VICTOR MADE BISHOP OF THE MONTEBELLO WARD - LV NEVADA CENTRAL STAKE

Exec Sec Jaime Gonzalez, 1st Couns. Marcos Paez, Obispo Austin, 2nd Cons. Gervacio Garcia

    

August 29, 2010 - 2:30 p.m. more or less Victor became the new Bishop of the Spanish-speaking Ward in our stake.  Bishop Sanchez had been in for nearly 6 years.    Have we been called on a mission for which there is no end?   While we waited for everyone to assemble that would be there for the ordination and setting apart Karl Brunner told me that they were changing our membership as we spoke.  
     Victor was called on July 25th during the 24 hour period that we were home from our various Utah/Idaho activities.  So there has been lots of time to ask every question, ponder all the what-ifs, feel the excitement, the loss, the sense of change that has been in the air for some months already.  We had run through EVERY possible calling that a Stake President might issue.  But BISHOP was not anywhere near the horizon of our thoughts!
     There ought to be a blessing for Bishop's wives too.   I have had such a myriad of feelings.  I'm sure Victor has too; he just isn't the one creating the blog post!  Early on I felt that I saw lonely hours in my future.  He will be VERY busy.   And because the Montebello Ward meets at the same time as Beverly Glen I won't be able to attend our home ward and keep a toe in.   That felt very sad to me.   Yet, the same weekend that Victor's mind was racing with lists, questions, to-do's I also made my list:   Things to stay busy with while Victor is gone.    That shouldn't be hard!   I have a whole huge house that needs deep cleaning and upgrading.  We have a cabin that will need to be visited by me...in the absence of his being able be up here as much...and I have 8,000 genealogy projects.....all that in addition to serving in the new ward in whatever capacity my husband feels is dictated.    Sigh!
     In Sacrament Meeting there was a great hush when he was announced.  I am sure they were all as surprised as we were that a gringo - an outsider - was called.   When we each took our turn bearing testimony I felt like they relaxed.  Becky said she felt like that too.   I attribute it to the fact that we both speak Spanish well (Victor speaks it VERY well).  I think they also relaxed when I pointed out to them that the three adorable grandchildren there that day with us (Aly, Audrey and Ethan) all have hispanic heritage!They could see we were anxious to serve and to get to know them. 
      It will be a crazy first few weeks.  But I have seen great changes in Victor already - even BEFORE the ordination.  He has risen in every way to meet this challenge.  He loves Church administration.  He is fair, not easily perturbed, never angry....and his whole life has led him to this moment.  And I hope MY experiences have led me to be a good, supportive, loving wife.

Rachael & Daniel Lippmann (& baby Jacob) came as well as Becky and her family and Peter and his family.  Nathan and Colleen and girls in Twin Falls were there in spirit.

Victor asked all his former Bishops to stand in the circle.  Gary Lewis, Karl Brunner, Scott Seastrand, Doug Seastrand.  Bishop Hanks was invited but he must have forgotten because he wasn't there.

Victor has had a lot of razzing by everyone that now he had to return to conservative suits and white shirts as well as shave the facial hair.   He just looks like that cool missionary companion I had down in Chile!

Hmm.  Does anyone think that Aly is taking after her father???

It was a great pleasure to reassure the congregation that I love Latinos and point out that three of my six grandchildren have Mexican/Spanish heritage.  I think they like hearing that!