Leadership Training - Tuesday, July 20, 2010

In order to get to Immigrations to renew our visas and take a turn that will get us in and out in a reasonable time, Elder Peterson said we had to leave at 7:30 a.m. Ooooooh, that means I have to get up at 5:00. Oh well, I did that for eighteen years when I was working so it'll seem like old times. It wasn't a big deal, but I knew that towards the end of the day I would need to keep moving or I could get really sleepy if I relaxed too much.

Our visas expired June 30 and Elder Peterson never received the paperwork from Bonpland to get our's renewed. When he called Sabrina to find out about it, then she got the ball rolling. We think she forgot about us. So today was the day to get ours extended. Elder Peterson wanted to go with us because he wanted to see where to go and what to do regarding extensions. He has only dealt with getting visas for the new missionaries when they arrive.

As we were waiting for our numbers to be called, we watched in disbelief at the staff of four gals who visited, laughed, and sipped on their mate (maw-te) seeming oblivious to the forty people who were waiting anxiously to be helped. After each clerk finished with a person, another was not immediately called up. Customer service is not a priority in this country.

We were successful in getting our visas extended and our passports stamped, and now we are legal until June 30, 2011. However, it didn't come without a penalty. Because it wasn't done in a timely manner, a fee was assessed. We were glad Elder Peterson went with us to help get us through this process -- and especially to drive. He likes driving in all this madness!

Back at the church, day one of the three days of leadership training was taking place. When the Gulbrandsens were in the MTC, they were introduced to and trained on a new emphasis from the brethren that is to be implemented in missionary work around the world. All week long their training was based on the need for better teaching by our missionaries. Being set apart as a missionary doesn't automatically make one an expert teacher. Some come with a natural ability and others struggle in teaching the gospel effectively. The main thing stressed was to learn how to teach with the spirit.

The brethren have developed DVD's and eight lessons that teach this concept of teaching with the spirit. The missions have been asked to conduct leadership training for zone leaders and district leaders who then will take it back to the missionaries in their areas. Some missions may include all the missionaries in the training. It is up to the President how he gets it done. Four days of training are suggested, but President Gulbrandsen is holding three days now and then the last day will be held in connection with the next zone conferences. He is including the zone leaders, district leaders, and trainers who are responsible for new missionaries. This will total about 45 who will receive the training. Then they will take it back to their districts and show the DVD's and train the rest. The assistants are being used to help teach the eight lessons. There is also practice time for the leaders to use what they are learning on each other.

The brethren stated at the MTC that it will take a lot of missionaries out of the field to receive this sustained training for four days and that baptisms may drop during this time, but that it will be worth it in the long run. Today when the training was over, we heard several positive comments and the elders seemed excited about it.

President Gulbrandsen is excited as well about this new emphasis and feels the mission was prepared well by President Argyle for him to come at this time to implement this new program.

Empanadas, fruit, and alfajores were served for lunch today. We were glad that there were a few left for us when we returned from Immigrations.

After the training was finished, President and his wife visited with us in the office for a few minutes. The assistants are in the background. They told us about their son who returned home last December from his mission in Singapore. He was a remarkable missionary and did some supposedly impossible things as he served. We were all ears to what they had to say.

The Gulbrandsens left, the office elders left, and then the Assistants asked us if we could go with them to Laura Laris' home. She was ill and wanted a blessing. We know her from our days in the San Fernando ward. She wants to be baptized but is still struggling with her relationship with her live-in boyfriend/companion. Does she marry him or kick him out? We had a nice visit with Laura, but don't see this problem being resolved before we leave our mission.

We came home about 7:30 and French Toast was our food of choice for tonight. We were tired!