Week 4: Halloween to Hallowed Halls

Still plenty to do and learn at the mission office.  It's all good.  I'm loving it.  Van has been getting the hang of what it takes to keep a fleet of cars on the road.  But then this week he received training on a new computer program they're implementing for mission vehicles.  Computers may be the death of him!  He got to deal with his first "accident" this week.  Some sisters were in an accident.  No one was hurt, but they were pretty shook up.  They had to come in to the office to fill out a report, etc.  It was kind of entertaining to watch the Elders (other senior missionaries) as they dealt with the emotions (tears, drama, worry, ... ) of the two young sisters.

On Saturday, a few of us Sisters went to the Museum of Glass in Tacoma to see Dale Chihuly, a world-renowned glass sculptor, who grew up in Tacoma.  Here's a link so you can read more about him: http://www.chihuly.com/.  If any of you have every been to Abravenel Hall, you've seen the huge orange glass sculpture near the entrance.  It was done by Dale Chihuly.  Anyway, we got to see his "team" work on some glass pieces.  We toured the museum and walked on the Bridge of Glass (but not for long, because it was very cold and windy)

Sisters Clark, Jones, Trotter, and me -- on Bridge of Glass

The men didn't go with us, but joined us for lunch.  Van is such an awesome husband.  While I was gone, he did the laundry, vacuumed, and changed the sheets.  Then later that night he took me shopping for clothes, and put together a computer desk for our apartment -- not an easy or fun task.

The highlight of the week, however, was getting to spend time with the young missionaries.  Between about 3 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. the missionaries were to be with there Zones at a Ward or Stake house.  They were not to be out proselyting or anything.  I guess in some areas of the world there have been problems with people dressing up like LDS missionaries and then getting into trouble.  President and Sister Weaver wanted all our missionaries to be at a safe location and be accounted for.  We were glad to join the group at Gig Harbor when we got out of the office. They'd already had meetings, an activity, participated in the trunk or treat, and had supper.  We were able to watch Ephraim's Rescue with them.  Great movie, of course.

Then on Sunday we drove about 1 hour south to Chehalis for a Missionary Fireside at the Centralia Stake Center.  Van took some of the missionaries in the mission van.  I took a few sisters in the Yukon.  What a treat.  The entire fireside was done by missionaries in the southern part of the mission -- lots of music, lots of testimonies.  There were group musical numbers and some by the missionary choir.  Because the Elders out number the Sisters, a few of us Senior Sisters were asked to sing with them.  It was amazing to be with them.  Not only are these young people talented, but they are also enthusiastic and eager to bear testimony.  The sound was incredible. My favorite part was when we sang the "As Sisters in Zion/Armies of Helaman" medley. -- Just imagine the sound and spirit of about 100 missionaries as they sang this song and others -- including Called to Serve.  Unforgettable.  I felt so "enlivened" that I was almost tempted not to take an Excedrin to keep me awake on the way home.  Life is good.