PASSING ON THE KEYS

It has been a good week.  What I thought would take two weeks, Elder Parker seems to have picked up in one.  We still need to train on trading out old cars for new ones, zone conferences and transfers, but training on those topics must wait until they occur during the next month.  By Friday I (Russell) had turned over the Vehicle Coordinator phone, the mission credit card, keys to the cabinets and the mission truck!  With any luck, I will never need to drive a truck again.Ten months ago, I thought it would be a miracle if I made it 18 months without wreaking the truck while towing the trailer.  Miracles never cease!

For a couple of weeks now, we have been trying to get one of our mission’s VW Tiguans fixed.Its windshield wipers would randomly turn on and off.  I told the elders to take it into the dealership, who after looking at it, told the elders that a rodent (probably one the many squirrels here) had chewed on the wiring and that they would have to schedule a time to come back and get a comprehensive diagnostic test to figure out where all the problems were.  They said the test alone would cost $400 and that parts and labor would likely add up to a lot more.When the elders took the car back for its diagnostic test, I was waiting for their call so that I could pay for it over the phone with a credit card.  The call never came.  It turned out their comprehensive diagnostic test was very good at finding the problem.  It was a defective part, not a chewed wire.  The whole cost will be covered under warranty.  So, the squirrel didn’t do it!  I guess the defenseless rodent just made an easy scapegoat.  As I have thought about the incident, I’ve found myself wondering if I do that too.  Blaming something or someone else for my problems is easier on my self esteem (pride).

Over the last couple months, Eileen and Sister Creer have become good friends and racket ball buddies.  As I have been busy with work, it has been nice to know that Eileen has someone else to hangout with.  However, in the last couple of weeks, injuries to both Sisters have started to occur; first a knee, then a hand, a shoulder hitting a wall that got in the way of getting to the ball, that sort of thing.  On Thursday they had to close our office because the carpets were drying following their cleaning the night before.  Eileen told me she and Sister Creer were going to the pool while I went to take a vehicle into the shop. Afterwards we went to a fine arts museum in Kansas City.  Eileen was limping by the end of our two hours in the museum.  After the museum, Eileen said she was just going to drop in to see someone about her foot.  She came home in a boot, with a probable fracture in her ankle.  It seems when Eileen jumped into the pool, she came down on one foot wrong (an understatement).  As she said, “I guess I need to start acting my age and not my shoe size.”  Perhaps Eileen and Sister Creer need some adult supervision when they play together.

Russell training Elder Parker to do cars. It was Elder Parker's idea to take over cars. 

This ear bud got stuck in a missionaries ear this week. It was pretty tricky to get it out at the urgent care. The missionary had several failed attempts at home to remove it.

The water damage in our apartment getting repaired. The walls and the carpeting were fixed. 

We came back home this week and found this envelope under our door with a brand new $100 bill. We are fairly sure it is for someone else, but we don't know how to find the intended recipient.

We took the Elders out to Chuys this week. Elder Aguirre has been very helpful interpreting for Russell in his interactions with Sister Ramirez.  Elder Olsen leaves for Bolivia on Tuesday. He was in our mission while waiting for his visa. 

Elder Aguirre recommended that we go to the art museum in Kansas City.  He said he doesn't like museums but liked this one. I was very impressed. It was even free!

These suits of armor and stained glass windows were from centuries ago.  It was pretty impressive. 

Sister Creer and Eileen with their injuries.  President Sommerfeldt might tell us we have to stay away from each other from now on.  We aren't quite as resilient as when we were young.

We had 28 senior missionaries go to the temple which I thought was a beautiful experience. Not everyone went out to eat, but even to get a table for 24 was very impressive.

Russell found me (Eileen) after sacrament meeting to tell me Joan Turner was in the foyer. She was there visiting with a tour group. Joan is the one who trained me to be a nurse in the missionary department. She has been on 7 Full-time missions. I asked if she was going on any more. Since she is almost 80 years old she said probably not.  To match her number we only need to do an additional 2 missions in the next 15 years. That is probably doable.