Lunch for the Temple Workers

Elder and Sister DeGraffenried, at the counsel from Brother Brent Roberts, hosted a luncheon for all of the workers at the temple last Thursday.

Sister D. and Mark went to Publix and got all of the food.  We had been able to borrow a large BBQ grill, and Dave Griffiths of Zwick Construction did all of the cooking.  Sister D had enlisted the help of some of the sisters from her Davie Ward, and Mark called President Anderson and asked if we could borrow four Spanish speaking missionaries to serve and help out.  He obliged.  So many of our workers speak limited English, we wanted someone who could communicate with them; not to proselytize, but just to serve and help where needed.  This is a way for us to thank everyone for all of their hard work.

We were all very grateful for the tarp that was put up over the food.  It was hot!  Sweat ran down my back and wearing the serving gloves made my hands sweat like I'd put them under running water.  I can't imagine how miserable we would have all been had we been working in the sun.  So thank you so much Kevin of KHS&S.  He and his workers put the tarp up for us.  He is just an awesome- all around-good guy.  I hear good things about him from Mark all the time.

All in all, I thought the luncheon was a great success.  Probably between the temple workers and those who helped out, we served around 90 people. Everyone seemed happy and appreciative. This is something we are planning to continue, perhaps the next one will be around the end of summer.

We had hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, cookies, pop (non-caffeinated) and watermelon.  The watermelon especially was so sweet and delicious!

I'm so glad we did this!  It was a privilege to come serve.

Kevin, (in the bandana) is the foreman for the drywallers.  He and his men set up the tarp to cover our food area.  It was something he did as a kindness and it was so appreciated.  He's just that kind of guy!  It was quite hot, so this helped so much!

Our cook, Dave Griffiths from Zwick Construction.  Also a great guy!

Our missionary helpers

We were busy!

I was eating an giant olive.

You can see Mark and Elder D in the background.

Our Next Temple

Well, we have been asked to do another temple.  And the next temple is...(drum roll please!)

CEDAR CITY!!

I was surprised, but it actually makes perfect sense.  Where we have lived and worked there for eighteen years, Mark knows so many people.  He was very excited to be going back and being with people he has known and enjoyed and loved working with.  It will be a wonderful project for him.

We will not, however, be moving back to Cedar City.  We will live in our home in Salt Lake and Mark will work out of the Church Office Building and drive down to Cedar when he needs to.  He will also be over other projects too, so we will be centrally located and he will be traveling to the different projects that he is assigned to.  It will be exciting and to see what else he will be asked to do.  I'm so happy for him.

As for me, moving back to Salt Lake means being close to kids and grand kids, being able, once again, to be involved in their lives, helping out when I'm needed, attending activities, having family get-togethers and seeing our parents and siblings more often.  I'm okay with that. 

However, knowing that there is a possibility that we may never again go to a site, I have been especially grateful for this opportunity we've had to be in South Florida.  It is an experience that I will always remember and treasure.  It's difficult to express the joy I've had being here, the wonderful people we've met and grown to love, the beautiful scenery.  I've loved being on this side of the country, experiencing the different cultures and flavors of this place.  Have there been any challenges?  Of course there has!  I think I've missed the family more than I thought I would, and I've come to realize that I need exercise and sunshine to stay emotionally healthy.  Most of my struggles have naturally been self-inflicted and I've been able to work through them.  The good and the growth Mark and I have both experienced definitely over rides any negatives there has been.  I just feel so lucky, so blessed to have had this experience and I wouldn't trade any of it for anything. 

Visitors

Bill Smith, who is directly over Mark flew out in February to see how the progress was going on the temple.  We had him over to our home for dinner along with Elder and Sister DeGraffenried, and two of the project managers here from Utah working for Zwick Construction.  It was a lovely evening.  Bill is a great man, with such a great spirit.  I was helping Sister DeGraffenried at the temple site the next day and Bill came in to talk to us.  He reminded us of the importance of putting God first in our lives and when we do those things that aren't important would drop away.  I felt the Spirit so strongly.  It reminds me that these men who are over this great work are great spiritual men, who have proven themselves to the Lord in other ways, besides their construction abilities.

Bill was pleased with the way things are going on the temple site.  Mark has been essentially left alone to take care of everything concerning this job.  Anyone who knows Mark, knows that he is a self-starter and when he has a job to do he does it.  Of course there have been some challenges, but he just works through them.

Bill Smith and Mark

Bishop Dean Davies from the Presiding Bishopric visited the temple site on Saturday, May 4th.  It was to be a low-key visit, so not many knew about it.  He had driven down from Orlando with his assistant executive secretary, Dave McMillan. Tony Burns, who was recently released as the area authority was also invited to tour the temple with Bishop Davies.  Elder Burns has been instrumental in getting a temple here in South Florida.  The protocol has been that no one is allowed onto the temple site unless they are approved from Salt Lake.  Elder Burns has honored that protocol, so I'm sure he was thrilled to be invited to tour the site with Bishop Davies.

Everyone worked hard to clean everything up as much as possible (it is a construction site after all).  Bishop Davies was "very pleased" with their visit.  Before he left he gave Mark a special blessing.  He came home so happy.

Bishop Dean Davies and Mark

 Last week Cory Karl, who is Mark's boss and Brent Roberts, who is over the Special Projects Department (which includes temples), came out from Salt Lake to tour the temple site.  We met them for dinner Wednesday evening at Carraba's along with Elder and Sister DeGraffenried.  I had already met Cory from the interviews we had with them before we came here, but Brent is new to me.  He's a big burly guy.  They are both great men and they were also very pleased with how things are going at the temple.  Mark received some great priesthood counsel and some ideas on how members can become involved in their temple.  Loved it!

Cory Karl, Brent Roberts, Mark, President and Sister Anderson

Everyone has worked so hard to make this temple as beautiful as possible.  Mark always goes the extra mile when he does a job.  He has proved that he is more than capable.  We found out a couple of months ago that Mark has been hired on permanently full time with the Church, so we don't have to worry if there will be another temple for us to do.  I'm so proud of him, and so grateful to the Lord for blessing us in this tremendous way.