Sunday, September 11, 2005
This morning as we were loading the car and packing out of the ‘hotel’, Sister Anderson asked the President if he had told me about the telephone call the night before. My first thought was that Lisa had given birth. He laughed, “No,” he said. “They want you and my wife to talk in Sacrament meeting!” We went back to the Hansens’ for breakfast – bacon, eggs, toast, mango, pineapple, and orange juice. Wow! Then Bob and the President left for an early PEC meeting and then off to visit two outlying branches. We stayed at the Hansens’ house for about an hour and then Sister Anderson drove us over to the Church – about a quarter-mile away. We both spoke on “Do What is Right, Let the Consequence Follow, “ as did two branch members who spoke in Visayan (they don’t call their language Cebuano here). We had really no idea what they said, so we all may have said the same thing! I must study my language more.
We visited and tried to help in Primary where we were entertained by a little boy – about five who had brought a pet grasshopper with him – quite the distraction – and amazing to me to see how it would not fly away from him, but stay right on his knee, even when he wasn’t holding it.
We visited with members after the meeting and then Bob and the President arrived and we all four spoke it Sacrament meeting. I just bore my testimony in Visayan; Bob talked briefly about Bible references in the Book of Mormon. The attendance at both these two branches is quite small, especially considering they have a beautiful, brand new chapel to be dedicated in November.
On the drive home, we all felt more relaxed, although tired. We ate a snack, stopped to take pictures a couple of times, then the Andersons invited us over to have dinner with them before taking us home. They are temporarily living in a penthouse condo – very nice – while a new Mission Home is being built. They have beautiful views out over the city, so Bob took a few more photos.
We had no sooner arrived home, than a knock came at the door. It was two single-adult representatives coming to ask us to speak on “Dating, Courtship, and Marriage” at an up-coming Saturday morning ‘hike’ in the mountains. Doesn’t that sound interesting? I can hardly wait. We agreed depending on the schedule the President has for us.
I checked the internet right away and sure enough – Lisa’s baby Charlotte is safely here! Hurrah!
We unpacked and began to prepare for tomorrow when the phone rang. It was David. We were so glad to talk to him. It was a great connection and made us feel so close to the family and so grateful. Then, Lisa called! Oh how happy I was to hear her voice and to know that she was okay and the baby was fine. We are so blessed to be on a mission in this day and age of modern communication. We were glad to hear about all the girls, Lisa and Chris, and their remodeling project. Our children are such a blessing to us.
