TRANSFERS

Here we are again, another week gone by.  It was transfer week so very busy.  We only had 11 new missionaries come in so that made things a little less stressful.  We had a successful transfer day.  It went smoothly:  no flat tires, Sister Braaten and I didn't get lost, Elder Johnson didn't have to get "frustrated" with us because we got lost, all the transfer points went smoothly, no one forgot to give their car keys to the new area missionaries, we didn't have to turn around and go back because of that.  All in all it was a successful day.  So why am I so tired?????  Because I have to think so hard during transfer week and the week afterward.  It wears out my brain.  

Every Saturday before transfer week, the president calls me to discuss changes and then I get to work.  This time in order to handle the changes, we decided to move a senior missionary into a different apartment.  We had to do that on Monday.  Elder Johnson arranged for a crew and they moved her across town.  We will now use her apartment for some missionaries that weren't actually living in their area before.  She'll be happier in her new apartment because it's light and airy.  But it's such a pain to move!!!

AFTER TRANSFERS

Yesterday I spent the day on the computer making sure that all of the missionaries were assigned to the correct houses on Imos, our missionary program.  All the houses have names, then a dash and the area that lives there.  So I also have to change all that so it's correct, both on Imos and on my spreadsheet of all the houses.  Elder Johnson has to make sure there are drivers assigned and all the cars are moved where they belong.  More thinking.  He's tired too. 

HOUSING AND REPENTANCE

Whenever I get stressed and anxious about something I always end up repenting of it.  God is always in charge and tells me what to do when it's time.  He also drops things in my lap.  Right now we have two new senior sister missionaries getting ready to arrive here.  One will be our new nurse, the other our new secretary.  So I have to find housing for them.  This week a landlord called me and told me he has an empty apartment coming up, am I interested in it?  Yes!!!  It's a 3 plex and it's close to down town and an easy drive to the office.  We have missionaries there and she'll be right next door.  It's a perfect place.  So we went and looked at it and loved it and I'm working now on the lease and the utilities.  

Since it's the end of the month, I maxed out the credit card on purpose ordering supplies for one of the new apartments.  The credit cards gets its new money on the 26th, so on the 24th I maxed it out.  That way I'll have money this coming month to buy supplies for a 2nd new apartment.  I've got it figured out. See why my brain hurts?  All this thinking!   The supplies are coming to the office, but next week I'll have keys and we can have some missionaries move the stuff into her apartment.   Our service missionary that I rely heavily on is injured:  double compound fracture in the leg, from the trampoline park. 

I also snagged another apartment that is coming available right when the other sister missionary arrives.  See, I have to do some more repenting because I was stressed.  We're looking for a new apartment in Van Buren.  The sister missionaries there are living with a member and the member just sold their house.  I'm pretty sure I found an apartment on Friday.  Here I go repenting again of being anxious. Another reason I'm so tired.  Too much thinking AND too much repenting!

WE LOVE MISSIONARIES

One of our missionaries called Elder Johnson this week and apologized for making a "hard stop" in his car.  Elder Johnson gets those reports from the tiwi.  He said he stopped to yell at a guy that kicked a soccer ball and hit the truck.  Chris said,, "Did you have your badge on?"  Then at church Sunday he told us the story and I seriously wish I had a video of him telling about it.  He was all red in the face.  He says, "I knew he was going to hit my truck.  Then he did.  I was so mad!"  Guess he has some repenting to do too. Right?  He got a little lecture.

We had a sweet trip to the airport yesterday with the missionaries going home.  Chris was parking the truck and I went in the airport with the missionaries.  A man was in front of us in line and he asked me who we were.  I told him we were all missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He asked where we were all going.  I said all these young missionaries have been here for 2 years and now they are all returning to their homes.  He was all emotional and said how happy that makes him feel.  He said usually we wait till we are older to give back, but they are giving back at a very young age.  He asked if he could have his picture with all of us.  He asked a stranger to take our picture and there were all these handsome Elders in their suits and one beautiful Sister and him in a picture.  Then he told us that he's from Chile and when he was younger living in Chile, his dad pointed out to him that there were missionaries in their country teaching about Jesus Christ.  His dad told him how that would make such a different to their country to learn more about Jesus Christ.  He told us he is a Christian and he is thankful for what we are doing and what we have done for his country.  It was a really sweet sendoff.  And he was a nice man to share that with us.  He says he's going to show that picture to his dad.  

I cried this time at the airport.  We love the missionaries.  So much love in a mission.  We've had several missionaries go home this week for various reasons: sickness, sin, and disinterest.  We love them all and we pray for them.  My prayer is that no matter how long they were here, they will remember something positive that will help them in their future life.  

P DAY TIREDNESS

This morning I drank my protein shake in bed, talked on the phone, and texted while Chris made another airport run for two missionaries.   One Elder going home to the Marshall Islands, Elder Abner.  We've heard he's a legend in the mission because he's baptized 50 people while he was here. The other Elder is going home because he doesn't want to be here.  He says he never did want to be here.  He wanted to go home as soon as he got here, but someone talked him out of it and he stayed for 10 months.  

We are happy and tired!  But a good nap today will help with the tired. Here's just a few transfer pictures.