A Week in the Life....

These passed 10 days have been filled with a few more different challenges and experiences than usually occur over such a short period of time.

Mon. Feb 16:  We had two elders out of commission, one with a back problem and the other with knee problems. We brought them into the office for a 2 week extended stay to get treatment. Two of our Assistants went out to take their places. Happy to report they are both improving and one of them will go back into the field with the next transfer. It looks like the other Elder will work as an assistant secretary and continue with medical treatment until he goes home in September.  He really wanted to be able to finish his mission and so far the church medical staff are in agreement with that. It rarely happens that way.

Tues. Feb 17-18:  Carnival and Zone Conference. We did not see or hear much of Carnival around here. It was pretty quiet. However, because of a conflict with her companions, a Sister who was in a trio,  decided to take off on her own after the Zone Conference. Of course that was extremely worrisome for us, especially because it was Carnival night and there are a lot of people in the streets drinking etc. She was finally located about 11:30 pm in another area where she had served. She stayed  with the Sisters serving there and the next day we picked her up and took her out to an area in the interior.  Things must be working out as we have not heard  any complaints so far.  

To add a little more interest to the week, we had a Brazilian Elder come down with the Chicken Pox.  

As it is said, “ And all  these things shall give thee experience.”  Honestly at our age we are not quite sure why we need experiences like this now.  I guess we are still lacking in something or other. 

Feb. 20 -22. Reprieve!  We spent the weekend in a Mission Presidents Seminar under the direction of the Area Presidency and were filled and rejuvenated. The focus of the area is on becoming self-reliant as an entire country in all aspects of the church. As part of that they hope to contribute 7000 youth and couples to the missionary force this year. Once again as we have said before, we consider it such a privilege to serve at this time of the acceleration of the work.

I had a chance to visit for a few minutes with Cameron’s (Elder Chester) mission president and to hear of the great work he is doing in Fortaleza. This week the letters from Tynan and Bryce were so exciting and we are so grateful for the dedicated service of each of them and the choice experiences they are having.  Can't move on without saying also how proud we are of Adam and his outstanding accomplishments in his military training.

Feb. 24. The last of this series of Zone Conferences.  Love the Zone Conferences and the chance to be up close and personal with the missionaries.  

Feb.25. Dad was out in the interior with the Assistants giving training to the Zone Leaders, District Leaders and Sister Leaders. Did you know there are Sister Leaders in the missions now?  They are a great help in training the Sisters in ways in which the Elders are limited.

    

We had a huge tropical depression come through, high winds, lots of rain and hail. 

Knocked the power out for most of the afternoon and evening in our area and left many streets flooded.  Other than slow going, Dad and the Elders made it home OK, after the worst part of the storm was over. Its great that we live on the second and not the thirteenth floor of the apartment building.  

Our New Dodge Journey 

Feb. 26:  As I am writing this, the clouds are beginning to billow up and we are probably in for another round this afternoon. So  we will send you our love and get this off before the power goes off.