This brings to close a busy week and the start of an even busier one. We made 7 trips to the airport - one at 4 o'clock in the morning. We had two missionaries who "died" (ended their 2 year mission) this week. They were both so full of mixed emotions. They don't want to leave the people they have grown to love during the previous two years, but at the same time they are anxious to see their families. They were great missionaries and it is always sad to see them leave. This week we have a sister leaving and 4 new sisters arriving - along with their trainers, so we will be making more trips to the airport. They will all be staying with us so we will have a house full of girls! In fact they may be staying with us for awhile. We have had a short time to try to find a new apartment for the 4 staying in Singapore (up to this time Singapore has only had Elders) - but a house full of Sisters will be easier than a house of Elders! - or at least maybe a little cleaner!
Salt Lake decided to automate the support cards for the young missionaries. Dave spent all week e-mailing and leaving messages for SLC to get in touch with us (the 14 hour time difference makes it difficult). They had the support payments at far more than any of our missionaries receive. The Elders were excited - more money! The problem with our mission is that Singapore Elders receive more money than those in Malaysia and even those receive varying amounts depending on their area and transportation. Luckily they took us off the automation the day before it was to go into effect - back to the drawing board for our mission! Dave was really stressed over it. (Just a note. All missionaries pay their own way - but it is the same for all areas of the world. This way some missionaries don't have to pay less if they serve in an inexpensive area, while those in more expensive areas would pay a lot more.)
The Oriens left Tuesday after getting the okay from her doctor, although he gave her strict orders to not use her new knee very much until the swelling goes down (caused by walking far too much!). We have really missed them as they were a lot of fun to have here. Here is an excerpt from the e-mail I got from her on Wednesday. It is really funny but could have been a real disaster!
We just returned to Bintulu today from my knee surgery. The trip was fine with one almost catastrophic exception...It all started with breakfast at McDonalds at the airport in Singapore...one last American meal before we headed back to the land of chopped chicken and rice for most meals. Because we lingered a bit too long over our Sausage McMuffins with Egg we had to hustle to get to the gate. Since my new knee does not allow me to hustle Elder Orien thought it would be a great idea for me to ride on the luggage cart and he could wheel me along much faster. All went well and we were almost to the gate except for the mistake of getting on the gliding walkway with me standing on the cart. The problem came when it was time to exit the walkway. The small wheels on the front of the cart couldn't get up over the small hump at the end so we stopped but the walkway didn't. It kept pushing and pushing and toppled me off the cart in a heap with Elder Orien and Elder Hill (who was on our flight to Bintulu) right on top of me and the cart stuck in between all of us. It hurt but was so funny we couldn't stop laughing. My new knee twisted a bit and has hurt all day, the old knee lost a bunch of skin and ripped a hole in my nice new white pressure stockings and I twisted my wrist a bit so it hurts. Elder Orien lost the skin in stripes off his arm and bruised his backside and tore his pants. Elder Hill said his backside hurts too but we are all pretty much okay and will be fine. The worst was that our pride was wounded badly.... never-the-less we still can't wait to see a rewind of that scene in the movie of our life. It must have looked so funny to see these silly Americans unable to exit a gliding walkway. We got lots of wide eyed stares and many concerned offers of help to get us untangled and off that incessantly moving walkway. I took a wheelchair after that and it turned out to be a huge plus. Wheelchair people get a personal guided tour through the airport to their destination, and in KL that is something!, plus it opted us out of all the lines and red tape at security, immigration, luggage, etc. I think I'll take the wheelchair every time from now on! And for anyone who doesn't know it, the medical care in Singapore truly is first class. We didn't call it a hospital, we called it a hotel.
When she called me she said the people on the walkway behind them were having to walk backwards to keep from falling on top of them. You would have to know Sister Orien to fully appreciate her story. She is such a fun person and has had so many things happen to her. One time fairly recently she was at an Ibon's house. They always serve you a drink and the water they use is very questionable. When they weren't looking she decided to toss the drink over her shoulder into the jungle. The only problem was there was a small palm tree behind her and the leaves had sharp spines. It cut all her fingers and she stood there with blood dripping from them trying not to be noticed!
One of the blessings of a Senior Mission is the friendship you develop with other Senior couples who also leave family and friends to serve the Lord. You develop an immediate bond with each other. Next week we have a family history couple coming in for a visa run who will be staying with us. We met them briefly in Jahor Bahru this morning as they were there giving classes. They were the last couple that we hadn't met.
We have been working such long hours lately that we decided to take some P-day (preparation day) time this week. Thursday morning we, with the Howarths, went to the Jurong Bird Park. What an wonderful place. They had hundreds of different kinds of tropical birds. The bird shows were amazing. We really enjoyed ourselves but went back to the office and worked until late that night. Luckily it was a morning without rain.
Today is Labor Day in Singapore. I think everyone left to go to Malaysia. When we left for JB to attend church, we thought we had allowed ample time to get there. It took us two hours to get through immigration. The lines were horrible! Coming home was a little better - only 1 1/2 hours. We are getting to know the people there and really enjoy the branch. They are such sweet, humble people who don't have much in the way of material goods, but are so happy and kind. They make the 7-8 hour trip each week worthwhile.
Serving a Senior Mission is a great opportunity. You can have experiences that you never even dreamed of as you live in a different culture with different climates and challenges. Some is hard, but the blessings are enormous! What a privilege it is to serve our Heavenly Father in Singapore. There is a sign in our office that reads, "Serving a Senior Mission sure beats staying at home and watching your birth certificate expire!" I'm sure all our young Elders & Sisters would say that serving a mission is such a great experience for them too. - they have experiences you could not even imagine and they love it!
We think of all of you at home often - especially family. How we miss them, but we know they will be blessed.
We love and miss all of you and our prayers and thoughts are with you.
Elder & Sister Garrett (mom & dad, grandma & grandpa, friends, & relatives)
May 6, 2011
Hi,
I received a beautiful bouquet of flowers today from all of you for Mother's Day. They are absolutely beautiful. It was so thoughtful of you. I had forgotten that Sunday was even Mother's Day. This has been such a busy week, with one of the Sisters going home and four new ones arriving (plus their trainers). We had an outgoing dinner Tuesday night and an Incoming dinner Wednesday night. We had to find a new apartment for them (actually the office elders did - but Dad had to handle the legal and financial part). After our 2nd trip to the airport this morning we went with the office elders to get them new mattress, sheets, pillows, bedspreads, etc., took them to the apartment and picked up the keys. We then had to go back and get some work done at the office and then go back to our house to pick up the 4 remaining sisters and take them to their new apartment. It has been early mornings and late nights all this week. All the girls stayed here with us. It was fun, but a lot of work. What accomplished young women they are. One worked in Africa with an orphanage for 2 months, and one taught for 4 months in China. They are all in demanding majors in school or have already graduated. They are really great gals. The two that left this morning ( with their trainers) will be in for a shock through as they serve in East Malaysia!
With everything going on, I forgot Scott's birthday! I thought about it the day before and the day of his birthday, but things got so hectic, I forgot to call. I am so sorry! David let Scott know that is it not because we don't love him, just forgetfulness.
Hopefully tomorrow we can get the house put back together as we have a couple coming in on Tuesday to stay for 4 days on a visa run. Then we have a week's break before a new couple arrives (at 1:15 in the morning) an another couple comes in for dental work for a week. We are supposed to go to Kuala Lumpur on the 23-24 to meet with Elder Bednar (all the missionaries in Singapore and West Malaysia). There are rumors though that he might not be coming as his trip includes Indonesia and they have been having bombs planted all over the place (luckily they have found them before they went off). I guess we will just have to wait and see.
Well I do need to go, but again, thanks so much for the flowers. It was so thoughtful of you. I love all of you so much. We think of all of you daily and miss each of you so much. We keep the calendar up with all of your pictures (thanks Beckie), it makes me think of each of you and to know what a beautiful family we have! I am so proud of all of you and want to be with each of you eternally! Happy Mother's Day to each of you (the mother's) too! You are each incredible!
With all my love,
Mom
No comments:
Post a Comment