Louisiana Rain

Marc and I just had one of our funniest experiences since arriving in LA. The Louisiana Rainstorm! I equate it with a California earthquake. One second your fine, the sun is shining and you're dry, and one minute later you aren't. Seriously, in less than the minute it took to run across 20 feet of Sam's Club asphalt and throw 3 small boxes in the truck this is what my blouse looked like. And, yes, we were using an umbrella! Now I know the true meaning of soaked to the bone. Plus, I look like a drowned rat, smell like wet dog and won't need to remove mascara tonight. Marc said my hair looked like the old leather football helmet. Yeah, that's a pretty accurate description. And the rain and 2 sisters in the office for 10 minutes were the best part of my day.

Let me just preface today's comment with this statement: I still love it here! With that said, do you remember "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day?" From the minute we arrived today nothing went right. Without giving a blow by blow account, I'll just make a list of the day's woes.

     Top priority--organizational and phone rosters. Couldn't enter all the new phone numbers in to the system because one of the zones with a new phone didn't exist in the system yet. Forget rosters till office elders get here. They'll know what to do.

     Get yesterday's and today's referrals out of the way, but lds.org/find a meetinghouse was psycho. I'd put in a Louisiana address, and it would give me a chapel in Mexico or Brazil or South Carolina--anywhere but Louisiana! So I went to google maps to find the location then back to lds.org to figure out the ward and mission district. For EVERY SINGLE REFERRAL! There were 12. Never mind that lds.org uses google maps to locate meeting houses.

     Try to get rid of a referral that's come to our mission 4 times but belongs to the Texas Houston South Mission. I finally called Salt Lake for help.

     After waiting impatiently for any elders to arrive I remembered that district meetings are always on Friday when it's a transfer week. Boo:( That means no elders till at least 2 pm because they always go to lunch after their meeting.

     Try to sort mail. Go to old phone roster to see where missionary has been for the last 6 weeks then try to find him or her on the new transfer sheet which has itty bitty pictures and names in -10 font, white on grey. If they aren't where they used to be, search the entire page for their new location.

     Try to make new incoming packets, because I'm down to 1. Print LABRM mission statement, 6 per sheet, then cut on paper cutter, which is buried under a dozen very padded moving blankets. Scratch that. I'm not moving all those blankets.

     Enter 4 recently received Baptism & Confirmation records. Oh, right, the reason I didn't enter them yesterday is because the elders had neglected to include birth city and state. There are several things I can omit on B&CRs, but that's not one of them. After speaking to the elders yesterday I thought for sure they'd leave the info on the answer machine. Nope. 

     Add 2 more B&CRs to the pile and put it aside till later.

     

Here's the bright spot in the day--Sister Stevens and Sister Steele. Sister Stevens was just transferred here from Marksville on Wednesday. She and her previous companion, Sister Paulson, lived in our first apartment in Mansura and Sister Steele's companion, Sister Baird, was transferred to Lafayette on Wednesday. And that's why SS & SS are together.

Did the 2 rosters ever get printed? No
Did the B&CRs get entered? No
Did the incoming packets even get started? No                         Was it still a great day? Of course!

An MIA Missionary

I held off sharing this story while waiting to know the outcome, so here it it, but not in great detail. After the new missionaries arrived on Tuesday we heard that only 18 had come in. Not good. We were supposed to get 19. So where's #19. No one knew. The other 18 said 19 didn't get on the bus, meaning the bus from the MTC to SLC airport.

After my part of the orientation on Wednesday morning I asked Pres Hansen if there was any word on 19. Nope. Could he talk to our in-field rep in SLC? He's on vacation. When one of the new missionaries came into the office after Transfers I asked if he knew what had happened to 19. He said that 18 were on the main MTC campus and 19 was on the south or west or wherever the other MTC campus is. By the end of the day Pres H had spoken to the MTC who told him 19 wasn't there! Really? Well, where is 19? How do you call a parent and say, "Sorry, we seem to have misplaced your missionary somewhere between Provo and Baton Rouge.

It wasn't until this afternoon that I received 2 emails--1 from our travel lady in Salt Lake, and another with 19's change of assignment. To make a long story short, 19 IS still at the MTC and will be coming in on the next transfer because 19 will be studying Spanish. Honestly, this was the oddest situation and hard to understand how no one knew 19's whereabouts. We can kind of laugh about it now, but we really did have some serious concerns.

The biggest problem now is that takes August's incomings to 25. With 18, the mission home was already bursting at the seams. And the Hansens have 2 daughters coming to visit for 2 weeks in August that includes transfer time. Problem solving! That's what we do best here:)

The Hansen's First Transfer

I know I don't need to say anything about Transfer Day, so here are a few pictures from the best mission day in July.

Sister Astle (left) has been transferred to the West Bank in the New Orleans South Zone. What a sad day:( We always love seeing her and Sister Bailey (right), but now we'll get to know Sister Paige (blue blouse). Sister Black will be Sister A's new companion. Aren't they beautiful?

Sister Hansen is with Sister Smith (left), one of the new sisters whose first companion and trainer is Sister Seegrist, a perfect comp for a new sister and an outstanding missionary.

In the group of 5 sisters are Sister Biver, from France (I wonder if they thought we speak French here), sister McEntire, who tells some of the best jokes ever, but you have to hear her to appreciate them, Sister Chausow (remember the Chausow Family Sunshine Package?), Sister Seegrist and Sister Smith.

In between Elder A and Elder B is President Burkart, the Denham Springs Stake President. He's one of the most proactive missionary Stake Presidents I've ever met, except for maybe Doug Rozsa. He attends transfers so he knows his new missionaries, meets with all the DS missionaries after lunch, and I send him a roster every time it changes so he has all their names and phone numbers.

This is our newest senior couple who are serving in Oakdale. What wonderful people they are! They're from Gilbert AZ and have already served 2 or 3 missions, one of them in the Philippines Temple. We're loving getting to know them and are planning a few weekend activities to show them some of the sights. They have 9 children, 8 living, somewhere around 23 grandchildren, 2 more expected while they're in LA, and most of them live in AZ! They're already made their presence known in Oakdale in a very good way and are meeting, reactivating and loving the people there. Apparently the branch meets in a funeral home, but I don't think it serves that function any more.  I'm sure there'll be more on these great people in the future.

And one final picture of the July go-homes after our temple session. Notice the the Hansen's are still smiling after successfully completing their first transfer, even though their day is far from over. They went home for dinner with this group and a testimony meeting. Then they'll be off to the airport in the morning by 6 am!

Go-Home Words of Wisdom (not in picture order):
Elder Ackerman--Remember where you came from and who you left behind to come here. You are my family.
Elder Willis--Get to know the Savior and His teachings. He will help you love and serve. Cherish the friendships you've made here.
Elder Rennie--Always have hope and remember you can do it! Have a positive attitude. The Lord is always with us. He loves His missionaries.
Elder Hunt--The Atonement is real. Don't worry, be happy. Always be and do your best.
Elder O'Donnell--Be happy! Mission work is meant to be joyful. If you're wondering if it's worth it, it is.
Elder Miles--God has a plan for us and is looking out of us, so be happy--even on lousy days.
Elder Helie--It's good to know it's not the first time we've met nor will it be the last. John 15:13 says "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." You are friends. This is an opportunity to serve each other.We're here for a reason. Love and serve your companions and you'll be successful. Study the Atonement. It's the force behind everything. It will carry you and bless you.
Sister Bristow--Love everyone--those you teach, your district (they're your family). Heavenly Father knows better than we know ourselves and sees our potential.
Sister Wheeler-- When I was set apart my Stake President told me to work hard and be obedient. I've always done both, but this is the hardest thing I've ever done and also the most rewarding. I worked my guts out and am exhausted. The Savior will never leave us. He's with us through hard times and great times. Use your time wisely and enjoy your mission to the end.
Sister Faulk (she spent her entire mission in Opelousas, did great things and became "the face of Opelousas")--Love your companions because those relationships will be eternal. Love your mission because it's an experience unlike any others you'll ever have. You bear Christ's name over your heart. You'll change lives even though you won't see it. Through the Atonement you can do all things.

The July Arrivals

Our 19 new missionaries arrived in Baton Rouge today--2 from Mexico City and 17 from Provo. It took a 12 seat van, 2 trucks, a Highlander and large trailer to pick them up from the airport. I'm not sure who I'm most concerned about--the new missionaries who are running on very few hours of sleep and know no one here except those they came with, President Hansen, who needs to fit in 19 interviews before he goes to bed tonight, or Sister Hansen, who gets to house and feed everyone. One thing's for sure. There aren't 19 beds in the mission home, but the Assistants did take 4 cots from the office over there this morning. Should be an interesting day. Meanwhile, I'm just minding my own business at the office and wondering how next transfer's incoming 24 are going to be transported.

It seems like Elder Navitakula is always getting a new companion. His most recent one is Elder Rothschild, a fairly new elder from Hennifer, Utah. When I asked him where Hennifer is he told me that it's by Echo and Morgan. Oh, super! Now I know exactly where it isn't. :) It's north of Park City and there are more sheep there than people. This was a mid-transfer exchange so Elder R has been her for a few weeks. We actually heard him speak 2 Sundays ago when we went to church in Baton Rouge. In his talk he included 18 points about how to become a good missionary. I was writing as fast as I could but couldn't keep up with him. When I mentioned this to Elder Watkins he immediately got on his phone, called Elder R, then told me he'd write them down for me. Thanks, Elder W, for always bending over backward for me. Talk about accommodating! I will add to this post as soon as I get the list from  Elder R.

This is a picture taken on the Monday before the Wall's went home. The t-shirts say "The Final Ride." I don't think I've mentioned what an avid bike rider Pres Wall is. It was nothing for him to go out on a 15 mile ride some mornings. So, the missionaries took final rides with their districts on his last Monday.

Le Creole Restaurant

Tonight's dinner might just have been the best restaurant we've been to since arriving in LA. We were invited by some of the Baton Rouge 1st Ward members to go out to Le Creole. I don't know what the stripes are on the salad. They sure weren't there when I was eating. Oh, I didn't take these pictures! It just seemed a bit tacky to stand up and start photographing the food. It was an upscale restaurant with 5 star flavor, presentation and service. I ordered the Le Creole salad--mixed greens, gulf shrimp, snow crab, mango, hearts of palm and cane vinaigrette that I'd pay good money to get the recipe. There was also a buerre blanc sauce on the shrimp and crab. Those things in the newspaper are delicious baby biscuits. Yumminess!

Fireworks on the Mississippi

We stopped by the office on our way home from running some errands and the office was full of elders! Four of them had met here after exchanges to switch back to their own companions. This is Elder Sargent, from Idaho, and Elder Anderson, from Wyoming. They're the Tiger Bend Elders here in Baton Rouge.

After a relaxing day AND a nap, we met the Riggs at their house and headed out for frozen yogurt (where I devoured tart vanilla and mango something or other little balls of juice. I'll try anything with mango!) and fireworks on the Mississippi River. What a delightful evening. The Riggs are so enjoyable to be with, I'm ready to return for a repeat of last night's yogurt, and fireworks are never a disappointment. We were right downtown by the old capitol and walked a few blocks to the levee. After crossing the railroad tracks, climbing through a chain link fence and up the levee, we found great cement seats with a perfect view of the evening's show.

4th of July fireworks never fail to remind me of one of my favorite patriotic locations of all time--Fort McHenry in Baltimore. It's an emotional reminder of how "The Star-Spangled Banner" came to be.

In September, 1814, Francis Scott Key, a young Georgetown lawyer and poet, witnessed the bombardment of Ft. McHenry while under British guard aboard an American truce ship near the Baltimore harbor. His law partner was there to negotiate the release of Dr. William Beanes, whom the British had taken prisoner on their return march from Washington. As the dawn broke on the morning of Sept. 14, Key saw the American flag still flying and was moved to pen the immortal lines which were finished two days later in a Baltimore hotel. Originally entitled "The Defence of Fort M'Henry," it wasn't officially made the national anthem until 1931.

After a much more thorough movie re-creation of the events of Sept 13-14, a huge curtain is drawn to reveal an enormous replica of the flag which was flown over Ft. McHenry (the original is on permanent display at the Smithsonian), while a men's choir sings the National Anthem. Emotions of gratitude and pride for our nation, the Star and Stripes and those who made it possible moves everyone to tears.

Another Muffaletta

We didn't wait long to try Anthony's Italian Deli that the Hermanas told us about last night. I should have know that Marc started tasting it the minute it was mentioned. We went out at lunchtime on errands and ended up at the deli. Our decision is that it was a good sandwich but not quite as good as the one in New Orleans. Now how am I going to make these things when we get home. The meat and cheese won't be a problem, but I'm not sure about the olive salad and bread.