This past week has been a real doozy for me. (Sister Smart) It has been the "creating of the mission newsletter, The Liahona" week. In case any of you are familiar with the Preston Citizen Rural Route article for Clifton that I used to write - that was ENTIRELY in a different city, county, state, and country than this Liahona is. To begin with, this was a 10 page newsletter this time. This goes out on e-mail to all of the missionaries in our mission, Stake Presidents, Bishops, Branch Presidents and anyone else that has any remote thing to do with our mission. We print off the front page with the Mission President and his wife's articles, the monthly calendar, the monthly scripture, and the Mission President's wifes "stuff" which can be health tips, cleaning tips, and this months plea to dress appropriately and cut your hair, and mail it to the missionaries. Thank goodness we don't mail the entire thing as several trees would have to give their all for us.
I put baptism photos, Zone Conference photos, photos of the incoming missionaries and photos and departing paragraphs from the outgoing. This precious little epistle took me well over 2 full days to produce......I felt like I had given birth!!! It turned out really good, I hope, and my sweet Elder husband was heard to say "Only 16 more!!!" (he was almost dead meat!)
Then I had a HUGE senior moment (blame it on the Liahona!) You see, as Mission Secretary I always answer the phone even though 90+% of the time I transfer the call to another desk. Anyway, around 1:30 on Wednesday afternoon I thought to myself, "Wow, it has been a really peaceful day on the phone today." OOPS!! I forgot to take the phone off of "night" when I got to the office that morning so the answering machine message told anyone if they really needed something or needed to talk to the Mission President to call Sister Smart at ---------- (my cell phone #) I was wondering why some of the missionaries were calling me on my cell phone...............how did they get the number??? Many more goofs like that and I'll be sent to the Upper Peninsula close to the North Pole!
Anyway, things are going good. Elder Smart is figuring out ways to save the mission $$$. He discovered that the mission shouldn't pay taxes on utility bills since we are a religious entity so he has been making tons of phone calls and already figures we will pay about $200 less a month on utility bills. (He won't be sent to the North Pole!) He is doing amazingly well on the computer! We are officially trained, and I don't mean potty trained, and on our own now. HELP!!!
We are loving it here. Milwaukee has even gotten a little rain lately so the lawns are looking alive again. We'd love to hear from everyone. Our email is wsmart5218@gmail.com. Everyone take care and I'll blog in 2 weeks if I live through transfer week! (that is this week.............)
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Saturday, July 14, 2012
WE ARE FINALLY TRAINED!!!
We have had a good couple of weeks in our office specialist positions. Things are finally coming and we are able to do most things without any assistance. Thank goodness because our trainer is leaving this week to spend her last 6 weeks in the field with the younger sister missionaries. There has been a real lot to learn and I had many doubts at first, but I think the Lord has helped us greatly. We aren't young, you know! I'm sure many brain cells have taken a permanent leave of absense from our heads.
We love working in the office. Our Assistants to the President are in most every day.....they are so awesome. I only wish my oldest granddaughters were about 3 years older. Several of the local missionaries also come into the office almost daily to see if they have any mail (note to anyone reading this, write to your missionaries REGULARLY because they live for their mail!) We also have a community table in the office where we office workers put goodies, and healthy items such as carrots and celery, for anyone to devour. Last Saturday Jeff, Nicole, and Michael came to visit (a real blessing for we senior missionaries!) and we went to the Jelly Belly factory down by Kenosha. We brought home 5 huge bags of "Belly Flops" which are the jelly beans that are weird sizes and can't be sold in the stores. So on Monday we took in a bag of "flops" and we just took in a second bag on Friday. At this rate they won't last too long and we'll have to take another trip. (Wayne will be thrilled!)
Wisconsin is in a real drought, at least the Milwaukee area. This place that usually gets 1" of rain per week hasn't had ANY for a month. People are actually starting to purchase sprinklers for their lawns, but the water is so very expensive. One of the beauties of apartment living; we don't have to worry about watering.
We love this mission - it is already going by quickly. It is hard being away from family, and mountains, but it is the best decision we have made in a long time. I have decided, however, that I probably NEVER will learn my directions while I am here. More times than not I am convinced Wayne has turned the wrong way to go somewhere...and he hasn't!
Enjoy life, be happy, please pray for the missionaries, and I'll write in a couple of weeks!!!
We love working in the office. Our Assistants to the President are in most every day.....they are so awesome. I only wish my oldest granddaughters were about 3 years older. Several of the local missionaries also come into the office almost daily to see if they have any mail (note to anyone reading this, write to your missionaries REGULARLY because they live for their mail!) We also have a community table in the office where we office workers put goodies, and healthy items such as carrots and celery, for anyone to devour. Last Saturday Jeff, Nicole, and Michael came to visit (a real blessing for we senior missionaries!) and we went to the Jelly Belly factory down by Kenosha. We brought home 5 huge bags of "Belly Flops" which are the jelly beans that are weird sizes and can't be sold in the stores. So on Monday we took in a bag of "flops" and we just took in a second bag on Friday. At this rate they won't last too long and we'll have to take another trip. (Wayne will be thrilled!)
Wisconsin is in a real drought, at least the Milwaukee area. This place that usually gets 1" of rain per week hasn't had ANY for a month. People are actually starting to purchase sprinklers for their lawns, but the water is so very expensive. One of the beauties of apartment living; we don't have to worry about watering.
We love this mission - it is already going by quickly. It is hard being away from family, and mountains, but it is the best decision we have made in a long time. I have decided, however, that I probably NEVER will learn my directions while I am here. More times than not I am convinced Wayne has turned the wrong way to go somewhere...and he hasn't!
Enjoy life, be happy, please pray for the missionaries, and I'll write in a couple of weeks!!!
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Past week of June 24th to June 30th
Another very busy week - I've honestly not worked this hard in 40 years!!!
Office training is going well - however, we truly feel brainfried by the end of the day. There is so much more involved in this "Office Specialist" position than I ever imagined. We hope to be fully trained in another couple of weeks. Then the fun (?) will really begin. Elder Smart has caught on to the workings of a computer amazingly well.....quite a bit of divine help, I think. As for Sister Smart, I managed to put out a 9 page newsletter this week. I did most of the first 5 pages with some help and my trainer finished it off on Saturday. She likes to go into the office on our P-Day which is Saturday. I will probably learn to do that, also.
Senior Training was on Thursday. Probably my biggest surprise of this mission is the fact that every time we turn around at these "meetings" they have us role play teaching the gospel. Well, the biggest reason I requested an office position is that I am really not comfortable opening my mouth and teaching investigators. My Elder doesn't mind it, but I will learn - probably no choice in that matter - and I really look forward to becoming a better teacher. After all, we have the greatest message in the world and I need to SHARE IT!!!
We found out this week that the Lord truly protects his missionaries. In driving to Oshkosh for senior training my Elder discovered the craziness of roundabouts - 4 of them right next to each other - to be exact. He flew through those things, illegally I am sure - and we had two near misses. We really should be in the hospital right now. He won't want to go to Oshkosh willingly anymore!
Life is good in the Wisconsin Milwaukee Mission - we love where we are living, the people are friendly (the neighbor across the hall from us brought us dinner Saturday night after apologizing for her noisy children - I told her we had 18 grandkids and missed their noise so it wasn't bothering us) So happy to be finally serving. Prayers are always appreciated that our minds can hang in there through this training!
Love Sister Smart (a.k.a. Carolyn)
(Photo is of us and President and Sister Jones, our wonderful Mission President and his wife)
Office training is going well - however, we truly feel brainfried by the end of the day. There is so much more involved in this "Office Specialist" position than I ever imagined. We hope to be fully trained in another couple of weeks. Then the fun (?) will really begin. Elder Smart has caught on to the workings of a computer amazingly well.....quite a bit of divine help, I think. As for Sister Smart, I managed to put out a 9 page newsletter this week. I did most of the first 5 pages with some help and my trainer finished it off on Saturday. She likes to go into the office on our P-Day which is Saturday. I will probably learn to do that, also.
Senior Training was on Thursday. Probably my biggest surprise of this mission is the fact that every time we turn around at these "meetings" they have us role play teaching the gospel. Well, the biggest reason I requested an office position is that I am really not comfortable opening my mouth and teaching investigators. My Elder doesn't mind it, but I will learn - probably no choice in that matter - and I really look forward to becoming a better teacher. After all, we have the greatest message in the world and I need to SHARE IT!!!
We found out this week that the Lord truly protects his missionaries. In driving to Oshkosh for senior training my Elder discovered the craziness of roundabouts - 4 of them right next to each other - to be exact. He flew through those things, illegally I am sure - and we had two near misses. We really should be in the hospital right now. He won't want to go to Oshkosh willingly anymore!
Life is good in the Wisconsin Milwaukee Mission - we love where we are living, the people are friendly (the neighbor across the hall from us brought us dinner Saturday night after apologizing for her noisy children - I told her we had 18 grandkids and missed their noise so it wasn't bothering us) So happy to be finally serving. Prayers are always appreciated that our minds can hang in there through this training!
(Photo is of us and President and Sister Jones, our wonderful Mission President and his wife)
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