A churchy kind of day
Today was a very churchy day. We're having stake conference this week, and the only people we could think of to ask for a ride to the Saturday evening session were in leadership positions that would have them attending the leadership session before that. So we asked our friend Sister A if she would pick us up before the leadership session, planning to kill time in the foyer or somewhere while she went to that meeting, but while we were sitting there, another friend from our ward (the Relief Society president) told us we should attend the session. There really aren't any secrets, after all--it's just to help the people in leadership callings to do their callings. They don't kick anybody out. So we went to the session, and it really didn't feel any different from any regular meeting, just the usual talks about fellowshipping and finding unity and stuff.
After the leadership session, the two of us and Sister A found a nearby Wendy's for some dinner. One other woman who had been at the session had the same idea, so she joined us, and we had a lovely time chatting about traveling and stuff. Then we headed over to the evening session, and that was pretty good, too. There was a group of singers that made me a little sad because we weren't in it (I just like to sing!), but they sounded pretty singing "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing."
One of the singers also gave a talk. We like her, because last week at stake choir practice, she recognized the Miraculous logo on Athena's t-shirt. She also had a lot of good energy, which made for a really fun talk. Apparently she went on the Trek with the stake youth a few weeks ago, and also apparently this particular version of Trek was off the charts strenuous, and it was while she was struggling to breathe and hike at the same time that the stake president asked her to give a talk. She said she seemed to remember answering something like, "If this doesn't kill me, sure." The stake president got up later and added that she mostly said yes so he would stop talking to her and she could focus on breathing.
She spoke about finding peace in trials, and she used her experience on Trek to give examples. For instance, one of the important things on Trek is to stay hydrated, and all it takes is a little sip every few minutes, but people were struggling even to do that. She mentioned how in the scriptures, the Lord gives people really easy things to do to help them with their trials, like how the Israelites just had to look at the brazen serpent to be cured of the poison, or how Naaman just had to wash in the river, but they just didn't want to do it. ...I don't remember what she likened that to in our daily lives, but I know that reading scriptures and praying applies.
After the meeting, there was pie. The stake leaders mentioned this several times during all the meetings. I'm not sure if this was to encourage more people to show up in person (people could also watch via Zoom), or to make sure they didn't have to take home any extra pie. But the pie selection was excellent, most importantly because there was chocolate satin pie. And while we ate pie, we found some friends and talked about The Umbrella Academy.
It was a pretty fun day. And it also gave us several hours in air conditioning, so we are recharged and ready to face the heat of next week.
Today I'm thankful for friends who are willing to drive us to the stake center, getting to go to some good meetings, getting to go to dinner with friends, air conditioning, and the excellent selection of pie.
After the leadership session, the two of us and Sister A found a nearby Wendy's for some dinner. One other woman who had been at the session had the same idea, so she joined us, and we had a lovely time chatting about traveling and stuff. Then we headed over to the evening session, and that was pretty good, too. There was a group of singers that made me a little sad because we weren't in it (I just like to sing!), but they sounded pretty singing "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing."
One of the singers also gave a talk. We like her, because last week at stake choir practice, she recognized the Miraculous logo on Athena's t-shirt. She also had a lot of good energy, which made for a really fun talk. Apparently she went on the Trek with the stake youth a few weeks ago, and also apparently this particular version of Trek was off the charts strenuous, and it was while she was struggling to breathe and hike at the same time that the stake president asked her to give a talk. She said she seemed to remember answering something like, "If this doesn't kill me, sure." The stake president got up later and added that she mostly said yes so he would stop talking to her and she could focus on breathing.
She spoke about finding peace in trials, and she used her experience on Trek to give examples. For instance, one of the important things on Trek is to stay hydrated, and all it takes is a little sip every few minutes, but people were struggling even to do that. She mentioned how in the scriptures, the Lord gives people really easy things to do to help them with their trials, like how the Israelites just had to look at the brazen serpent to be cured of the poison, or how Naaman just had to wash in the river, but they just didn't want to do it. ...I don't remember what she likened that to in our daily lives, but I know that reading scriptures and praying applies.
After the meeting, there was pie. The stake leaders mentioned this several times during all the meetings. I'm not sure if this was to encourage more people to show up in person (people could also watch via Zoom), or to make sure they didn't have to take home any extra pie. But the pie selection was excellent, most importantly because there was chocolate satin pie. And while we ate pie, we found some friends and talked about The Umbrella Academy.
It was a pretty fun day. And it also gave us several hours in air conditioning, so we are recharged and ready to face the heat of next week.
Today I'm thankful for friends who are willing to drive us to the stake center, getting to go to some good meetings, getting to go to dinner with friends, air conditioning, and the excellent selection of pie.