Tennessee Visitors and Hoags

This month we survived the hottest June on record.  It got up to 113 for several days in a row and cooled down to 83 at night.  Luckily, we have air-conditioning at all the places we serve in.  The visitors are pretty impressed with how cool it is in these old pioneer houses although the Brigham Young Winter Home had its air-conditioning go out twice.

                                                       James and grandpa as a shark

             

                                                             Kate at the splash pad

Also, Wendy visited us for 6 days, and we were able to go swimming and run through the splash pad downtown.  The kids loved it!  

Wendy, Kate, Ivy, and James came all the way from Tennessee to see us.  Amy, Em, Ty, Will, and Brocky came for three days to be with their cousins and visit.  We had lots of fun with everyone in between doing our duty as missionaries.  It was great having our family visit us at the different locations while we were working.  

                                                  Cousins at the Jacob Hamblin Home

                      Kate, Ivy, James in arbor at Brigham Young Winter Home

                                         Wendy with kids on St. George Temple stairs

                                                        Brocky, Will, Ivy, Kate

After Wendy and Amy left for home, Scott and I were assigned to go help at the Mormon Miracle Pageant in Manti for one night.  We had to work our 4 hour shift in St. George, then drive to Manti which took 3 1/2 to 4 hours, help at the Information Booth by the audience seating for 3 hours, and then watch the pageant which started at 9:30 p.m.  We stayed over night in the Barton's home in Manti, and they fed us breakfast in the morning.  Then we did a session in the Manti Temple at 8:30 a.m. and drove back to St. George.  

                                                             Mormon and Moroni

Next year will be the 50th anniversary of the Manti Pageant.  The play is about Joseph Smith, the pioneers, and some Book of Mormon scenes like Christ appearing to the Nephites.  It was good.  One  interesting thing is that we were sitting in the ASL section with monitors showing the narration in sign language.  The two main interpreters were Jenny and Chris Wakeland!  We thought that was cool.  

Being in the Manti Temple was awesome!  The pioneer craftsmanship is amazing.  In the World Room were Minerva Teichert murals that I had wanted to see for a long time.  Also, there is a 5 story circular staircase that we got to see.  

On July 4, we hosted a breakfast at our house for the senior missionary couples.  We had waffles with fruit and whipping cream, and Scott made his famous omelets.  Everyone loved it.  Then we worked at the Brigham Young Home for 5 hours and later watched the fireworks at a special location!