Challenges and Blessings

This has been a busy week.  We have been preparing for our trip home to Darci's wedding.  We are so looking forward to seeing family and friends. Preparing others to do our jobs makes us realize how much we actually do.  The new missionary training meeting is Wednesday.  That is one of our busiest days.  Sister Petersen is kind enough to fill in for both of us!  She's a trooper and the missionaries love her.  We will miss an all mission conference while we are in Seattle. There is a General Authority coming but I can't say who yet.  I was disappointed to miss it, especially when I found out who it is!

The diversity here in the mission is great!  Missionaries from all over the globe.  We had dinner with 6 sisters today at Sister Petersen's.  Three of them are Hispanic, one is a sweet little Philippino and one is caucasion and very blonde and very white compared to the others. We love seeing the other missionaries who meet in our building on Sunday.  Some Hispanic, some Caucasion, some Korean and some Chinese.  They are all wonderful.  I'm learning to love people from all cultures.

We have begun feeding the elders in our area.  For some reason the sisters get lots of dinner invitations from members but the elders don't.  We love having them in our home even if just for 45 minutes.

We just got through Mega Zone Conferences.  Once again, inspecting cars, feeding missionaries, giving training presentations (Marc).  We love anything where we get to see lots of missionaries.  We are fortunate to be in an assignment where we have lots of access to them.  The best is when they come into the office for interviews or something where they have to wait around.  We usually stop what we are doing and talk to them.  All our missionaries are quite loving and appreciative.  I realized it's because we are a port in the storm--like a safe harbor for them when the world is being cruel to them.  It's like we are the closest thing to home and for the few minutes they are with us everything is ok.  Plus I usually have fruit or candy out for them.

Speaking of storms, we got the edge of Hurricane Matthew today.  Lots of rain and wind.  Made us feel at home.

Sundays continue to be challenging but rewarding.  Generally alternating between the two.  Marc is feeling like he is making some progress with his Sunday School Class.  They have finally begun to open up and actually join in discussions.  Primary is fun most days.  We are getting ready for the Sacrament Meeting Program.  With only about 10 kids it makes the singing challenging.  I do love the kids though and feel like they have gotten used to me and may actually like me.

I am coming to believe it will be truly hard to leave this place when our time is up.

Activity Day. Book of Mormon Skit.  They kids loved their director. 

Samuel the Lamanite.  Love these kids. We are grateful for Dollar Store props.

Dinner at Sis. Petersen's.  L-R Sister Mejia, Sister Zambito, Sister Petersen
Sister Williams, Elder Williams.  Marc is usually outnumbered.

Sisters.  We love them SO MUCH!

Mega-Zone lunch.  The missionaries eat quite well.