Zone Leaders Council - Friday, March 12, 2010

It was such a cool night for sleeping -- just wonderful! The opened window let just enough fresh air into the room. We hope for the same tonight.

We survived transfer week and hope the seventeen new missionaries will adjust quickly and catch the spirit of this wonderful work.

Nothing changed in our morning routine and we made it to work by 9:00, not any earlier. I hurried to make a few telephone calls seeking corrections to some baptismal records. Then I gathered up the handouts and things I was taking to the Zone Leaders Council over at the mission home. The meeting has been changed to 10:00 rather than 9:00 which is better for us as we always had to leave by 8:30 to get there and settled to begin by 9:00. The elders in Zarate, at the other end of the mission, used to have to get up at 4:30 to get ready and then take buses and the train to reach the mission home by 9:00. The later time is way better for them.

Elder Hales, Elder Kroff and I went in the President's car to the mission home. We all have some instructions to give the zone leaders each time. The President calls on me first to talk about baptismal records and what is going good and what improvements could be made. I know the Latin missionaries in attendance don't get much out of what I say, but hopefully their English speaking companions can fill them in.

Then, Elder Kroff talks about money issues and Elder Hales talks about their apartments and stresses the importance of paying rents to the landlords timely, if they are not on electronic payment. We are there about one hour and then excused to go back to the office. The zone leaders receive instruction throughout the day, and are served a delicious lunch.

I was able to work in the supply room in the afternoon, first starting on the boxes to send South. I hope to finish those on Monday and get a date secured with the courier service to transport them. That will be a big relief and load off my mind.

Rich prepared a deposit to take to the bank and wrote a check that he needed the President to sign. He also had a money card come in the mail that was for one of the zone leaders. So, he made a trip back to the mission home to deliver the card and get his check signed. Luckily they were on the lunch break so he didn't interrupt the meeting. Upon returning, he went to the bank.

One of the best things about our mission call is the privilege we have to work in the office with exceptional young men. The President has said that he puts the cream of the crop in the office, and we agree with that. Right from the beginning with our wonderful trainers until now, we have worked with intelligent, bright, and capable young elders. So, we have decided to highlight each office elder and tell a little bit about him. We wish we would have done it all along with everyone who has passed through the office. In years to come it will serve as a reminder to us of who we worked with, where they came from, and the special talents they each have.

We are starting with Elder Lance Peterson who has officially been assigned to the office. So we now have five office workers to help with the ever increasing load of work in the mission. Elder Peterson is from Wayne County, Utah -- specifically from a little town called Lyman. He has a twin brother named Tyce who also received a mission call to the Argentina Neuquen mission. Elder Peterson and his twin are the youngest of seven children. They have two older brothers and three older sisters. He attended Wayne High School where he was active in Track and Cross Country, Baseball, and Basketball. He was valedictorian of his class (as was his twin) and is also an Eagle Scout. He is great on the computer and can do anything we ask of him. He is fun to have in the office and has a wonderful smile.

Since we did our grocery shopping last night, our big Friday evening activity was dinner at McDonalds, and a trip to the Farmacia for our supply of pills. After leaving me at the apartment, Rich continued on another three or four blocks to get his slacks from the drycleaners. That's about it for our night of excitement.