Elder Carston Mark Calder

This last weekend we had baptismal services for a few people. It was interesting to see how much really goes into planning and setting up for a baptism. There are so many things to consider, like who's going to bring food, who's going to set up the chairs, who's going to give the talks, who's going to witness, getting jumpsuits that fit right etc. I'm definitely a lot more appreciative of all the work that goes into church functions like that, now that I'm one of the people that has to do it.  Did you know that it takes over an hour and a half to fill a baptismal font? And that someone has to watch it at all times to ensure the temperature stays warm and that no kids find it and get into some shenanigans (read: drown)? I sure didn't.  Still, good problems to have. I can't complain too much, which is a bit of a problem since you all know how much I like complaining. I'll have to think of more things that are terrible about our friends being baptized s...

  The whole Phoenix metropolitan area is recovering from the New Year's Eve festivities last night. A ghostly pall has fallen over the Valley of Sun. The horizon is murky, the heavens a dull uniform brown-gray. The streets are empty, the air quiet. There is hardly a gust of wind to tease the corners of a flag. An omnipresent sheet of fog blankets the ground, full of the acrid taste of burnt gunpowder. Millions of people lay in their beds, on friends' couches, and slumped in the streets, nursing hangovers and sleeping in. The whole city is resting, and the air is quiet.  - - - We had transfers last Thursday. Our area, Windrose Park-Apache Park, was dismantled and split between some sisters in the Peoria Stake and the Sun City/Union Hills YSA Elders. Elder Johnson was sent off to Paradise Valley, his new companion is my friend Elder Schoon which is pretty neat. I'm sure they'll do well together.  Elder Hill stayed in Sun City/Union Hills area (now with the addition of Apa...