Relief from the Heat - Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010

It had rained during the night and was still raining when we woke up. It was cooler when we went to bed, so Rich opened the window a little bit. The window is right above our heads and slides open from his side of the bed. He can easily reach up to open or close it. He woke up during the night and rain was coming through the window in a fine mist. He said he was dreaming that someone was squirting his face with a spray bottle. I was aware of nothing.

While we were getting ready for the day, there were periods of heavy rain and I would glance at the clock hoping we wouldn't be leaving until there was a break in the weather. Of course, if it didn't let up, we would have just HAD to read more chapters in The Undaunted while waiting for it to clear. Darn!!

We made it to work in just a drizzle and found out that Elder Paz would be leaving us today to become companions with Elder Nelson, our previous office elder. His companion was being released from his mission early and flying home tonight. Unfortunately, sometimes that happens. We do not know what the circumstances are with this elder, but he is fairly new and has struggled a bit. Elder Nelson and Elder Paz were companions when they were in the office together before Elder Nelson was transferred out. Elder Nelson goes home March 11.

Elder Hales has just been in the office for one week being trained for Elder Paz's job. Needless to say, he is right nervous to lose his trainer so early. Elder Kroff knows a lot of what goes on at that desk as some of his financial duties tie in with the apartments and paying landlords, so he can help Elder Hales. And, then, Elder Paz is just a phone call away. There is no way I would have been able to do my job with just one week of training. No way!!

The President sent Sister Argyle to pick up all the pedidos for the conference tomorrow. They drive a Toyota Sharan which is sort of like a van, but no sliding side door. They took all but one seat out to make room. When she saw the amount of boxes of books and bins full of supplies, she wondered how they would all fit. It took creative loading to get it all in.

After entering a few more baptisms that straggled in -- the deadline being Friday to get all of January's in the computer, I went to work on filling the orders for the conference on Friday. I barely have just enough bins. I have warned the AP's not to let the President drive off from the conference tomorrow without having my nine bins in the car. That would be a disaster. I still have four zones to fill orders for next week.

As I am busily working on the baptisms and zone conference orders, in the back of my mind I am getting anxious about sending the Missionary Certificates and letters to the Stake Presidents of those going home in March. Plus, I need to get the letters and flight itineraries to the parents. I may have to make time tomorrow to get those prepared and ready for the pouch mail that goes out on Monday. Everything is printed and signed, I just have to prepare the envelopes and seal them up. Seventeen are going home in March.

Elder Kroff had to go to the bank and planned on taking the bus up and back. It wasn't raining when he left, but it was getting quite dark with clouds rolling in. He took an umbrella and headed out. While he was gone, there was a torrential downpour. I was beginning to worry about him being out in such horrible conditions. Pretty soon he walked in and said he had to wait at a bus stop for a long time. There was no shelter anywhere - nothing. He had his umbrella, but the rain was blowing all over and his pants from the knees down were drenched, not to mention his shoes. In fact, the back of his shirt was damp too. Poor guy!

Before we all left for the day, we had to take a picture with Elder Paz. We have no idea why the photo has odd lighting with the color fading out towards the lower right of the picture. Strange! But, the three elders were going back to their apartment to help Elder Paz get all packed up. Then, they were going to drop him off at our apartment at 5:00 while waiting for the remise to come and get him at 6:00 to take him to his new area. Elders Coria and Hales had some appointments with investigators.

A final shot of Elder Paz leaving the office. He has been fun to work with and we will miss him. He corrects our written Spanish when we have to send something out in the native language. He calls everyone and anyone we need him to because we can't communicate effectively over the phone to native Spanish speakers. He has been a big help to Elder Kroff and me.

We walked a ways with the elders on our way home. We weren't sure what we should do about dinner, and if Elder Paz would have time to eat something before he left. I had planned on spaghetti, but I didn't have any lettuce for a salad, and no bread to go with it. I quickly decided I would put some noodles on to cook, and make the spaghetti sauce from one can of prepared mix, and a packet of Albertson's spaghetti sauce mix. It would double the amount and should be enough for the three of us.

The elders were late in arriving which was around 5:30, not 5:00. Elder Coria said that the driver who picks up Elder Paz was going to drop him off and then take the other elder that was going home to the airport. This is a remise service from the Area Offices that delivers missionaries to the airport and then assists them in paying luggage fees and helps them get on the right plane. So, they like to be on time and are usually early.

The elders buzzed us to let us know they were downstairs by the front door, and when we went down to let them in, they said that since the remise would be here in the next little while, that we should just wait there with Elder Paz and his luggage until the car came. It would be about 20 minutes. Well, okay that would be fine. All five of us were surprised when the remise came a couple minutes later. He was actually one half hour early. So we said our goodbyes to Elder Paz and sent him on his way.

It is a good thing that Rich loves spaghetti because he may be eating it for the next several days. It tasted good to us tonight, even without salad and bread.

After dinner, Rich had to go back to the church and wait to see if anyone showed up for the English class which was held last night. Last week it was on Wednesday, and then changed to Tuesday by popular demand. The elders said that some people who were not there last week, but want to take the class, do not know it switched nights. So, Rich decided to go see if someone showed up; then, he would go ahead and teach them. But, no one came.

While he was gone, I made some pumpkin (zapallo squash) chocolate chip cookies. Elder Nelson loves them and they were a big hit with him when he was in the office. So I had decided some time ago that I would make him some and put them in the bins with the mail so he would get them at his zone conference. This would be the only chance to get something to him before he leaves in March. Sort of a goodbye treat. If I would have had them baked before Elder Paz left tonight, I would have had him take them to him. Or if I would have known this transfer was taking place today, I could have baked them last night. I am sure he will share them with Elder Paz, so I am glad things worked out like they did.

It has been raining all evening, and I do hope the missionaries have been safe and dry.