Happy Memorial Day

 Several days this week as we walked home for lunch we could see a crew power washing the conference center. In the second picture below you can see the line where they have cleaned and not cleaned.  It didn't look bad before but it looks even nicer now that it is all cleaned off.

Power washing of the Conference Center

Notice the line where the cleaning has already been done

 One of the Falcon eggs hatched on May 22.  If you go to the blog listed below you can see the current progress.  There are 3 eggs left to hatch.

http://slcfalcons.blogspot.com

It has been cold ever since we arrived in Salt Lake on February 27 but it appears that Spring has decided to arrive.  We noticed as we were out and about this weekend that people were finally wearing summer clothes. We are enjoying the nice warm days and the cool nights and know that the folks at home in the Phoenix area are already running their air conditioning to survive the heat.

Conference Center Theater where devotional was held

Conference Center Theater on Northwest End of Conference Center across the street from our apartment

On Wednesday we attended the annual Mission Devotional with special guest speaker, Richard G. Scott. It was a little out of character for him when he started his talk with a joke which he started by telling us that we all looked very somber. Then he said, "Let me tell you a secret.  Do you want to know a sure-fire way to wake up with a smile on your face every morning?  You go to bed with a coat hanger in your mouth." He emphasized the importance of Family History Work stating “It’s all about Family.” He encouraged to share what we are doing with our families to help them to appreciate the importance of serving and helping others in finding their ancestors. He said that it is good to go to the Temple but so much better when you can go and take a family name. He also stressed the importance of paying tithing saying that  it "teaches us to control our desire for worldly things; it shows you are worthy for Heavenly Father's blessings."

This week was Hail and Farewell in the Mission Zone which means we had a potluck lunch to honor any missionaries who are entering the mission or going home.  The British Zone held the potluck along with the awarding of any certificates for completion of either the Apprentice or Journeyman.  We received certificates for England and Scotland and next month when we have completed Ireland we will get the certificate for that as well as a certificate for completing all of the Journeyman Book.

On Thursday we were privileged to go to Sister Francis Monson’s funeral which was held in the tabernacle.  It was humbling to see the prophet come in and sit with his family in the front row and see the empty chair between Presidents Eyring and Uchtdorf.  Almost all of the 12 were in attendance as well as many of the other brethren. I am sure that this is a very difficult time for the prophet; he and Sister Monson have been married for 65 years.

As we were walking by Temple Square the other night we saw this unusual bike parked by the side of the road waiting for "customers".  We stopped and talked to the young man who was sitting at the wheel.  He said the "bike" was engineered by someone in Germany and they have used them in Salt Lake for several years (just for fun). In addition to the "driver" there are seats for 6 people surrounding the middle basket (where he told us you can fit a small child). There are pedals for all 6 "riders" to pump.  Looked like it would be lots of fun for a group of kids.  So when you're in Salt Lake this summer you might allow time for a fun bike ride.

6-seater bike

 

Thursday night we attended a flute choir presented by a group from Snow College. There were 15 flautists in the group along with several other small groups and soloists who  performed. It was a fun evening. I had never seen anything but a "straight" flute. In the second picture below you can see the flute that is shaped like a shepherds stick - I had not seen one before.

Notice the different shaped flute

We usually attend the Tabernacle Broadcast on Sunday Morning and have always gotten excellent seats.  This Sunday morning when we left our apartment building we could 6 big buses parked along West Temple so we expected there to be a big crowd.  When we got to the Tabernacle they had already closed the doors because it was full.  Apparently because of the Memorial Day Holiday there were extra tour groups and they had to open up the Assembly Hall and the Theatre in the North Visitor's Center to accommodate the crowd.  We actually had theatre seats and a big screen so it was still a delightful experience. There will not be a broadcast for a month as the choir is going on tour. When they return the Broadcast will be held in the Conference Center to allow seating for the summer crowds.

And of course I can't post a blog without posting some of the flowers that are currently blooming on Temple Square which have replaced many of the beautiful beds.

Hail and Farewell

Until we get through with our training, I'm afraid our blog is going to sound like a broken record. Our daily schedule is pretty routinely to the library at 7, lunch at noon, and home about 4.  If it's a warm day we either walk home and fix lunch, take our lunch and sit on a bench at Temple Square or City Creek Mall, walk to the Lion house or somewhere else close by; if it's too cold, we just eat in the lunch room on the 3rd floor of the library.

Our youngest daughter, Julie Fischbeck, had a corporate training for "Let's Play Music" in Draper (just south of Salt Lake City) this weekend so we were able to spend a few hours with her and enjoyed a nice visit including a yummy lunch at the Lion House including their famous Lion House Rolls.

Joseph & Emma Statue on the north side of the Administration Building

In front of the Lion House Pantry where we had lunch

Once a month in our Branch we have a "Hail and Farewell" to welcome the incoming missionaries and say goodbye to the ones that are going home.  On Monday night this week we had that activity which this month in addition to the missionaries honored our Mission Presidency who are being released the end of June.  One of the sisters in our branch wrote a cute poem to honor the Presidency for their service and addressed them as royalty over all their loyal subjects and also presented each of them with a crown and a gag gift. The President of our mission is Wayne Peterson and his counselors are President Eckel and President Sessions.  Some of you know the Eckels as they are from Lakeside, Arizona; they previously served in the Snowflake, Arizona Temple.

President and Sister Peterson

L to R Sister & Pres Eckel, Sister & Pres. Peterson, Sister and Pres. Sessions

Mission President and young elders preparing to sing "Called to Serve Him."





Last but not least I'll include a description of the British Floor (B2) where we serve and what our "job description" includes.

BRITISH REFERENCE  / MEDIEVAL / PHOTO DUPLICATION ZONE

Records and information for England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man are located on the B-2 level of the Family History Library. Missionaries assist patrons who are doing research in these countries. They assist patrons using the computer desktop, Internet services, basic sources, research problems, books, maps, fiche, and films. They also serve as team members with various projects and special assignments.

The British Reference Zone is also home to missionaries who work with the medieval sector providing service by researching and organizing medieval records. They develop, maintain, and make available the Medieval Families File (with temple ordinance data when completed) for selected individuals who lived before 1500.

Included in this zone is the Photo Duplication center. These missionaries receive requests for information from patrons living in all areas of the world either by mail, phone, e-mail, or FAX. Every effort is made to locate the sources provided by the patron, verify its accuracy, make photocopies, and assemble the material for mailing back to the patrons

Happy Mothers' Day

Yellow, white and purple irises

In honor of Mother’s Day this post will be dedicated to our mothers.  There is a lilac bush blooming near the door where we go into work every morning as well as some beautiful irises blooming nearby. My mother had a beautiful lilac bush in her front yard and was very fond of irises so they are posted here in honor.

Lilac bushes near Family History Center

We usually arrive before the overhead lights come on at 7 - this is what greets us when we enter the British floor

In our continuing training in our "Journeyman" program we are completing the Scotland family project which we hope to sign off this week and then we'll start the last chapter of our training which includes Ireland.  We've heard that Ireland is the most difficult of the research areas on the British floor so we've saved it until last hoping that the training experiences we've had in England, Wales, and Scotland will be useful background knowledge for us.

Our temple hopping took us to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple on Tuesday.  It is much smaller than the others we have visited in Salt Lake but we felt the same beautiful, peaceful spirit there.

Bryn Terfel

Because of Mothers' Day the Tabernacle was full to capacity and the program was fantastic as always. After the conclusion of the broadcast they sang two extra numbers highlighting the guest singer Bryn Terfel, from Wales.  Apparently he has been here the entire week as the choir has been working on a new CD that will be released this fall. They introduced groups from around the world who were in attendance as they always do.  Mitt Romney and his wife and at least one of their sons were there but they didn't introduce them (I'm sure they didn't want any more attention drawn to them than had to be).  At the conclusion of the broadcast they were quickly escorted to the front of the building and out.  Reminded me how wonderful it is to be a non-famous, common person.

The last of the tulips

The tulips are coming to a too-quick demise; how we've enjoyed being on Temple Square to enjoy not only the beauty but the aroma of the magnificent array of flowers. There are all kinds of flowers blooming to take the place of the tulips.

Empty flower bed that were previously filled with tulips

New Flowers

Sounds of Music from Around the World

Lavender lacy tulips

You're probably getting tired of the tulips that I keep putting in but I just can't get enough of walking by them everyday.  This pretty lavender one we saw this week had lacy edges and I couldn't resist taking another picture while Byde stood by rolling his eyes.  There are so many different varieties and colors of tulips that I wish you could be here to see them all.  The weather is supposed to turn warm this next week so I'm afraid that the tulips are going to be disappearing.

On Thursday morning we had a meeting with the 2^nd counselor in the Mission Presidency and  were called to be assistant zone leaders for the British Zone.  This will be a little different than positions we have held in the past in the Ward and Stake because both of us are called to function together.  We will interview the CSM’s (Church Service Missionaries) together; the CSM’s are from around the Salt Lake area and usually serve 2-3 days a week.  These missionaries are the backbone of the entire mission. There are many senior sisters who serve here in the mission and do such a great service as well.

The social activity for the week was attending another performance in the Assembly Hall by the young single sisters who serve in the Temple Square Mission (that is a separate mission than the one we serve in).  It was amazing to see and listen to the talent that was performed there that night. Elane Palmer, from Mesa, was the director of the program which was entitled, "Sounds of Music from Around the World."

I'll include some of the pictures we took of the performers that night and include the 3rd verse of the song Called to Serve that was written by a sister missionary specifically for the Sister Missionaries on Temple Square.

"Called to preach His Gospel to all nations,

On the mount a banner is unfurled.

Sisters, Couples, serving all together,

From all corners of the world.

Australia, Asia, Europe, Pacific Islands, Africa.

Russia, North America, Central, South America

Jesus Christ, our Master, His Gospel we will share!

See all nations flow unto it, our lovely Temple Square!

See all nations flow unto it, our lovely Temple Square!"

The sisters surrounding the audience carrying their country flag

Mission Presidency and performers prior to the start of the program

Above 3 pictures performing "Pokarekare And and Aloha 'Oe'

Sister from Australia singing "I Am Australian"

"Wakare No Uta"

Sister Elane Palmer, Director

Elder and Sister Palmer taking their bows