Roosevelt Ramp

Last night I spoke to Relief Society sisters from the Roosevelt, UT stake. We drove 174 miles (one way) through many canyons, across bridges and rivers, past lakes, and through deserts. We went through a box of granola bars, a package of Pepperidge Farm goldfish crackers, two liters of water and 4 CDs...

and it was all worth it when I saw THIS:


Yes, you are looking at the first ever custom-built stage, complete with code-meeting ramp. The wood was freshly cut and it smelled like, well, freshly cut wood. The freshly-cut wood smell of awesomeness.

I was able to be close to the sisters and still high enough so that I could see them all. I wish I could have packed it into my car and driven it the 174 miles home with me.

San Mateo

I spoke in San Mateo, CA last weekend for a couple of Tongan singles wards. It was awesome. We flew in Friday and saw some sights and went to China town to get some Chinese candy for my seminary class (which took FOREVER to find!).

On Saturday we went to Muir Woods National Monument and saw some baby redwood trees. Enormous. Seriously huge. I even rolled inside one with a hollowed out trunk. It was crazy.

We were going to pay the $5 to get in, but as Whit handed the lady our money, I saw a wheelchair symbol next to the words “Interagency Pass – Free.” As I sat in my wheelchair, barely able to see over the counter, I spoke with the lady. Our conversation went like this:

Me: What’s an “Interagency Pass”
Lady (leaning over the counter to look down to me): If you have a permanent disability, then you and whoever is in your car can get into national parks for free.
Me: I have one of those.
Lady (looking skeptical): Is it permanent?

And we got in free!

We also went to the Oakland Temple. There was a huge parking lot and it was FULL - even though it was raining. I asked a temple worker inside if it was always so busy and she said that this was a slow day. She blamed it on the rain.

On Sunday we went to a dinner with some leaders from the Tongan ward. It was decorated so beautifully! The table was round and had a beautiful skirt on it and the plates were blue and green and yellow and all mixed and matched. We were served Tongan foods that I’ve never even heard of and I loved every bite. We had: Egg Potato salad (sounds normal, but very different), spinach and meat stuff that was super good, sweet potatoes (my mouth is watering when I think of them), some steaks, a chicken and rice noodle mixture with vegetables, some red punch, and some official Tongan drink that had coconut milk with apple shreds, peaches, and coconut flakes (freshly grated).

I was so full!

Whit and I were sitting up on the stand, but before we spoke, the two wards each sang a song. The first ward sang “Come Thou Fount” and the second ward sang “I Believe in Christ” – my favorite! Their music was so beautiful; I really haven’t ever heard a choir sing like that before. After our talks there was a dessert table with all kinds of treats – I had pineapple pie. And pictures!