Office Exchange

Elder and Sister Servoss (Kent and Kae) who are serving as an office couple in the New York Rochester Mission, just north of us, came to spend a couple of days with us in our office.  It turned out to be a mutually beneficial exchange.  What we learned is that probably no two mission offices work the same and we each learned good things from the other.   Most of all, it was just good to spend some time with them.

      

We took them down town Pittsburgh and showed them the city.  Of course, we started with the PNC Park where the Pirates play and Heinz stadium where the Steelers play.  The old stadium used to be called the Three Rivers Stadium because it is where the Monongahela and the Allegheny Rivers converge to form the Ohio River.

                                                                                                      

  

We all learned about the PPG Place.  It’s a beautiful complex of 6 buildings covering 6 city blocks covered with nearly 1 million sq. ft. of clear reflective glass.  It’s called the  crown jewel of Pittsburgh.  From a distance the top reminds you of the Salt Lake Temple.

We then drove to another landmark of Pittsburgh, the Cathedral of Learning on University of Pittsburgh Campus and the Heinz Chapel near it.  The real treat was getting to play the beautiful organ with it’s 4200 pipes in the chapel.

     

Kent and Kae were able to go to our stake conference meetings with us and have now been able to experience both of our areas with us.  We appreciate their sacrifice to come see spend time with us.

                                     

What missionary work is all about

         

We have had the opportunity to be involved with the teaching and baptism of Jonathan Foster since we moved to Pittsburgh 2nd Ward. He and Elder Green hit it off very well.  Elders Huber and Jex did most of the teaching.  Dr. Campbell and family were the member family who introduced Jon to the gospel and have friended him through the process.  Jon asked Rod to speak on the Holy Ghost at his baptism.  He’s a wonderful young man and is on fire about the Gospel.

                                    

Transfers were this week and Rod and I had our first experience helping with that.  We had 14 new elders arrive and we had the opportunity to teach them about mission cars, phones, safety, reports, correspondence, supplies, contact information, addresses, etc.,etc. Elder Huber had to be in training meeting so I had to wing it by myself.  We learned a lot and hopefully will get better as we go.

We know that what we are doing in the office is essential to the running of the mission, but not quite as fun as working with and teaching people about the gospel every day.