Ummmmmmmmmmmmm ... my mind just went blank ... which seems to happen every time I start a new email to the family. Therefore forgive me for having such short emails. One of these days, I'll remember to make a sticky note of things to write home to my family.
This last week, the biggest event was the "Savior of the World" performance that the Orlando South Stake put on these last two weekends. It was at the Windermere Chapel, right across the street from the Orlando Temple. Sis. Homer and I had volunteered to interpret for anyone interested, hoping to have a good turnout of people. We had a total of three members attend, plus some interpreters and their families. Friday and Saturday we were able to interpret the full two and a half hour long performance. What I find funny was that I first thought "Savior of the World" was a short musical presentation, not an actual theatrical event. I knew the conference center did a huge "Savior of the World" performance but the Orlando South Stake Center is a normal size chapel, not capable of performances - or so I thought. They turned the cultural hall into a theatre, and it looked really nice! I wish we had taken pictures! So, we learned the day before we were planned to interpret that it wasn't only music, but it had a full script with multiple characters interacting with each other. Sis. Homer and I had fun team interpreting to each other, changing roles, and trying to clearly present this production to our members. It was so much fun! The best part was signing in unison with the choir numbers. We'd try to feed off each other to sign the same way at the same time. I'm not sure how much the members really understood, but they felt the spirit nonetheless, and that's the most important part!
This last Saturday, we had an amazing experience at the Hunter's Creek Ward Picnic! At least ten of our members and investigators who are Deaf were able to attend, and we all sat together talking and joking around. We had the picnic at Moss Park, which is a great place for parties, reunions, activities, everything - especially because it's right in between two huge lakes. Near the end of the picnic, Bishop brought out squirt guns for everyone, and a water war started between the members. And of course with coolers full of ice water sitting around and everyone having a water bottle and squirt guns, many people got soaked! It was so much fun! Our members want to do that more often to help gather their friends together and come to activities.
Also, we are starting our ASL classes in Hunter's Creek. We will officially begin this week, but last week, a family with four little girls came to learn from us; so we taught them how to pray in sign language. We look forward to seeing how many people come to learn and see what will grow with our ward becoming even more unified in language, culture, and spirit. This work is going great! We truly love it! We are excited to see what new miracles the Lord will show to us this next week.
My emailing time has come to a close, so lots of love from Orlando 'til next time!
‘Make no small plans: They have no magic to stir man’s souls.’ This is the vision I have for the South. I believe that one day the South will baptize more people into the church than all other English speaking missions in the world together. There are great hosts of marvelous Baptists, and members of the church of Christ, Methodists and Catholics who are honorable people, and have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and love him. As they see their church veering off to the right or to the left of these basic teachings, they will begin to search for the truth. And as pivotal teachers come into the church and have influence, we will see the time when we baptize hundreds and thousands, tens of thousands. In your day you will see a million members of the church in the South. There will be Temples plural in the Southern States. What a great call you have to serve with these marvelous people. ~Spencer W Kimball (1974)
