Mission Office - Week 17

HELLO WORLD!!!

This week was super crazy. We had transfers and I almost can not believe that I am alive. There was so many things that could have gone wrong. Thanks to Heavenly Father, everything turned out good.

The fun all started when last Saturday, two missionaries had to get a bus ride to Curitiba from a city five hours away. They had to get to the temple at 3:00 for a session. They called me at 7:30 in the morning. "Elder, the lady at the bus station said that there are not any bus passes for us. Did you buy the bus passes?" Head slap. I go to the office to make sure that the order had gotten through. I open up my computer and saw the email that I had bought the bus passes. I called them and told them to double check because I bought them. I got off the home called the bus company. They said they would double check. I was waiting and that's when I looked at my order details one more time. I looked..... and that's when I saw..."bigger head slap." I had inverted the cities. Instead of going from there to here, I bought here to there....yikes. It took me a moment to get together after that, but it worked out that we were able to get an Uber for them, and they arrived before 3:00 to get to the temple in time. (Yes, it was an five hour Uber).

Monday, I received an new companion Elder Machado, who is from Rio Grande do Sul. He will be the new Financial Secretary. You will see in the photos that he is incredibly short.  However, we are careful not to tease him too much. We have a lot of common interests so I think it will be a good time. Starting this transfer, I will also be the district leader again. It was nice to have a little break, but President needed me here because the mission is growing a lot and there are not a lot of experienced leaders that are not already serving in other positions. I will be stuck with the two positions for now. 

On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday we had ten Elders sleeping in our three bedroom apartment. That was crazy. 

On Tuesday, I had another experience. Tuesday is the regular day that all the new missionaries arrive in the field. This transfer, we had one American Elder come directly from the MTC in Provo because he had visa problems. Salt Lake had bought his international flight and I was in charge of his domestic flight from São Paulo to Curitiba. I had organized everything and everything was ready. He was suppose to get in at 10:30 in the morning. The Assistants were waiting for him at the airport, but I knew it all went wrong when at 11:00 they called me, "Hey, Pinkney I don´t think this kid got on his flight." Crap... I went into super mode; calling all over the place just to find out where he is. I was worried because one, this Elder has never been to Brazil before, two does not speak the language at all, and three is now stranded somewhere in an international airport all alone (and not to forgot he lost his other flight to get here). I called the CTM in São Paulo to let them not what happened. I was the phone for a solid two hours. I found him, talked to him on the phone, bought him a new flight, and confirmed that the CTM would pick him up and stay with him at the airport. What a relief.... Elder Castellano safely arrived here that afternoon. He was a little hungry, but other than that he was safe.

On Thursday, I was asked to give a training to all the district leaders at our counsel about how to run a district meeting. It was good, but last minute.

On Friday, President took us out to the Suprema, which is a the best BBQ restaurant in Curitiba. It was super good. I talked with President about BYU classes and the IB program that his kids are taking right now. Luckily, I remember a think or two about IB.

All in all, the week was really great. I am looking forward to the calmness that comes after the storm. 

P.S. I am proud to say that I am proud Grandfather. My son, Elder Salgado, stared training an Elder from Peru (I think). Elder Salgado is my only son in the mission and Elder Ramos is my only grandson, but I am proud of the good work the two of them are doing and will continue to do.

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Com amor,

Elder Pinkney