Getting Started!

We are getting into the groove of our new callings and living arrangements. We stay busy every day and even some evenings...the good news is that apparently it will get busier when we get settled into our new Ward  and recieve callings there as well. Above we are attending our first Family Home Evening with other Senior couples that serve along with us. Most of them will be going home this summer when they finish up their 18 months.

Our community is very diverse. We live in a suburb of Vancouver called Richmond and the population is about 70% Chinese. We are in the process of celebrating the Chinese New Year and these were the decorations that we had for our Family Home Evening mentioned above.  Sue and I found out that we are "Dogs" according to their calendar.  It doesn't sound so good until you read the characteristics associated with the sign which turned out better than we thought.

One of our many responsibilities is helping the Nielsen's fix luncheons several times a month for the missionaries as they come in for various trianing meetings and conferences. Here we are getting ready to serve the bannanas that will eventually be used in the desert. We have to prepare the meal, get the room set up, and then clean up after everyone is done. The biggest meal we have to help prepare and serve is on what is called "Transfer Day" when we have about 70 to 80 hungry people to feed. 

 Here the missionaries including President Nelson are singing to us to thank us for the lunch that we helped get ready. Afterwards they play a basketball competition to keep the blood circulating and to keep from going to sleep in the afternoon training sessions.

Here we are in front of the new Vancouver Temple which was opened in May, 2010. We are getting ready to attend with four of the missionaries that are returning to their homes after serving. This is the last event that we do with the missionaries along with Nelsons and the Neilsons (President and other Sr. couple). 

As you can see, we have a lot of different activites and duties which keep the days going by quickly. We are having fun interacting with just GOOD PEOPLE who love the Lord and feel that it is a privledge to be here serving in some small capacity. We love it so far.