They say the brain craves novelty.
We certainly had a different week, full of changes to the usual routine. We decided to go home and get our vehicle, some warmer clothes, and other useful and nice-to-have things. We got permission to take a short overnight trip Tuesday and Wednesday, and with another couple’s kind loan of their car, we were on our way to Rexburg. The O’Dells were very accommodating of this unusual visit, and we are very grateful to them for the good care they’re taking of our home.
It was raining/snowing on the drive back to SLC Wednesday morning, but we had no difficulties driving two separate cars and got Taunya back in time for her noon assignment.
New and different for me on Thursday was a special project I was asked to help with. It allowed me to learn how to edit family tree information that already had source documents attached, correcting names and dates that were entered incorrectly, highlighting by putting a rectangle around the part of the document where the handwriting had been misread, and justifying the corrections I made. Interesting work that improves the quality of the family search database.
On Thursday I was also recruited to help the Housing crew the next day get some new apartments ready for more missionaries who would be arriving Friday afternoon. I and Elder Goodin helped Elder Farnsworth assemble some kitchen tables and office chairs. Actually, it was Elders Goodin and Farnsworth putting them together, I just helped put them in the apartments, and arrange the furniture already there in some kind of logical way. Elder Baird had asked me to check that all the WiFi routers were working correctly in six apartments, plus I hung a couple of shower curtains, and then helped Elder Goodin hang a closet door!
Friday evening we had dinner and a great visit with my brother and his wife in Riverton, which we were able to drive ourselves to rather than rely on public transportation and rides from them to and from the station. Not to disparage the Utah Transit Authority, but having our own wheels is way more convenient and less time consuming! We also enjoyed driving ourselves for a quick trip to Walmart yesterday!
Today we went to a break-the-fast dinner that Elder Farnsworth invited us and the Goodins to. He and Sister Farnsworth and several other couples all have apartments on the third floor of the Deseret Apartments, and they all get together every first Sunday. We felt pretty special being invited and warmly welcomed!
Tomorrow we look forward to our mission fireside where the guest speaker is Sharon Eubank, former first counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, and current Director of Latter-day Saint Charities. It’ll be a treat to hear from her, plus the choir will be singing Peace in Christ to make it even sweeter!
A scripture that’s been on my mind lately is 1 Corinthians 2:9. Here Paul is quoting Isaiah, and the Lord even uses the same language in Doctrine and Covenants 76:10. I like to think I have a pretty good imagination, and I can imagine a lot of amazing things that we have to look forward to in the months and years and centuries ahead, in this life and well beyond. But I believe what the Lord and His servants say that what the Lord has in store for those who love Him is inconceivably marvelous and wonderful!
India will have its own freshness and newness, for which we still yearn. But I just keep thinking that the novelty and variety we experienced this week is nothing compared to the vast and variegated array of glorious blessings to come!
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