Double Blog

We believe that these past two weeks were among the busiest of our lives! Unbelievable, but soul-satisfying. The mission ended the year with over 420 baptisms, as the photos to the right show. We also ended the year with the arrival of 30 new elders and sisters, making our office tasks even greater and more numerous as we found companions, cars and apartments for all of them. On the 30th Gary got a phone call from the Vehicle Coordinator from the California Fresno Mission, who turned out to be David Mulholland, a long-time friend of Gary's from Farmington, Utah, who used to pick Gary's brain about Hugh Nibley quite often during the past 35 years. It helps to share vehicle information with a friend!
We've relieved a little of our stress by taking walks down the Santa Ana River in 75 degree temperatures, but while you Utahns may be envious, the weather here is a little boring. The principle of opposition in all things surely doesn't pertain to the weather! We also took a ride to 'unknown parts' with the Monney's last Saturday, stopping first at a $1 bookstore, where thousands of books are only a dollar apiece! Then we drove south on Jamboree all the way to the coast, even through the Balboa Island town, which is clearly a tourists' trap. We finished the adventure by eating sandwiches at Pacific Whey Cafe across from the Newport Beach Temple -- outdoors!
Sunday Gary was honored with an e-mail from Daniel Peterson, his friend and colleague at BYU, who wants him to contribute his testimony to MormonScholarsTestify.org, so Gary will be working on that 'missionary effort' during the coming weeks.
This past week has been just as busy as the week before. We had three zone conferences at three different buildings during three days, including all seven zones of our mission. At those conferences Gary and Elder Monney inspected and worked on 55 cars, doing everything from putting on new license plates to adding engine oil and air to tires. Gary also gave a 15-minute safety presentation each day, and at noon during lunch presented awards to the three cleanest cars in the mission. Wednesday he and Elder Monney had their longest day: 11 hours, because they had to rescue two sisters and two elders whose batteries had died on them.
Thursday night was Gary's first rehearsal with the Orange County Mormon Choir Organization, as this 200-voice choir prepared for the premiere performance of "Messiah in America" on March 31. He feels very honored to be one of the first to be singing this large oratorio, which is very exciting. (It reminds him of preparing to sing Handel's Messiah or Mendelssohn's Elijah.)
Friday night we took Sister Healey to Whole Foods market in Tustin for dinner and then did an endowment session in the temple.
And finally: we just returneed from two Hispanic baptisms in the Santa Ana stake center. We both plan on taking things a little slower this coming week. And enjoying it even more!