What a crazy and wonderful week.
We went to Minute Maid Park along with about 18 other Senior Missionaries from THE mission as well as many more from the other two Houston missions on Monday. It was an interesting event. We had seats in the upper deck. Sister Black called the park early last week and asked about scooters and assistance. She was told, "No problem. Just check in with Fan Accomodations when you get here."
So, we did that. It turns out that we couldn't get her to the upper deck. It would have required climbing about 35 stairs to get to the seats for which we had tickets. So, the agent at Fan Accommodations swapped our original tickets for some tickets in the field level seats not far from the Astros dugout. We were too far out to see the magnatron or much of the interesting displays they have on the lighted banners, but we did get to see the game.
Elder Bednar threw out the first pitch, and the Elders and Sisters of the Texas Houston South Mission sang the National Anthem. They sounded GREAT! People around us were properly impressed. Sister Black mentioned that some might think, "Well, of course they were great. After all the church has the Tabernacle Choir." I doubt if anyone really thought about it that way.
The game was pretty exciting in the early innings, but kinda boring towards the end. The Astros played the A's. The best in the American League West against the worst in the American League West. The Astros took many of its stars out of the game in the 6th inning. The score was already 11-1 by then. The A's looked like a beat team in the first inning when they came out onto the field. The players just strolled with their hands "hanging down" out to their positions with little energy at all.
The best part of our week happened yesterday. We witnessed two baptisms and then we went to the Mission President's Fireside with some non-member friends. This fireside is held monthly and includes the testimonies of newly baptized members and those who are returning to activity after having been away for some time. The stories they tell are of depression, self deprecation, addiction, and recovery. They are INTERESTING and INSPIRING to pre-members, new members and others who are trying to find their spiritual stride.
One of the more colorful church general authorities, Elder J. Golden Kimball said, "I don't stay on the straight and narrow very well, but I try to cross it as often as I can." That is descriptive of many of us who are trying to live a virtuous life in preparation for the post-mortality lives we will live. We all fail to a certain degree. I certainly am not perfect, but I work to continuously improve. I am much better, now, as a senior citizen than I was as a young husband and father. I am grateful for the privilege to exercise the principle of repentance. I am grateful for the atonement that makes it possible. I love our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. I know that He lives and directs the work of the gathering of Israel through His Prophet and Apostles in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know that there are angels ready and willing to assist each of us as we work to fulfill Heavenly Father's Plan of Happiness.
So, we did that. It turns out that we couldn't get her to the upper deck. It would have required climbing about 35 stairs to get to the seats for which we had tickets. So, the agent at Fan Accommodations swapped our original tickets for some tickets in the field level seats not far from the Astros dugout. We were too far out to see the magnatron or much of the interesting displays they have on the lighted banners, but we did get to see the game.
Elder Bednar threw out the first pitch, and the Elders and Sisters of the Texas Houston South Mission sang the National Anthem. They sounded GREAT! People around us were properly impressed. Sister Black mentioned that some might think, "Well, of course they were great. After all the church has the Tabernacle Choir." I doubt if anyone really thought about it that way.
The game was pretty exciting in the early innings, but kinda boring towards the end. The Astros played the A's. The best in the American League West against the worst in the American League West. The Astros took many of its stars out of the game in the 6th inning. The score was already 11-1 by then. The A's looked like a beat team in the first inning when they came out onto the field. The players just strolled with their hands "hanging down" out to their positions with little energy at all.
The best part of our week happened yesterday. We witnessed two baptisms and then we went to the Mission President's Fireside with some non-member friends. This fireside is held monthly and includes the testimonies of newly baptized members and those who are returning to activity after having been away for some time. The stories they tell are of depression, self deprecation, addiction, and recovery. They are INTERESTING and INSPIRING to pre-members, new members and others who are trying to find their spiritual stride.
One of the more colorful church general authorities, Elder J. Golden Kimball said, "I don't stay on the straight and narrow very well, but I try to cross it as often as I can." That is descriptive of many of us who are trying to live a virtuous life in preparation for the post-mortality lives we will live. We all fail to a certain degree. I certainly am not perfect, but I work to continuously improve. I am much better, now, as a senior citizen than I was as a young husband and father. I am grateful for the privilege to exercise the principle of repentance. I am grateful for the atonement that makes it possible. I love our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. I know that He lives and directs the work of the gathering of Israel through His Prophet and Apostles in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know that there are angels ready and willing to assist each of us as we work to fulfill Heavenly Father's Plan of Happiness.
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