Our wonderful AP, Elder Prete, went home yesterday! He has been an AP since we arrived in April (he received that assignment in March). It will be strange to not have him greet us Monday morning when we go to the office and the APs are there emailing their families. We love him and know he will be a great asset wherever he goes. He is such a good leader! So hard-working, selfless, respectful, and sweet. When we visited with him Friday, he said it certainly didn't seem real - and - he was scared to death.
And what a way to "bow out" - the day after a week of Zone Conferences. Zone conferences in December - whew! We survived it :) However, we are still in the recovery process. Knowing we would be gone all week and that the mail would be heavy, we arranged to have Elder Edwards (our senior volunteer who does our baptism entries) or the zone leaders in the office in the mornings to receive the mail delivery. However, no one could be there on into the afternoon - FedEx and UPS deliver off and on all day. So it has been, well, interesting getting packages from them. And yet, all four of us (The Blues and us) are needed at zone conferences. And we love going! We have quite the system in place to get the car inspections done and even have some fun doing it! Elder Mecham and Elder Blue did workshops in the afternoon this go-around (we normally travel back to the office after lunch) -- three 20-minute sessions (each the same) with different groups of missionaries -- Elder Mecham covered information regarding phones, utilities, and apartments, and Elder Blue covered vehicles and bikes. So we were later than normal getting back to the office. Which meant we stayed late sorting and getting mail out. Randy and I even went in on Saturday for a while. I'm really not complaining. I'd much rather be busy than not have anything to do, that's for sure!
I love the spirit at zone conferences! The President and APs work so hard preparing for it, and the spirit is palpable. The missionaries love seeing each other and being taught.
One of my favorite moments is when, to say thanks to the sisters who prepare and serve the luncheons, the missionaries all stand, put on their suit jackets, and sing "Called to Serve." It is special! I have to concentrate on singing with the missionaries (I am one, after all) and disassociate somewhat from that event, or I would just stand there and weep. It touches me deeply every time!
Saturday I took a full meal to Kim. When we went into the little apartment where she and the kids are staying, it was rather dark. We counted at least five or six adults and at least five kids. Not a great atmosphere - you could not only see that but feel it as well. Late last night we got a call form Chase Belisle. They had received a call from Kim and are going to take her family back in with them beginning this morning. (He called to inform us, because we are picking Kim and fam up for church today.) She cannot stay with the Belisles very long - not allowed, for one thing. Who knows what happened at "the room" where she was. She told us yesterday that she had received their IDs and that she was on the list at a couple of transitional houses. I hope she will be able to get in to one of those places very soon and establish some sense of stability and normality for those children. What a huge mess! My heart aches for them. I love Kim and she has many great qualities, but unfortunately, on top of some very bad luck, she lacks some common sense and needed skills. I know some of the transitional houses offer help in those areas too. I still think if she can get settled temporally, she will readily receive the gospel. I just think it's hard for her to focus on that when she is so unsettled in every other aspect of her life. ~~ I gave Kim a copy of the article in December's Ensign, "Leaving Adversity Behind." I know it's possible, and we pray that she will have the strength to do it and be blessed in the process!
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