Eighteen Months - Thursday, September 2, 2010

It rained ALL day. With the dips and cracks in the uneven sidewalks around here, we were dodging puddles all the way to the office. There are no rain gutters to speak of, so water comes off the roofs and an umbrella is needed for that reason alone. The bottom of my skirt and Rich's pants were noticeably wet by the time we walked into the building.

Our mission would have ended today if we had not extended. It is unbelievable how fast the time has gone!!! We remember clearly our MTC experience, and the beginning months of our mission -- yes the robbery too. As we reflect back, a lot has happened and we have had so many wonderful experiences, but yet it seems like we haven't been here that long. We need to make the best of these remaining three months as they will fly by so very quickly.

When we got to the office today we were surprised with this note and treat sitting on a chair in the middle of the floor. It was from the Assistants expressing their thanks and sincere love for the four of us office workers. Also on our chairs was a BonBon candy, another on our keyboards to be noticed when we pulled them out to start working, and "We love you" (in Spanish) typed on strips of paper and taped to our computer screens and on our over head cupboards. How sweet and thoughtful of them. They may have realized the impact their daily presence in the office has made on our ability to concentrate and get our work done, as we have to sometimes cater to their needs looking things up and answering questions, plus the social chit chatting which we enjoy.

Nevertheless, it is nice to be appreciated and the muffins filled with Dulce de Leche hit the spot for a mid morning treat to tie us over until lunch.

I had a lot of calling to do this morning to make sure my nine outstanding baptism registers come in timely. I have until Monday to record everything that happened in August. The missionaries are always apologetic and will "for sure" get them to me "today."

As I knew would be the case, the orders for supplies were cut way down due to the shock of the price increase, I'm sure. One order form that came in looked pretty normal, but most were pretty blank.

The Gulbrandsens are going to Ushuaia this weekend to a conference . . . I think? I can't keep up with their schedule. We were always amazed at what President Argyle had to do and how many directions he was going all the time, and it is no different with President Gulbrandsen. It comes with the calling for sure!

Next week he is repeating the leadership training that we had in July as we have some new Zone Leaders and District Leaders. He did say, however, that he may be able to get them all done in three days, not four. He indicated that this training is suppose to be repeated throughout the year -- quarterly, I think. So why are we having these so soon again?

Elder Kroff is having a hard time keeping money in his cajachica. Elder Paz has been using a lot on renewing some apartment contracts, and Elder Peterson has used a healthy amount paying the fees at Immigrations lately. So this requires the President to keep signing checks so Rich can fill up the coffers. He worked on getting a check signed tonight before the President leaves early tomorrow morning for the South.

Our walk home this afternoon was not pleasant at all. It was still raining with the wind picking up to strong gusts. It was hard to hold on to our umbrellas and keep them from turning inside out.

It will be another early morning for me tomorrow because I am meeting Sisters Shaffer and Romo at the train station to accompany Sister Romo to a doctor's appointment tomorrow in the Capital. I need to be at the train platform around 8:15 a.m. ready to board the train that they will be on as it comes into the Virreyes station. Hope I find them!