Slow Week - a lot of paperwork!

Some of you may have heard the saying - "No job is finished until the paper work is done." - well in our work it is also true that - "No job is started until a lot of paper work is done!". We spent many hours this week doing the necessary paperwork for a number of projects that we were 'ready' to submit for approval. We submitted 4 projects: 1. playground equipment for a handicapped kindergarten, 2. 55 beds and mattresses for an orphanage, 3. 9 beds and mattresses with night stands for mothers to use while tending the children at the Children's hospital, and 4. digital photography equipment for vocational training for deaf and moderately physically handicapped young adults. We also had our project for the refurbishing of the library for the Correctional School approved!

I presented the training module for our District meeting last week and so in keeping with the theme of the week I trained them on the importance of their Area Books. I gave them my perspective of being a Bishop and a member of a Stake Presidency and being frustrated when missionaries get transferred and the Area Book is out of date and investigators are lost. We perused the scriptures a bit and then they had to show their books. I was very pleased to see them almost 100% complete and up to date.

At church services on Sunday we broke our record for attendance and had 16 people at the meeting. We were especially please to welcome the Ambassador from the Netherlands who said that he was just interested in learning! Along with him we had 3 other first timers. Viviane gave a talk with our newest missionary reading/translating for her into Russian. He did a great job - only been out for 7 weeks. I also had a first - I conducted the whole meeting (well 95%) in Russian! It was probably the worst pronounced Russian anyone has ever heard, but one has to start somewhere! I practiced all week and still needed some coaching from the congregation. Some were nodding their heads in encouragement and no one broke our laughing (I was afraid Viviane would because she had some really good laughs hearing me practice) so I guess it was understandable.

Here are some interesting animals and a beautiful fountain from a walk we took in a park .
















This week I was reminded about prayer - "As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7:7–11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Prayer, Bible Dictionary"

Given that reminder about prayer, I went to God and asked that my leg be healed so that I could continue this work but that His will be done. The next morning when I awoke I had no more pain in my leg! I testify the He wants to bless us and He will bless us as we submit to Him.

Vivane was very frustrated with the amount of paperwork and finance monitoring that is required. Everything here is done with cash and we have to keep track of our own finances and the Church's and what the exchange rate was for that transaction ... Then she came across this scripture in her scripture studies -
2 Cor 9:6 & 7 "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

This scripture helped her change her perspective and move forward with a more cheerful heart.