NEWS of the WEEK

The above photograph is of our newest grandson, Mason Robert Hawley, newborn. It's here on the blog "just because" we are his grandparents. We wish we could hold him and mug&hug him, and "kiss him on the neck," as my grandma used to say. Since we can't we're enjoying looking at all the photos of him, and of all of our other grandchildren. Mason is #14. We have 6 grandsons and 8 granddaughters. As each one arrives we feel the Lord is multiplying our blessings -- a "multiplicity of blessings," as it says in the D&C.

We are, we hope, mostly ready for this week's upcoming transfers: On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the MP holds "departing interviews" with the 18 released & going home this week.

One elder left last weekend early in order to make his school schedule. The 18 [1 sister and 17 elders] depart on Wednesday night if they are being picked up by family, or on Thursday morning. On Tuesday current trainers hold two training sessions for the newly called trainers. On Wednesday Transfers are announced and everyone shows up at the office for THESE announcements. We have already made all changes on iMOS; the President's photo board gets changed on Tuesday night. Also on Wednesday the 17 arriving missionaries are picked up at the airport and brought to the office, where Elder & Sister Hawley will orient them and hopefully make them feel welcome and a little less nervous. Again we have 1 sister coming and the remainder are elders. One final elder will be coming on September 7th, from Italy via the Provo MTC where he is learning English.

As Finance Secretary, Elder Hawley explains the missionary's credit card use, and their monetary monthly allotment, and gives a general overview of reimbursements for things like travel expenses and emergency funds. He will also discuss with them the Provisional Drivers License requirements.

As Mission Secretary, Sister Hawley collects passports, issues mobile phones for those companionships that don't already have them, dispurses proselyting supplies. She explains how they can send her referrals, write President's letters, and keep their flats clean [because they will be inspected!]. She asked them to notify her if their parents' address changes. She will hand out New Missionary packets, pocket planners, and start them writing their first letter home to their parents.

Sister Hawley was told that once E/S Hawley get through 2 transfers they will be experts! We are putting our faith in the Lord, and will do our very best to welcome these missionaries to England!

Whether it's Transfers week, Zone Conferences, or just "normal" days at the ELM, E/S Hawley start their days by rising around 6 a.m. We shower & dress, prepare & eat breakfast & do dishes; study our scriptures and pray together, and leave for the office some time between 8 & 9 a.m. The office elders & APs live together and come to the office in the mornings for their study time, so we try to work quietly until 10 a.m. when they are done. At first we went out to lunch, but more and more we just bring something from home that we can eat-on-the-run. There is no such thing as a "lunch hour!" We work until 5, but there are many nights when we feel we need to work longer, and some nights when we don't leave until 7:30 p.m. At home we prepare and eat dinner, clean up, say our prayers after reading from the Ensign, and tumble gratefully into bed. If we have a late night at the office, we try to fit in things like grocery shopping and laundry before or after work, especially if we want to do something social on Saturdays, like we did yesterday when we went with the Hyde Park Ward on a bus / day trip to Bournemouth, a seaside resort town on the southern English coast. This week we also went with some other mission couples to Royal Albert Hall for a concert. What an impressive performance and building! [See photos above]

Missions are certainly not boring! Our days are filled from start to end, and they fly by because we are busily engaged and totally engrossed in what we are learning and doing! Serving a mission is so good for each individual and for marriage, especially because we can share with each other all aspects of this extraordinary experience! How grateful we are that we made the choice to serve this mission!