Life Goes On - Oct 21 & Oct 22, 2010

Thursday, October 21

As soon as we got out of bed at 6:00 Rich turned on the computer so we could check the Delta flights out of Atlanta. It was 5:00 on the East coast in the states and the flight our girls were on would land around 6:00 Eastern time. As far as we could determine they were in a pretty good position on the list of standby travelers to make the connecting flights they wanted. But as we kept checking for the next hour, it didn't look so good for Melissa.

They had to split up in Atlanta and were on their own to go the last leg of their trip by themselves. Not having confidence in our ability to read the schedule correctly, we quickly emailed Denise to get a pros opinion of the flights. We knew she would get up early to check the flights as well. She responded immediately and said that Marianne had been assigned a seat and it looked "excellent" for Melissa. We could not see it that way on Melissa's flight. But, what do we know!! Then she asked if someone would be in Salt Lake to pick Marianne up as she had to work and would not be able to go get her. We were confident that Susanne and Marianne would work it out.

When we could see that each of their names had been moved out of standby and had been assigned a seat, we were overjoyed. The only thing that could have put a damper on the trip would have been problems getting home if they would have been stranded in Atlanta waiting for flights all day. We realized our blessings and included our gratitude for this latest one in our morning prayer together. The travel plans couldn't have worked out better for standby status. Thank you, Denise.

Our day at work kept both of us busy without breaks. Besides working on baptisms, I emailed the flight plans of our Latin missionaries, leaving in November, to their parents. Rich worked on money matters. But, the most stressful thing on all of our minds in the office is the mail problem that now exists.

No longer can we, as office workers, sign for packages that have been held up in customs. The person to whom the package is addressed has to show his passport and sign his name which will allow one of us to claim the package for them. We also have a deadline in which to claim the packages at customs. With our missionaries so spread out, some being hours away even here in Buenos Aires, and some serving in the South, it is impossible for them to come in from their areas each time a package needs their signature.

But, when the Gulbrandsens came to the office today, the problem was resolved. We discussed it with them and it has been decided that all packages will need to be addressed to Sister Gulbrandsen with the missionaries names appearing up by the return address. She will take her passport and go to the post office and sign for the packages. Then we can take the claim ticket and go get them as usual and it won't involve disturbing the missionaries. The ones already in the mail will need the missionary to come in and make the trip themselves to the post office to sign. This should work!

I was anxious to have a free night to get started updating my entries regarding our week with our girls. There are a lot of pictures I want to include and it will be time consuming picking and choosing, not to mention waiting for them to upload.

Friday, October 22

There is no trace of evidence that our daughters came for a visit. Elders Kroff and Paz came with the car to transport the mattresses to the office to be stored up in the attic. The pillows and blankets have been returned, and the sheets have been sent to the laundry across the street. Good thing for memories!!

My mind finally clicked in gear at work and I realized all I had to do before the next transfer on November 16, and all I still needed to do to get ready to train Sister Schoeny (Shay-knee) when they come at the end of November. I hope I'm ready for this!

The thing causing me the most stress is my talk in church when we report our mission on December 12. I was going to get it done in September before the girls came, but that didn't happen. But now I am really anxious about it. Rich will do his in the shower some morning, but I deal with blood, sweat, and tears whenever I have to speak in church.

Now that the decision has been made regarding the mail, I offered to write a letter to parents informing them what has happened and what needs to be done in the future. It would be up for review and input after I get the basics on paper. Elder Peterson was all for it.

Elder Kroff had a busy day paying some rents, going to the bank, and working on zone money. He bails me out if I get a Latin missionary on the phone who doesn't understand me, or I don't understand him.

President Gulbrandsen is conducting interviews with the missionaries in their apartments. He is to do this once a year, so it has created quite a stir among the missionaries. A lot of cleaning is being done which is a good thing. This will give him and Sister Gulbrandsen a chance to see where the missionaries live and if the apartment is adequate. He is delivering mail and supplies as he makes his visits. That's a lot of driving!

I didn't do a lot of cooking, probably none, while the girls were here. We were always on the go. But, we needed to shop for groceries, so our Friday night activity involved shopping at Disco with our shopping cart, and eating at McDonald's on the way home. This ritual has been put on hold for several weeks, and we cannot remember why or what happened to our Friday nights. Must have been something important!