Helping Hands - Monday, July 26, 2010

When we got up this morning it was 37 degrees outside feeling like 32 due to the humidity. Oh my goodness, it was freezing!! We needed to be to the office by 8:30 or before but we still had plenty of time to read scriptures, breakfast, listen to Children of the Promise, and pray.

New Elder Leavitt from Colorado Springs has Elder Lowry and Elder Lazo, the AP's, as companions. Elder Lazo stayed in the South to work with the elders there even when the Gulbrandsens returned yesterday. So while he has been gone, Elder Lowry has been the trainer for Elder Leavitt. Today, they are driving the mail and supplies around to four zones, leaving them with the zone leaders. This is a wonderful opportunity for Elder Leavitt to get a tour of the mission in his first week in Buenos Aires. Other missionaries haven't had the same.

We were meeting them at the office at 8:30 to help them load everything in the car and get them on their way. Today is their P-day and most of it will be taken up with these deliveries. But, Elder Lowry volunteered to do it for me. I do appreciate it so much. They had to return to the office to pick up the things for the Liniers zone, and then after dropping it off they were going shopping to buy themselves new coats. Elder Leavitt didn't bring a heavy one with him as he was instructed to buy one here. And, Elder Lowry is in need of a new one because his is wearing out rapidly and has zipper problems. So, they would get to have some free time today if they hurried with the drop offs.

After they left, I continued collecting and packing up the supplies for the Belgrano and Congreso zones. Tomorrow they are having interviews with the President so he is going to take the supplies and mail with him for those two areas. Then, on Thursday the last two zones are having interviews, so that is the day they will receive their things. I'll be glad when this is all over.

Elder Kroff worked on balancing his drawer and writing checks with the hope that the check he takes to the bank tomorrow will be able to be cashed. Last week the bank would not cash one of the checks that the President signed because it didn't look like his signature on record. When Rich told the President about it he admitted that he doesn't sign his name the same every time. We joked with him that we would have to put the signature needed before him each time he signs. They are really picky at the banks here, and they check out signatures very carefully.

We left home today without our lunch. I was concerned about getting to the office by 8:30 and totally forgot about preparing a lunch. We weren't too worried because we could have come back home to eat or ordered something to be delivered, but our best friends in the office shared their lunch with us. They had plenty from the banquet that Sister Bolentini provides for them each week. She is a saint for sure, and has provided two days of food each week for the office elders ever since we arrived. Usually it is enough to feed more than two people. We aren't sure

how long it has been going on.

About 4:00, President and Sister Gulbrandsen came by to pick up the bins of supplies to take with them tomorrow to the interviews. It is always a lively time when they come around. Work stops and lots of chatter and laughter take place. The President worked with Elder Peterson learning about all the data that is forwarded to him each week -- some he likes, some he doesn't need. So adjustment will be made there. Elder Hales joined in on that conversation.

Sister Gulbrandsen visited with us asking a few questions about the English program and tests. She is becoming more educated on the program and her role in carrying it out for our Latin missionaries. I asked if she was ready to take on the medical calls and that was a definite "No, not yet." She will tackle that in September. Oh well, I thought I'd ask.

We all left the office about 5:30, and I was ready. It has been a tiring day for me and home sounded good. I quickly cooked some frozen ravioli topped with sauce for dinner and then started this entry. I am hoping to get to bed at a decent hour tonight.