Day 6 Thoughts

Today was full with starkly contrasting activities.  We started the morning with breakfast on the bus as we drove back to Washington to visit the Capitol.  We heard 3 boy's presentations.  These are going very well, with boys usually giving their presentations without notes, even if they have them.  Bro. Tagge is getting the boys engaged with candies for correct answers to questions.  We've even caught some boys taking notes!

The Capitol Tour was simple, but the treasures there are amazing.  The boys got to see the paintings and statuary in the Capitol building, including the Brigham Young and Philo T. Farnsworth statues.  Our tour guide was well informed, and the boys enjoyed her presentation heard through individual headsets.

I was impressed again with the physically present proofs that the experiment of Freedom is working.

The boys got some funds and free time for lunch to find a place on Pennsylvania avenue near the Capitol.  They are getting much better at buddying up, following instructions and returning to a specific location on time.  Bryan and I had a fun discussion with a dozen of the boys at a delicious burger joint, "Good Stuff".  We began laughing about old times, and one by one the boys gathered.  When it was time to return to the bus we had 20 boys around us who were there just because they were enjoying the stories and laughter.  They began to join in the story telling, and a nice feeling was present in the group.

It reminded me of the old saying that when a new team forms, they go through four phases, "Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing."  I believe we have gone through the team forming phase, and through most of the early conflict or Storming phase.  Now we are beginning to see behaviors like that mentioned above where the boys start interacting together really well, and become efficient at working together.

After gathering and getting on the bus, we visited Fort McHenry and watched a brief but very well done presentation on the history of the naval battle at that fort outside of Baltimore, and the creation of the poem that became our national anthem.  It ended with the movie screen raising to expose a view of the 15 star and 15 stripe banner blowing in the breeze over the fort as a men's choir sang the Star Spangled Banner.  Tourists in the room with us witnessed scouts from at least 6 troops standing and saluting the flag spontaneously; very moving.

The next activity was the Orioles vs. Blue Jays game at Camden Yard.  It was hot at the beginning, but we were sitting in the shade, and it cooled off as the game progressed.  It was actually a fun game to watch, but the boys seemed to enjoy most being in such a large stadium, and spending their $15 stipend on stadium food.

On the way back, we stopped at a laundromat that was just closing.  All 40 of us did our laundry in about an hour.  I think the owner was astounded at the sight.  He was just about to close the shop when we walked in.  As he watched the boys work, he seemed more and more impressed.  Soon enough he donated a box of fabric softener sheets as a thank you for the business.  One of the boys went to buy a chocolate milk next door and the owner made a deal with him, free chocolate milk if he would hand a menu of his restaurant to all his friends.  Moms, you would have fallen over flat to see all 36 boys sorting, starting the machines, placing wet clothes in dryers, folding their own laundry and....taking it to their rooms when we got home!  What on earth?!?!

On the way back to the hotel, BISHOP Tagge prepared the boys for the reverent experience they will have tomorrow morning at Arlington and at a local Sacrament meeting we will attend at 1:00 PM.   The Spirit was felt strongly by all as he talked about zero tolerance for irreverent behaviour on one hand, and on the blessings of reverence and spiritual preparation on the other.  All the boys were reverent, and all four "Preach My Gospel" sessions tonight were fabulous.  In my troop, the boys discussed ways they could share more Book of Mormons, asked really great gospel questions, and talked about the ways they are going to prepare better for their missions.  It was a wonderful spiritual experience.  They will all be fantastic missionaries for the Lord.  I am grateful to be here with my good friends, Bryan, Aaron and Dave as we watch the Lord give these boys some marvelous experiences.

I have appreciated all the feedback I've received on the blog.  Please don't be shy to tell me what I can do better, or what you'd like to see or know about.  I hope all those who want to connect to the Blog and Facebook page have been able to do so.  If you're an expert, will you please reach out to see if anyone needs help?  Thanks!