Tabernacle Choir

We were way in the Scope Arena but we could see and hear just great.

Alex Boye was magnificent.  And when he started dancing while the choir was singing, the crowd loved him even more!

Announcer for the choir, Lloyd Newell.

Of course you all know the beloved director Mack Wilberg.  Wonderful as always.

We attended the first performance of the Tabernacle Choir tour.  It was in Norfolk, which is in our mission.  What a wonderful performance and delightful night.  There were over 7,000 people in attendance and they obviously appreciated the talent.  They were all on their feet before the end of the final song, Battle Hymn of the Republic.  So we got some encores. 

The next day the choir was in Williamsburg and did a "flash mob" singing of a patriotic song at one of the historical sites.  That would have been fun to see.  You might be able to find it if you look up Deseret News online.

Phase 5

     Today was a great Sunday.  We had 11 soldiers, including 3 non-members.  To open the Priesthood/Relief Society meeting a soldier, who hasn't been active in the church since he was about 13, said the opening prayer.  It was a prayer from the heart - not the memorized routine things that we are used to hearing in our meetings.  He asked for us to have a good meeting and all that, then said, "...and help the soldiers who are on phase 5 to not blow it by making stupid choices - like getting drunk and stuff like that". 
     The soldiers have phases that they attain to have certain privileges.  At one phase they are allowed to wear civilian clothing (jeans/tee shirt) while off duty. Phase 5 is the one which allows them to leave the army post for week-ends or other times.  They have to pass their PT tests (physical training) and other tests associated with their classes in order to advance to these phases.  They can be demoted at any time - by actions of their own, or someone in their class who makes a stupid choice.  They are awakened in the middle of the night for drug tests, locker checks, and other things.  If there is a candy bar in someone's locker, or backpack, they could lose their phase status - or cause the whole group to be punished. They are not allowed to have alcohol at all while they are in AIT training.  But many soldiers who get off post do that anyway.  If they are caught - they get punished - sometimes the whole barracks gets demoted.  You get the picture.
     I wrote notes to several of the soldiers this week inviting them to sign up for the DC/temple trip and basically re-inviting them to church.  I think that at least 4 in attendance today were there because of the notes.  It even appeared that one semi-active member was brought by a non-member!  Good job!!!
The lesson today was on missionary work.  That's tricky to teach knowing that I would be teaching semi-active and non-member soldiers.  It went well though, with help from the Spirit.
     I didn't think we would have many soldiers today because some of our regulars are in FTX (field training exercises) for a couple weeks and it is pretty impossible for them to attend church during that time.  But we had 11 anyway.  A good showing.  It's a good thing I made enough "oven stew" (foil dinner in a pan) for a crowd even though I thought we'd be eating left-overs for a week.  Turned out that there were no left-overs.  Just right.

Semper Fi!

     The other day we got a call from our Military Relations contact in Salt Lake.  He said that there was a wounded marine in the Portsmouth Naval Hospital who had arrived from Afghanistan and needed a blessing.  We thought that the missionaries at Virginia Beach were closer to him, but he said that he had already talked to that couple and they said it was our area.  We were told to get to the wounded marine that evening if possible. We tried calling Elders in that area to go with us, but they didn't answer.  So with permission, we picked up our local full-time Elders and took them with us.  It took over an hour to get there, but we got into the Marine Base, found the hospital, and after a wild goose chase all over the very large hospital, finally found the marine.
     We were expecting an interesting story about being wounded in battle.  It turned out that he was not wounded in an enemy situation, but while doing physical training.  His leg/ankle was badly broken.  They flew him to Germany, then to the United States, for treatment.  It took 8 days to make that whole trip.  He was on Morphine and other pain killers, so was pretty drugged and worn out.  He had a new cast, but was to be evaluated for surgery the next morning.
     I asked if he was a member of The Church and he said that he was the only member in his family, including his wife.  He had told his non-member family that he wanted a blessing, and they contacted Salt Lake, finally ending up with us.  He received the blessing and we visited a few more minutes before we left.  Then we took the Elders to a Chinese buffet.  We had to cancel FHE for the evening but this seemed more important than playing dominoes so that's how it goes!