Busy!...Isn't It Great?

One would think that things would slow down in the mission office the week after Christmas, but not so. We were busy every.single.day. last week, including New Years Day.

The senior missionaries (pronounced mission reez in Australia) got together New Years Eve for dinner and games at the Goodrich's. We had pizza, salad, and munchies. Afterward we played Rummikub and another game similar to two truths and a lie (it was really two lies and a truth). Elder Goodrich took to the dictionary ahead of time and selected unfamiliar words. Each person on your team gets a paper with the word on it, but only one person has the definition written on their paper. The other team members have to come up with a convincing made up definition and the other team guesses which person is telling the truth. We had lots of laughs!

New missionaries have two group training sessions, one the week of their arrival and the second session a month later. January 1st was an arrivers training at the adjacent church so missionaries drop by the office just before and just after the meeting. It's always great to see them! It also means it's busy in the office and we love it!

Much of the office conversation last week was centered around the fact that Sister Salazar was called on a 12 month mission and was originally scheduled to go home January 28th but she has kindly extended until the end of March. President Carter requested a single sister missionary to replace her in the office many months ago but just recently was informed that Salt Lake City doesn't have any one that fits the criteria to send. We've been told that the church only has 1/2 of the senior missionary couples serving that are needed. If you are willing and able, there hasn't ever been a better time than now. 

With the lengthy visa application process, even if someone was called TODAY, they wouldn't arrive to Australia in time for Sister Salazar to train them before she leaves in March. So President Carter decided to bring the Goodrich's into the office to replace her. They arrived 6 weeks before we did to the mission from North Salt Lake have been serving as Member and Leader Support missionaries.  They also do referrals in the office, as well as special projects. They already fit right in and are willing to do whatever is needed so the transition should be pretty seamless. We can't even imagine the office without Sister Salazar but change happens and everyone goes home sometime. I realize there is life beyond the mission but Sister Salazar will be missed!

Friday night the Whites went with us to the temple. We always enjoy seeing ward and stake members in attendance. I love that the temple president and his wife meet and greet patrons at the door, and Australians are huggers, so she hugs me coming and going! The Adelaide temple resembles the Mt. Timpanogas temple, though much, much smaller. The grounds are very beautiful and the temple is less than 2 miles from our flat, which makes it nice.

Saturday we spent house keeping, doing laundry, and grocery shopping, and made a stop at the fabric store for supplies. I hemmed or mended 6 pairs of missionary trousers last week and two pair the week before. I think word of my ability and willingness is getting around and I am happy to help! 

We enjoyed a Saturday afternoon rest and a day weather wise not too hot, and not too cold, but just right so we had doors and windows open all day.  It was great! (that's President Carter's favorite phrase and it must be rubbing off on me:-))

Sunday was the first Sunday of the new year, and our meeting time changed so we were up and out to church by 8:45 am to start at 9. Fast and testimony meeting was truly wonderful, as usual, and the Gospel Essentials Sunday School class was well attended and informative to new members, investigators, and missionaries alike. 

The Firle sister missionaries, Sister Lucas and Sister Lewis, had two women getting baptized right after church. The baptismal service was great! (oops, there's that phrase again!)

We had missionaries for dinner at 5pm. Lee barbecued burgers and Elder Kruger and Elder Taylor seemed to enjoy the meal. Afterward we attended a missionary fireside that we LOVED!

 Three recently baptized members shared their conversion stories, which were all unique and very heart warming. President Carter and President Yeow from the stake presidency spoke on the Light of Christ. If I haven't mentioned it previously, we think President Carter is absolutely amazing and extremely gifted!  He can talk anytime, anywhere and it sounds to the heart and mind like he prepared for a month, no matter the topic!

A short "Mormon message"from LDS.org was shown featuring David A. Bednar on Light. It was a beautiful hour with a meet and greet afterward w/refreshments. It was TRULY great! 

Another thing I've been working on is the Best Practices. It is a compilation of the "best of" taken from highlights and miracles shared with President in the missionaries' weekly emails answering three constant questions, and one new question of his choice every week. I am blessed to experience their experiences through reading and editing their highlights. The result is a 2 page, double sided document to distribute at transfer time that everyone loves!

We also distribute a newsletter at transfers containing an inspiring, motivating, encouraging message from the assistants, one also from President Carter, and the list of convert baptisms since last transfer.

Incoming mail has been crazy for Lee! The week of Christmas you would expect it to be heavy, but even last week was wild, and today was a tote or two full! Missionaries LOVE letters and packages and their friends and family know it. Much of today's mail was Christmas packages arriving late so hopefully it will soon decrease to normal levels.

As we mentioned in our highs and lows, the mission received three infringements last week. It is heartbreaking to the office staff to think of the $$ and I really hate seeing the notification pop up on the mission email. But it shouldn't take long for penalties of those amounts to adjust behavior.....we hope! There are no 5 mph over allowances here, that's for sure!

That's all for this week. There is rarely a dull moment as we are preparing for upcoming transfers and Elder Pearson's mission tour next week. We are happy, healthy, and couldn't agree more with President Carter when he says, " Isn't this great??"