Apr 3 07

April 3, 2007

Last Friday we left CBQ at 5:15 AM with President Bonito, Maxine, Keegan, Faith, Ariel, and President’s sister, Cami. We were heading to Utah for General Conference. The stake president gave P Bonito tickets for the Saturday afternoon session. We had a great drive, except for heavy traffic through Provo, Point of the Mountain, Salt Lake and Ogden. We had breakfast at McDonald’s in Snowflake, stopped and took pictures along the way, had lunch at Arby’s in Panguitch, and arrived in Logan around 8:30.

Cade and Andi had prepared a wonderful welcome for us at the house. The place was spotless, beautiful music was playing, and they had an awesome dinner ready and waiting. We knew the Bonitos felt welcome the minute they stepped in the door. We were very proud of our great children and how naturally loving and hospitable they both are. Cade even allowed them to play his Nintendo Wii…sometimes even without his supervision.

Saturday we left Bonito’s truck in Logan. Cade drove his car with all the kids and we took David and Maxine with us. In Salt Lake we walked around Temple Square and the gardens around the Joseph Smith building, then ate sandwiches on a concrete bench while Cade and Andi left with Cami and Ariel for an afternoon at the zoo while the rest of us attended conference. We had warned them about the protestors, and after walking by them 11-year-old Keegan said, “Dad, I never want to see people like them again.” Later he told David, “Today I got a testimony.”

The session was a nasty surprise. Today the newly refurbished Tabernacle was rededicated, so all the apostles and President Hinckley were in the Tabernacle. As we waited in our seats, people kept saying, “What’s going on? Where are the apostles? Where is the choir?” There was never an announcement, or even a general authority to welcome the 20,000 people in the conference center. A member of the Show Low stake presidency was sitting nearby and he came over and said, “Can you believe what’s happening here?” We have rarely been so deeply disappointed. Our hearts ached for the Bonitos. All morning President had been telling the children, “Today you’ll see the prophet.” We felt that there should have been something telling people ahead of time how that session would be handled. Surely we weren’t the only ones who traveled long distances to sit in the conference center and watch television.

After the session Robert walked with Bonitos to the conference center while I went to talk to someone at the ticket office to see if there was any way we could get tickets for one of the session tomorrow. They suggested I talk to my stake president, which I would gladly do if only he wasn’t 800 miles away. On my way to meet up with Robert I again passed the protestors. One of them was shouting, “All you people came to see the prophet, didn’t you? And he wasn’t there. They were all in the other building. You’ve been lied to. You’ve been deceived. Well, get used to it!” I had to admit he had a point. Too bad he was so obnoxious. Annoying and frustrating as the situation was, the church is still true. And as disappointed as the Bonitos were, they were still thrilled to have seen the temple and its surroundings. They of course particularly loved the visitors’ center and the statue of Christ. Doesn’t everyone?

On Sunday we watched the morning session at home, then Robert drove our guests to Bear Lake. Keegan really wanted to go to Idaho so he could say he’d been in 3 states on his trip and President just wanted to see more of Utah. Maxine went along to take more pictures. I had a wonderful visit with Cade and Andi while they were all gone, then after they got back Pat came by for a while. We had another wonderful dinner (stew in bread bowls) and the kids had a great time driving the Jeep around.

Monday morning we left about 5:30 again and arrived home about 7:30. It was a long drive but a good trip. The Bonitos were great travelers.

Today we were pretty slow getting started, but finally got into the day. Shauna Henry came by to get a copy of the list of people bringing food so she could go around and remind everyone. She’s such a find! Motivated, organized, enthused! What a help! Bill Ghormley came to do some maintenance on the trailer. He showed Robert how to change the filter in the new water filter system they installed. Then he worked on the air conditioner, which has been leaking ever since they turned it on. He brought a new chain and lock for the front gate. When we got home we thought someone had stolen the lock on the shed and our snow shovel, which has been sitting on our porch all winter. But we found them both underneath the porch. The mat on our back stairs and the one by the front porch on the church had been rolled up and put on our front porch. Bill said we had some high winds over the weekend and we think the rugs must have been blown around and someone picked them up for us.

This afternoon we went to Show Low to purchase food for the dinner tomorrow. About 5:00 Verbena called and said she has some friends who want to come to the ARP group. They didn’t, but it’s nice to know people are at least starting to ask about it. We had dinner at Captain Ron’s, a fish and chip place in Pinetop, then hurried home. Shauna came over again to get the candy and plastic eggs I bought to fill them for the party tomorrow. Then she and her husband came again with a grill they’d borrowed. Did I mention she’s a blessing? While we were waiting for the ARP people, Irene’s husband, Alvin, came by. We haven’t seen him since the first day we came to CBQ. He was drunk, again, or still. But he’s a sweet guy. I got 3 hugs before he finally left. Says he wants me to teach him to play the piano and Robert said that could happen, but he has to show up sober.

Before we left for Salt Lake we were really down. The visit home was so renewing. Today we felt the joy of the mission again and it was nice. Thanks again to Cade and Andi for orchestrating such a great weekend.