The things you learn....

 It was a very slow day in the temple today. There were not many visitors and the groups from Benin and Liberia had done most of their work in the morning.

So I was prowling around looking for something interesting to do -- the good workers waiting were reading their scriptures, but I wasn't.  When I got to the recorders office, Baaba looked like she had a few piles of files in some stacks doing something and I thought, "Why not?" I asked her how I could help.

Did you know that all the cards used in the temple are one - recorded and accounted for - and two -- they are washed and disinfected?  I was going through each set of cards in each folder and washing and disinfecting them. I didn't get through the whole drawer before my hour was up. I told her I'd do that again sometime with her. Interesting. There are so many little things that make up a good working place.

Since I'm here I'll have to tell you the story of the morning. I met with Sister Sackley outside of the temple to talk about menu ideas for a dinner in February at the Area President's home. Since she was going through a session, I came early. After our discussion I went inside and got ready for work. I was a whole hour early!!!! So I went walkabout to find something to do before my preparation meeting.

I ran into a little group. Elder Desshler was waiting to talk to a gentleman talking with the recorder, so I told him I would wait and get the information from the gentleman as Elder Desshler needed to go somewhere else right then. I waited around while the. man got his things recorded and then Catherine in the office asked if I would show him over to the Baptistry to help him out.

When we got there he asked Elder Hobdy (who seemed to be the baptism recorder), if the gentleman could get on the schedule? He said they were just done and the next session wouldn't start until about 3:30 pm. The man was disappointed. 

Sister Hobdy came over and knew his whole story already. She said she would help him and they arranged for a young missionary to do the baptism. As I sat down with the gentleman in the witness chairs, I learned that he was getting the baptism done for his late wife. That is when I recognized the wonderful service that Sister Hobdy was doing! She was going out of her way (and getting completely wet in the process) to do this service for him. I am not sure if he had two names, but one elder and then Sister Hobdy got baptized. After his wife's name was checked off, I went into the confirmation room and was confirmed for her. We went back to the recorders office to get the name scanned and stamped (proof work was done), and then I took her name over to the next room and did the initiatory work. Back to the recorders office to get it scanned and stamped. With permission, I left her name to have the endowment done by the next sister who came in. Then I started my shift. Nice.

Baaba has a new hair-do that I tried to show. It looks fun and good on her.