Church in Our Branch

We moved into our home on a Saturday afternoon.  Within an hour of arriving, the branch president's wife and two of their children came over to introduce themselves and to invite us to dinner for that evening.  The missionaries were also there for dinner.  (We have four missionaries in our small branch - two for our small town and the neighboring towns, and two for the town at the north end of our branch, 45 minutes away.)  As I mentioned yesterday, she made a delicious chicken and wild rice soup for dinner, and Pioneer Woman's chocolate sheet cake for dessert.  As we left their home that evening, they said, "We hope to see you at church tomorrow!"  Which meant, of course, we had to find church clothes.  I hadn't unpacked a box yet.

I did find church clothes, but I realized that I couldn't find any bath towels.  Luckily (or, unluckily, depending on how you look at it), I found two hand towels, so Sunday morning, Christian and I used hand towels to dry off after our showers.  Yes, it was comical.

Our church building is pretty great.  It is just like an average Utah church, but shrunken down.  The chapel is smaller, the primary room is small, the Relief Society room is small, and there are only a handful of rooms surrounding the chapel. 

One of the first things I noticed was that the same person who gave a talk in sacrament meeting also gave the opening prayer.  Yikes.  (Who, by the way, is also the Elder's Quorum president and who, by the way, is moving in a week and a half.  Double yikes.)

We also learned that there is a six-week cleaning rotation schedule.  As in, they have five families clean the church every Saturday, and your family has to do it every six weeks.  They have already put us on the schedule - we clean it next Saturday.

Next Sunday there is a potluck.  They announced it in passing during sacrament meeting, so when I took Kaitlyn to nursery (and subsequently spent the rest of the two hours there because she wouldn't let me leave her), I learned that it is exactly what it sounds like: everyone brings a main dish and a side dish, and after the three hour block we all gather in the gym to eat.  I don't know how often they do this, but it sounds fun. 

I'm a little sad for Ethan and scouts.  There are three boys just starting scouts, working on their Bobcats.  And there are three Webelos.  And Ethan is right in the middle, all by himself - just got his Wolf, and will be turning nine soon and becoming a Bear.  I'm sad there aren't more boys at his level.  But they have a fully functioning Primary, with around 14 junior primary (ages 3-7) and 20 senior primary (ages 8-11) children.

One other thing Christian and I laughed about - on Monday night, we went to the Stake President's family's house for dinner (he happens to be in our branch).  While we were visiting after dinner and Family Home Evening, their 18 year old daughter remarked, "Wow, we have had so many new people move into our branch that I haven't had to give a sacrament meeting talk in weeks." 

Has it been weeks since you have given a talk in sacrament meeting?  I haven't given one in years.  And, I'm pretty sure that's about to change.

Everyone at church knows us.  They were anticipating us moving in.  Most people have introduced themselves to us.  I think being in a branch is going to be a good thing.  And tiring, and we are going to have to work hard, but it should be good.