Sept. 17, 2012

Blog Sept 17, 2012  this was a long, long, week.  Wednesday we traveled to San Carlos ( two hours) to help the good young people there edit their applications now that we have a better idea what is expected.  When we arrived we could not access their applications.  We called Cebu Employment Resource Center (first approval office).  After about an hour wait the applications were visible again.  Dan worked with some of the applicants and I worked with others. Then we drove two hours back home to Bacolod.  Saturday and Sunday we drove back and forth to Binalbagan (almost 2 hour drive) to train leaders about PEF during part of their Stake conference.  We spoke in the evening adult meeting. Sunday we also spoke in their general session.  The members there are wonderful and were all so pleased to meet us and hear from us.  We met four of our PEF students and were so excited to meet them. 

One the down side once we thought we had all the applicants application in San Carlos fixed, we got a message from one of the sisters saying there was still a problem.  Dan emailed the Cebu office only to not hear back anything.  Of course it was Friday so we will not be able to resolve anything until Monday. We learned this week we were supposed to pay an auto use fee (I think it covers maintenance and insurance) which is fine, but we had never been told so we had to pay for four months use.  The day we went over to pay that bill there was another query about our housing. The mission dept. doe not communicate well and thus our housing arrangements are still a matter of concern.  Dan had to recount again how we had to arrange for our own housing directly with the owner of the house with the help of the former missionary couple.  Of course during our call and arrival we have had several missionaries and mission President change and so we have to keep recounting the story.  Dan was about ready to strangle someone.  Maybe this time all will be resolved because we signed a two year lease and there is no moving!   No one said missions were all smooth sailing. 

This weekend we have to travel to Sipalay again (5 hour drive) to teach Planning for Success.  Hopefully, the weather will be better this time as last trip Dan and I tried to get the only geocashe on this island only to be rained out. We almost did not make it back with all the water on the roads.  We will try again this trip and hopefully not have to deal with the rain. 

We are planning a day off this week before traveling to Sipalay so that we do not over due ourselves. Yes, we did learn our lesson.  Looking after ourselves.  Hope all is well with our family and friends. We love you all very much and pray for you every day.