Erin and Ethan...Where Are You?

Last Thursday was the first real official meal in more than 2 months!  I think I was getting used to not cooking.

And actually, it wasn't a REAL meal, because Anne Marie came up with the menu and prepared a lot of it, and we had 5 YSAs in the kitchen for a couple of hours before doing all kinds of preparation....AND because Erin and Ethan were in the apartment kitchen cutting, chopping, stirring, assembling and generally cooking.

This week...today, was a good dose of reality.  I did all the cutting, chopping, stirring, assembling and general cooking.  Well, most of it.  SK was busy running errands etc, and stepped into the kitchen for awhile to help with chopping basil.  He was invaluable in so many important ways, but I was essentially alone in the kitchen.

I started around 9 a.m. and took a break around 2 to shower and clean up.  We went to the center where all that was left to do was assemble the salad, make the dressing and bake the ziti and set things out.

It was fairly simple from that point on.

I do believe that I will see about getting a couple of YSAs to come early each week just to help with cutting and chopping and assembling.

The difficulty was that in our small kitchen with small pots, and only 4 burners - everything took longer to do.  The stove in the new center is going to be wonderful to use, but it is an induction stove and requires a special type of pan, which we should be getting next week sometime.  In the meantime, the stove is unavailable.

But it was all worth it.  I think the baked ziti was a grand success.  Everyone seemed to love it.  We served sliced French Bread and green salad.  For dessert Nutella cookies....and they were very well recieved.

I think most everyone likes the new center, although it will take some time to get used to being crowded together in that small place.  A lot of people stayed around to visit...no CRUD this evening (it might have had something to do with the fact that the pool table was covered with dishes and food!)

I especially enjoyed a visit with a lovely young woman who has a wonderful testimony and great strength and trust in the Lord.  She has a close family and adores her little niece and nephew.  I can tell by the way she talks that she will be a warm and loving mother someday....and a supportive and caring wife.

I also enjoyed talking to a young friend who is planning a trip to Arizona!...of all places.  She will be with her parents, and they will visit her brother.  She has been there before so the 100 degree weather won't be too much of a shock.

It is so interesting to ponder what lies ahead for these great young people.  So many good things ahead, yet also some experiences that will require great faith and patience.  I have never had greater hope for the future than this last year as I have seen these good YSAs and the young missionaries who serve here.

I think they are unique and uniquely wonderful, but I suspect that they are a part of a great army of incredible people sent to this earth now.

It is a blessing to serve with them in this beautiful land.