some ward members who insisted the starting time was 5:00, even when the elders told them that they received a letter from the President stating otherwise. Elder Kroff let them in and the elders and another member helped tidy up the chapel. It was great to have more hands.

We set the example and sat up on the stand first hoping the other missionaries would come forward in a timely manner so the meeting could get started right at 6:00. I had prepared what I knew and could say, knowing that testimony language is easier than regular conversation. Rich and I were the last two missionaries to speak. Then Sister Gulbrandsen bore her testimony and the President gave his remarks.

Elder Peterson said that at church today, several people asked him if we were going to be on the program. He confirmed that we were, but in looking out over the congregation, I could not see those people that showed interest. But, during the rest hymn that was sung before it was our turn, here came our chicas from the San Fernando ward, and others from the Virreyes branch. They had been in another meeting, and they told Elder Peterson to come get them when it was our turn to bear our testimonies. This was all unbeknownst to us.

To the amazement of many and especially the missionaries on the stand with us, I must have done okay. When I sat down, the elders behind me gave approving gestures and said they could understand every word. After the meeting, Elder Lowry said, "Now, Sister Kroff, where have you been hiding this Spanish? Your pronunciation was perfect." Some of our branch members commented on that as well. Well, I can't communicate freely like I would like, but I can bear a simple testimony. But, that was nice to hear! When Rich got up after me, he said, "You have just seen a miracle," knowing how I have struggled learning the language.

Elder Kroff ended the fireside bearing a powerful testimony of the Savior and how both the Bible and Book of Mormon testify of Christ. President Gulbrandsen thanked us for sharing our testimonies.

In the cultural hall, the missionaries met with their converts and cameras were flashing. We had our share of pictures taken with missionaries and others who wanted a memory. Elder Coria is one of our favorites as we spent many months with him in the office. He is going home to Bahia Blanca, Argentina on Wednesday.

Virreyes members Joey Romero, and Blanca and Gabriel Saracho enjoyed visiting with elders Garay, Davis, and Parra who all have served in the Virreyes branch with them.

The chicas, Anna, Lidia, Shirley, Evelyn, Francy, Abish, and Daniela are great young adults and came to support us and the other missionaries that they know.

Both Elders Unrau and Elder McNeil are from Orem, Utah and are companions. We need to ask them if they knew each other before their missions.

Some of the youth in the Virreyes branch requested a photo with us. They are good kids.

The Gulbrandsens are fun people and are doing a great job leading the mission.

After everyone cleared out and we locked up the church, we visited a few minutes with Elders Peterson and Paz in the office talking about the upcoming transfers this week hoping we have thought of everything so it runs smoothly. We'll hope for the best.