Post #21 - Summer is COMING! (see Older Posts for #19 & #20)

We’ve had a good month here at the Family and Church History Headquarters Mission in Salt Lake City, serving in the Family History Library. 

Last of Spring Tulips in front of the Family History Library

We love working on the B-1 (International) floor of the FHL where we work with many wonderful people, and meet and serve many interesting guests.  Glen (Elder Dolberg) works on his own genealogical research during the “down-time” when he’s not needed to help guests.  

Elder Dolberg Works on our own Family When Possible

We’ve found over 1,000 names to add to our “family tree” while we’ve been here. We love working with the young elders, who are full of life and fun!   

Sister Dolberg with Elders Yowell
& Neville kneeling to let her feel tall

Elders Frederikson & Lichtenstein ready to do cleaning

(At the end of this Post see the gallery of missionary pictures.) 

In addition to the Young Elders, we have about 100 senior missionaries who work just on OUR B-1 floor, some full-time like us, others part-time (2-3 days/week), and some volunteers who just come when they can.  

We also have full-time paid staff members who help us when we need more expert help for our guests.  We admire them as well.  Daniel Jones is especially helpful in the area of German research. 

Daniel Jones is proficient in Dutch & other language areas including German. 
Here he helps Sister Van Wyngaarden with Dutch research & Elder Wurtz with German.

Bonnie loves her “part-time job” directing the Elijah Choir.  Here are some of the fine singers who are part of this 70-member choir of missionaries, both young and “somewhat older.” 

Elders Fredrickson, Jones, & Lichtenstein surround Sister Dolberg before choir practice on a Monday morning 6:10 a.m.

  Note the men in their red ties, and the women wear black skirts and white blouses with a red rose.  Amazingly, it takes Bonnie (Sister Dolberg) two days a week to prepare for the choir’s performances, choosing the music, keeping records, and making sure our large inventory of music is in order.  This is her “Elijah Choir cubicle” where she spends much of her time.  

Sister Dolberg at work in her office in the Jos. Smith Memorial Bldg. 3rd floor

 We were blessed to have a Mother’s Day visit on Sat. May 7, 2016 from our son-in-law David Ellis (husband of our daughter Emilee who passed away 7 years ago), bringing flowers for Bonnie (Sister Dolberg). 

Son-in-law David Ellis brought flowers from him & Emilee on Mother's Day

We enjoyed the visit with David and his two youngest:  Adam (age 5) and Ashley (nearly 2.)  We had such fun playing with them, and were so glad we’d kept the toys from when our own children were young! 

Adam Charles Ellis playing in our Herriman front room while Grandpa (Elder Dolberg) looks on

Ashley Ellis brought smiles & joy to everyone - especially to Grandma Dolberg.

On Sat. May 14, 2016 our monthly “social group” (all the missionaries who started their missions here at the same time we did) had a fabulous dinner put on by Elder and Sister Smith (Roger and Marilyn) who are from Lester, England.  

Sister Marilyn Smith and Elder Roger Smith served a delicious English Dinner.

Elder Smith’s career was as a chef, so we enjoyed his expertise as he prepared cottage pie, a variety of vegetables, and Sister Smith’s English trifle.  

Yummy English Dinner

There were about 20 of us there to enjoy this fabulous meal, and to hear Elder Smith tell a bit about the various “odd” types of foods that the English enjoy!  Steak and kidney pie anyone?

L-R Sister Sorensen, Sister Tippets, Sister Carlson, Elder Sorensen, Elder Carlson, Sister Young, Elder Hatch, Sister Hatch, Elder Young, Elder Steve Seiter, Sister Seiter, Elder Henrichsen

Elder Watanabe, Sister Watanabe, Sister Aromaa, and Elder Aromaa

On the evening of Tues. May 17, 2016 we went to a Utah Symphony Concert that included the “Utah High School All-Stars” as well. This is the fabulous glass sculpture inside Abravanel Concert Hall.  

Elder Dolberg in front of the 15 ft. Glass Sculpture in lobby

The first half of the concert was the Utah Symphony with an amazing 16-year old girl playing a viola solo.  The second half included the symphony members PLUS the award-winning high school students playing beside them, making a HUGE orchestra.

Utah Symphony with Utah High School "All Stars"

On Saturday May 21, 2016 we attended the funeral of June Ferrel, who was just a month shy of 102!  She had been Glen’s high school seminary teacher in 1960-61, and was beloved of all of her students over the years.  She had recently taught the Young Women (teenagers) class in her ward (congregation) in Linden, Utah until just a few days before her passing, from age 98 – 101!  Both Glen and our son-in-law David Ellis’ father Len Ellis had benefitted during their youth in Turlock, California from the example and loving care of both Sis. Ferrel and her late husband Bishop Rex Ferrel. 

David Elllis & Elder Dolberg in front of pictures of Ferrel Fish Farm & Sister Ferrel

David Ellis stands with Glen beside a small picture of Sis. Ferrel and a painting of their Turlock, California home.  (14) We enjoyed visiting with Sis. Ferrel’s two children:  son David and  daughter Rexine Glenn. 

David Ferrel, Former Area Seventy, Rexine Ferrel Glenn, and Elder Dolberg

This past week the ALL of the spring flowers on Temple Square were dug up, and were replaced with new summer plantings.  It’s a huge job, so the “experts” place the plants out, and then wait for “volunteers” (usually youth or young adult groups) to actually do the planting.  

Here the experts place the plants in the area between the Church Administration Building and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

 This is what the flower bed looked like before the planting, and surprisingly these flowers survived being like this over the weekend!  

Soon these newly- planted flower beds will be filled in and beautiful.  

Already the roses are in bloom in front of the Assembly Hall.  

The wildflower perennials are colorful around the log cabin between the Family History Library and the Church History Museum. 

Roses in front of the Assembly Hall

Wild flowers in front of the Long Cabin beside the Family History Library

We hate saying good-bye to our fellow-missionaries whose time is over, such as Sister Krogstrup from Denmark. In just two months it will be OUR turn to go home, at the end of our 18 months.  But until then we are enjoying EVERY MINUTE we are here!

We miss Sister Ane B. Krogstrup who returned to Copenhagen, Denmark this month.

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Here are several scenes & persons serving in the International Services Zone on B-1 of the Family History Library.

This is the classroom on B-1 International Services floor where early morning devotionals are held.

Elders Pratt & Schroeder (a choir member & violinist) have duties in Access Services today.

Elder Robinson & Elder Bess with Sister Dolberg 6:05 a.m. before choir practice

Elder Fairbanks (grandson of famous sculptor) & Elder Bergerud 6:15 a.m. before choir practice

Hallway in back office area of B-1 floor

Sister Johnson, Sister Foulquier, & Sister Van Wyngaarden in breakroom hallway

Elder & Sister Sroka - His area is Polish & Her duty is Trainer - They're fun.

Elder & Sister Fournis from France.  He's famous for his sketches; see the pad & pencil in his hands?

Sister Porrier from France beside one of the B-1 floor display cases

Elders Lichtenstein & Frederickson - affectionately known in the choir as the tenor kings

Sister Alcantara from El Salvador and Sister Axelrod who helps with German research

Sister Rainey helps with German research & Elder Bingham in Spanish

Elder Sypherd, Elder Yowell, and others snack on goodies in the breakroom on B-1 floor

Elder Wheatley, expert in Chinese, and Elder Bingham work today at the Greeter Desk on B-1 floor

Elder & Sister Wurtz - he helps with German research - she, a native of Mexico, with Spanish.

Elders Yowell & Sypherd at the Pager Desk from where the professionals are paged when needed

Sister Holt - 1st Mission -Mission Office Greeter - now 2nd Mission  a hostess on main floor of Family History Library

Sister Krogstrup, Sister Porrier, Sister Paulo, Sister Harmon, Sister Suarez in the breakroom on B-1 floor

Elders Beach, B. Jones, Neville, Burnette, Kitchell, Schroeder, Yowell, A. Jones, & Pratt - choir members or companions of members arriving just at start time 6:20 a.m. for Monday morning practice