Starting the Move - Friday, December 3, 2010

After I showered and was getting ready for the day, Rich told me that I had an email from Sister Argyle. How exciting! So I hurried to the computer to see what she had to say. We are so excited that she and President Argyle want to come to the airport to meet us if we didn't feel they are intruding. Oh my gosh!! Intruding?? No way!!!! We would love to see them and are excited that they want to come. Serving this mission as a senior couple under their leadership has been one of the greatest experiences of our lives. They are responsible for our positive attitudes regarding missionary work. We love them!

Rich told me the temperature would reach the mid 80's today, so I dressed accordingly, but I was behind in getting ready and packing our lunch because of my detour in reading and answering the Argyle email. So when the Schoenys came knocking, I still had some shirts to empty from the washing machine, and to finish getting our lunch together. I sent everyone on ahead. But, then when I was ready to leave I could not find my keys. I called Rich and he found them in the bottom of the bag we carry back and forth from the office. So, he had to come back for me because I couldn't lock all the security locks on our door, nor get out of the building without keys.

Sister Schoeny and I spent the morning in the supply room sorting packages and mail into bins and getting her acquainted with what supplies are in the room and how she goes about ordering and giving them out. Working together we got everything sorted and organized. The Christmas mail is starting to come in regularly and stack up.

Elders Kroff and Schoeny have been to the bank twice, to the Pago Rapido to pay facturas, to the Correo, and all the places that Rich normally patronizes during the week. They have been engrossed in all the financial stuff and Sister Schoeny and I don't even know they are around since we have our own agenda. Each team is absorbed and focused.

The afternoon went quickly and it was time to leave. I think the Schoenys are glad when it is quitting time because their brains are on overload by the time we get through with them.

We came home and I fixed spaghetti for dinner, with a tossed salad and bread. I had made the sauce a couple days ago, but we never got around to eating it. So tonight was the night and it hit the spot. It was interesting as I recalled that the first meal I actually prepared when we got here, other than ham sandwiches, was spaghetti. And tonight, as the last meal I am cooking, was also spaghetti. We had the Schoenys to dinner and then we were going to pack and they were going to unpack. I decided that since we are invited out to dinner tomorrow and also on Sunday, that I am not cooking on Monday or Tuesday. We will go to McDonalds or order a pizza or something.

So tonight we are transferring a lot of our dishes, food in the cupboards, and household things over to the Schoenys apartment.

The first thing to leave the apartment was the bookcase. It became contagious to send this and that and we got rid of a lot. Sooner or later it has to go, so this seemed like a good time. It was fun, but nostalgic. Rich sat on the couch watching me unload the cupboards and said, "This seems really final. We are really going home." Yup!

We vacuumed the rug really good and out the door it went. I don't think Rich will give up the couch until next week, nor the TV because he likes to check in with Fox news once in a while.

Tomorrow, we are going to the office for a couple hours to do more training - we just have to. Then we are invited to an asado with a family in our branch. The Schoenys and the elders are going too. It was prompted as a farewell dinner for us. Then again on Sunday we have another dinner invitation. People are too good to us.