Getting to Know You

We got to the store on the outside of town today without incident!  Yay!

It was a beautiful clear day, but quite chilly.  And I'm not complaining.  I love it.  I could live in this weather and climate indefinitely I believe.  I suppose it is possible that I might miss the very dry, very warm weather of Arizona from time to time, but not much.

We got all our shopping done and I spent the remainder of the day working on the meal at a leisurely clip.  White Chicken Chili - which worked great with the pickled peppers.  And potato dill soup for the vegetarians.  A salad and rolls, and lemon mousse for dessert.  I think it was mostly a hit.

After dinner, we turned the lights off and Seth, a wonderful young graduate student brought out a ball-shaped lamp that changed colors.  He told ghost stories from Oxford's past, and was so engaging and witty that I laughed all the way through.  Besides, he is American, and doesn't have quite the accent to come off to tell British scary ghost stories.

We had 18 here tonight.  That is fantastic!  But if we get many more, I am unsure where everyone will sit.  They are a really nice group of young people.  Our two elders were with us tonight as well.  They are so cute....and add so much to the general feeling of joy this group emanates.  They are good young men and good young missionaries.

I know things are not always wonderful for the YSAs here but they still just seem generally cheerful.  Maybe it is because they are all together, and as one young woman told me tonight, that being so far away from home, it is almost a necessity to meet with the other students who share so many similarities.  They are all working so hard to do well at a university that  places high expectations on them, but they are also placing high hopes on themselves.  Many are returned missionaries and have strong testimonies of the gospel and of Jesus Christ, but that certainly sets them apart from other students here.  Although they hear positive things, I'm sure a some of their classmates view them as  oddballs for their beliefs.

In the short time we have been with them, it has been fun to get to know them just a little better.  Each one has a story.  Each one a history.  Each one a bright future.  They are Oxford students. 

I'm genuinely looking forward to deepening our friendship with each one, creating an environment here that will become a bit of a safe haven from the cares of student life.  I'm looking forward to learning about them, who they are and how we can help them most.


Comments

melissa said…
I love that they are to come to your house and feel safe and loved...and that your dining room table is big enough for someone to run away to if necessary. :)
October 29, 2019 at 9:27 PM
Elder and Sister Madsen said…
However, kitchen duty will be required if you are named Melissa. :)
October 29, 2019 at 9:41 PM
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