Dear family, Here are some clips from my journal... can't remember what I have written lately, so some of it might be a repeat...
Thurs. Oct 23, 2008
I have been so overwhelmed with the office, that I don't think I have thought much about anything else. We had a lot of computer problems for about 7 days, and now I am weeks behind. It about did me in with the stress of trying to meet so many deadlines. Everything I do, effects the rest of the office and how well the mission functions. I can't tell you how hard that was on me. Some people showed patience and others wanted everything now! and that was hard.. But finally dad realized the problem and was able to fix it. So now I am just trying to get caught up.
Tomorrow is Greenie training meeting. Those are fun.
It has been amazing how many times we are the companions to the Elders in the office when some have to do other things, and one is left with us. We had one Elder up for breakfast today, yesterday it was lunch. We try to help where we can in feeding them. We fed two for lunch today also, because I couldn't leave the office until all 15 elders came back from a visa run. That means going by metro into the Interpol to begin the visa process and then on to other stops. They come in at 7 am. I go home after they have all come to pick up their paper work and have breakfast. One of the office elders had to go on the run, so that is why we had one elder for breakfast, his companion. After returning to the office, I can't leave until they all return about 2:30 usually, but today, most were back about 12:30. So that was good, but we had already ordered lunch into the office. so we just worked straight through until 6 pm... Long days!
Sunday, Oct 26, 2008
Today, has been a great day. Church was only held long enough to pass the sacrament and make announcements. Today was voting day for the Chileans and it is against the law to hold any kind of meetings on Voting day.. We came home, took a nap, ate lunch, took a nap, went to the office for an hour and then we went for a walk with Dr. Dixon and his wife, and Brother and Sister Davis. We went on a long walk!!!! I was so tired. When we got back we went out in the back of our apartment and sat and talked, ate cookies and just visited. Then another senior couple (Andelins) were coming home from their “Campo”( ward out in the country) assignment and they were telling us about the baptism they had and about the family. It was an amazing story. They brought back fresh goats cheese and shared that with us and then to top the evening off, she played her violin for us. A poof wayfaring man.... Boy it was beautiful. What a way to finish off a beautiful Sunday.
Our meeting on Friday with the new missionaries went well. I was really proud of dad and I and that we were able to do our part and speak Spanish. I could explain what I needed to say, but didn’t understand their questions and had to ask for help. But I felt good about all of it.
Saturday, we got up about 8:30 and had a good night sleep. You will laugh at this one.... we took a mattress and laid it on the floor in our little living room and closed the bedroom and kitchen doors to shut out the street noise and we were able to sleep in quiet for the first time since being here. It felt so good.... We felt like we were camping out!!! Funny huh!
We went to the office for a few hours and then watched a movie last night. We are reading the Pearl of Great Price. We finished the book of Moses today.
Yesterday, the weather went cold again for some reason. Today it warmed back up. We had a new senior sister (Graham) arrive yesterday. She will be working in the church employment center. She replaced sister Mauldin who finished up her mission on Friday and returned home to Utah. The rest of the mission is just going, going, going. I have about 30 baptisms to type up and send to Salt Lake. We had one elder attacked on Thursday night. The guy took a iron rod and tried to beat him up. The doctor said he was smart to have put his arm up to guard his face. He will be OK. It was an attack against gringos. We will receive two more senior couples on November 8th. They are assigned as area missionaries and will also work in the employment center.
I don’t know if I wrote about a special meeting that we were called to attend at 7 pm (Oct 15th). We were told that Russell M. Nielsen was going to come and speak to us before he attended the temple with the presidents of the missions. We were all there waiting and he got stuck in traffic because of a big soccer game being played. He was supposed to be in the temple at 7:30, and at ten to eight, he finally arrived. We were only able to have a brief but fun hello and shake his hand. We sang and sang while we waited and that was awesome.
Love and prayers with all of you....
Have a good week..
Love mom and dad
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
October 19, 2008
Hi family,
We are doing great. We have finished a big week of changes within
the mission and we survived! They create a lot of work for dad and I.
But it was good and we enjoyed being around the missionaries.
We now have internet at home, YEAH!! infact I am on line with Jacob right now, and that is way fun. So watch in the evenings for us to be on line. Next Skype!
We went out to dinner friday night with two other couples (Andelin´s and Davis´) and we had such a good time. We went to this place that served wonderful, I mean
wonderful steaks!!! huge!! We shared a steak it was so large. I am
so glad that there are other couples that have learned their way around and can take us places.
We had a young man and his girl friend walk into our office last night, and he was wanting to find some missionaries to teach him. That was a awesome experience. For the life of us, though, we can't figure how they got past the guards to come to our office. But so glad they
did, it was 9 pm on a Saturday night!!! He (Francisco Horta) is so excited about the church and so looking forward to learning more. I hope we have a chance to sit in on some
of the discussions.
Have I told you about the dogs around here. If not, here goes.
Disney would have had a ball writing about one... They roam the streets
everywhere. not just a few, but hundreds are homeless. They sleep,
and wonder around waiting and hoping for some food. They aren't skinny either. But you don't want to be close by when they start in on one of
their fights. Most of the time, they don't bother you, but they are
loaded with disease and fleas, so you don't dare pet them.. Crazy...
yep, I guess as I am writing this, I have told you about them before.
oh well...
It is warming up... and the last few days have been nice and cool.
The sun seems so intense here, We can't get over that.
Today in church, was really good. We have the most wonderful young man that teaches our English Sunday school class. He served a mission
in the states. Ogden, I think.. As dad puts it, he doesn't say
much, but it is the spirit that he carries that is so powerful..
Then in Sacrament meeting the talks were really good. One of them, I almost understood..
Not much to report on this week.. Love to all...
take care... love ya Thanks for all the letters, we sure enjoy them.
mom and dad
We are doing great. We have finished a big week of changes within
the mission and we survived! They create a lot of work for dad and I.
But it was good and we enjoyed being around the missionaries.
We now have internet at home, YEAH!! infact I am on line with Jacob right now, and that is way fun. So watch in the evenings for us to be on line. Next Skype!
We went out to dinner friday night with two other couples (Andelin´s and Davis´) and we had such a good time. We went to this place that served wonderful, I mean
wonderful steaks!!! huge!! We shared a steak it was so large. I am
so glad that there are other couples that have learned their way around and can take us places.
We had a young man and his girl friend walk into our office last night, and he was wanting to find some missionaries to teach him. That was a awesome experience. For the life of us, though, we can't figure how they got past the guards to come to our office. But so glad they
did, it was 9 pm on a Saturday night!!! He (Francisco Horta) is so excited about the church and so looking forward to learning more. I hope we have a chance to sit in on some
of the discussions.
Have I told you about the dogs around here. If not, here goes.
Disney would have had a ball writing about one... They roam the streets
everywhere. not just a few, but hundreds are homeless. They sleep,
and wonder around waiting and hoping for some food. They aren't skinny either. But you don't want to be close by when they start in on one of
their fights. Most of the time, they don't bother you, but they are
loaded with disease and fleas, so you don't dare pet them.. Crazy...
yep, I guess as I am writing this, I have told you about them before.
oh well...
It is warming up... and the last few days have been nice and cool.
The sun seems so intense here, We can't get over that.
Today in church, was really good. We have the most wonderful young man that teaches our English Sunday school class. He served a mission
in the states. Ogden, I think.. As dad puts it, he doesn't say
much, but it is the spirit that he carries that is so powerful..
Then in Sacrament meeting the talks were really good. One of them, I almost understood..
Not much to report on this week.. Love to all...
take care... love ya Thanks for all the letters, we sure enjoy them.
mom and dad
Sunday, October 12, 2008
October 12, 2008
Dear family and Friends, It has been a good, busy week. I am finally over my cold, and we are doing well. We feel we are getting settled into our office routines better now, and things are going well. We are loving working with the missionaries. This coming week will be a busy week, for it is the week of changes. Some going home, some coming,, and then the companionships changing.. And the Lord's work goes forward. It is amazing how wonderful the spirit is among the Elders and the Sisters. They have such great attitudes and smiles on their faces. They are so wonderful to be around. We are still learning more about our responsibilities but I think that now that we have been through one full round of changes (a 6 week period) that we should be okay from now on. I can't express enough how much we love being here and doing what we are doing even though we have experienced tough moments in our learning process. The other senior couples are so great to us. Always there to help. We had a funny thing happen today.. Well it is time change, right, and it is Fall right,... well we changed our clocks back one hour.. When we went to church we found out we were TWO hours late! It is Spring here!!!!! That was one on us today!!! So you went back an hour, we went forward an hour... So now there is a 4 hours difference between the States and us. you would think it is fall here with how cold it is some days. But Spring really has its cold days also back home.. Funny!!! We went out to eat with the other Senior couples on Friday night and that was fun. Every other week we go out with all the senior couples, and one couple chooses where we will go that night. in two weeks it is our turn to chose a place. I think we are going to go to this Pizza place we eat at about a month ago. The pizza there was yummy. I have shared before, that the pizza here is not like American Pizza. It is so much better! It is the only food we like better here. We really don't like the Chilean food here. We are incharge of the Family home evening the first part of November and have been working on that. Of course... yep, we are thinking about talking about family history, and some of our adventures. It should be a fun night..We are reading the scriptures every night together and having great discussions. We are loving it. We are just about finished with the Book of Mormon now. That book is amazing. Everytime we read it, it just confirms that it is indeed a second witness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and his ministry on the earth and his plan for us. It never stops to amaze me either, that there is no period of time that Satan isn't doing his best to try and keep us from following Christ and returning to live with Him and our Heavenly Father. Well, I guess that is about all for this week, Everyone, we love you, we miss you! Give everyone hugs and kisses for us. We send our love and prayers to be with each of you. Please keep in touch, it is your letters, and the strength that we receive from them, that makes it possible to stay here and do what we need to do. Hey grandkids, write us, even if it is only a hello and a good bye... we love you!Love,mom and dad,(Eileen and Ron)
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Journal October 3, 2008
Hi family, We are watching conference on the internet in the office.... Here is an up date from my journal. Hope you enjoy. I would really like to hear from the kids!! I sure miss them all and of course all of the adults too. Michael send me Rachael´s email.. somehow it was erased from my address book... Love ya all, mom and dad
Sunday (Sept 26), I woke up this morning not feeling good. I am afraid, the cold is winning! Even though I am taking meds to try and prevent it. We made it to church and I was cold in the church. We came home had lunch and rested and then to the office again, to get things ready for Monday morning meetings. The office is our home away from home. I emailed the kids some, but too tired to really write much. Sent out a few pictures. I really don’t feel well...
Friday, October 3, 2008
This past week has been a busy one in the office, We seem to be drowning some days with all there is to do. I think I should have something done in about a half hour and when I look up it has been three or four hours. I know the procedures are becoming more familiar now, but it always seem there is one step in the middle of some process, that I don’t remember and it takes me hours to figure it out. The cold won... I finally Wed. night started taking some antibiotics to try and stop it from getting worse. I am chilled and my ears were hurting. Today, I finally started feeling better. Wed. Dad and the Elders were able to delivery pouch mail, with out getting too lost and they made it good time!!! He was so glad!
Yesterday, the doctor and his wife, the nurse, (the Dixon’s) came and got us and we walked down to a small little place and got a sandwich for lunch. It wasn’t bad. The Dixon’s must be about 20 years apart in age. He is 80 yrs old, and she looks our age. They have been married 36 or so years. He is always pulling jokes and telling jokes. He is so young at heart. And seems to be in good health. We both enjoy them. We usually go home for lunch and rest, but I am glad we went to lunch with them. It was a nice break. Everyone has asked and called to see how I have been feeling. The doctor’s office is next to ours, and he is always checking in on us.
Today in the office was much more relaxed for some reason... Dad and I talked last night, and decided to try and not fuss over things so much, and try not to involve the Elders so much in our work. I feel it is making things harder on us and dad agreed. I think the office Elders try so hard to help, but I think they are getting overwhelmed with everything that everyone is asking them to do, so we thought we would back off. I asked the Elders to order pizza for everyone. They were more than happy to do that. We treated.. I think I have typed into the system about 13 baptisms this week. I think I typed in about that many last week and the week before that. There are still several to be done and I am waiting on more information. Sometimes information is left off the forms, so I have to try and get the Elders to call and get the information. So the mission is doing good, I just hope the people stay active! There is a terrible problem here with activation. They say one out of 5 are members here, but I think about half are active.. Sad....
The Riggs came back from Talagante yesterday, and that was a surprise. They said they were going to be gone until Monday. She seemed so sad yesterday, I was worried about her. Today we found out that there were family problems and they both were hurting inside. They came back to go to the temple and do a few office routines.
I went and got my first hair cut here... Well... I took a chance on this lady that cut dad’s hair.... all I can say... is it is way short. I asked for a half inch and she cut about two off! I finally told her, not to cut the top, or I thought I might end up bald! I had trimmed that part last week, so it was good anyways. It doesn’t look bad, just shorter than I like it, but it will grow. It is hard to describe what you want when you can’t speak the language. With hand motions and a few words, we were able to figure things out... even though it is shorter than I would have liked. Dad is reading now and I am typing and it is 10 pm... It is conference this weekend, so we will listen to it over internet in the office, or else go over to the ward house and listen to it in English.
It is Saturday morning. Dad is sleeping and I am awake so I thought I would write a little about the things that I am responsible for in the office. I type in the baptism information and send the information to Salt Lake and keep track of the Numbers that I receive from the APs. I am responsible for typing into the system and maintaining the information and pictures of all the new missionaries. Sending out the letters to the incoming missionaries. Typing up letters from the president to the families, bishops and stake presidents as needed. I keep a updated list of changes and where all the missionaries are serving and their phone numbers. I keep an updated list of all the incoming and out going missionaries so we know each month who is coming and going. The numbers are constantly changing weekly on the incoming missionaries. I am responsible for all flight information that I receive from Salt Lake for incoming and out going missionaries. I order the tickets through Salt Lake and a local person for the out going missionaries. Registering Americans with the American Embassy. Applying for the missionary’s visa papers and carnet cards. Reminding missionaries to send their weekly report to the president. We make up what we call a “Go homers” book. It has information in it about the individual missionary with the areas (sectors) he or she has served in and missionaries he, or she has served with. It also has a list of all their converts so they can keep in touch with them. I type up some of the information for that, but Sister Riggs is responsible for most of the material and putting the books together. It keeps me busy. Oh and I try and answer phones. You can’t imagine how grateful I am when the person on the other end speaks English!
Dad is responsible for all the bills for the housing for the missionaries, and making sure the missionaries get their allotments each month, and all bills relating to the mission, in other words.. All the financial needs for the mission. Plus trying to keep the missionaries happy when they spend more than they were allotted! And to keep the books balanced. He makes several trips to the banks each week trying to pay bills, and keep enough money on hand. He opens and closes new places for them to live in. He is responsible for their cell phones. Delivering mail on Wednesdays. The list seems short, but the tasks are endless and time consuming. I think he is finally getting a handle on it all and finding new ways to help himself understand the whole process. He went to a training meeting on Thursday with other financial persons from the East, South and North Missions. That was really helpful. We can always learn new tricks to simplifying our work load. One thing is for sure, and that is that this mission does a lot of data entry that we don’t feel is necessary. The secretaries before us were computer programmers and I think they loved building data bases! They do amazing things, but are not always necessary and take time to keep up. We want to accomplish our tasks and simplify things!
Dad and I are still reading the Book of Mormon each night before retiring. We try and read a few chapters each night. We finished the chapters of Mormon.. We went to bed last night feeling sort of sad for all the bloodshed that was split with the killing off of all the Nephites. I can’t imagine what a wicked people they must have been to have the Lord destroy all of them, because the Lamanites were not all that good themselves. Sometimes it is hard to understand all that must have taken place. We are also reading “Preach my Gospel” book in Spanish. We are hoping besides learning the principles of the gospel more, but to understand the language more. Dad is doing good, but I am really struggling with the understanding. That’s all for now!
Sunday (Sept 26), I woke up this morning not feeling good. I am afraid, the cold is winning! Even though I am taking meds to try and prevent it. We made it to church and I was cold in the church. We came home had lunch and rested and then to the office again, to get things ready for Monday morning meetings. The office is our home away from home. I emailed the kids some, but too tired to really write much. Sent out a few pictures. I really don’t feel well...
Friday, October 3, 2008
This past week has been a busy one in the office, We seem to be drowning some days with all there is to do. I think I should have something done in about a half hour and when I look up it has been three or four hours. I know the procedures are becoming more familiar now, but it always seem there is one step in the middle of some process, that I don’t remember and it takes me hours to figure it out. The cold won... I finally Wed. night started taking some antibiotics to try and stop it from getting worse. I am chilled and my ears were hurting. Today, I finally started feeling better. Wed. Dad and the Elders were able to delivery pouch mail, with out getting too lost and they made it good time!!! He was so glad!
Yesterday, the doctor and his wife, the nurse, (the Dixon’s) came and got us and we walked down to a small little place and got a sandwich for lunch. It wasn’t bad. The Dixon’s must be about 20 years apart in age. He is 80 yrs old, and she looks our age. They have been married 36 or so years. He is always pulling jokes and telling jokes. He is so young at heart. And seems to be in good health. We both enjoy them. We usually go home for lunch and rest, but I am glad we went to lunch with them. It was a nice break. Everyone has asked and called to see how I have been feeling. The doctor’s office is next to ours, and he is always checking in on us.
Today in the office was much more relaxed for some reason... Dad and I talked last night, and decided to try and not fuss over things so much, and try not to involve the Elders so much in our work. I feel it is making things harder on us and dad agreed. I think the office Elders try so hard to help, but I think they are getting overwhelmed with everything that everyone is asking them to do, so we thought we would back off. I asked the Elders to order pizza for everyone. They were more than happy to do that. We treated.. I think I have typed into the system about 13 baptisms this week. I think I typed in about that many last week and the week before that. There are still several to be done and I am waiting on more information. Sometimes information is left off the forms, so I have to try and get the Elders to call and get the information. So the mission is doing good, I just hope the people stay active! There is a terrible problem here with activation. They say one out of 5 are members here, but I think about half are active.. Sad....
The Riggs came back from Talagante yesterday, and that was a surprise. They said they were going to be gone until Monday. She seemed so sad yesterday, I was worried about her. Today we found out that there were family problems and they both were hurting inside. They came back to go to the temple and do a few office routines.
I went and got my first hair cut here... Well... I took a chance on this lady that cut dad’s hair.... all I can say... is it is way short. I asked for a half inch and she cut about two off! I finally told her, not to cut the top, or I thought I might end up bald! I had trimmed that part last week, so it was good anyways. It doesn’t look bad, just shorter than I like it, but it will grow. It is hard to describe what you want when you can’t speak the language. With hand motions and a few words, we were able to figure things out... even though it is shorter than I would have liked. Dad is reading now and I am typing and it is 10 pm... It is conference this weekend, so we will listen to it over internet in the office, or else go over to the ward house and listen to it in English.
It is Saturday morning. Dad is sleeping and I am awake so I thought I would write a little about the things that I am responsible for in the office. I type in the baptism information and send the information to Salt Lake and keep track of the Numbers that I receive from the APs. I am responsible for typing into the system and maintaining the information and pictures of all the new missionaries. Sending out the letters to the incoming missionaries. Typing up letters from the president to the families, bishops and stake presidents as needed. I keep a updated list of changes and where all the missionaries are serving and their phone numbers. I keep an updated list of all the incoming and out going missionaries so we know each month who is coming and going. The numbers are constantly changing weekly on the incoming missionaries. I am responsible for all flight information that I receive from Salt Lake for incoming and out going missionaries. I order the tickets through Salt Lake and a local person for the out going missionaries. Registering Americans with the American Embassy. Applying for the missionary’s visa papers and carnet cards. Reminding missionaries to send their weekly report to the president. We make up what we call a “Go homers” book. It has information in it about the individual missionary with the areas (sectors) he or she has served in and missionaries he, or she has served with. It also has a list of all their converts so they can keep in touch with them. I type up some of the information for that, but Sister Riggs is responsible for most of the material and putting the books together. It keeps me busy. Oh and I try and answer phones. You can’t imagine how grateful I am when the person on the other end speaks English!
Dad is responsible for all the bills for the housing for the missionaries, and making sure the missionaries get their allotments each month, and all bills relating to the mission, in other words.. All the financial needs for the mission. Plus trying to keep the missionaries happy when they spend more than they were allotted! And to keep the books balanced. He makes several trips to the banks each week trying to pay bills, and keep enough money on hand. He opens and closes new places for them to live in. He is responsible for their cell phones. Delivering mail on Wednesdays. The list seems short, but the tasks are endless and time consuming. I think he is finally getting a handle on it all and finding new ways to help himself understand the whole process. He went to a training meeting on Thursday with other financial persons from the East, South and North Missions. That was really helpful. We can always learn new tricks to simplifying our work load. One thing is for sure, and that is that this mission does a lot of data entry that we don’t feel is necessary. The secretaries before us were computer programmers and I think they loved building data bases! They do amazing things, but are not always necessary and take time to keep up. We want to accomplish our tasks and simplify things!
Dad and I are still reading the Book of Mormon each night before retiring. We try and read a few chapters each night. We finished the chapters of Mormon.. We went to bed last night feeling sort of sad for all the bloodshed that was split with the killing off of all the Nephites. I can’t imagine what a wicked people they must have been to have the Lord destroy all of them, because the Lamanites were not all that good themselves. Sometimes it is hard to understand all that must have taken place. We are also reading “Preach my Gospel” book in Spanish. We are hoping besides learning the principles of the gospel more, but to understand the language more. Dad is doing good, but I am really struggling with the understanding. That’s all for now!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
