TIME PASSES...

We left the apartment today in 59 degree weather.  It almost felt like fall...we can only dream.  Actually this whole week has been pretty good.  An while we're not really looking forward to winter, I can't wait to see Kentucky in the Fall.  There are so many trees, it's got to be beautiful!

Last week was Zone Conferences...so lots of pictures from them!  I realize they're not of interest to anyone but Don and I but that's okay.

Lexington & Lexington North

                                            Evansville

                                                   Crestwood & New Albany

Louisville

Except for the two hour drive to Evansville, Zone Conferences are really great.  It's especially fun to see those Elders and Sisters who aren't close to the Mission Office.  If they haven't been sick or injured, I may not even know who they are.  Don is in charge of inspecting the cars during the first part of the conference.  In weather like we've been having it's been miserable HOT and humid.  But I'm sure winter won't be any better.  

I'm struggling with trying to some up with something interesting.  It's been a pretty typical week.  I did go to the Endocrinologist Tuesday.  He's been adding and adjusting my diabetes medications  to the point that I am now in that infamous Medicare donut-hole and he's changed them again and I had just gotten two months worth!  I'll either be super well controlled and broke or back to where I was (which doesn't sound so bad right now)!

We have a member of our area presidency here right now.  His name is Elder Wakolo and is from Fiji.  He is very nice and had lunch with all the mission office staff.   It was interesting to hear his background.  He used to work for Interpol.  He and his wife have two children; one twenty and one 14 but they have taken in 18 other foster children over the years.  They now live in Sandy.

This has been an odd week.  Very few calls but two have made up for it!  One of our sisters got 2nd degree burns on her legs.  She and her companion were at a YW activity with and investigator.  The teacher was doing science experiments outside when she added something to methanol to watch the reaction...it burst into flames and landed on the sister missionary.  So that was exciting!  Hopefully she won't be left with scars.  Then we have an elder who has been out just 3 weeks who complained of headaches.  I told him what to do for migraines. Then yesterday I got a call that the headaches were much worse and he wanted to see a doctor right away.  I sent him to Urgent Care and they sent him to the ER where they did a CT, then they admitted him last night for observation.  Today they have done an MRI and they aren't seeing anything.  They are going to do a lumbar puncture to get some spinal fluid because the doctor thinks it might be viral meningitis.  Well...it's now Monday and they have ruled out meningitis but he did have chest pain on Saturday...negative EKG...so more blood work today.  He spiked a fever again last night so there must be something other than just stress/anxiety going on.

That's about all for this one...can't think of anything more interesting!

Put On Your Happy Face!!!

Even in the  mission field, in spite of how much we love it, some weeks are just better than others!!

The first part of the week was way busy, but good.  We got our new missionaries in on Monday. Since there were 23 of them, even Moe and the AP's van couldn't take them all out to dinner so we had 4 ride with us. and 4 with Pres and Sister Hughes.  We went to Golden Corral...not the best, but it was filling.

The New Missionaries

The next day was transfer day...always chaotic.  Those changing companions; new missionaries meeting their trainers; those being released kind of in limbo.  We went to the temple with the eighteen being released and Pres. and Sister Hughes and 5 of the senior couples.  One of the couples, the Flemings, went to Golden Corral with the group that night and the rest of us (4 couples) went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner.  MUCH better than Golden Corral the night before. 

The Returning Missionaries

The last two days (Wed & Thurs) have been kind of a downer for me.  Two of the missionaries I've become fairly close to, are going home Saturday.  One is an Elder we've had over for dinner and to call his mother on Mother's Day.  Nice young man but he's been having some mental health problems that need to be addressed at home.  The other one is an Elder originally from Wales, but came out from SLC.  He has struggled with blood pressure problems since the MTC.  The medication used to normalize his the pressure, gives him side effects that he's having problems with.  So...he's going back to Salt Lake to see if he can't get on something that will work for him and hopefully return.  I hope so...he has an enormous knowledge and is a good teacher.  I know their releases are for the best but it's hard to see them going home and not wanting to.

Last Thursday, we met the Sisters and their investigator, John, at the Library again.  Then Saturday evening, they all came to our house where the Sisters gave John the 15 step plan to quit smoking. Don has been good to talk to him and encourage him.  Hopefully he worked on it this week.  He's a pretty non-committal kind of guy.  I guess we'll find out tomorrow.

                                                                       Transfers


Thankfully, this day has begun much quieter...so far..I've pulled up the blinds so I can look at the view from my window and am listening to Paul Cardall!