I also make a file document for each missionary and keep an electronic record of all the documents etc. That also makes me feel accomplished and satisfied because I haven't felt very computer savvy in the past but now I feel like I know my way around a little more and can do stuff on my own. Occasionally, I'll need to ask Dave or Sister Jones to remind me how to do something but I see that is getting less and less. That makes me happy too!
I also am in charge of getting the first letters out to the missionaries when we get notice of their call. I send a welcome letter and then attach the mission policies, mailing and mission instructions.
The other thing I do is prepare release certificates and release letters to send to Stake Presidents, Bishops and parents so President Baird can sign them and then FedEx them to the various Stake Presidents. So, I get to be involved with all the incoming and outgoing missionaries, not really personally but with the preparation of them serving and being released. I also made me another chart of that responsibility so I can keep track of it. With President Baird being gone so much, these letters have to be ready well in advance so he can sign them when he is in the country.
I just feel like I now understand and have a handle on what my assignments are in the office and I feel very happy, excited and peaceful about it. I'm grateful for the Lord's help in getting me to this place because if you would have seen me three weeks ago, you would have worried about my emotional state...I was worried about my emotional state. But, we all can do hard things through Christ who strengthens us! I believe that with all of my heart! I have also learned that we need to be cheerfully willing to do what is asked. We may go through the motions and actually get things done but if we aren't doing things with a cheerful heart, it isn't building and developing the Christlike characteristics we are striving for. Missions are perfect places to build those Christlike characteristics and although it's been one of the hardest things I've ever done, I will be forever grateful for the opportunity and experience.
Dave didn't have the same week that I did. His was filled with more frustration with the Area because they haven't been able to figure out how to give him access to pay the rents in 4 of the countries that use a specific program created by the Area. Finally, rather than risk The Church being late on rent payments, they, the Area, were able to pay the rent and will continue to work on getting Dave access for next month's rent payments. He also had to work with a car that was filled with diesel rather than gas, it had to be towed and then $500 US dollars and a couple days later it was ready to be given back to the Elders. I try to lovingly remind him that if he isn't cheerful with his assignment it isn't doing him any good. It's definitely a process and takes time and effort.
We went walking on a beach and realized we were extremely spoiled in Tobago. The beaches are not easy to get to here and they don't have the long stretches of sand to walk along. We haven't had a ton of time to explore though.
In church I am singing the hymns in English now and I read the Sacrament prayer as it is being given because I need to worship in a language I know, I think if we were going to be here longer I may have made more of an effort to learn the language. That may or may not be a cop out but that's what I'm going with. I'm thrilled with what this 62 year old brain has been able to grasp in the office and we're going to celebrate that!
Rocky beaches in Curacao
Cool barnacle or snail things
Curacao sunset taken while we were eating dinner along the beach
Expensive mistake and one that probably won't be repeated...not by that Elder at least.
All the Curacao missionaries.
Start lower bottom left: Elder Jones, Elder Wardle, Elder Flynn, Elder Jones, Branch Pres. Counselor, Sister Jones, Elder Stauffer, me, Sister Patterson, Sister Scott, Elder Frandson, Elder Hollingshead. Dave taking the picture.
