Another week has come and gone. We often have things planned that change along the way and this week was no different. We started the week at the office with interviews for Mark and an office staff meeting followed by a meeting with the assistants. The assistants are especially excited because this week they moved into a new apartment in a different area than the office elders. It means they have their very own area for finding and teaching. When they do divisions with the zone leaders they can bring them to their area as they teach and share ideas. They have been a bit frustrated by not having their own investigators and now the problem is solved. They quickly found many people to teach and have baptisms scheduled for the next few weeks. Elders Urmston and Woodruff are great examples. They are right in there with the rest of the missionaries who are catching the vision of using their time better so they can find and teach more people.
Tuesday we were supposed to receive two missionaries at 10 pm. One of them had been in Spokane waiting for a visa and the other was in the MTC in Argentina. We received a phone call from the mission president in the north mission about noon saying he thought he had just pick up our missionary by mistake. We went to the restaurant where they were eating and sure enough our Elder Padilla had been sent on a flight by mistake coming with the north missionaries. Someone failed to inform us from the MTC so we gathered his luggage and him and went to our office to adjust our plans for the day. We got him settled and Mark did his interview with him. He went out with the office elders in the evening to teach. Later that night we picked up Elder Ayala at the airport. Wednesday we did all of our orientation training and went to the temple grounds for a testimony meeting and then to lunch with both of them before they met their trainers and were off to their areas by 2 pm. We have definitely learned how to roll with the punches here. Things always seem to work out though even if the plans change a bit along the way.
Thursday we spent time at home working on the calendar and schedule for the next little while. Mark received a phone call that the father of one of our sister missionaries had passed away. We made arrangements to go visit with her later in the evening. Sister Quartino only came to the mission early in June. She told us her father has had health problems for many years. She joined the church 8 years ago along with her mother and sister. Her father joined the church about a year ago. She knew when she came on her mission her father didn’t have long to live. She said she had felt like she should serve a mission since she joined the church. It was hard to tell her what had happened but her great faith was an amazing thing to see. She will speak with her family by telephone on Monday so she can hear about the funeral and speak with the rest of the family. I’m learning a lot as I watch these strong young missionaries deal with hard situations in very mature and faithful ways.
Friday was our preparation day and we prepared for our trip to Caauazu for the last district conference of this cycle. We left Saturday morning and drove the 3 hours and checked into the hotel. I stayed there while Mark went to meetings all afternoon and came and got me for the evening meeting. Sunday we returned to the church for the Sunday session and then drove home in the afternoon. There was a nice youth choir from Cauuazu 3rd branch who sang at both sessions. The focus was on obedience. The district president said there was a need for everyone to increase in their diligence so the district could be stronger. I always love going and hearing the saints in the various places share their testimonies and messages. One recently returned sister missionary bore a sweet testimony. She is the only member in her family and was so sad that her mission came to an end. She bore strong testimony of the spiritual growth that she had during her mission.
We also received the sad news this week that our senior missionary couple will not be coming to our mission because of health problems. We pray for Scott and Julie that things will work out for them. We are so grateful that they were willing to come and serve and we know the Lord will bless them as they deal with their challenges. We love our Savior and we know this is his work. We don’t always understand they way things happen but we have faith in his plan for all of His children.
Until next week, Love, Mark and Sandy
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