Returning Home - Wednesday, August 25, 2010

While selecting what to wear today, I wondered if the mission home would be cold. As is normally the case around here, it is usually warmer outside than inside these homes and buildings. I wanted to wear a jacket, of course, but didn't know how many layers underneath I would need.

We were being included in all the activities and dinner at the mission home with the missionaries returning home tonight. There were seven elders and one sister -- she being the only North American. We wouldn't be at the office today after about 10:00.

We were just getting ready to walk out the door this morning and Rich's phone rang. It was Elder Peterson wanting us to walk by their apartment and pick him up so he could walk to the office with us. The 10:30 trip to the airport last night picked up Elder Johnson who spent the night with the other Virreyes elders, and Elder Heath who spent the night with Elders Paz and Peterson. Since they got home and to bed around 1:00 a.m. they were allowed to sleep in to get their eight hours. The other two elders were not ready yet to come to the office, but Elder Peterson was up and ready and needed to get the remises and arrangements made to deliver the two elders from the South to their new areas and companions. So he needed companionship to get to the office. We were glad to oblige as we only live two blocks from them.

We weren't able to get much done in the hour before we had to leave, mainly because this is the second day the internet has been down. Yesterday, on transfer day, it was a joke because we had no phones, no internet, and no water. The elders called on it yesterday, but didn't get a response. They began calling first thing today about the phones and internet, and Elder Paz went over to the church to speak to the workers about the water. It would be on in two hours.

A lot of fix up things at the church have been taking place for the past week. They moved a door leading from the chapel to the outside, tore out all the flowers and shrubs (that one we can't figure out why), painted the wrought iron fence around the property, painted portions of the outside walls, plus more. We have a feeling that something has been snipped in all the repairs and digging causing the outages in our office.

Shortly after getting to the office, there were elders everywhere. Elder Valente (red tie) has been made an Assistant for the four weeks remaining in his mission. He was completely surprised and overwhelmed when the President told him he would be joining Elders Lazo and Lowry. He said that he couldn't have planned the end of his mission any better. He is thrilled to be with the Assistants and to be rubbing shoulders with us again in the office. He is a strong missionary and has had much success. We, too, are happy to have him around more before he goes home. Elder Lazo is all smiles greeting Elders Johnson and Heath who have been transferred to the North.

When we got to the mission home, about half of the missionaries had already arrived. Opps! We were suppose to be there to help them get their luggage into the garage. While waiting for the others to arrive, a DVD about Christ was being shown on a large screen. It was excellent! Then while the missionaries filed in and out of the President's office for their final interview, they each wrote down their spiritual experience.

Cameras were flashing capturing the last day in the mission. Sister Reese is nervous to go home and get in to main stream living. She was emotional at times throughout the day.

The group laughed and joked about taking the four "clean out" pills to rid themselves of parasites should they have any. It is a requirement from the church medical department. The four pills were set at each place setting.

Elder Blanco is from the southern part of Argentina and is kind and soft spoken. Elder Ugalde is from Chile and learned English really well while in the mission field. He passed the English test with flying colors and was presented his certificate. The President told us that speaking English can triple the income in most cases for these elders.

Before the remises came to deliver these eight to two different airports, the traditional departing shot with the Mission President and wife took place. It was fun to spend the day with Elders Sanchez, Segura, Ceccón, Sister Reese, Elders Blanco, Ugalde, Cruz, and Diaz.

We arrived back at the office to find the water on -- just barely, however, and one phone line was working. It was determined that due to all the construction going on in and around the chapel area, that the phone line had been cut, thus affecting the internet too. So it was a good day to be away from the office as there wasn't much that could be done without the internet. The elders had a slow day.

We got home after 6:00, had an easy dinner of ravioli with a tomato based sauce, then I wrote this entry. Now I have a couple white shirts to iron. It's been a good day!