Wednesday Eve – Sister Jones and I participated in the funeral service for our departed friend Carlos, who moved to the US from Cuba decades ago – and served his new country in the Vietnam war. It was very moving – as shown by the smiles and also tears of his family members. I offered a few remembrances of our friend; also conducted opening and closing hymns. Branch President Hinds spoke along with 2nd counselor Jorge Martinez (who spoke in Spanish about half of his talk, directed particularly to Carlos' family members). There was also a nice tribute by 2 military men including playing of taps.
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After we returned to New Jersey, Sister Jones provided a new phone for a companionship in the parking lot of the Newark chapel where we met. Later that evening, we drove to the Morristown chapel and picked up the mission truck for moving duties on Friday.
Friday – Two Elders in Woodlawn helped me load a fridge into the truck, then I drove to storage to unload and pick up table and chairs for AP's. That was Sister Jones' idea when she heard they needed a new table. Great help and Thanks! Sister Jones and I then went to the Short Hills meetinghouse. She helped two sets of Elders with two phones who were there for the Mission Leader Conference. Meanwhile I helped the Assistants get the table and chairs into their vehicle. We also saw some of the training meeting after Sister Taggart invited us to join them for lunch - great!
Then we drove back to Morristown to drop off the truck there. Next to the mission office in Mendham, where we did office work for nearly five hours - offered co-workers pumpkin pie + whipped cream ('tis the season to be jowl-y). Then to see the creche display at Morristown chapel. It was awesome and we returned with an investigator to see it on Sunday.
Saturday - We cleaned out our car which was still carrying beaucoup cleaning supplies; then went to TWO special Christmas dinners - one for Senior Missionaries, where we discussed Christmas traditions and remembrances. Sister Jones was happy that the Turkey Divan she made was enjoyed. Second, was the Relief Society dinner we went to at East Orange Branch – awesome! (I was invited, and that was good because Brother Getty came with his family – this way, he would not be the only male there.) Great talks by two Sisters.
Sunday - I went to the 9 am PEC meeting at the East Orange Branch president's office. Then I drove to pick up Mary, who is getting ready to be baptized. On the way to the chapel, six minutes before church was to begin, I got a phone call from the Elders. Would I pick up a family of four on Prospect Avenue? OK, I said. I did a quick U-turn (not so easy out here), and they squeezed into our back seat. It was fun to meet them and bring them to Church!
At Fast and Testimony Meeting, I related/bore the testimony that Carlos had given to Sister Jones and I while sitting in our car as we were dropping him off at his apartment about a week before his passing. Carlos said that people join the Church for various reasons; but that he wanted to testify that he knew that the Church was true and right. That's why he was baptized!
Attendance at the meeting was good – about 63 there. Sister Jones gave an awesome Temple Preparation lesson in Sunday School. That was well-attended also. The lesson focused on the great Plan of Happiness/Salvation.
In the later afternoon, we drove with Sister Mary (investigator) to see the Creche display at the Morristown chapel and to hear musical presentations, which were awesome! It was a very moving way to get the Christmas spirit!
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Home felt great after being gone for ten hours. We had some dinner and then watched the LDS First Presidency Christmas fireside. It was so moving. That Tabernacle Choir! We prepared a few Christmas presents for family and got to bed a little after 10:30 pm.
