Serene Sunday

 This was Fast Sunday because we have Stake Conference next week. It was supposed to be Fast and Testimony Meeting but as soon as I saw President Smith on the stand, I knew there would be no testimonies from the congregation.

President Smith is our Stake President, and our Bishop and his family will soon be moving to Logan Utah where he will take the rein as head of the Business School. He and his bishopric were released today, and a new bishop was called. His name is Mark Wrathal and he is an American, with a distinguished academic past. He has taught our Gospel Doctrine class for at least two years, and they have always been incredibly spiritual.

He presents the lesson in a sincere and humble way that invites thoughtful comments. He understands the gospel and he knows it. He has a doctorate in law and one in philosophy....which is the subject he teaches at Oxford. He has recently written a book for the Neal A. Maxwell Institute about Alma.  He knows the prophet Alma, and yet at a Sunday School class last year, someone made a comment about Alma, and Mark answered with the most delight as he said, "I've never thought about it that way!"

After church, we had the entire afternoon to study and talk. Dave called and I visited with him. I wish I could help him. Besides several interviews he was doing today, he had over 150 emails that only he can answer. That had attended a stake conference - and spoken in it earlier today. The stress must be intense.

I fixed the ever popular "chicken stuff" for dinner. It is so easy. At some point, it dawned on me that it made quite a lot, so I invited Norbert over. He answered in the positive. He is here studying from Ghana. He has had quite a career in politics thus far in his home country, and feels like this degree from Oxford will make him more marketable in his future. 

We have known him ever since he got here last November, but have never sat across a dinner table from him, or sat in our living room with him. Our visits have been limited to texting, and quick outside visits as we have delivered goodies - with all of us in masks. It was so lovely to have him here this evening. We talked about all kinds of things.

One thing that comes through loud and clear is his faith in and gratitude for the Savior. He served a mission a few years ago in his home country, and has felt bountifully blessed by that service in so many ways. He will finish up his degree sometime in the fall and return to Ghana. I think his life has been enriched by being here, but he - like so many other students - has suffered through a long lonely winter.

He was genuinely happy to be with us in a social setting. He enjoyed the chicken stuff, and the hot chocolate chip cookie with ice cream for dessert. He laughed heartily at SK's jokes and SK's ribbing. He told us that he doesn't like vegetables! Every time SK made a sly reference to vegetables after that, Norbert threw his head back and laughed.

Zoom calls are so funny! Someone complained that you don't know how tall anyone is.  It's true. Sometimes it is a shock to meet and find out their height is much different than you thought. We have a delightful young missionary from Scotland with that wonderful accent and bright red hair. I pictured him as 6'6" and slim and rugged - he is slim - but he is about 5'8" and slim, which makes him almost look a bit fragile in real life.

It is nearly 10 p.m. and although the sun has technically "gone down" it is still light on the horizon. I am sure that by June 21, we will have this kind of twilight until nearly 11.  That is the way it was in Denmark.

The end of the day has the same feel the entire day has had.....peace.