Days Are Getting Longer

 I spoke with Deb for awhile, and it is as I suspected.  She and Dave are running themselves ragged trying to get everything done, trying to keep the missionaries motivated and also packing, because their apartment will be renovated before the new mission president arrives.  Dave and Deb will have to move out a month early.  

They will move into a tiny one bedroom apartment for that last month, so I don't think there will be any entertaining....even if all restrictions were lifted before they leave.  And Dave and Deb LOVE to have people over for dinner and wait on them.  I've never seen anyone better at making people feel like they are VIPs.

I can only imagine what they are spending long hours doing.  Today was the day all missionaries are notified of transfers which will happen tomorrow and Saturday.  Deb is overseeing much of the actual physical details.  She called and talked to SK for fifteen minutes patiently explaining our route for tomorrow as we criss-cross the mission with young sisters, dropping one off, picking up another, dropping another off, picking up another, and then heading home with our Sister Bloxham and her new companion, Sister Walker.  I'm sure Deb was on the phone several hours.  And Dave...well, let's just say he is busy every minute.

We lost three of our sweet little zone.  Two of our Oxford missionaries are leaving - a sister and an elder. Sister Tizard is being transferred into Hyde Park.  She is amazing.  She is a hard worker, a member for three years, a nurse, a expert with all things technical, a young woman of great faith who loves the Savior.

Our young Elder Preston (Matthew's British counterpart - tall and muscular and a football player) left tonight for London where he will serve as an AP.  I inscribed Oxford blankbooks with their names and wrote a card to each.  It occurred to me that Dave does that every time a missionary goes home.  He doesn't just say, "Elder Jones has been a good missionary."  He WRITES.  He writes long letters to their parents giving details and reports on the successful mission that has been completed.  

It took me four hours to work on these, and my head is now empty.  Of stuffed with fluff....whichever.




I made cream puffs for our district conference which was at 6 in the evening.

I spent an hour and a half with a senior missionary serving in Manchester and he walked me through all the technical aspects of Zoom calls.  He was enormously helpful.  He said something about owning his own business in his former life - before retiring.  He looks like a very sharp businessman and he knows a lot about computer programs - AND he knows how to teach others!  It was wonderful.

Soon after that I joined an inservice call with that sweet French man who is in charge of this part of the European Pathway.  There were about twenty couples there, and they all sounded like they knew more about this program than I do.  But I am not discouraged, actually I am energized.  This is an incredible gift the church is offering for people who want to get ahead.

That was an hour an a half, immediately followed by a Zoom call with a member of our area presidency who spoke for an hour and a half to senior couples working with YAs about all the exciting changes coming up in Europe and with young adults.



I listed to it while we traveled to the church for District Council and then I went to a classroom to finish listening before joining the counsel late.

We ate dinner at 8, we joined our zone at 9 for a call.  I've been working on the cards and books ever since.

I think I am going to turn into a pumpkin.

Tomorrow we'll be on the road for a good part of the day.  I'm so glad I don't have to drive!

Comments

Lia said…
The blank books and letters are beautiful
April 29, 2021 at 6:42 PM
melissa said…
The missionaries will love those gifts!!
May 2, 2021 at 12:22 AM
melissa said…
Also, doesn’t Deb know she really should give YOU the driving directions? 😂
May 2, 2021 at 12:23 AM
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