Halifax Temple

     We LOVE having a temple so close. That's something we really missed when we were in Russia. This is a fairly small temple and there are only 8 sessions scheduled each week, but we've been able to attend almost weekly except during closings. We usually shoot for the 6:00 pm Friday session because that's generally the smallest one, usually in the range of 12-20 people. One week it was 4! We've always been needed in the circle.

     Many temples have guest housing to make it easier for out-of-town patrons to attend, but Halifax doesn't have (or generally need) that. Last week was an exception. Once a quarter they have two sessions in French--the last one on Friday night and the first on Saturday morning. Of course anyone can attend, but non-French speakers have to wear headsets. We don't know if they're always so well attended, but this one was. Since most of the French speakers live in other areas, finding housing for all of them was a bit of an issue. Some of them stayed overnight with local members, some drove back home Friday night because a big storm was forecast for the area Saturday morning, the mission home beds were all in use, and some stayed in an apartment that we've been gearing up for. Friday night was the "maiden voyage" for it.

The outside door with the key box.

     At this stage the apartment is a bit of an experiment. We've been involved in getting it set up, but we're hoping it will be self-sustaining and used often, especially by people traveling great distances, like flying over from Newfoundland. The last few months we've been very busy with it, what with talking over various scenarios with many people, drawing up maps, rules, letters to unit leaders, and in getting it in a condition that it can mostly run itself if people abide by the rules.

     There's a lock box on the door and the only people who are supposed to be using the apartment know the code, which will be changed as needed. They let themselves in, make up the beds either with their own sheets, or if they use one of the sets in the apartment, they must do laundry while they're there.

     There have already been several requests to use the apartment, and we're not sure if the bishops or branch or stake presidents have even gotten the letter yet announcing it. We think word has just leaked out. Some of the rules of the apartment are that the people staying there must be attending the temple (so our kids can't stay there when they come to visit for a week--rats), that there may be others staying in the apartment--five beds and one bathroom (but hey, it's a free hotel), and they must clean up after themselves. In the rules it explicitly states the apartment isn't like baseball--one strike and you're out if you don't leave it clean.

A nice living room/dining room

     We were part of the team to organize and set it up; now it's up to the members who stay there to keep it clean and running. It will be interesting to see how well that goes.

There are two bedrooms, one with two twin beds, one with a queen and a twin.

Small but well-stocked kitchen

The Pratts found a cute--and very appropriate--plaque to put in the kitchen that says
BED AND BREAKFAST
you make both  

VOILA, mini housing for a small temple! It was fun to be a part of getting it up and running.

We love to see the Temple!