Front entrance of the second hand store; WML Daehler, Ashley, Anthony Mascaro; attendees for Ashley's baptism.

MAY 31, 2009 SUNDAY

Sunday is the best day of the week because we get to go to Church to renew our covenants and be taught the gospel. It’s wonderful to be able to meet with the saints and missionaries to support and strengthen one another and to see the investigators who are searching and learning. Cornelia came again to Sacrament meeting and the Rodriguez family came too. We were looking for them, but they came a little late after the meeting had started, and then left before it was over because their kids were fussing. We set up an appointment yesterday to come Monday to help them some more with their apartment, but she called this afternoon to change it. They have been invited by some friends to go to Basel tomorrow for the holiday so we arranged to go help them on Wednesday afternoon. She said she met Bishop Schwendener and that he will arrange to get her membership records sent over and then present them to the ward in two weeks. Bishop Schwendener is a jewel and is always on the job. It was good to at least know they came to Church today. We intend to visit them regularly, after they are settled in, to teach her back into activity and hopefully baptize her husband.

Ashley Maurer’s baptism was scheduled at 1:00, an hour after the block of meetings were over, so we went home to fix some sandwiches for the missionaries and get the brownies for the after baptism social. Elders Harris and Nilsson came for their lunch snack and then helped us carry some of the stuff back to the ward. It is amazing to see the number of people who come to a baptism. There was a room full and some standing out in the hallway. Baptisms are always a prime meeting to bring investigators so missionaries make that a priority. The baptismal services are the same here as at home with a talk on the ordinance of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Those who are eight years old are confirmed and receive the Holy Ghost right after, while converts are confirmed and receive the Holy Ghost at the next Sacrament meeting. The goodies after were delicious, especially Diana’s brownies. Following the service, we went home and were so beat from yesterday we felt we needed to just rest the rest of the day. Later in the evening we received the call from Gabriela Rodriguez changing our appointment and then a call from Elder Norris to get our weekly report and give us our Tuesday district meeting assignment. As is almost always the case, Roxsan and her kids skyped us just as Elder Norris called so I missed half the conversation while talking to Elder Norris. But it’s always fun to see and talk to Roxsan and her kids. She told us that Justin called her just before and so we got an update on him too. Monica and Rebecca didn’t skype us so we only got to talk to Roxsan and her kids. Mayleah reminded me that I promised to take her on a motorcycle ride as soon as we get home. And so ends another day.