Mission Firsts For Us!

On the first Wednesday of April, we were able for the first time attending our mission-wide zone leader meetings IN PERSON.  It was so great to be in the same room with all of these amazing missionaries who we have only met through zoom.  One of the zone leaders said he almost skipped down the hall to the meeting because he was so excited to be in person after 13 months of zoom meetings.  It was also a special experience, because the mission president had invited each couple to share comments for five minutes or less about General Conference which was the weekend before.  Gary assigned that to me.  My remarks are in the next post.  It was a very sweet and spiritual meeting as the members of the mission presidency, their wives, and then the 12 zone leader couples, and the missionaries assigned as branch presidents and their wives shared about their experiences with conference.  Such a great meeting.  In fact, President Randall decided after everyone shared that he didn't want to cover the business items of the agenda, so we had a zoom meeting the next day to do that part of the meeting.  It was fun to talk briefly with the other zone leaders and their wives and I look forward to additional meetings with them.  Next month, we will walk there from our apartment.

Then, on April 15, another first--the first in-person mission wide devotional held in the Chapel of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.  This is where our branch also meets.  It is a gorgeous room with an amazing organ.  We still had to wear masks and social distance in the meeting, but we were there with about 40 or so missionaries and it was great.

Jena came with us as well to be part of this historical event-
for us!

It was a bit of a rainy day which required umbrellas on the way in, but left a spring time shimmer everywhere on the way out.

Even with the massive reconstruction going on, areas of the Temple grounds where possible are filled with flowers.

As I was taking pictures, Gary and Jena walked ahead......

Some of the cranes at work----remarkable time to be able to serve downtown.

We had a chance to speak briefly with President Randall and he indicated that plans are "in the works" for Jena's service opportunities downtown.  He told us that there is another couple with an adult child who is also coming to campus so they are getting things in place for both of them.  That is exciting for us.  He also indicated that Jena will be able to attend a YSA ward in the area or maybe a different branch, details to follow................

We are so excited for the opportunities that Jena will have to serve, but also for the relationships she will develop with others.  Today in Church, one of the senior sister missionaries in our branch came up to her and said that she was so excited to see Jena with her missionary tag because she had a grandchild with special needs who was eight years old.  She said that she was going home and calling her daughter and telling her about Jena serving with us.  We told her about Jena's service as a young service missionary as well, so that made her even more excited.  We are so lucky to be able to serve with Jena.  Once again--we are Jena's mom and dad--but we are Sister Mom and Elder Dad now, I guess.