We have had the opportunity to spend time with new friends and I have had the opportunity to prepare farewell gifts for people here. Erik and I have built a life with everyone that we work and serve with.

We absolutely loved attending Rochester 5th Branch and being part of the Latino culture. While it was a challenge for Erik and sometimes myself, I love the members and missionaries from our little Spanish Branch. For six weeks we had the opportunity to attend Auburn Ward and also have had the opportunity to love and associate with wonderful members there. What a joy to make eternal friends!

Being in the temple nearly every day, also gave us the opportunity to love our fellow workers as well as the regular patrons who faithfully come to the temple each week. There is a quartet of ladies who come from the Fayette Ward each week and I simply adore them. As time went on, I was able to learn more of the personal side of their lives as with other patrons.

This past week, I had an incredible tender mercy. Over a year ago a new patron came to the temple shortly after her baptism. She is the same height as me and I got to hear some of her story on her first day in the temple. This dear lady was from Japan. Her mother died when this lady was only seven years old. Last year, her mother came to her in a dream and showed her a building where everyone was dressed in white and there was a “pool” in the building. She was amazed as she entered the baptistry and saw the font. Everything was just like her dream. Her mother was telling her to come to this building and she needed her daughter to do work for her. That day she was proxy baptized for her mother.

Each time this dear lady came to the temple over the past year, I happened to see her. She was always happy to see me and we would embrace and excitedly have a quick chat. This past week she came to receive her own endowment. The way the day went, I was able to be with her throughout her time in the temple. I told her that her mother is very proud of her. We both shed tears of gratitude and thankfulness. She asked me to come and have a photo with her. I will forever have her in my heart.

This past Saturday was our last double shift in the temple and I just wanted to sing the Hallelujah chorus! My hip flexors were mighty sore after doing a double shift on hard marble floors. I would come home each week and put my feet up and just relax for a few minutes. The new missionaries are concerned about working a double but they will get eased into it and need to prepare for the busy summer ahead.

We are cleaning cupboards and I have been creating protein balls and bark for our road trip as well as using up food stuff. I will never forget, Elder Parker telling me, “Sister Naglis, you aren’t supposed to have a year’s supply of food on your mission!” Once an emergency prepper; always an emergency prepper.

Erik and I were assigned to give talks in Sacrament meeting and I was struggling to write anything down. I was exhausted and yet, I knew that God would give me the words to say. It is always a joy to stand before a congregation and look into their eyes and speak. Our topics were about having our hearts turned to Christ. I shared three scriptures:

Ephesians 3: 17-19

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Helaman 3:35

35 Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in their faith in Christ, until the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even unto the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.

Colossians 3:1-2

1. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Even though we were only a short time in the Auburn Ward, we love the members and worshipping with them. I had an interactive moment during my talk when a sister in the congregation wanted to confirm what chapter and verse one of the scriptures were so that she could mark them in her phone app.

Erik and I walked this past week to the ponds beside the Erie Canal. He photographed turtles there. We saw one little turtle but they are very skittish and it darted into the water when it heard us coming. Erik says the bigger turtles are braver and stay put.

We went with Allred’s to a new-to-us restaurant in Geneva called Kitchen Fare. The food was delightful and the company even more so.

Sorting and packing are the name of the game this coming week. I finished my projects and they are ready for gifting.

First of all, I’m grateful that my best friend is my husband. We enjoy each other’s company and it’s a joy to be in his presence. Secondly, I’m grateful for our friends who we know that we can rely on and be a support to each other. Thirdly and maybe this should be most important is knowing that Christ is my friend and my exemplar on how to be a friend and treat others kindly.

Remember, dear friends, Jesus still wants us for a sunbeam!