Preparing for Transfers - Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009

We woke up to an upsetting email from Melissa about her sister-in-law whose name is also Melissa. So there are two Melissa Lawrences in that family. Her sister-in-law has become critically ill and was life flighted to the University Hospital with extreme pain which could be from her gall bladder, but her blood pressure is out of whack, her kidneys have shut down, she has extreme pneumonia and is on a respirator. They are trying to get her stabilized in order to operate on her gall bladder, I think. Anyway, she is in rough shape and has three small children, two of which are twins and one twin is autistic. They need their mother. I have been upset all day about it.

When we arrived at the office, Elders Henderson and Quinteros were there with our office elders switching back to their regular companions as they had been on exchanges since yesterday. Elder Henderson wanted a group photo with us in it so, of course, we got our camera perched for a shot too.

Elders Quinteros, Paz, Henderson (our District Leader), Coria, Sister Kroff and Elder Kroff smile for the camera. Elder Quinteros is caught with his tongue out. Hope he was just licking his lips.

We knew the morning would be a busy one because President Argyle was coming at 10:00 to hold our transfer meeting. We go over the agenda for the fireside that is held next Sunday at 5:00 where the missionaries each bear their testimony and greet their converts for a final goodbye. We always attend that meeting, and it is special. But when "God Be With You" is sung for the closing song, it becomes quite emotional. Especially if missionaries are going home that we have become close to. It is always hard for the Argyles because it is like their family is leaving.

Then we discuss the agenda for Tuesday when the new missionaries arrive, and Wednesday when the departing missionaries leave. This transfer we have a missionary leaving that is from Tooele. His name is Elder Crane. We didn't know him before we came to Argentina and have not seen him very much during our nine months here because he has always been working in zones that are far away from the mission office. When we first came in March and were included in a tour of the mission where a member of the Quorum of Seventy spoke to the missonaries, he came right up to greet us. He knew who we were and that we were from Tooele. I wish we would have had the opportunity to see him more and get to know him better.

We also discussed in our meeting this morning how to get Christmas mail delivered timely. President Argyle is concerned about anyone who doesn't get a package from home. It is mainly the Latins that don't receive anything for Christmas. I should have made a log of the mail received and delivered during the November conferences. That's when a ton of packages were disbursed. Rich and I are going to get a couple things together for Elders Paz and Coria since we work with them, but the President wants me to take note of who doesn't receive anything and then Rich and I are to go to WalMart and buy a few things for each one and put a small package together for them and put it in with the supplies and mail delivered to their zone conference this month. Depending on the number, this could be quite a project. Easier said than done, and we don't have much time.

Over in the church the Young Women from the Virreyes branch were meeting to make some Christmas decorations for a ward party that they are having on December 19. Our office elders work in that area and attend the branch and have invited us to come to the party. We will put that on our calendar.

This is the Young Women's President. She is a faithful member and attends all the baptisms and is good at fellow-shipping. We need more like her.

This afternoon I started entering my order for supplies. Since I am a little late in getting it together due to all the other things that took priority, I should be in a state of panic. However, the last couple of times I placed an order, it came within four or five days. I am planning on that happening again. If it doesn't I could be in big trouble.

Since Elder Doyle posted a picture of his organized "financial records closet" on their blog from Switzerland, Elder Kroff wanted to show how his financial records are stored. Ours are in boxes in the attic above our office. He especially likes the box of finanzas 1999 on the end. Entry to this area is by a stationary ladder.

Also in this area are the pillows, blankets, mattresses, and some luggage left behind belonging to those missionaries that are serving in the South.

Our walk home at 6:00 was in warmer weather than we have had the past few days. That cool breeze had died down and it was really quite pleasant.