Office work is smoothing out

August 20th 2009

Dear Family,
We noticed this week in the mission office was still very busy but we seemed to remember more steps and we didn’t have that panicky feeling like we were forgetting something.

I have been putting together next year’s calendar and plugging information and meetings into the squares. I color coded a 2010 paper calendar and then transferred all the information onto the computer calendar. When I got done I realized our mission president had a meeting or interview every day of the month. My eyes are opening up to the workings behind a mission and the sacrifices involved. I have a great respect for any president and his wife and family. When our president arrived out in Cincinnati they met the old president and were shown the office and a few things and then the old president and his wife left. They were together for 4 hours. Yikes! And I thought just 2 weeks of training was tight.

Here is the office staff:


Our investigator update:
Kathleen is progressing. She gave up smoking last week and is doing well. She likes attending church and has set her baptism for September. She keeps her purse chuck full of lifesavers and candy for when she gets jittery. Needless to say, it is nice to sit next to her in church. She likes to share with me; maybe I look jittery to her!

Eugene and Trisha are paying tithing, have given up sweet tea, and coke. They are getting closer and closer to setting their baptismal date. Trisha gives me a hug every Sunday and lets me hold her little black-eyed baby boy. He is 6 months old and so cute. I listen to her mommy stories and tell her she is doing a great job because she is! I always tell her I love her and she hugs me and tells me she loves me too. What a sweet little daughter. Her oldest is 5 and entering Kindergarten this year. She is having mixed emotions about letting him go. I think all mothers can relate to that feeling.

David (in his late 50s) came for dinner last Sunday and we had a great time talking about the gospel. His baptism is scheduled for next month.

Linda is a blind sister that faithfully attends church. Her daughter and granddaughter attended with her Sunday. She is quit remarkable. If you say, “Hello, Linda. How are you to day?” She instantly knows you by your voice. She is about 65 and has her baptism scheduled for September.

A cute thing happened in Gospel Essentials Class a few weeks ago. When our instructor asked for a volunteer for prayer your dad waved his arm and said, “Me, me, me!” Then he shared an Idaho story about a family he ate dinner with that had 10 children. The father of the family asked for a volunteer to bless the food and all hands went up at once around the table. Your dad explained to the class he learned that to pray to Heavenly Father was a privilege and we should want to talk to him. Well, every since that Sunday all class members race to have their hands up first. We had a stake visitor this last Sunday probably because he had heard rumors about our incredible Gospel Essentials class and how many investigators we have so he came to see for himself. He was amazed to see the hands shoot up even before our teacher could get the word “volunteer” out of her mouth. It is a fun group for sure. We had 8 investigators Sunday. Wow!

Our cable has been down for the last 3 days so we apologize for not emailing you or if you tried to call and didn’t get us. We should be up and running tonight. If you got this email we are online.

We send our love. MOM