Salt Lake Temple Square Mission

January 5, 2014

 

Sisters in the theatre on New Year's Eve

 

We are into a new year, 2014!  It does seem incredible to us that 2013 is over and we are marching forward into 2014. Of course, we celebrated on the Square New Year’s Eve.  On Tuesday evening the sisters met in the South Visitors’ Theatre after getting various snacks, dips and veggies.  We again, made a Costco run for the goodies.  After a program they all toasted in the new year at 10:00 PM with apple cider.  They were then off to bed in preparation to begin a new year.

Sisters with Sister Frost waiting for the Trax at 6:50am

Religious Art at BYU

 

 

Our activities did not end with the New Year’s Eve celebration because on Thursday and Friday we went to Provo for a special art exhibit at BYU featuring works of Carl Bloch, Heinrich Hofmann, and Frans Schwartz.  We traveled by Trax and the Front Runner to reach our destination.  It truly was a once in a lifetime experience to view those works of art.  To see the original paintings of the life of our Savior up close and personal was truly inspirational.  The spirit was in abundance and personally tears came to my eyes as I contemplated His life and atonement.  After viewing those magnificent paintings, we were treated royally by a Provo stake that provided us with lunch and a program.  We were amazed by the love that was exhibited by those young folks who served us.  The sisters really need to realize how members appreciate their sacrifice and service.

 

 

 

Cesar after the baptisms at the South Visitors' Center
with Elders and Sister Missionaries

Another special experience happened on Saturday when we were able to accompany Cesar to the Salt Lake Temple to do baptisms for the dead for the first time.  Sister Mendoza and her companion and the two elders that taught Cesar were also there.  Sister Mendoza had brought with her family names and so Cesar was able to be baptized for some of her ancestors.   He was nervous but so excited and couldn’t believe that he was in the Temple.  He told us at that time that his sister had agreed to have the first missionary discussion.  When his father learned this fact, he told his daughter that perhaps she should be baptized because it would help strengthen her family.  For Cesar to hear this from his father, who is a devote Catholic, was incredible.  We know his father is seeing the change that has occurred in Cesar’s life.

We were also thrilled and surprised today to get a text message from Tressa.  She wants to talk to us on Monday.  She mentioned the fact that she missed our discussions and is looking forward to our conversation.  We don’t know what she will say, but we hope that it is positive and perhaps she will get herself into a position to be baptized.  Our fingers are crossed!  Also we heard from Jason and he told us that he is not back in Utah yet, so we hope against hope, that we will see him sometime this week.

Sister Tan on the left of Sister Frost - shared with us her
incredible conversion story in which her family rejected
her. She is 28 years old and just arrived at Temple Square
and is a very dedicated and beautiful sister.

There are so many sisters who come from such poor circumstances and their stories are incredible to us.  One such sister is a gal from Tahiti.  She comes from a family of fifteen.  As she came to the Square, she had very little by the way of clothing.  This week we were able to take her out to buy boots and shoes.  She wears a whopping size 12 shoe and it was difficult to find that large a size.  But, we are happy to report that we did it!  Another sister went with her and she is from Siberia.  She has as large size personality and we wanted to find boots for her too.  Unfortunately, we were not successful because she is very picky.  So, next week we will try again.