Nearing the End - Monday, June 7, 2010

I knew when I got up this morning what was ahead of us at the office today -- well, at least ahead of me. It would have been nice to be there a little early to get started, but it just doesn't happen anymore. Our morning routine doesn't change, so I guess we are getting slower in our old age.

The weather was really pleasant on our walk to the office, but our walk home this afternoon was noticeably colder. There was a crisp breeze that had developed and we were glad we could stay in tonight.

As I went through the notes on my desk regarding things that needed my attention first thing today, I got right busy getting those tasks out of the way. Then, several phone calls for me came through on everyone elses phones. Strange!! They should know my number by now. Some said they called my number, but I didn't answer. How could that be?? I didn't have it on silent. I was just glad they were not medical problems, because I didn't have time to spend the morning on sick calls today. Most were from elders that wanted to add something to the list of supplies that came in from their district. No problem, I took down what they wanted and will see that it gets in the bin for their district.

I had the zones of Congreso and Liniers to fill orders for today. Those two zones are meeting together tomorrow for interviews. In one way it is hard to organize two zones in one day, but at least it gets things out of my supply room faster. My room was really cold, so I put on Elder Kroff's fleece jacket, and my warm comfy house slippers, and away I went to find, pull, stack, and organize mail and supplies for the five districts in those two zones.

I wasn't stressed and was feeling good about my progress when I heard one of the elders say that President Argyle was coming to work in the office later on. Oh, Gees! I know what that means. I need to have everything ready for him to take when he leaves, so he won't have to make a return trip just to get the supplies. The problem was that I didn't know when he was coming or how long he was going to stay. So I decided I needed to up my pace a bit.

Elder Kroff decided to get a check ready for the President to sign when he came, then he and Elder Hales worked on money matters that dealt with the apartments and the rent payments.

Elder Peterson collected the data from last week's missionary work which amounted to 22 baptisms that I have to enter this week. That's about average these days. One of his least favorite jobs to do is typing up the spiritual experiences that the leaving missionaries write on their last day in the mission. They do this while they are at the mission home having their final interview, listening to counsel, and eating dinner with the Argyles. The problem is that he can't read some of the handwriting, and it is, of course, all in Spanish.

The President came, as expected, around 2:00 p.m. and was glad to get away from the mission home. Today was the day that workers came to tear out their bedroom and bathroom and redo that area of the house. Since finances won't allow the purchase of a new mission home right now, they are doing a fix up job on some things in the house that really need it. In the master bedroom they are building a walk in closet and reconfiguring the bathroom etc. He said that by noon today the workers had walls down and it was just a shell. They had to move to another bedroom upstairs.

On Friday of this week, the movers are coming to pack up all of their belongings to ship home. All that will be left of their personal items will be what will fit in suit cases that they will take with them. Next week, their children will travel with them to all the final zone conferences to tell the missionaries goodbye. Then they will go South with them for those conferences down there. So the family won't be under foot of the workers in the house very much.

Five Mission Presidents from this area (Argentina, Uruguay & Paraguay) are all leaving this month, and all are from Utah. They had their exit interviews with President Bowen of the Seventy last Friday. We are going to miss the Argyles, but at least we will be able to see them in a few months. We are looking forward to meeting the new President and his wife, and hope they are ready for this incredible experience.

Before the elders left at 4:00, they loaded the car with all the boxes and bins. We left at 5:00 before President Argyle, however, he said he was right behind us.

After dinner we had a skype call from Susanne and Thale, and I worked on this entry. Maybe bedtime will come earlier tonight.