There was an interesting conversation between two young elders that I heard. The one from Alabama was saying that the one from Idaho was crazy because he was rejoicing that we were having rain and sleet [or hail--I really was not sure which term would fit when I walked back to my apartment for lunch], because that meant there would be moisture for next summer's crop. I am on the Idaho side of the debate, having observed the damage that a lack of ground water from the winter did to my garden a few years ago. I learned in the spring that an umbrella is an essential piece of equipment here. A small price to pay for famine-prevention.
My Book of Mormon reading today was in 2 Nephi 24, which speaks of famine [and the unforgettable German term in Das Buch Mormon: Hungersnot!]. We have been so blessed in our country not to have suffered famine so far, but one wonders if and when that will happen. I am grateful that my Sweetheart does not mind that I want to make sure we have plenty of food stored!''
Early today I checked to see if there was any way I could manage a trip to see my Arizona family over the holidays. But requests for permission to leave the mission boundaries are supposed to be submitted, I learned, a month before the time requested. Even an expedited request takes two weeks. So sadly my plan would not work.
I received some positive reinforcement today for the in-service PowerPoints I am putting together. My zone leader had asked me to simplify the language on a couple of them in order to help one of the missionaries for whom English is a second language. I had just finished one of them yesterday, and today that missionary asked for help with that particular one. I went over the presentation with her, then we did an impromptu exercise on the internet, and then she went and did one on her own! I was so pleased that she "got it", because she had struggled to understand the concept from the materials she was working on. In addition, she came up with a simpler definition of a word than I had thought of [even after searching an online thesaurus!]. To me this is evidence that what I am preparing really will be useful long-term.
I had to stay late at the Library to try to get my mission email working again. Unfortunately that was unsuccessful. Then, since we may get snow tonight I went to grocery stores--I wish I had not done that, since it really diminished the time I got to talk with my Sweetheart, since the weather in Missouri is icy also, which impacted his drive to work, and almost caused him to fall. He did get safely in to work, which I am grateful for.
My daughter is on her way home, and the icy conditions are impacting her travel also. I will be glad when I get the word that she is safely home.
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