Ok, I know I might sound like a broken record, but I have to say again how amazed I am at the magnitude of what happens to keep these missionaries out.  When we sent out our missionaries, we didn't think much about it.  But there's such an army of people that are working to make this possible.  And the computer is a gift from God for missionary work.

We went to a Farmers Market last week in the town square.  It was lots of fun.  I've never seen or eaten an actual fig.  Now I have.

The weather here is beautiful and quite warm.  The leaves haven't changed yet because it's too warm.  It's been raining the last couple of days so that should help with beautiful leaves when they do change.

I went to an orthopedic doctor this week for my knee.  In case you are reading this and I haven't mentioned it, I came into the mission field with a torn meniscus. He prescribed 6 weeks of physical therapy, twice a week.

I made cookies today and we are going to take some to some of our neighbors and meet them.  It was so funny cooking here.  We had to buy absolutely everything I needed as far as ingredients.  Then I found some measuring cups  here but I couldn't tell what size they were because the words were rubbed off.  Everything is an adventure.  Can you imagine if we were in Tahiti? Everything we do reminds us of the abundance of life we have enjoyed at home.  But it's just stuff.

We love being here.  We love being missionaries.  But when I don't feel good because my knee hurts or my neck hurts, I get discouraged.  I'm working on that.  The missionaries are all so cute and inspiring.  There's possibly a few knotheads, but there's hope for them too.

Love those conference talks!

OFFICE MISSIONARIES
 I have been working with Brother Bingham all week to learn how to be the housing coordinator.  There are so many things going on at once.  I have apartments I am trying to get, apartments I am finishing all the paper work on, leases to sign, apartments I need to close, leases I need to renew, apartments to look at, things I have to figure out in order to have enough apartments when we have transfers and get new missionaries in. Elder Johnson is teaching me how to use the computer more effectively to keep track of it all.  My little brain is spinning.

 One thing we worked on all week was trying to acquire a new apartment for some missionaries who are currently living in a dump.  The missionaries were so excited they called me every day to make sure I was on it and I wasn't dropping the ball. I talked to the apartment manager several times, I sent her informational papers; and then I almost cried when I finally heard back that they won't accept us because they don't want people moving in and out.  It was such a disappointment and I had to call the missionaries and tell them.  Now they have to try to find another one.  What a disappointment!  Seriously though, I had no idea there were people like that when our kids went on missions.  I guess I thought their apartments magically appeared.  We really want the missionaries to have a good place to live.  I'm on the phone a lot asking missionaries if they are happy and if their apartment is safe and comfortable.

Elder Johnson?  What do you do all day?

SACRIFICES
I'm also continuously amazed at the sacrifices people make to come on a mission, both the young and the seniors.  In Stake conference a girl talked about her mission call.  She was almost ready to graduate from college and was well on her way to the career she had planned.  Then God put a strong thought in her mind that she should serve a mission.  She was MAD.  She proceeded to have a big "wrestle" with God.  She reads her scriptures, she goes to church, she prays; why would he try to mess up her life?  She's doing everything right.  Hmmm  It was a sweet testimony builder to hear how her heart changed and now she has a call to serve.

We are learning that lots of senior missionaries don't get what they asked for.  On the mission application you can request, but it specifically says that doesn't mean you'll get what you ask for.  And boy is that true.  One example of many, Sister Braaten in our office specifically asked to be sent anywhere BUT an office.

MISSIONARY EXPERIENCES

Elder Willie and Lampropoulos tried to figure out a way to be more creative in their missionary work.  Both wrestled in High School so they contacted the wrestling coach at the High school in their area and offered to help with the team.  The coach took them up on their offer.  The first day of off season practice the Elders explained to the wrestlers that they were missionaries for our church and told them a little bit about themselves.

The next day the wrestlers wanted to know what our church believed so the Elders got to explain to them.  Elder Lampropoulos talked later to one of the youth about the restoration and Elder Willie talked to one about modern day prophets.  One of the youth asked about the Book of Mormon and wanted a copy.

 

This is the football stadium at the University of Arkansas. They are the Razorbacks. They are in the SEC so their football is very important to them. This in in Fayetteville which is about 30 minutes south of here (close to Target).

There are great trails here for walking and biking.  Some are paved and some aren't. We went on a walk yesterday morning and got caught in the rain.   But look at that beautiful trail behind us.  Right now, because of my knee, we stick to the paved trails.