This week was somewhat of a change. We reorganized the office furniture and made it more of a professional office. It feels so much better and should be a better place for the Spirit of the Lord to attend the workings of the office. Each week we tackle some area of clutter, and tidy it up. We are also going to get two new office chairs, a new desk for the APs which will give them more drawer space, and possibly new office furniture in the "gathering place/social/waiting lounge area of the office.
Even Elder Hawley got more caught up in the financial area and the flats and vehicles. Maybe we can actually do this job with just the two senior missionaries and a few hours per week from the office elders. It has felt overwhelming to me for the pass three months. This week was interview week for the President and all of the missionaries were given individual interviews. Some days the office was full of missionaries and others, when the interviews were outside of the mission office area, were quiet and lovely. "Lovely" is a very English term. Things that are good are "Lovely"!
We appreciate everyone SKYPing. It was good to hear from Julianne and Seth about their upcoming move to Missouri. We hope they can find a buyer for their house. We love and need the contact with everyone. We are not homesick, but do like to keep in touch and know what is happening at home.
We are surprised at the warm temperatures that have stayed with us. Every day is between 60 and 65 degrees and the rain is limited and just drizzles early a few days a week. We barely need umbrellas. They say in mid winter is gets down to freezing at night, but so far the nighttime temperatures have stayed above 45 degrees. We are getting good with buses and with the underground -- it is called the "tube" here -- and a few train rides.
We have seen some of the wealth of the monarchy accumulated over the centuries by taxing & burdening the people they were supposed to serve and lead. All the opulence and gold and fine and precious things, while the lay person often lead a life of difficulty and poverty. I think a line from Isaiah 3:14-15 tells how the Lord feels about this. "The Lord will enter into judgment with the the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord God of Hosts." All this gold and finery is from the poor and in the castles and mansions of the rich and powerful monarchs. The leaders did some good things for the people and for freedom, but there appears to be great injustices, yet we are glad the Lord will judge and judge righteously and justly, so we need not fret about it any longer. Justice and vengeance are the Lord's.
We are reminded daily that this is the work of the Lord and we see his hand working in so many little things and in so many ways. Brother Hawley just finished reading the Book of Mormon again and found so many new ideas and teachings this time through the pages. The Lord certainly loves us and awaits to bless us as we come to Him and obey His commandments. Sister Hawley is adding some pictures of our senior couples' Family Home Evening group, and some of the new office setup, and some of the missionaries we have grown to know and love. These last photos were taken just before October transfers or MOVES, as it is called here.
Love to all. Elder and Sister Hawley.
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