This week was a whirlwind and I just remembered we haven't written in the blog yet.  We've been to the airport twice this week; once with a missionary going home early for health and one who finished his mission.  We got new missionaries Wednesday, only 4.  That's the smallest number since we've been here.  Chris drove on the transfer loop Thursday but I didn't go.  The mission nurse decided she'd like to go so I stayed at the office.  It was a nice quiet day and I got a lot of work done.  I have a couple of new apartments we are opening and a couple we are closing so it all takes work and phone calls to utilities, etc. Since we don't have a secretary, we are covering for her too.  We were in charge of two lunches this week, one on Tuesday for the 6 week training and one Saturday for the special MLC.  We have two men here from Salt Lake who are missionary experts and they were training the zone leaders and sister training leaders at MLC (Mission Leadership Council).  I was so tired yesterday I sat down in a chair and fell asleep for about 2 1/2 hours.

We love going to church in our little Anderson ward where it is very racially diverse.  There are several different languages spoken there.  Last Sunday for fast meeting an older couple went up to bear their testimonies.  They speak Spanish.  Their granddaughter (about 17 years old) went up with them to interpret.  First the grandmother talked.  She'd say a little, then her granddaughter would interpret.  On and on, it was very sweet.  Then the grandpa's turn.  He got up there with his granddaughter beside him and off he went.  He was talking a mile a minute and never even hesitated.  His granddaughter was looking really uncomfortable.  She's keeps looking out at everyone, looking confused, then steps back and looks behind her like maybe she should sit down.  She was so uncomfortable and he just kept talking.  Then suddenly he stopped and he jabbed her with his elbow.  At that point she collapsed laughing and he started laughing too.  It was so funny!  When they pulled themselves together she rolled her eyes and tried to remember everything he'd said.  Then he talked a little more and he was done.  Later in the meeting, a young father bore his testimony in the Pohnpei language with no interpreter.  It was sweet and we could feel the spirit.  Then in primary we sang Children All Over the World.  It's the song where we sing Thank you in several different languages.  Then the end says, "Our Heavenly Father knows them, He loves them, loves them, every one.  We changed one of the thank yous to be in Pohnpeian instead of Japanese.  Here's a cute little girl in our primary.  Her mom wrote on the board how to say thank you in their language.  Hope you see what a beautiful day it was and how much God and Jesus love us all, and understand us all no matter what language we speak.  We have a strengthened testimony of God's love for all of his children.

One more story and I'm done.  We were thinking about having some missionaries switch apartments so that they'd be closer to their area.  One Elder was asked to discuss it with the sister missionaries and decide if it was a good idea.  Instead, he told them they had to move and they had no choice.  They were pretty upset.  I was upset.  It was very rude.  So I told him they weren't moving.  He wasn't very happy with me and kept explaining why they should move.  Well, he got transferred Thursday.    His companion who now has a new companion went to the sisters apartment and apologized profusely for the way they had been treated.  The sisters called me and told me about his apology and they told me it was so sincere and kind that their hearts were softened and they feel they should move.  I felt like the move was a good idea, but was praying about how to approach it with kindness after the girls were treated so poorly.  The problem solved itself with a sincere apology.  I felt like my prayer was answered in a perfect way. Just shows what a little kindness can do.  

Elder Johnson is flying to Spokane tomorrow with a missionary who has to go home for medical reasons.  He's had 2 seizures and 1 smaller episode since he's been here.  He had his second full-on seizure yesterday so he's on his way home.  We had to go to the office today to get his departure packet ready and get their itinerary all straightened out. He's so sad he has to go home. 

We love the missionaries.  We are very busy.  We are happy.  We are tired.  We know that God helps take up the slack when we are lacking.  We are learning a lot and growing a lot.  Senior missionaries are so needed.  Our new secretary is arriving today and we can't wait!