Hey! Feb.
23, 2013
So this week had been INSANE!!! We've been soo sooo soo
busy. The reason why it was so busy - We had Transfers, and new missionaries
come in. I'll explain:
Monday - So like I told you before we were opening around 6
apartments, some here in PA, some in NJ and one in DE. We also re-opened a few areas
that had been "closed" for a little bit. So transfers were Tuesday, and
on Monday there were two apartments that still didn't have beds. So we spent
all day traveling because one was in South Philly and the other was in Northern
PA. We had to be back by 6 for a dinner appointment with the Cummocks. Then
right after we had to drive to Camden, NJ to pick up some luggage for
transfers.
Tuesday - (Transfer Day) so Monday night at 11pm we get a
text from the Assistants asking us to be at the mission home with the truck Tuesday
at 6:30 am. So we woke up at 5:20 and got all ready and met them there. We
helped bring the departing missionaries and their luggage to the Airport, which
was kind of cool. It was my first time back to the airport since I got here.
After we left we actually had to go back because one of
the missionaries had kept his mission phone and keys. So we
had an early start that day. We went to the office and got stuff ready for
transfers, had to get all the packages and supplies ready that missionaries had
ordered. Then we had to get new keys and area books etc. ready for the new
apartments that missionaries would be going to. Fast forward - we had transfer
meeting, and half of the mission was there. Tons of people training, and the
best part, Elder Cannon was made AP!!! Super excited, now we’re neighbors and
will see each other all the time. We've wanted to go on an exchange our whole
mission and now we finally can. We’re both going to be super busy though. As
soon as the transfer meeting was over was when the real craziness started. The
mission office was packed, and we were running around everywhere, getting asked
all sorts of questions, giving directions over the phone to missionaries that
got lost, giving out keys to apartments, organizing trips to bring luggage to Philly
areas etc. It was nuts. So the New missionaries (Goldens) fly in the same day
as transfers. Their flight got delayed because of weather. But we got to go
help pick them up, which was really cool! We had 26 new missionaries come in.
The most we ever had at least in a very long time. We had to rent another 12
passenger van. (We own 1) We brought 6 vehicles to the airport! Then we had
dinner with all of them at the mission home. We were there the rest
of the night as they got trained a little, and we were introduced as the office
elders etc. It was a good day.
Wednesday - we had conference calls in the morning. (I will
explain for mom) So every Wednesday morning the whole mission calls a number
and we have a conference/study call with the President. He does it from the Office,
and missionaries that are in the area can come to be at the "Live"
version. So we go to that except when there are new Goldens that have just
arrived, because he will do it from the Mission home with them. So in the
morning the Goldens have their interviews with President, and while they are
not being interviewed the assistants take them to Philly to do some street
contacting. So while we were waiting for them we got some office work done in
the morning. Then the Goldens and the New trainers came to the church to have
lunch together. Then we got to watch them get paired together. So one of the
new sisters - Sister Williams is from Blackfoot, ID she knows Elder Cannon, and
I’ve actually been writing one of Elder Cannons friends for a while - Tanece (who is in the MTC) who is friends with Sister Williams etc. Sorry
confusing. Anyways it was cool to meet her because she knew who I was through
Tanece and Elder Cannon. So that day was also super busy. It was like a repeat
of the day before. So I won’t go through that again, but it was lots of work.
Anyways we found out that a companionship was moving into our apartment with
us, which we had no idea about, because we get told about all the new areas and
new apartments before transfers. But it was a surprise to us; I guess President
decided it last minute. So we had to get our apartment all ready for them to
move into. Our apartment is a good size but not really meant for
4 missionaries. We weren’t entirely excited about them moving in, because
we can think of all sorts of issues that come with
2 companionship living together. But luckily they were
really cool - Elder Brown and Elder Wilcock (who was brand new). But we were
pretty much in the office all day.
Thursday - So in the morning we had another mission
conference call because President was going to announce who the new mission
president was. But when he got on he said he was told that he couldn’t because
the new President hadn't finished telling his employers etc. yet, and so we would
have to wait a few weeks. After that we went into the office. President was
there, and he asked me to help him with his laptop because his wireless card
was having issues. After that we had District meeting. Oh and we found out from
President that the Elders that are living with us are getting moved to
Delaware, because there was a new apartment there that he didn't know had been
ready to move into, so that's why he put them with us. It was Elder Witte's B-Day
so we went to this really good burger place as a district for lunch. It was
another busy day like usual and then we had our coordination dinner with the Baileys.
Elder Brown & Wilcock stayed with us again Thursday night, because their
car was in the shop.
Friday - So the Last Friday of each month we have Zone
Leader Council. All the Zone Leaders come here for a training meeting. So we
get to go to that, and train them on a couple things, announcements, introduce
new stuff etc. Then as part of that they have a lunch that we go to. But since
we’re in the office we also help with all the lunches we have. I’m sending you guy’s pictures of the tables etc.
that we set up every time. We have lunches for the new missionaries when they
first come out and then a couple weeks later, and for the Zone leaders, and we
help with all of those. After that we had a conference call training with a bunch
of other missions and SLC. The church is switching over to Bank of
America for all their finances. (At least in our region) So were getting
trained on how to use the new system. (Because we manage all the mission
finances) After that we had to go deliver a bed, then had dinner with the
Smiths and then delivered a bed in Woodstown, NJ for Sister Williams. So this
week has just been all sorts of crazy.
I love love it here in the office. Were always
making things a little better then how they already are. I’m getting to make
everything look cool and update everything. President lets me show him how to
do stuff on his iPad and he lets me use it every now and then. It’s awesome!
So I hardly mentioned anything about our area, that’s
because we really didn’t have time to go teaching etc. this week. But this
morning we did have a lesson with the Armstrong boys, we watched the
restoration with them. I can’t remember if I told you but they are autistic, so
it’s been interesting to teach them... ha-ha, funny kids.
Today were going to just try to relax, which won’t happen,
because our phone is ringing all the time and we have a huge to do list. I’ve
got lots of letters to write. We have a bed to deliver in Philly tonight, and a
new phone to some missionaries who lost theirs on the subway.
Oh kind of forgot to tell you. So 26 new missionaries came
out, I think about 5 were sisters - maybe 6, 2 were visa waiters that are going
to Brazil. We had lots of 18 and 19 year olds! We’re getting even more in 6
weeks! Our mission is growing and the office is just super busy from all of
this. Sounds like a lot of the other missions are having the same problems we
are having with getting all of these large groups of missionaries. We are
currently at 200 right now.
Well this letter is forever long and took me forever to
write. So I got to go. Glad mom is feeling better!!
Love, Elder JJ
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