Training, Temple and Tender Mercies

We are continually amazed at how much can transpire in just a couple of weeks.  We have had a lot of firsts.  Last week was our first Training Meeting for new missionaries.  My main responsibility was to order pizzas and feed the missionaries and their trainers.   We also each give a little speech to them.  I have the shortest talk, telling them mainly how to get their mail.  Most mail comes through me, a fact which many families and friends of missionaries don't know, so I try to impress on the missionaries the importance of getting their families to use their full names rather than names like "Batman", "Elder Twinkle Toes",  "Stud Muffin",  etc.  We are still not sure who Stud Muffin is yet.  Elder Williams has the longest talk--about an hour--explaining to them how to not get killed while they are driving.

Marc has to answer his phone wherever he is to authorize shops to work on cars, or in case there is an accident.  We had our first accident this week--one in which all airbags were deployed and elders ended up being transported to the hospital.  Fortunately it was just to get checked out and they ended up being ok. (We'll see if/when they tell their mothers...)

Tuesday was our temple trip with 10 of the missionaries.  There were 2 sisters and 8 elders.  I told Marc he had to keep track of the guys and I would keep track of the girls.  I still counted to 10 continually until we got back.  Fortunately we didn't lose anyone (or more accurately, they didn't lose us.)  It was fun and a a learning experience to watch the missionaries in action on the subway.  They fanned out and talked with people.  There were 12 of us.  Poor unsuspecting passengers didn't stand a chance.  The Manhattan Temple is small but beautiful.

One lesson learned while serving here:  When we are on the Lord's errand, it becomes clear that He cares about every little thing that we care about.  Many tender mercies have been felt.  One example:
This week, a Zone Leader brought in 5 baptism records for me to put into the system.  These have to be done accurately since they are a permanent record.  The missionaries sometimes forget to put the last name first and the first name last.  All 5 records were Chinese.  It was quite confusing as the non-Chinese-speaking missionary tried to go over them with me. Finally he said, "Wait a minute, let me see if I can find someone who speaks Mandarin."  Off he went to the outer office.  A group of missionaries had just walked in the door and amazingly one of them was fluent in Mandarin.  He was able to help me, especially with the names that were actually written in Chinese characters.

We love it here and are getting used to the big city.  I no longer cry every time we have to drive in traffic--baby steps.  Monday is our favorite day because we get to go to the office.  Fridays are a little depressing because we don't get to come in for for the weekend. I believe this is the grandest adventure of our lives and we are so thankful that we came.