Who Knew? July into August 2021

The Church Office Building (COB) where we go every weekday

When we were looking at going to Brasil on a mission, it took over a year from the time we started doing our paperwork to the time we got there. So, knowing that we wanted to serve again in the future, we began occasionally skimming through opportunities on the website, concentrating on the ones listed as "critical needs." Changes since we last went included the chance to mark opportunities you would consider. We looked at places in Brasil a little farther south where it's not as hot and the language is spoken more clearly :) Durk realized all the ones he marked were below the "suit line", missions where you don't just wear short sleeves all year to everything. Meanwhile we started reading the Book of Mormon in Portuguese many evenings.

 For some reason one day a different sort of thing popped up when Durk was looking at the senior opportunities site, called "Infield Support" in Salt Lake City, and it interested him enough to call the number listed for questions. Then we thought of how fun it would be to be in Utah near two of our children, a grandson, several siblings, etc. Not to mention have hot and potable water right from the kitchen faucet. When he called he was warned "we use technology" and he assured them we weren't scared of computers.  they were anxious to get help as soon as possible.

The ""Official" Mission Photo, thanks to Shaun Zimmerman

Durk decided that since it can take several months to get in to a doctor for a physical, he'd better call right away. They got him scheduled the coming Monday! Then with a little help I got my physical moved up, we found a dentist to do my implant two months sooner (for tooth pulled in Brasil) and we thought things were really zipping. Then my medical results got delayed, the bishop was out of town, etc. So every step we sped up was met with one that slowed down. When we got serious about looking to leave again I went through and sorted clothes and then put that part out of mind. We figured the website said 5-6 weeks for a call and then they'd give us at least three to get ready.

Well, to everyone's surprise, once we got through the paperwork and the stake president hit "submit" it was only two weeks before our mission call came and that was13 days before we were to start! Our assignment is the Salt Lake Church Headquarters Mission for 18 months.

The paperwork said that leaders (mission presidents, bishops, etc.) aren't notified right away to make sure you have time to receive the call, so I phoned the housing person to make sure they knew we were arriving quite soon. She said "Oh, I know who you are! you are coming fast - too fast!" We were told one housing option was full and the other two were the older "basic" and some "luxury" apartments. The cost difference was many hundreds of dollars and we are enjoying our apartment in the older complex. The only real downside is the laundromat-type facility (well, and very noisy window AC. And out in the hot sun parking) .   We didn't realize how spoiled we were with the preparations made for us in Brasil, here the senior missionaries' are provided with the bare minimum in the kitchen as if we were the young kids - not a single serving or baking dish or serving spoon. Fortunately the missionaries have worked out a system they call the Swap Meet where they pass things along for others. We got several helpful things this way, though we have also made half a dozen shopping trips that have been largely scavenger hunts - who knew how hard it could be to find a basic cheap salt shaker??

We are so close to everything, it's really fun. We are across the street from the Conference Center, a short walk to the Church Office Bldg (COB) where we work each day,  another block to fancy shopping, we can walk to Abravenel Hall... We are allowed to travel 60 miles in any direction without asking permission to leave the mission- If we couldn't leave the mission we'd have to stay in the office because the mission is about a block and our apartment wouldn't be in it.

For church meetings we have two branches that are all senior missionaries, though many of those working for the mission are working from home or are part-time service missionaries living at home. Until numbers reach pre-covid levels, the two branches meet together. 

Our Chapel, within the JSMB

We meet in the JSMB which is quite grand, although eventually we hear they will move to a new building being built nearby that will have four chapels and who knows what else. For those unfamiliar, the Joseph Smith Memorial Bldg was once the Hotel Utah, a very upscale hotel built about a hundred years ago.

We are only gradually getting connected with information on things going on with various social groups and gatherings in the branches or through mission zones. They aren't "real" branches as all of our membership records stay home and leaders are sort of "assigned" to run things for a bit. It's pretty quiet with only senior missionaries! Though we have had a few children and grandchildren visitors in the meeting each time so far.

Durk heading toward our apt, on the second floor

We've enjoyed getting to know the only others on our floor, a couple waiting to go to France. They just had a whirlwind trip to the consulate in Houston and might leave soon. They are working for their mission office online. As we gradually meet other senior and service missionaries and hear experiences in Sacrament mtgs and devotionals, we are learning about all the various things that go in at church headquarters, from Prison Ministries to Interpretation Dept  to Medical screeners/advisors. The bulk of the mission are working in Family History - in the library, the museum, research, help desk, who knows what else. 

We work in the Infield Support area of the Missionary Department which is in the Church Office Building (COB). That means we deal with things concerning missionaries currently in the field, such as helping clear missionaries to go to Canada because it just opened the borders and there are hundreds of missionaries in temporary assignments to be moved but they must have their covid vaccine and sometimes they forgot to enter it into the system. We also checked on some who have had a recent health problem to make sure it is healed, and similar things.

Part of the parking space is currently for construction stuff for remodeling

If a missionary went home for a time, for instance they needed surgery for an injury and time at home for recovery, we might be the ones to coordinate their coming back by checking out when they are available and when their mission president wants them to arrive (often on a "transfer day" with a group so they can come in together.)

There are lots of lists and letters and details that aren't really hard but take many steps and must be accurate, so the learning curve is what Durk calls a cliff rather than curve. There is a lot to do so we definitely feel needed. And we are a little nervous about how super excited everyone around the whole department seems to be that we are here to help. The receptionists are very eager for us to help take phone calls but we aren't sure we know any answers yet....

It took longer than expected to start feeling like we had the basics but the apartment is comfortable and pleasant and a little rearranging has helped make it "homey". We mostly see the parking lot (half full of construction junk - we will move to a renovated apartment at some point) as we walk back and forth to the office and church or to our car at the farthest end of the lot, but our windows look out over the lovely green area between buildings.

Very pleasant views out our only usable window

I would say two things I have been impressed with so far have to do with dealing with early releases and reinstatements, (we only do paperwork, decisions are way above our pay grade!) and that is how much effort and love is put into helping missionaries who are struggling, we get to see some of the information so we can answer questions from stake presidents and mission presidents and there are extensive records of so many things done to try and help these young missionaries. The second is how wonderful the process of repentance is and the miracles in lives of those that go through learning more deeply about the Savior's atonement as they realize they need to make changes in order to have the Spirit with them as is so necessary for the work they do as missionaries.

Abut the time we were starting to pack up, this verse in our scripture study seemed very apt: D&C 81:5 Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees. (with a note back to verse 3, "in prayer always")