Fun and Busy Times in the Office

We knew that this would be a very busy week at the office, with only two weeks left before transfers, with Glen's upcoming audit with church headquarters, and with parts of our office getting new carpet.  But we felt more renewed with our weekend and our computers now working better.  Oh, the power of renewal!

On Monday, I had a singular experience.  Sis. Young, a senior missionary from the employment center next door, brought a woman over to the office and explained that she (Tasha) had been to DI (can you believe all these experiences I have with DI?) and felt like she should buy this black book that she was looking at.  It was a Triple Combination. She was intrigued with it and read the first 17 chapters of 1 Nephi and felt something inside.  She went back to DI and asked if they knew anything about the book or the church who published it, because she loved what she was reading.  They referred her to the mission office and she ended up at the employment center, which is closer to DI.  She talked to Sis. Young for a while, and then she brought Tasha over to the mission office.  Sis. Young and I had the opportunity to talk to her for awhile and it was AMAZING!!  She said she wanted to learn about this church that had such beautiful teachings and she said she felt like the book spoke to her more than the Bible did.  She asked that sister missionaries (go sister missionaries!) teach her because she was a single mom.  Sisters Dillistone and Rasmussen, (yes, the same sister missionaries that I went teaching with!) went to teach her the NEXT day and said that they likewise had an amazing experience with her.  It was such a neat experience for me!  I'll keep you posted as to what happens with her.  It never ceases to amaze me how the Lord has prepared so many people here to receive the gospel.  I also got a phone call asking if Glen and I would teach an older lady who doesn't want "young missionaries" to teach her.  Are you kidding--of course we would!  We'll see what happens with that.  I continue to get quite the interesting array of phone calls and visitors.  A beautiful and gentle Navajo woman also stopped in to see if she could get some help.  She was looking for the transient services of the bishop who serves around the corner from us, and we were able to have a neat conversation.  She came back in the next day to talk to me.  People just fall into hard times and need the gospel so badly!

On Tuesday, I was so surprised to see that we didn't get any new notification of new missionary arrivals for our mission.  ( I usually receive them on Tuesdays).  I wondered it it was because of all the new missionary applications that the Brethren must be receiving.  We have heard from just about everyone how bishops in every stake here and everywhere else have spent countless hours talking to new prospective missionaries about serving.  This change in missionary age will probably go down as one of the very pivotal points in the history of missionary work, for all the ramifications that will come as a result of it.  It's such an exciting time to be in the mission field and see what's happening!  As the zone leaders came in on Tuesday, I would ask each of them how the ward members in their areas responded to the announcement.  They said that they were enthusiastic for the most part, but that some were  genuinely skeptical. It's amazing to me to see how some members of the church wonder about following the prophet when an announcement is made.  It has always been that way and I suppose it will in the future.  Could they sing "Follow the Prophet" in their meetings?

On Wednesday, it was Elder Conder's birthday and we celebrated it all day.  Fun times!  It's been exciting to see how well Elder and Sister Conder have responded to ordering supplies and managing the cell phones. It seems to have given them renewed enthusiasm to serve their missions and they are doing an excellent job in ordering and organizing all the supplies.  I think it would surprise people to know how much money it takes to keep each missionary in the field.  The $400 that missionaries or their families are asked to pay is a small amount compared to what the cost actually is when you consider that an apartment with furnishings and utilities, a car with insurance, health insurance, all their supplies, etc. is being paid for.

On Thursday, a church auditor from SLC came to spend the whole day with Glen and audit the mission finances.  Glen was quite worried about this visit, because he has had no experience with ever being a ward clerk or anything of the kind.  But this man, Bro. Vallen, was so kind and helpful that it was  a very positive experience. He told Glen and President Black that Glen is doing a fine job.  He said, "The missions that I go to have a separate person over finance and housing, and it's unusual for you to do both, but you are doing a good job compared to what I see in other missions."  Way to go Glen!   

The second that Bro. Vallen left, Glen had to start tearing down his office, and the Conders and Elder Dana had to tear down their offices because their carpet was being replaced that very evening!  Luckily the carpet in my office wasn't being replaced, because if I have to go without my computer for even an hour, it would be very difficult.  Glen can't go without his either, but now he would have to!  But the silver lining--we left the office at 5:00!!!!!  We had to be out of there for the carpet layers to work--what an event to actually leave at 5:00!!!

The next morning we all admired the fine work that the carpet layers did, who stayed until 1:00 a.m. to get it finished.  But it took all morning to get the offices back in working order and set up the computers, printers, supplies, etc.  What a job!  Everyone was ready for a nap when we finished.  But of course there was no break because we had to make up for the lost time with all the things that needed to be done.  And my work for the day?  I had to check on the expiring drivers' licenses, visas, and passports of the missionaries.  Please, parents, make sure that your missionary's driver's license or passport will NOT expire for the duration of his/her mission!  It's quite a hassle if it does.  I also requested the travel home for our missionaries who are leaving in January.  That's so scary for me, because they are being to sent to many different airports--what if I submit the wrong one?!

We receive our eight new missionaries a week from tomorrow!!!  We are opening up only three new areas this time--that's a lot, but much more manageable than the nine we opened last transfer.  Please pray for us as we get everything ready this week that needs to get done!  The work continues, Zion prospers, and the Church is true!