Real Men Don't Eat Pasta Salad!

Actually, they do....but I just couldn't resist that title.

We had a good number of YSAs for dinner this evening...nearly 35, but I don't think we fed over 30.  This is the first time yet, that we overestimated how much food we would need....by a ton!  It may have been partly that people were going other places after Institute or that they ate before they came and weren't that hungry.  We ended up sending cooked hot dogs and pasta salad and cookies home with several...which is fine.  Very few of the young men ate more than one hot dog!...isn't that unusual?

It was a great evening....and the salad we brought home will be good for the branch outing tomorrow.  We are supposed to bring a side dish to share, and ours is already.

Earlier in the day we went to the district meeting held in the church a few blocks from the center. With our Danish class, we have been unable to attend until this week.
There were three sets of elders and one set of sisters.  The meeting lasted one and a half hours.  If you have someone special who is a young missionary, you must know that they are remarkable.  From the opening remarks to the introductions to the rousing rendition of "Called to Serve" in Danish (without accompaniment) at the end of the meeting, I was struck with not only how seriously they all take their missions, but also how much they love them.

After the opening hymn and prayer, they stood and recited D&C 4 in Danish, and then followed that up with their mission statement.  The district leaders taught from "Preach My Gospel," the "Missionary Handbook," and the scriptures.  They checked on how goals are coming, and encouraged everyone to set new goals.  They asked for a commitment to work towards the goals.

One of the APs made a comment about always being tired.  I know that is true.  Both Derek and Lia came home tired...so weary.  I have heard many say that by the end of their missions they were exhausted.

I looked at all those young people and realized they probably are all tired.  They work hard and they obey the rules.  They knock doors, they speak to people on the streets, they strike up conversations on trains and buses.  They give service hours laboring physically for people who are in need of help.  They really are good.  

So now I am trying to memorize section 4 of the D&C...in Danish!  I think attending their meetings is going to be wonderful......but we will have to stretch to keep up with these great young missionaries.