Our Last Full Week

This is the first week I've blogged that I have no pictures. Could be that Byde being sick all week had something to do with that.  We've stayed pretty close to home because he just didn't feel well.  He didn't go to the Library at all. The folks in Utah say he has the Gamboo or Dreaded Gamboo whichever you prefer to call it.  He had a sore throat, body and head ache, a terrible cough, and in general felt lousy. I do believe he is on the mend and should be able to return to work on Tuesday. The library will be closed on Monday.

Because of Roots Tech last week the Library had some very busy moments. It has slowed down a little this week but there have still been plenty of patrons to help. It is always so rewarding and fun to see a patron's eyes light up when you help them find a record for their family that they weren't able to find previously. Those moments of helping others, in any way, are the best of all.  We have many opportunities to help fellow missionaries in their learning pursuits but not as often do we get to help patrons.

The rain came this week! We're so glad to have rain instead of snow and the ice which seems to follow it. On Thursday night we had a hail storm that sounded like it would make the roof cave in. The ground was covered white in a matter of minutes but it was warm enough that the hail melted rather quickly. The temperature got up to over 50° yesterday so our bones warmed up a bit. The weatherman is predicting that we'll have snow again by Friday the 22.

We had our release interview with President and Sister Workman so we're definitely winding down our time here. We will have this one last full week at the Library and the following week we will pack and leave for home on Thursday, February 27.  We will stay in St George or Las Vegas overnight and drive on to Mesa on February 28.

Elder Montgomery, one of the senior missionaries in our zone is driving to Arizona on Tuesday and he offered to take some of our belongings back for us.  We took 5 boxes over to him yesterday, YEAH!!  We have been concerned about being able to get all our stuff in the car but I think we'll be able to squeeze it in and with some luck even take a sack or two of Lehi flour with us. THANK YOU Elder & Sister Montgomery!!

On Saturday night we went to the Assembly Hall to attend a performance  of "Cultural Arts Submission Winners." The institute choirs from Taylorsville and Jordan sang the numbers and the actual winners of the poetry contest read their entries. There was also a short dramatic presentation "A Misunderstanding of the Best Kind" which was very entertaining. We will miss the availability of cultural events when we return home; we have lived in the center of a dream world for a year and it has been so delightful!!

We attend Music and the Spoken Word almost every Sunday and never get tired of it. Today the message, in honor of President's day, was "The True Measure of a Nation." One of the quotes that was given was from President John F Kennedy when he spoke in the Tabernacle in 1963, " 'The qualities that we seek in America, the qualities which we like to feel this country has, [are] courage, patience, faith, self-reliance, perseverance, and, above all, an unflagging determination to see the right prevail.'

Could these words, spoken decades ago, be used also to describe us - our neighbors, family, co-workers, and friends? When history reflects on our era, will it remember us as people with courage and unflagging determination to see right prevail? Will it focus on our self-reliance and perseverance, our faith and patience? And will we be remembered for our good judgment, integrity, and dedication?

A nation may be applauded for its successes and contributions to the world, but its true measure is found in the character of its people."

I suppose we could say of the mission that the true character of its success is in the character of its people. We have had the privilege of associating with many great people during the year we have served here in the Family and Church History Church Headquarters Mission and that is what has made it such a rich, memorable experience for us. We will miss the close association we have with the friends we have made here.