This Week at the Battalion

On the first Monday of the month, all of the senior missionaries get together for FHE.  This last Monday we had President and Sister Clayton speak to us since it will be their last one. They will be released at the end of the month.  The first and second counselors in the Mission Presidency spoke about them first.  It was great, of course.  The Claytons did a great job speaking to us.  Very interesting evening.  We will miss them.

The first room on our tour has eight picture frames of various members of the Battalion.  Early in the week, Captain James Allen’s picture developed a loud buzz.  Pretty annoying when you hear it for 6 hours at a time.  One of the other seniors called Salt Lake and they said nothing could be done.  Aaaccckk.  Thursday morning we went in and it was LOUD.  Then Captain Allen disappeared!  There was nothing in that picture frame.  Do you remember a couple of months ago when I said I had to climb up a ladder with my costume of 7 yards of material?  Well, I had to do it again.  Not just once, but many, many times.  Craig and I were on the phone with Matt in Salt Lake and trying to do what he told us to do.  It would be helpful if I understood the lingo like extenders, distributors (I think), and well, who can even remember names of things you don’t know?

 Craig is half way up the ladder.

Sister Stephens about to climb up

 At one point I had to go down the ladder and see if there was anything showing in that frame.  Yes, there was a stick figure of Captain Allen.  One of our artistic Sisters put it in the empty frame. Ha!

Sister Stephens and Sister Larson holding the interim picture of Captain Allen.

The real Captain Allen picture

Wonderful Sister Stephens offered to help.  I thought she was just being her usual helpful self and didn’t think she should have to do this kind of thing.  But she really likes doing this stuff.  Ok, then!  She was such a big help.  She lifted one of the security monitors off the wall and helped cannibalize it for parts.  I put those parts where Matt told me to.  Just when I wanted to go home and have a little cry, then take a nap, she took the screwdriver and phone and climbed down the ladder and, with the help of Sister Larson who had been running back and forth checking things for us, took Captain Allen’s frame off the wall and took the monitor out and unplugged stuff and whatever else Matt told them to do.  Then Sister Stephens came back up the ladder and had to fiddle around behind the server. At that point I was simply holding the phone so everyone could hear each other.  She fixed everything!  Hooray!  The first room was out of commission for over an hour, but now there isn’t any buzzing and everything is working perfectly.  Replacement parts have come and I secretly hope they get installed on someone else’s shift! And certainly a shift with Sister Stephens.  I don't think Sister Stephens or Sister Larson even thought about crying the whole morning!

That night we decided it would be good to have a picnic dinner at Mission Bay.  We ate and then took a walk along the beach.  That is a good way to de-stress!

We are getting busy.  This morning we had one family group of 54 and another group of nearly 30. We like to limit groups to about 20-25 for space, but sometimes it can’t be helped and everyone crowds in.  The person I dressed up like a soldier in my big tour today was only 4.  I got out the small musket, but it still towered over him.  He was a good sport.

This week we went to Seaport Village on our P Day.  We love Seaport Village and have been going there for over 30 years.  It is a tradition that we buy address number tiles at a shop there for every house we have lived in.  We each picked up a few things and ate lunch while down there.  That is a nice, relaxing P Day.

The other day some of the Sisters asked Elder Robinson if he could fit in the child-size chairs on the front porch of the Battalion.  The answer is yes.

 

This week you can get to know Sister Jack, from Monticello, UT.  She attended Utah State, majoring in Geology (she likes rocks!), but is also drawn to ceramics.  She enjoys harmonizing and is a natural rapper!  I just found out last night that she and I share a love for musicals and the Mission: Impossible television show.  That is a strong bond!  She is always in a good mood and she is a pleasure to work with.

Here is a video taken one night just about closing time.  Sister Jack is on the right doing the rap.  This is all ad-libbed.  Beatbox provided by Sister Owens.

We get to look at this every Sunday afternoon.  It is a treat!