****FIREFLIES****

When Don and I got home from the New Member and Investigator Fireside last night there were fireflies flitting around by the trees and in the grass at our apartment.  I was so excited!  I've never seen fireflies before.  Not that you can actually see them...just a little green light.  It was the coolest thing.

Speaking of the fireside last night.  Once again, I am so glad we went.  The sisters that live near us have no other way to get there so we take them but are always happy that we did. There was a huge turnout, probably 3 times what we have for Sacrament meeting!

Last night there was a newly baptized member who spoke about her conversion, followed by a testimony meeting of new converts, missionaries, older converts, investigators.  Looking at them all, I couldn't help but think, "This is how the Savior sees the world".  Now don't get me wrong...I love our ward and wouldn't move from Utah...but we're pretty bland!  We have large congregations, and that's great, but only occasionally do we have any diversity.  Looking around last night we had people of many colors and ethnicities, different hair colors (pink, purple, etc.), recovered/recovering addicts, tattooed, old, young, infirm, dresses, pants, wealthy, and obviously not.  But we were all there for the same reason, and that drew us together. Instead of "us and them", it was "we".  And "WE" are pretty great!

What's also great to me is seeing these young missionaries being exposed to all of this and loving everyone so unconditionally.  It's not about the "numbers", it's about the individual and their truly wanting them to experience the same joy in the Gospel as they do.

Hanging with the Elders

                                                        Elder Smith and Elder Parks
                                                                  going home 6-21

This coming Saturday we are going with the rest of the senior missionaries on the Louisville Belle...a paddle boat...for a tour of Louisville from the Ohio River, along with a buffet lunch.  Then at the end of the month we are going to the Stringbean Bluegrass Festival, in a little town in the Appalachians with several of the seniors.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Sisters Moore & Wilde

And...just in case you thought I made it up...

Elder Breinholt driving Moe...on the freeway!