We love Monday mornings!

During the first couple of weeks after we arrived here at the mission office, Monday mornings were crazy!

Monday is P-Day (Preparation Day) for the elders and sisters, and most of them come into the mission office sometime during that day to check mail, pick up supplies, wash their cars, get haircuts, and write emails to their families. Sometimes they meet with President Golden or with Elder Tomlinson who volunteers each Monday to work with elders and sisters wanting advice on post-mission college and university admissions. Depending on missionary schedules, it can get pretty crowded in the mission office!

At first, it seemed like we were constantly being distracted from the work we were supposed to be doing on Mondays, and I was starting to get frustrated, but then I stepped back and took a better look at things....  "Wait a minute, here. Assisting the elders and sisters with what they need when they visit the mission office on Mondays is EXACTLY what I am supposed to be doing!"

The elders and sisters are the heart of our mission; they are the heart of every mission. Their energy, their enthusiasm, their testimonies, and their passion for what they are doing is contagious! It is a joy to watch them walk in each Monday and I look forward to doing whatever I can to help them with what they need that particular morning.

Monday mornings are still crazy, but Mondays have become my favorite day of the week!

Meeting with Sister Rhine about cars and referrals.

Each companionship is allowed one gallon of water to wash
their car. (About 2/3 of our companionships are in cars.)
I wonder if they will be allowed more water in the future
 since we've had so much rain this winter?

There are usually a few welcome snacks around...

Past companions often get to see each other again and
catch up on what's been happening in their areas.

We distribute cleaning supplies for missionary apartments.

These sisters created a new bulletin board for the
mission office last week.

Everybody's favorite spot is the mail cupboards.
Letters and packages are organized by zones.
I love watching and listening when the missionaries
realize there is something there for them!

Mondays are happy days around the mission office.

Guess who got mail?

Elders and sisters preparing for the coming week. 

Last week we had the privilege of picking up
two sister missionaries from Temple Square
who will serve in our mission for three months.
They left Salt Lake in a massive snowstorm
and walked out of John Wayne Airport to
sunshine and palm trees!

My favorite quote from last week's morning devotionals.

Happy Valentines Day from us to you!

--Pat--