Goodbye Friends - Wednesday, June 2, 2010

We are grateful there has been no rain for our two days of transfers. Bad weather just messes things up and is bad for picture taking outside too. So, we were happy to see clear skies and sunshine.

Today's schedule has Los Kroff going to the mission home twice. At 11:00 the missionaries who are leaving today arrived for their final day with the Argyles. We met them outside and showed them where to leave their luggage and then ushered them in the house. The President wants us to handle this when the Gulbrandsens come, to alleviate the hassle for them. We have done this the last two transfers and it has run very smoothly.

Six of the seven missionaries all came at the same time, but were about fifteen minutes late. It was so strange. Usually there are a couple who come early, but today we were wondering if the email that went out to them had another time listed. But, pretty soon one remise came, then another right behind it, and then another. Elder Chandia got mixed up in heavy traffic with the member who volunteered to bring him in today and he was a half hour late. The President started without him.

After all were safely inside, we took our exit and went back to the office in the President's car. I continued entering baptisms that took place last weekend - 26 total. I have about 13 left to do. Since Zone Leaders Council is tomorrow instead of Friday this time, I have to get my handouts ready to pass out to the zone leaders who in turn pass them on to their District Leaders. It shows what information is absolutely necessary on the Baptismal Register in order for the computer to accept it.

We worked steadily at our desks keeping an eye on the clock as we had to go back to the mission home arriving there about 2:30. We did so when the time came and the group had finished lunch which consisted of Lasagna, tossed salad, bread, and chocolate trifle for dessert. The chocolate trifle is the scrumptious bowl of brownies, chocolate pudding, and whipped cream layered beautifully that keeps the mouth salivating. It is the dessert Sister Argyle made especially for Elder Kroff a couple weeks ago. It is the standard 'going away' dessert that is fed to the leaving missionaries. Well received!!

Elder Kroff took each missionary in turn to collect his mission debit card, the emergency money that was given to him at the beginning of his mission, and any left over money that he had saved and not used. It always surprises him at how much some elders turn back in. He wonders if they ever eat!! This group, however, was not that frugal. They didn't have big bucks to return. Also, if they had any outstanding debts for supplies that they ordered, that money was collected too.

It didn't take long to settle up with only seven missionaries, so we had time to visit with some of them who were through with their final interview with the President and who had completed the writing of a spiritual experience to leave with the mission.

Elders Wheeler, Chandia, Egusquisa, Sisters Gonzalez and Argyle, President Argyle, Elders Fuentes, LeFevre, and Wessman.

We continued to stay around to take the final group shot, and to make sure the combi came to transport all to the airport. This is in the plan to help out the new President. If there was a mix up and the transportation didn't arrive to pick up the missionaries, he would have no idea who to call or what to do. In time he would learn, but not right at the beginning. Besides, we love being there to wish them well and wave goodbye, but we don't upstage President and Sister Argyle. We tell the missionaries goodbye in the house and stand in the background outside. This is their time to send them off. It is sweet!

The missionary travel department from the Area Offices are the ones who take the missionaries to the airport and stay right with them getting them checked in and through customs and on the plane. They work with overweight luggage and everything.

Upon returning to the office, I had to stay and run off copies of what I needed for tomorrow's Zone Leaders Council. Rich went home to rest for about an hour before he had to return to the church to teach his Temple Prep class to Elisa's boyfriend. We passed on the street as I was going home and he was coming back.

I was very tired upon returning home at 6:30 and unwound by reading a couple emails, and also Larsons and Doyles blogs. I need to know what is going on in Switzerland. Rich returned about a half hour later. Elisa and boyfriend didn't show up.

We had French toast for dinner and I worked on yesterday's journal entry, getting to bed later than I would have liked.