Helping Out - Sunday, November 7, 2010

Last evening we got a call from Sister Gulbrandsen asking if we would be available today to have an elder spend the day with us. He is a brand new missionary from the last transfer who has some health problems and has been staying the last few days at the mission home so his companion can resume working with some other elders. The Gulbrandsens have to speak at a Stake Conference in Escobar today and then need to conduct some interviews with missionaries in that area, so they needed our help.

The elder was dropped off around 7:30 this morning and we hoped he would be well enough to attend church with us and then go with us to Olga's baptism. But he had a sleepless night and was starting to get a migrane so he needed to lie down and try to get some rest. So I stayed home with him while Rich went to church.

After church, Rich drove to Tigre and then called later to tell us that the baptism didn't go forward. Olga never showed up today. Oh dear!! The sisters came running out to tell him when he drove up. They said that after her interview on Friday, they were to meet with her on Saturday to finalize everything, but that she wasn't home, and she didn't answer her phone. Cold feet, maybe?

When Rich returned, I had a spaghetti dinner cooked and the three of us enjoyed it. He also had a gift for me from Evelyn and Francy. It was a cute bag with a Peruvian picture stitched on it. How darling and how thoughtful!!!! Evelyn and Francy are two young adults from Perú. They are from the San Fernando ward. We have such special young friends. They will get hugs from me next Sunday.

The President called about 3:00 and said they were on their way back from Escobar and would be here in about 20 minutes to pick up our elder. He was feeling better and I meant to take his picture, but it totally slipped my mind. Darn!

I have been wanting to use up the frozen squash in the freezer to make some pumpkin chocolate chip cookies (using a Zapallos squash) for some time now. So today was the day. I have been promising the office elders I would bring some. These seemed to be the best I've made so far. It all depends on the oven and getting it to stay at the right temperature consistently without going up and down. Now why am I mastering it when we only have one month left?

Since I was not able to go to church today, it dawned on me tonight that I have not left our apartment for two straight days. That is a first! This morning I was able to have quiet time alone to work on my homecoming talk and it was very beneficial. Then tonight I continued, so when I review it tomorrow, I'll see how it sounds. There may need to be some changes made -- and an ending.