A Day of Work - Tuesday, September 21, 2010

As I looked at the calendar today I just can't believe we are in the third week of September already. Unbelievable!! We have a lot going on in the next two and a half months and things have got to slow down a little or we won't get everything done.

We had a good nights sleep with a cooler blanket on the bed and woke up refreshed. We decided it was time for "Chinese Tuesday" for lunch today so we called the office elders and the Assistants to see if they were up for it. All were going to be around except for Elder Peterson and Elder Davis. They were going on some errands in the Capital and to retrieve the packages from customs. We hate doing it without them, but they insisted. There will be another time with them, for sure.

I needed to know whether to make us a lunch today or not so that was the reason for making the early phone call to the elders this morning. They are always appreciative of our willingness to pay for the food, whether we order it delivered or treat them to McDonalds or Burger King. We feel it is one way we can help support the missionary effort if we feed the missionaries once in a while. We are doing it again on Saturday at our apartment.

Once at the office, I was focused and determined to complete my carpetas today. I hung with it until all the binders were filled with the necessary information and items for the 14 new missionaries coming on October 6. What a wonderful feeling to get them all done. They are lined up neatly and in order resembling the feeling I have after completing a home canning project and seeing the jars of peaches and pears all done and looking beautiful sitting on my kitchen counter. The feeling of satisfaction is gratifying.

Tomorrow I will start and complete the nine packets for the missionaries leaving on October 7. That project is not as demanding, but just as important. I do hope I can instruct and train Sister Schoeny in such a way that she will understand and grasp all there is to do in getting ready for a transfer. I hope my notes will be clear.

Elder Kroff made a quick trip to the correo in San Isidro where we have to get a stamp on the claim ticket for each of the packages in customs. Elder Peterson didn't have time to stop there first before heading out on his errands. We are feeling the stress of not having Hermano Valentini be our runner anymore to go to customs twice a month for our packages. He got a job that doesn't allow him to help us out anymore. Perhaps the elders can find someone else in our branch that needs a little extra cash and would be willing to do this for us. Elder Peterson didn't mind going today because one of the packages was for him.

Lunch time came and the Assistants, Elder Paz, and us enjoyed the assortment of Chinese food that we ordered. We increased the amount due to our group being five in number and all was consumed except the extra Chop Suey that we ordered. We are sure someone will find it in the fridge and put it to good use. It always amazes us how much food these skinny elders can eat. We don't know where they put it. The food was yummy!

Rich has had a discouraging week with financial problems. An ongoing concern is that in addition to rent payments that are due each month, there is also a bill for expenses that come which is not very identifiable. The elders, not knowing what it is or that it pertains to their apartment, end up tossing it aside or throwing it away. This goes on for sometimes months at at time and finally someone will look at it and turn it over to the zone leader for evaluation. Realizing that it is a past due bill with fees added to it, the Zone Leader calls Elder Kroff in a panic because he doesn't have enough money to pay it out of the allotted zone money. Then, Elder Kroff has to somehow get more money to the Zone Leader so he can pay this outstanding bill. There has been a lot of brainstorming going on between Elder Paz and Elder Kroff and the President to resolve this ongoing problem.

Later in the day, President Gulbrandsen came by to attend the District Meeting over in the chapel. He sends the Assistants to attend some, and he makes an appearance at others as well. It keeps everyone, especially the District Leaders, on their toes not knowing if the President will be in their meeting. In October when he conducts the interviews, he is going to interview each elder in his apartment. Now that should be interesting!! There might be a lot of cleaning up prior to the visit of the President -- which would be a good thing.

4:30 came and we were at a breaking point, so we packed up for the day and headed home. Rich went immediately back over to the Farmacia to ask about some pills that he got refilled yesterday. The box looked the same, but the name was spelled a little different than what he ordered. Plus, the pill looked different. He didn't know if it was a generic pill or not, so he thought he better take it back and check it out. Good thing he did, because they gave him the wrong ones. We don't know what the pill was for that was mistakenly given to him.

Our evening was quiet and I amazed myself that I got this entry done by 8:30. I wish I could do that every night. Then, the Schoenys skyped us with questions about Argentina, the mission, office work, and more. It was fun to visit with them and actually see who was coming to replace us. We are sure we will be good friends even before they get here. They look like they will be a great office couple.