Ora Carpenter Omerza journal March 4-9, 1981

4 March 1891

Went to see the bishop this evening. He asked me to serve as a ward missionary for six months. What a challenge. I’m not quite sure what all I will be expected to do I hope I will be able to fulfill it. I’m afraid I’ve never been a very good missionary.

5 March 1981

Thursday again and my Library day. l spent the morning shopping. As Gladys Beals and l left to go to the Library it started to rain. It is a ten mile drive and by the time we got to the Library it was coming down in sheets. It only rained that hard a short time and then quit. The work at the Library was slow No one wanted to come out in the rain I guess. It started to rain again just before we left the Library and rained all the way home.


6 March 1981

Woke up to sunshine this morning. I was glad because Bertha is coming today to spend the weekend. She came about three o’clock. She brought a friend Nessie Berdino with her. Nessie had some friends serving as missionaries to the Maricopa Indians We drove out to see them. She had a good visit with her friends and Bertha and I sat in the car for awhile and visited.

7 March 1981

I went to the Temple this morning with Bertha and Nessie. This being Saturday it was wedding day. The Temple was full with beautiful brides and grooms and their families. We had a good session then and had lunch in the Temple cafeteria and then went to the new visitors center. It’s a beautiful building. We took the tour. It was a wonderful experience As you enter the front door there is a ten foot statue of “The Christus” very impressive. The paintings and the mannequins are so realistic, especially the mannequin of the prophet Mormon. He is so lifelike its hard to tell he isn’t real. His eyes and face and lips move to the words he speaks. It is all very beautiful and informative. After we left the visitors center we went to see Florence. Since it was Uncle John Carpenter’s 97th birthday, Florence suggested we go to Chandler to see him which we did. He is very spry and alert and in good health except for a little arthritis. He looks about 75. We had a good visit with him and Lenore. We took Florence home and then came on home. We went out for Mexican food. It had been a full day and a very enjoyable one.

8 March 1981

Today is Sunday. We went to our meetings. I was sustained as ward missionary and after the meetings was set apart. The Bishop gave me a wonderful blessing. I hope I will be able to live up to it. One thing he said that I would have alertness of mind. That I need so much. We spent the afternoon relaxing.

9 March 1981

Bertha and Nessie left for Thatcher this morning. I enjoyed their visit so much.