This is our first full week on our own and we started it out at the office with a bang. It is the Area Humanitarian Committee (AHC) meeting on Wednesday and the office is closed tomorrow for a national holiday, so Monday is the big day to get ready for that meeting. We were just short of panic mode for the morning trying to gather all of the project information together, review it so we were fluent in each project because we have to discuss them with the Area Welfare Manager and answer his questions intelligently. I needed to be on top of the finances and budget of each couple and be prepared for questions there. It seemed like I was swimming through mud. I just couldn't get anything done. We took a lunch break and thought when we come back it will be a little better. No, that didn't happen. We asked a lot of questions, talked with our humanitarian couples that submitted the projects on the phone and did all that we could do. We were as ready as possible in our infant state.
The holiday was nice we finished hanging up our clothes in our apartment and went to the grocery store. Marlene got some wash done and I did some ironing. Life is good when there is no stress... but there is no real happiness in that. Happiness and joy come from the work and we were ready for our meeting tomorrow.
We got to the office and discovered that there were more projects that had been submitted. Let's review them; oh the budget calculation is wrong for Bosnia and Serbia; why won't this print?; the meeting is in 10 minutes, What do you mean, we need 9 copies of everything! Got it let's go.
We sat down with great hope that we could do what we saw the previous couple do. They knew all the proposed projects, had all the financials in order and copies for everyone. The meeting started and we reviewed a refugee project first. It went well and the refugee couples were excused. Now it's our turn. We have 12 projects, one of the larger number of projects for review. The year is coming to an end and everyone is utilizing their budget funds before time expires. I took the lead on the first one and it went okay. Mom took it from there and she did a great job. She knew all about the projects and presented them well, responded to questions and took notes for followups. The meeting was over and we felt that sweet joy of the work. We had represented the couple's projects well and at the end of the day all 12 of the projects were approved.
The rest of the week was a joy. We talked with our humanitarian couples about plans, projects and a few problems. Those couples are the greatest! They are so excited about their projects and the poor that they are serving there. They put their whole heart into the work and their excitement rubs off on you. What do I have to worry about I have great couples to work with, a kind support system and a great manager that always takes time to listen and patiently answer questions. It's all going to work out just fine.
In the evenings we ventured out to do a little shopping at the mall and Ikea, thanks to the GPS in the car. We needed a few waste baskets. You need to have 5 waste baskets for trash; for paper, another for plastic and containers, another for biodegradable garbage, and another for glass... oh and don't forget the last one that is for anything else. We're set now. We wanted a few basic things like: clothes basket, ice cube trays, note cards, spiral notebook, pillows and pillow cases and other little things. After several trips to local stores, malls, and back again, we have most of the thing on our list.
Mom needed to fill her prescriptions so she called the doctor's office to make an appointment.
Jon and Elder Van Hoff - first baptism of our mission
Mom and her friend, LeAnna Steineckert, they served together in stake Relief Society and now here in Germany
Our apartment building in the distance
This is our kitchen
We took a neighborhood exploration walk through the very large and beautiful cemetery one day. It is full of mature and beautiful trees. It was interesting to see the beautiful flower gardens that are planted atop the graves. It rains often so no sprinklers are needed and the flower gardens thrive on their own. The families come regularly to prune and maintain them. It was nice to see grandparents with children visiting the graves, connecting generations and passing on their family traditions.
Sunset from our balcony. Time for sleep and get ready to start a new day.
After a long day
it is nice to check the emails and stay in touch with friends and family.
It was fast Sunday today, and
it was special because General Conference was last week. Due to the time
difference most of us can't stay up to watch all sessions live, so they watch
the final session during Sunday School and Priesthood/Relief Society hours.
What inspired and powerful talks. We felt the Spirit and will be studying the
talks for the next six months.
The gospel is true. Jesus
Christ is the son of God and he stands at the head of His church. The Holy
Ghost has witnessed that to my soul. I know God loves us and he has inspired
those that spoke at conference so that His voice to us may be heard not only by
the members of the Church, but by all that will listen no matter what their
faith or no faith at all. god bless us all as we listen and obey.
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