More Training - Wednesday, July 21, 2010

I have started doing it again -- waking up right before the alarm sounds. But it was a good thing today because the music was so low on the alarm that we would have never heard it. Lately, it is either too loud or too soft -- no entiendo!!

For two days the sun has been wonderful to warm things up a bit. . . not a lot, just a little. But it has been nice for missionaries to travel in dry weather to come to these days of training that have been going on.

So far the training has been very successful and motivating. From reports today we learned that as the elders practiced what they learned yesterday there were about five new baptismal dates set. That's exciting!! During these last two weeks since the change in Presidents, baptisms have decreased. Why is that? Are the missionaries taking a break waiting to see what the new President has to offer? We only had 13 last week. It may not be much better this week, because so many missionaries have been out of the field due to this training going on.

The cultural hall where the training is taking place looks like a nightly news command center. In order to have contact with the South and have those leaders feel more a part of the conference, he has used computers with skype to "bring them in." I'm sure it is more interesting for them to hear and see the President instead of just hearing what is going on. President Gulbrandsen is a high tech multi media guru. He amazes us with his knowledge and ability to do what he does. It is beyond me, but Rich understands it.

While the training was going on, our office was calm and quiet and we were able to get some work done. Since the President has come, our days have not been normal. He came at a time when big things had to take place -- conferences, transfers, leadership training. He didn't have time to ease into this new responsibility. Getting off the plane, he hit the ground running, and two assistants, two Kroffs, and two office elders have had a full time job attending to his needs and helping him accomplish what he wants/needs to do. He assures us that things will settle down soon, with a grin on his face, but is kind and gracious about the help everyone has given him.

I entered the 13 baptisms from last week and others that I failed to get done -- a total of 20. The accomplishment was theraputic. I hope tomorrow allows me time to work on more things I have put aside.

Elder Kroff took the President to the bank during the lunch break to sign some papers so he would be able to sign checks. What a relief!!! Now he will return to the bank to cash some checks tomorrow.

Our office elders were involved with their work on the computer as well. We joke with them that they will probably be in the office longer than us. They just smile.

After the training ended today, we cornered the President and had a short meeting regarding his schedule for the rest of July and August. He still hasn't met the missionaries in the South other than meeting the leaders over skype, so they are going South on Friday and returning on Monday.

We didn't leave the office until around 6:30 and realized that these past two weeks have followed that same pattern. Very few days have the elders left at 4:00 too. We had no idea what the "transition" team would be doing for this change of leadership, but now we do.