It has been fairly quiet at the temple this last week. But our temple president has been trying out several ideas with the hope of pulling in more patrons. For example, on Thursdays, our first endowment session normally starts at 11 am. This is too late for those who would like to attend the temple before going to work for the day, so for the next few weeks we are trying out having an early morning shift supporting just one session at 7 am. This pulls a few missionary ordinance workers away from the normal shift that follows. This last week, we had 32 people come to attend that early morning session. That was good, but we noted that most of those that attended that early session were the same ones that normally attend later on in the week anyways. Total attendance for the week wasn’t much different. We may not have picked up any one new, but the ones that came hopefully preferred coming at the new session time.
Each of the missionary couples regularly take their turn staying in the arrival center. We substituted for someone who was unable to fill their assignment this last Thursday. We were scheduled to take our regular turn on Saturday (yesterday), but since the temple presidency wanted us to be in attendance at a meeting in the temple that day, we got to the arrival center, only to discover that someone else had been sent to substitute for us. Now, today, we just got a call asking us to help out over there again this coming Tuesday. It’s an interesting assignment. The arrival center is located across the street from the temple. Since many in the temple district have a long ways to come, this is a place where they can come after their long trip - to change clothes, or to have someone babysit their children while they attend the temple, or for youth groups to congregate while they wait for their turn in the baptistery. While we are there, we don’t actually babysit; parents must supply their own sitters. Sometimes no one comes at all. When that happens, it gets pretty boring over there. But we try to take plenty with us to occupy our minds, just in case.
Friday morning, just before leaving to go to the temple, I got word that one of my cousins had just died the evening before. We were pretty much the same age, and had grown up as next door neighbors. Our ways parted when we left on missions resulting in the fact that we have not seen or heard from each other for almost 50 years. I always respected him highly and am indeed saddened by his departure. I wish his family peace and understanding. I look forward to seeing him again when it is my turn to follow him through the veil.
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