Business as Usual - For Now
With the unfolding drama on the world's stage of the coronavirus, SK and I speak about it often, whenever we have some time alone. Invariably one of us will bring up what we have recently heard or read. I've told many of the young people that some years hence, they may be telling their grandchildren about the great coronavirus pandemic.....or they may not even remember it as it quietly goes away. Who knows?
Today we had 8 young missionaries here for the district meeting. Two from Brazil and serving in our zone, two from Idaho, two from Utah, one from Arizona and one from Australia. They will all be in our district now and will meet with us on a weekly basis. I can't even tell you how much I enjoy sitting with them in their meetings and then around the table at lunch. It is like being with family.
They are each cute in their own way. Some are more shy than others, but I'm sure they will be less so as they come to know all of us in this group. With the addition of four more missionaries, we have a group of ten, and instead of being a little more unruly with these still-teens, they seem more earnest and more likely to share their spiritual thoughts and insights.
As we sit together to eat, they are courteous and so very grateful for the food. I just think it is adorable. I don't ever remember a time when I have been more rewarded for something so basic and simple...something I have done for 50 years. I served them the leftovers from Monday night's dinner with the YSA. I made spaghetti sauce and pasta, but I layered it in large pans with mozzarella and parmesan and baked it. They loved it....I mean LOVED it. I served those 8 kids about the same amount that I served the 17 YSAs on Monday.
They come at 10:30 in the morning, so everything has to be ready for lunch by the time they come. By the time they leave, it is close to 1. They clear up their dishes and put them in the dishwasher, give me a big smile instead of a handshake and hug, and are off to do their missionary work.
I cleaned up (they cleaned up a lot of it), got the dishwasher started and headed over to a stationery shop to get paper for tonight's Institute class. I covered a door in the flat with it so that notes could be attached, with people's favorite quote or scripture. Kristina and Veer were so excited to post them, and were so pleased with the results.
I also went to the grocery store and purchased some things for refreshments. I made a cinnamon cake, more like a coffee cake than a real cake but it was pretty good. I served it with some fresh grapes and pistachio nuts.
Our lesson was taught by a wonderful teacher - a tall dignified Scot, who comes about every other week to teach us. We had ten young people here and it was inspiring. I love to hear their comments. Kimball left a Jacob's Ladder here when they packed up for London. Two of the doctoral students found it and had a grand time playing with it. They are just regular kids who happen to be doctoral students at Oxford University in England. Don't you just love that?
The YSA program in Copenhagen Denmark has been temporarily cancelled for a few weeks. We keep hearing things like that and wonder what exactly will come to pass in Oxford.
Whatever it is, I'll let you know!
Today we had 8 young missionaries here for the district meeting. Two from Brazil and serving in our zone, two from Idaho, two from Utah, one from Arizona and one from Australia. They will all be in our district now and will meet with us on a weekly basis. I can't even tell you how much I enjoy sitting with them in their meetings and then around the table at lunch. It is like being with family.
They are each cute in their own way. Some are more shy than others, but I'm sure they will be less so as they come to know all of us in this group. With the addition of four more missionaries, we have a group of ten, and instead of being a little more unruly with these still-teens, they seem more earnest and more likely to share their spiritual thoughts and insights.
As we sit together to eat, they are courteous and so very grateful for the food. I just think it is adorable. I don't ever remember a time when I have been more rewarded for something so basic and simple...something I have done for 50 years. I served them the leftovers from Monday night's dinner with the YSA. I made spaghetti sauce and pasta, but I layered it in large pans with mozzarella and parmesan and baked it. They loved it....I mean LOVED it. I served those 8 kids about the same amount that I served the 17 YSAs on Monday.
They come at 10:30 in the morning, so everything has to be ready for lunch by the time they come. By the time they leave, it is close to 1. They clear up their dishes and put them in the dishwasher, give me a big smile instead of a handshake and hug, and are off to do their missionary work.
I cleaned up (they cleaned up a lot of it), got the dishwasher started and headed over to a stationery shop to get paper for tonight's Institute class. I covered a door in the flat with it so that notes could be attached, with people's favorite quote or scripture. Kristina and Veer were so excited to post them, and were so pleased with the results.
I also went to the grocery store and purchased some things for refreshments. I made a cinnamon cake, more like a coffee cake than a real cake but it was pretty good. I served it with some fresh grapes and pistachio nuts.
Our lesson was taught by a wonderful teacher - a tall dignified Scot, who comes about every other week to teach us. We had ten young people here and it was inspiring. I love to hear their comments. Kimball left a Jacob's Ladder here when they packed up for London. Two of the doctoral students found it and had a grand time playing with it. They are just regular kids who happen to be doctoral students at Oxford University in England. Don't you just love that?
The YSA program in Copenhagen Denmark has been temporarily cancelled for a few weeks. We keep hearing things like that and wonder what exactly will come to pass in Oxford.
Whatever it is, I'll let you know!
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