Over Again - Thursday, April 22, 2010

Transfer week is always so busy and not just because of Tuesday and Wednesday when there is so much movement coming and going. The wheels start turning to update lists, send emails, sort mail, and prepare every needful thing for the upcoming zone conferences that start next week.

On top of all this, Elder Kroff and I have to prepare for the time we take in the Zone Leaders Council which is on the Friday of transfer week. Those preparations for me took most of my afternoon. I ran copies of things I needed to hand out regarding the baptismal records. Some of the leadership always changes with transfers so what I have to say is new to some and repetition for others. But, it never hurts the "oldies" to hear it again. I try to emphasize different things.

Rich was out of money in his caja chica (small box which is his cash drawer), so he prepared a check and drove to the mission home to get the President to sign it. Then he went to the bank to cash it and replenish his funds. He hated going without me as his second pair of eyes to watch for possible traffic hazards, and then he missed my companionship. Awww - But I was too busy to take a break and go with him.

I was pulled in a lot of different directions this morning, not being able to work on the mail in the supply room. So even though I accomplished work that needed my attention, I still feel behind when it comes to other things I need to get done. Oh well, there is always tomorrow, I guess.

I felt bad for Elder Roman who called saying he had a tooth ache all night and couldn't sleep. Dental work is not the responsibility of the mission and needs to be taken care of by the missionary and his parents, so Elder Roman found a dentist close by and was told that his wisdom tooth needed to be pulled. Unfortunately, the Latinos don't take care of the wisdom tooth problem before their missions like the North Americans do. So, from time to time, we have had Latins that need a wisdom tooth pulled while in the field. Elder Roman doesn't have the 200 pesos needed to pull his tooth, but he did say he had an uncle about two hours away that would give him the money. I instructed him to contact his parents and make those arrangements. Hopefully he won't suffer too long before the money will come.

Elders Peterson and Hales were in the office all day, not having any errands to run, and they are always busy doing what they do. They are so helpful and nice to us even when we ask the same question more than once.

When Elder Alvarez went home to see his mother who is gravely ill and not expected to live, he took some pictures of the Capital area of Buenos Aires as the plane took off. When he came back and stayed at our apartment for a couple hours until his companion could come and get him, he shared some pictures with us. This is a great shot showing the massive area of down town Buenos Aires or what we call the Capital. Lots of concrete towers that are mainly apartment buildings span the area, but there is space for some trees mingled in between.

He captured a great shot of a soccer stadium.

We left the office at 5:00 and were glad to be home. The events of transfer week make us weary at times, and we still have one more thing on our agenda tomorrow. But all is well.

We had ravioli and tossed salad for dinner with baguette bread. We try different sauces on the ravioli hoping to find a favorite. I think the one tonight is a keeper.