Out of the Red

 The temperature at 8:30 p.m. is mercifully sinking. It is 68 degrees and will continue downward until sunrise when it will be 58. Ahhhh. At last. I think we have been in this heat wave for at least a week, and I am heartily grateful to be out.

I stayed up late last night to bake chicken in the oven and do a couple of loads of laundry. Even at midnight last night, it was far too warm to sleep. I didn't use the dryer but put everything on hangers and hung them throughout the flat. I turned off the oven as soon as the chicken was done, and started the dishwasher.

I am thankful for air-conditioning, but I think I would still prefer having to endure a few days of this heat wave weather in England than months on end in the closed-environment of an air-conditioned home. Sometimes, I open a window and inhale the fresh air from outside and it makes me feel like all is well in the world. We have our windows open nearly every single day of the year.

The young missionaries came at 10 this morning. We had three new missionaries who transferred in this past Tuesday. They all seem to be adjusting nicely to their new assignments. We had our usual meeting with an excellent training as well as some healthy bantering about all kinds of things. It is fun to see these young people having so much fun doing good things.

At 11:30 we ate lunch. It was very simple. I put 8 place mats on the table, 8 plastic cups, no utensils, and 8 yellow napkins. I put a large bowl of tangerines, and a large bowl of individual packages of potato chips. There were pitchers of water, and a tray of 16 tortilla wraps filled with chicken salad with grapes. They seemed to like them. For dessert, we served Magnum chocolate-covered ice creamsicles.  Can't go wrong with that.

The entire time they were here, we had ever fan in the place on and in the living room. Poor SK could not hear much over the roar of the fans, but they were necessary. I think it only got up to 84 today but the humidity was high. It was still great to have them all here, and they enjoyed lunch. Sister Heder said on her way out that it was so nice to have it here - it felt like home.

That is really our goal with all the young adults and young missionaries - for them to feel like they have come to Grandma's house to hand out for awhile and to feel "home." 

Later in the day, when the temperature had gotten down to 76, we walked. We didn't mean to go so far, but we walked nearly 4 miles! We  were on the way home and passed by an old woman, who really looked down on her luck. She had a little hand-drawn sign that said, "Very hungry...please help."

Neither of us had even a coin, much less a pound note. We decided to walk on to our bank and withdraw some money. It was probably a mile and a half to the bank and back to the old woman. As we walked, we talked about things we have read on the news about homeless people, and about how often we are told not to give them money, but to encourage them to go to a shelter.

There are shelters here. We agreed that even if they are dishonest and are not desperately poor, it is still a desperate way to earn a living....even if one were to do that 10 hours a day. I would much rather punch a time clock.

We were home by 7, had a light meal and then tuned into our zone call. All twelve companionships have a new missionary, so we will get to know them tonight. That will be nice.

According to the weather, we should awaken to the gentle sound of rain sometime in the night.

I thank Heaven.

Comments

Lia said…
That lunch sounds delightful! I was I were as brilliant as you and Melissa at pulling off delightful meals for guests.
July 23, 2021 at 3:29 PM
melissa said…
I hope the heat wave leaves for good!
July 28, 2021 at 3:49 PM
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