Our new Mission President

This morning, after getting up for the day, we got close to finishing the cleaning of our new apartment and getting everything put away. We also ensured that everything in our old apartment was out and it cleaned as well. We took the keys back now we are officially in. We completed all this in time to get ready to go to our Zone Conference with our new Mission President, President Cottle. Only one thing is wrong, that is the gas to the apartment appears to be off. So Elder Gowans had a nice cold shower prior to leaving. We made several phone calls with the hope that the problem would be corrected, but as yet, nothing positive has happened. We have had a lot of issues lately with hot water! It seems we are often working out some problem or another.

The Zone Conference was wonderful. We had a nice visit with the Cottles and the new mission staff; the Johnsons and the Sreplines, I believe that is spelled correctly. The Cottles are from Logan; he worked in the Seminary and Institute program of the church, served as a Bishop and Stake President in past callings. He majored in music while in college; don't know if that is what he finally graduated in or not, he didn't say. So for part of his address to us he went through some of the Hymns in the hymn book and we sang and all led the singing together; it was a rather silly time, but everyone seemed to jell together real well, which was, we believe the purpose of the exercise. He came across very human to the missionaries. He addressed us all on the topic of unity and obedience. Sister Cottle addressed us on the topic of love. During the morning session, Elder Gowans ran Elder Sreplines to the store to pick up treats and snacks for lunch. We had a quick chat with him to find out his determination for us if we can continue to attend the South Carolina Columbia Temple with the soldiers, even though it is now outside the mission boundaries. He said that we could continue the monthly tradition as we are in that temple district.

This evening we had another real nice visit with Sister Mathews and her two girls. She has determined to wait for her husband to return home before she gets baptized. She wants it to be a complete family affair, which we don't blame her at all for that good desire. He is getting baptized this weekend; she thought is was last weekend, but it turned out to be this weekend. He should receive the Aaronic priesthood shortly after he is baptized so that when he returns home, he will be able to perform that ordinance.