Change in "P" Day -Monday, Feb.1, 2010

We were so excited to have a cool nights sleep last night. We couldn't believe it!! The humidity was down and the clouds and rain showers yesterday made for a lovely evening. We even slept with the sheet over us. It was great, and a welcomed change. However . . . tonight is business as usual. We already have the fan blowing in our bedroom to try to cool things down a bit.

I knew what I had to start on when I got to the office. I needed to call Dr. Petersen about medicine for migranes, plus a few other problems that arose over the weekend with some elders. He answered immediately, for which I was grateful. He is going to the Neuquen Argentina Mission tonight and will be gone for two weeks. That seems like quite a long time to be at one mission, but at least he is reachable by phone. Dr. Petersen's mission is over in six weeks and I will really miss him. He is wonderful to work with and never seems bothered by all my calls.

I was anxious to get all the medical things put to rest because I really needed to box up the mail and supplies for the South. It is that time again!! It is amazing how fast it comes around. The mold is being broken this time as instead of the magic number of ten boxes like I have had every time in the past, I only have seven to send this time. I was able to get them all boxed and ready, but we don't have any wide packing tape to seal them up. That is on Elder Kroff's agenda tomorrow morning when he goes to the Pago Rapido to pay some bills. He is going to find a libreria and buy some rolls of tape for our dispenser. We were hoping that today, on Feb 1st, all the vacations would be over and businesses would reopen. But, the libreria by us was still closed today, so we have to go elsewhere to find what we need.

Rich worked on paying our temporaries (elders in our mission waiting for visas to go where they have been called) some money. We have one elder who has been serving here for six months waiting for a visa for Venezuela. He is a sharp elder and the President would just like to keep him. He has been in a trio with the assistants so we see him regularly and he is fun and likable and a good missionary. I will hate to see him go whenever that happens.

Rich and the elders also left me for a while to go purchase a refrigerator. Rich has to go because he has the credit card that is used for making purchases like this. They took the bus one way and walked about 10 blocks back, being very grateful to come back to air conditioning.

For everyone except the office elders, it is "P" day today. The President just barely changed it from Wednesday to Monday and this is the first week with the new schedule. These elders were playing futbol (soccer) out in the church yard. Young men from the ward meet them for a game each week. Elders Davis, Smith, and Fuentes are a few players visibly drenched from perspiration. The elders come in to cool off, and sweat is dripping off their noses and chins. They are so hot and flushed that it makes me think they will drop over from heat exhaustion. If they don't have water with them they get my two cent lecture on the importance of keeping hydrated in this heat and humidity.

It isn't "P" day for our office elders, so they pose showing what "real" missionaries should be doing, all the time being envious that they are not able to be included in the sporting event. This trio of Elders Paz, Coria and Hales will be together until Elder Hales is trained and Elder Paz moves on. Elder Hales is a very capable and sharp elder and is catching on quickly. We have enjoyed getting to know him.

I wouldn't want to put my arm around those sweaty bodies. Yuk!

The very most exciting thing that happened today was that I found my keys!!! While I was working in my supply room, I saw them sitting on a box, kind of out of sight, at the end of an isle that I don't go down very often. I screamed with delight! I was getting so upset that we might have to change the locks on the office doors and gate since I was sure I left them in the church restroom one day last week, not knowing who might have found them. What a relief and blessing. I am so grateful that worry is over.

We left the office at about 5:00, and while I fixed some dinner, Rich went to Disco to get a few items including oranges to make his freshly squeezed juice.

After dinner, Rich asked if I wanted him to dry the dishes or read from the The Undaunted. I preferred that he read while I did the dishes. We needed to find out how Jacob Hamblin was going to sooth the Indians revenge. Yes, please read.

Rich just checked the weather statistics. At 10:00 p.m. it is 82 degrees feeling like 91, with 84% humidity. The dew point is 77. For us dry climate people, it becomes uncomfortable if the dew point goes past 69. I think it is safe to say we are in for another hot night. What else is new?