October is here!

We made it to October!!!
 

That doesn't sound like much of a feat to most of you but we are quite happy with ourselves.  Packets for new missionaries are made.  Packets for those going home are made.  Boxes of supplies for the new apartments are filled and labeled. Supplies were sent out to the whole mission during zone conferences.  Letters to missionaries are printed.   Baptismal records were caught up for at least a little while this week.  (More keep coming in since those missionaries keep baptizing people.)  Most of the new missionaries have their residency cards. 
And Best of All......We now have more help in the office!  Yea!  Sister Chantrill arrived yesterday.  Her luggage didn't make it till today, but we got it and her and an apartment for her all set up and united them all tonight.  Win!  We got the keys to her apartment on Friday so that was a near thing. She got here Sat and her suitcase got here today.  She stayed with us last night so that she would have anything she needed that wasn't in her carry-on.   President had planned on meeting her Sat. evening and interviewing her and maybe dinner.  Well, that didn't work.  You see, President's son returned 'home' from his mission a couple of weeks ago and has spent most of his time since, in zone conferences which were in Spanish, (which he doesn't speak).  The Deeres wanted to have at least one family activity with him before he left Monday to go back to Provo for school so they went mountain climbing near Antequera.   He was jumping from one rock to another and fell so they spent most of the day in a hospital getting x-rays and checking that he hadn't been seriously hurt. He is fine, if bruised and lacerated, but 'The best laid plans' went astray so we got to keep Sister Chantrill. 

 

 I don't know what was with me, but I didn't take any photos this week.  Instead here are some photos of the activity Elder Castillo had with the office elders and APs the p-day after our wave arrived.   

 

They went and drove racecars.  I stayed home and read a book.  To each his own.

 

 

love the hair dos

 



 

Sister Deere and Justin joined in the fun!

On your Mark, get set, Go

 

 



Then they went mini golfing. 

Who gave that guy a stick?  You know what he is going to do with it!

This is one of our sweet Philippine members.

 

 

 

 

Our second son commented  that he thought he recognized some of our missionaries from his own mission.  Rod has mentioned the same feeling.  I don't know if it is just physical types of people we haven't seen for a long time, or something else.  Whatever it is, the resemblance between missionaries past and present is still there.  He also spoke of the heritage he has of capableness if I can coin a word.  I don't know that we did anything to foster that attitude or if you all came with it, but we had a much easier time leaving you all because we knew that you were able, with the help of family and ward members, to solve whatever problems you would face.  (And Heavenly Father's help of course) Truth to tell, we don't do that much when we are there, but we love being part of your lives.  Thank you for all the posts, photos, and messages that keep us part of your lives and keep us feeling connected.  We love your comments, everyone's comments, so keep up the good work.