We happened to catch Logan's family by FaceTime on Tuesday after work
and they were having family night Monday at home in Utah. The kids took
turns quoting the Articles of Faith we are all learning and Logan asked
Papa to say the closing prayer. It was a sweet experience to share.
Monday was the monthly Family Home Evening with the senior missionaries. Since Sister Salazar is getting ready to leave and our eating area is a bit larger, we had it at our house and everyone brought potluck for dinner. In order to get to know each other better, or to see how well we know each other already, we played two truths and a lie game for the activity. Each person takes a turn and says two true things and one untrue thing about themselves and then the rest of the group tries to determine which is the lie. We had some good laughs!
When it rains, it pours with regards to sewing/repairs/hemming for the Elders. Sister Goodrich did the sleeve lengthening of a jacket for a missionary who is going home this week and I hemmed the pants, as well as repaired several pair of pants for other missionaries.
Have I told you about the vault? It's a storage place behind the mission home for shoes, shirts, coats, pants, and suits donated by a member who owns a men's store downtown. Sometimes missionaries 'outgrow' things or have things they can no longer use and those items are added to the inventory. When missionaries need something, they are escorted to the vault to "shop." We have missionaries from all economic levels so the vault is a huge blessing and we are grateful to get the donations.
Sister Salazar is going home March 27th, and the two senior couples serving in Mildura and Alice Springs are going home in May and July. We have received notice of only one replacement, a single sister scheduled to arrive in June to be the finance clerk. Until then, the Goodrichs have learned finance PLUS special projects such as blue binders, Mormon Messages DVD making, teaching picture albums, ordering supplies which is a huge job, and referrals. Depending on how things work out and President Carter's inspiration, the Goodrichs assignment after June may change.
Elder Brown flew down from Darwin Tuesday in time for a leaver dinner with Carter's and Sister Salazar and us after his interview with President Carter. Lee was out the door at 4:00 am Wednesday to take him to the airport for his trip home to Boise. It's difficult to pack all that one accumulates in two years to fit back into the bags they brought. Luggage weight overages are a result and that is terribly expensive and a gong show at the ticket counter at 4:00 am. Lee purchased an accurate luggage scale this week and procedures are going to be adjusted.
The weather has been mild, and even though the temperatures are to be in the 90s, fall is definitely in the air. Lee had some time Wednesday afternoon to wash our white van and President Carter's car. They were both in need of it, ours especially as a bird had left its mark on the front windshield.
Monday was the monthly Family Home Evening with the senior missionaries. Since Sister Salazar is getting ready to leave and our eating area is a bit larger, we had it at our house and everyone brought potluck for dinner. In order to get to know each other better, or to see how well we know each other already, we played two truths and a lie game for the activity. Each person takes a turn and says two true things and one untrue thing about themselves and then the rest of the group tries to determine which is the lie. We had some good laughs!
When it rains, it pours with regards to sewing/repairs/hemming for the Elders. Sister Goodrich did the sleeve lengthening of a jacket for a missionary who is going home this week and I hemmed the pants, as well as repaired several pair of pants for other missionaries.
Have I told you about the vault? It's a storage place behind the mission home for shoes, shirts, coats, pants, and suits donated by a member who owns a men's store downtown. Sometimes missionaries 'outgrow' things or have things they can no longer use and those items are added to the inventory. When missionaries need something, they are escorted to the vault to "shop." We have missionaries from all economic levels so the vault is a huge blessing and we are grateful to get the donations.
Sister Salazar is going home March 27th, and the two senior couples serving in Mildura and Alice Springs are going home in May and July. We have received notice of only one replacement, a single sister scheduled to arrive in June to be the finance clerk. Until then, the Goodrichs have learned finance PLUS special projects such as blue binders, Mormon Messages DVD making, teaching picture albums, ordering supplies which is a huge job, and referrals. Depending on how things work out and President Carter's inspiration, the Goodrichs assignment after June may change.
Elder Brown flew down from Darwin Tuesday in time for a leaver dinner with Carter's and Sister Salazar and us after his interview with President Carter. Lee was out the door at 4:00 am Wednesday to take him to the airport for his trip home to Boise. It's difficult to pack all that one accumulates in two years to fit back into the bags they brought. Luggage weight overages are a result and that is terribly expensive and a gong show at the ticket counter at 4:00 am. Lee purchased an accurate luggage scale this week and procedures are going to be adjusted.
The weather has been mild, and even though the temperatures are to be in the 90s, fall is definitely in the air. Lee had some time Wednesday afternoon to wash our white van and President Carter's car. They were both in need of it, ours especially as a bird had left its mark on the front windshield.
Speaking
of splats, Lee was hooking up to the trailer that is stored out by the
shed under some trees, when he said he heard a bird laugh and at that
moment felt something wet in his hair. Yep, you guessed it, there was a
big splat of bird poop on the top of Lee's head and on his white shirt
as well. Yuck!
We were thankful for modern cell phone technology when we got a call from 'far' missionaries saying that a member's new baby had been life flighted to a local Adelaide hospital and would the Elders please go over to give him a blessing. I called the closest set of missionaries and gave them the baby's name and other information and they went immediately to the hospital, but weren't allowed in as their names weren't on a visit list.
When the missionaries called me back to report what had happened, I thanked them for their efforts and called the 'far' missionary to give him the report. At 8:45 pm that same evening the 'far' missionary called back to say the baby might not make it through the night and the parents asked if the missionaries would please go again, and that they would call the hospital to put the Elders names on the visit list.
We were thankful for modern cell phone technology when we got a call from 'far' missionaries saying that a member's new baby had been life flighted to a local Adelaide hospital and would the Elders please go over to give him a blessing. I called the closest set of missionaries and gave them the baby's name and other information and they went immediately to the hospital, but weren't allowed in as their names weren't on a visit list.
When the missionaries called me back to report what had happened, I thanked them for their efforts and called the 'far' missionary to give him the report. At 8:45 pm that same evening the 'far' missionary called back to say the baby might not make it through the night and the parents asked if the missionaries would please go again, and that they would call the hospital to put the Elders names on the visit list.
I felt very grateful for the
Power of the Priesthood, missionaries who dropped everything TWICE to
serve, and for being able to get it all organized in a matter of minutes
via our cell phones despite the great distances involved.
Lee had Mission Presidency meeting Thursday night. They meet monthly at the mission home to discuss a variety of issues in the mission.
It was quiet around the office Friday, although there is much to do just before transfers. Maybe that's why it was so quiet, we were all very busy!
Lee made a trip downtown Friday morning to get donated items from the man's shop mentioned above. The store is in Rundle Mall and parking is not out in front of the store. After unloading and sorting the van load of boxes, Lee found a box of formal trousers that got mixed in with the donation to the mission, so Lee had to go BACK downtown to return them. GONG!
We went to the temple Friday night. We both hurt all over and felt tired when we sat down but were rested and glad that we attended by the end. Great finish to the week!
Lee met the bike delivery for the arrivers at 830 am Saturday. We also did laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning, etc as usual. I organized our taxes in the afternoon. Lee cleaned out the kitchen sink drain and you wouldn't believe what he found in the pipes. No wonder it didn't drain correctly! After a nap, we went to the office to redo the newsletter as described in my lows. Lee helped thankfully, so it didn't take long at all.
We had tacos for dinner Saturday night with fresh chopped tomato and lettuce. We never get tired of Mexican food, although we greatly miss diced green canned chilies and pitted black olives. I made oatmeal cookies with coconut and chocolate chips after dinner. I had the last tray in the oven when the power went out from 7:00 pm until 9:05 pm. We walked warm cookies to the Carter's, Sister Salazar, and the Whites.
March 8th is the end of month 8 of our mission. Lee's birthday April 8 will be the half way point. I visited with my sisters in Oregon today via Face Time and they asked me "Do you love it?"
I had to stop and think before answering and I'm not even sure what I said, but having since thought about it would say, "We are happy for this experience as we are learning so much by stretching beyond our comfort zone. We LOVE serving with the missionaries and the Carters, but I won't lie, it has been difficult being away from our family. Having said that, we enjoy what we do everyday, the weeks fly by, and we feel we are demonstrating our love and devotion to God and Christ by sacrificing to serve a senior mission."
We facilitated our first English class today during the second hour of church meetings. There was a Chinese husband and wife, two Korean young men, approx age 21, and an Iranian man. Lee did a great job leading the discussion and we will be holding classes every Wednesday and Sunday.
Lee had Mission Presidency meeting Thursday night. They meet monthly at the mission home to discuss a variety of issues in the mission.
It was quiet around the office Friday, although there is much to do just before transfers. Maybe that's why it was so quiet, we were all very busy!
Lee made a trip downtown Friday morning to get donated items from the man's shop mentioned above. The store is in Rundle Mall and parking is not out in front of the store. After unloading and sorting the van load of boxes, Lee found a box of formal trousers that got mixed in with the donation to the mission, so Lee had to go BACK downtown to return them. GONG!
We went to the temple Friday night. We both hurt all over and felt tired when we sat down but were rested and glad that we attended by the end. Great finish to the week!
Lee met the bike delivery for the arrivers at 830 am Saturday. We also did laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning, etc as usual. I organized our taxes in the afternoon. Lee cleaned out the kitchen sink drain and you wouldn't believe what he found in the pipes. No wonder it didn't drain correctly! After a nap, we went to the office to redo the newsletter as described in my lows. Lee helped thankfully, so it didn't take long at all.
We had tacos for dinner Saturday night with fresh chopped tomato and lettuce. We never get tired of Mexican food, although we greatly miss diced green canned chilies and pitted black olives. I made oatmeal cookies with coconut and chocolate chips after dinner. I had the last tray in the oven when the power went out from 7:00 pm until 9:05 pm. We walked warm cookies to the Carter's, Sister Salazar, and the Whites.
March 8th is the end of month 8 of our mission. Lee's birthday April 8 will be the half way point. I visited with my sisters in Oregon today via Face Time and they asked me "Do you love it?"
I had to stop and think before answering and I'm not even sure what I said, but having since thought about it would say, "We are happy for this experience as we are learning so much by stretching beyond our comfort zone. We LOVE serving with the missionaries and the Carters, but I won't lie, it has been difficult being away from our family. Having said that, we enjoy what we do everyday, the weeks fly by, and we feel we are demonstrating our love and devotion to God and Christ by sacrificing to serve a senior mission."
We facilitated our first English class today during the second hour of church meetings. There was a Chinese husband and wife, two Korean young men, approx age 21, and an Iranian man. Lee did a great job leading the discussion and we will be holding classes every Wednesday and Sunday.
This week is transfers! I'll tell you all about it next time!
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