Thrilled!

 First let me thank Erin for expressing the proper indignation about someone giving Bill the name "Eduardo."

We left for the church at 9:30, picking up the elders along the way.  We got there and got our computers set up and connected to the wifi there.  We were in the Young Womens Room, The elders were at the computer in the Family History Library, and the sisters were in the clerk's office watching on the computer in there.  

If we hadn't gone, the elders would have had to stay in their flat and watched the zone conference on their phone. That wouldn't be so bad, except that would have meant they would have watched the Lamb of God on their phones.....that just wouldn't do.  

The day's training was excellent.  It was all centered around Christ, except with a brief training period about making videos for social media.  These missionaries are getting better and better at making videos that are quite interesting, well-done and occasionally down-right fun.  They are all designed to introduce people to the church, The Book of Mormon, and the missionaries.  And it seems to be working far better than knocking on doors.

I wonder how things will change when the lockdown ends.

At 3:00, we gave our introduction to the film and then sat through it again.  YES, we really did.  This now, is the fifth time since last Saturday.  It hasn't gotten old.  I was more nervous today.  I so wanted our young missionaries to like it....to love it.  Three out of the four at church today are Brits.  Think stoic, and not given to effusiveness.  The meeting ended, and I did a quick cleanup and went down to meet them.  SK had been there chatting about the production, and I knew he had gotten their reactions, so there was no point in trying to have them repeat.

SK said later, they said they liked it.  mmmm.  That's the problem with getting SK to repeat a conversation.

On the way home, we asked the elders if we could borrow their key to the church for tomorrow evening.  We need to be in the chapel so that we can use the internet there when we give our introduction, we explained to them.  They asked what time and what time we would be done.  I told them, and Elder Reynoldson said tentatively, "I think we have some things we could do there." (meaning than just loan us the key, they would accompany us.)

Then kind of under his breath, he said, "I sure would love to watch it again."  

I queried, "You enjoyed it?"

"Oh Yes! he replied very enthusiastically.  I asked a few more questions, to which all answers were dear to my heart.  "I learned so much in that hour and a half."  "I loved the music."  "Peter was amazing."  Then he added, "I wish I could invite everyone to it tomorrow night!"

Later, I took a moment to call the sisters.  I asked how they felt about it, and the American exclaimed loudly, "Oh Sister Madsen!  We both cried all the way through it.  We'd watch it again in a heartbeat!"

We attended a meeting with the elders and their new friends at 6.  It was a sweet lesson on the Atonement of Jesus Christ and what it means to each of us individually.  at 7:30 we attended a stake devotional with Terryl Givens, which was outstanding, and then at 9 we signed on to the zone feed to have an hour of games with our 5 young companionships.  

It turned out to be hilarious, and I'm afraid that SK got carried away with the competition. (shades of ruthless awesome victory dance)  The young ones really get a kick out of him.  We all laughed a lot.  It was a simple game....The sisters who were in charge played a couple bars of a hymn and we had to guess the name (that's where we shined!), then they showed a Book of Mormon in another language and we had to guess what language.  The last round was from Preach My Gospel.  They showed us a picture and we had to find the page number.  We were dead last in that one, but we came in 2nd overall.

Before they started the games, they all - every single one expressed enthusiastic thanks to us for whatever part we played in getting the Lamb of God here.  I could hardly contain my excitement.  I think they loved it, they felt the power of the message, the beauty of the orchestra and voices, and reverence for the subject.  If their reaction was typical of the whole mission, I am elated.

We got a message this evening sent to the whole mission from the APs, reminding every missionary that this is a powerful presentation to see leading up to Easter.  The said it is a wonderful opportunity to come closer to Christ, and to be sure to invite everyone they are currently teaching, and all newer members.  I don't know how many will be watching, but it could be a couple hundred or more.  Both our young sets of Oxford missionaries have received permission from Dave to go to the church tomorrow night with us and watch it again.  And they are thrilled!

So am I.