Delivery Day

There are days when Elder Boehrer has to buy, and deliver furniture, i.e., beds, tables, chairs, etc. to the different departments that need them.  He also sets up apartments for missionaries when they come into the field, if they need a new apartment.  He finds apartments and sets them up for the senior missionaries and does a GREAT job of it.  The senior missionaries really appreciate it.  I hope, when we leave, that they find someone as diligent as Elder Boehrer. 

Tonight we bought two mattresses, then went to another store and bought a table and chairs, then went to another store and picked up the mattresses.  Whew!  It was fun being together, but, yep, tonight we are tired!!!

                              

Cleaning Out the Mission Office

Today we cleaned up the office and got rid of a bunch of stuff, like folders from 2001, 10 unused staplers, TONS of file folders, push pins, envelopes, books, binder clips, etc., etc. . .

Then we straightened out and moved shelves around.  Ahh, yes, nothing better than getting rid of the old and bringing in the new  Yep, the cleaning, vacuuming, sweeping, clearing, throwing away garbage, etc., that’s all part of serving in the mission office.  But, believe me, it is fun, especially when you are all working together!

Ready for Good Will

Just some of the garbage

Too bad I didn’t get a ‘before’ picture of this closet.  What a difference . . .

Never seen this white board so clean

Still kinda messy, but this storage room is shaping up.

All ready for delivery to the missionaries.

Christmas Decorations and Sister Jones Birthday

Happy Birthday Sister Jones!!!

See that bowl of candy next to this cute, little tree? This was in celebration of Sister Jones’ Birthday – better than cake.

This is as you enter our office.

Yep, we are getting the mission office ready for Christmas.  We put up our decorations, including lights, two trees and a candle and basket decoration.  We have not decorated our apartment and we’re not sure if we are going to – maybe.  Anyway, out here in Maryland because lots of the homes are older and stately, unlike the homes in California which are beautiful, but are not on the big pieces of land with lawns in front  that stretch forever and sit way back from the road.  Not one of them is the same, they all have their own unique front.  Most are made of brick and have many windows which are lit up every night with those electric candles – it looks so warm and inviting, even tho’ they are not real candles.  You can imagine yourself entering a warm home with a lit firepace and a beautiful green Christmas tree with those old fashioned decorations (no colored trees – all green).  Yep, I’m digressing from our office decoration ‘discussion’ - I will get some pictures of the homes, if I can.  

P.S.  Elder Boehrer is going to start entering information in the blog AT LEAST once a month from now on.  We both know that when we look back at the book which our daughter is going to put together, from this blog, of our mission, that our posterity will want to know what Grandpa felt while on this great mission adventure

This tree is lit up with twinkle lights

This little tree with colored twinkle lights sure makes this file cabinet look better

These candles are lit by small lights that flicker – better than real candles

Elder Donaldson and Elder Jamison

Our Visitors

(Gosh, if I get any bigger, they’re going to have to try to just fit me into the picture .  .  .)  Anyway, enough ‘over weight’ talk.  We had some training today from Elders Donaldson and Jamison.  They came to our mission from Salt Lake City, Utah.  They are here to not only help us learn our ‘stuff’ in the office, but to work with the missionaries and give them thoughts and ideas and what Salt Lake has in mind for the missions.  Basically we found out that by June we should have a huge influx of missionaries.  It will start in February and work up from there.  The church is gearing up and getting ready for all that this will entail.  Exciting times  

I asked if they will need Senior Missionaries even more and they said emphatically “YES”.  Senior Missionaries are going to be needed even more.  They are going to try to use Service Missionaries NOTE:  Service Missionaries are members who for some reason or another, usually health, cannot travel far from home, so they serve either from their homes or they live at home and come into the Mission Office.  It is the plan for Service Missionaries to work in the offices, that way they can use the missionaries, such as Elder Boehrer and I, to work with the inactives, non-members, help in wards, be in leadership, serve at historic sites (which is what Elder Boehrer and I would like to do for our next mission), or to do whatever is needed. 

We love serving – can’t say it enough.  It is the most fulfilling thing we have ever done – next to raising our family.

Sister and President Richards with Elders Jamison and Donaldson

Busy

Oh my gosh, the office is so busy.  We have seventeen departing missionaries and thirteen arriving in about three weeks.  Plus, we found out today that the Washington DC mission just got notice of thirty arrivals in February, which means that is something we can expect.  Let me put this in perspective, normally if we have ten departures that is considered a lot, and if we have five to eight arriving, that would normally be considered a nice size group.  Well, that’s a thing of the past.  The amount of arrivals and departures means every aspect of the mission is affected: vehicles, housing, medical, and all that it takes to get the binders  put together for each one.  That is not even considering the amount of phone calls and paperwork that will increase.  It is very, very exciting, but also of some concern because we all have to get adjusted.  We are all learning to get even more organized.  We work well together as a team!

Well, I could look like this . . .

The Leaves Are Gone

                   -  Then -                                                                           - Now -

          

Well, our beautiful green rides are gone.  All of the leaves have fallen and the cold is here.  It is between 37 and 42 degrees out here everyday.  Yesterday I spoke with a lady in Walmart and asked her if this was normal.  She said, well it’s starting a little early, it’s not cold enough to get her winter clothes out of the closet.  NOT COLD ENOUGH.  Boy, I am in trouble.  When I go out I have every warm cover I can think of!!!  Hope I get used to it.  Elder Boehrer, of course, is not as cold as I am, but he is feeling it.

Elder Boehrer and I took the Nickelsons to Inner Harbor Ward today.  They met the missionaries, the Relief Society President and other ward members.  They will be an awesome missionary couple for the ward.  Elder Boehrer and I are so excited to see how well they fit in. We love the Inner Harbor Ward, almost as much as we love our service at the Mission Office. But, honestly, when you are serving a mission, you love all of it!

Elder and Sister Nickelson

Elder Memott and Nelson and an investigator

Sister Ali, the Relief Society President

Elder Boehrer gave this little guy a sucker and he is very happy about that

The Temples at Christmas

WASHINGTON DC Temple

The Washington DC temple is beautiful all year round, but especially this time of year.  Starting November 30th through January 5th the temple will be decorated with beautiful Christmas decorations and will have different Christmas programs each night, including choirs, plays, music, etc.  In fact all of the temples will be decorated for a celebration of Christ’s birth.  If you are interested in going out for a great family night or a great date night, go to LDS.org and in the upper right hand corner click on Resources – FAMILY – Temples and search for the temple you want information on.  Elder Boehrer and I plan on going.  I will be sure and put pictures on the blog.

Mount Vernon

George Washington

Well, Elder Boehrer has a cushie seat

                                 Mount Vernon

                       

                       

Today Elder Boehrer and I went to Mt. Vernon, which is the home of George Washington.  It was very interesting, huge and  beautiful.  We learned so much about this great man and his family.  What a leader of men.  We also learned about his wife and son and daughter.  Maybe you all listened during History class, but I am finding out I sure didn’t. . .  I feel like I am back in class but it is much more interesting. 

I understand now why so many school age children were there today.  What a learning experience for them.

Just entering Virginia and walking towards the gift shop and Inn

Inn and Entrance

Entrance and a field of sheep – so peaceful

Entrance and model of Mt. Vernon

Yep, a Christmas camel.  I have never seen a camel before – wow.

Yes, he had turkeys too.

The Slave Quarters – what I couldn’t get over was the fact that they were treated better

than most slaves and their conditions were small and certainly not enough food. When

George died, he said in his will that he wanted all of the slaves freed when Mrs.

Washington died and he left them enough money that they got a good start on their new life.

Mrs. Washington only waited a year after Washington’s death and then released them.

The Blacksmith shop

The overseer lived pretty good and made about $333 a month – a millionaire!!!!

This is the type of beautiful dishes that Mrs. Washington owned

The Garden Hot House – Beautiful and the winter garden

A huge ancient tree that was there when George lived there.

Lunch time – starving