I have added some pictures to illustrate a part of our mission.
Last week, I reported that I fell, the photo is an example of some of the conditions of the streets and sidewalks. This is not where I fell, but an example, it looks like this corner everywhere. I have not used the same corner where I fell, since my fall.
Monday was a very stressful day in the office. Elder W. is compiling his month-end report. He sends out a comprehensive report to all our five stakes locally. It is very detailed. It usually takes him about two weeks to put all the statistics together. Salt Lake has implemented a new program for students who are very behind in their paymens. It is called "New Hope." When a student makes four consecutive payments the balance is put to the end of the loan, and they are given two months grace period. Their payments begin again at a lower amount for a short period of time. This give them a chance to catch up. Work is very hard to find, and some students are unemployed for a time, even after they have graduated from their studies. We called Bogota to have them apply this "New Hope" to one of our students and they gave Elder W. "a song and dance" about other things the student needed to do before they would help him. He then called Salt Lake and got a different story. He was not very happy at that point. I just put my head down and worked very hard and tried not to listen. No one could help but hear. Hard day!Yesterday, what a difference. A wonderful calm day until the finance department brought me the report which they send out each month. There are six parts to this report. I have to put all six parts in order by Stake or District. The best part of the day was when we realized that they had taken a suggestion from Elder W. about more information for the Stake Presidents to be able to read about the students payments history.
I know this all sounds mundane, we were very excited to think they found the suggestions worthy of printing out more material to give more information to the leaders.
A mission is not an easy process. I don't want to discourage anyone from applying to go, but know it is HARD WORK, but very, very worth it!
We love what we are doing! The Lord is helping us each and every day. Prayers are answered and our friend and Service Missionary, Patricio, is learning so much Preishood leadership from
Elder W. It is wonderful to hear My husband teach. Sometimes the missionaries come to the office to talk to Elder W. about a problem. Nothing about the Mission, usually how they can apply for the Perpetual Education Fund after their mission. He always tells them they must be obedient above all else, and ambitious.
We pray there is a couple being prepared to take our place, it is already in our thoughts. We do not want to leave and have made this progress, and have no one to follow our work. It is to important to these people and their future.
We love and miss you all. Until I write again.
