Che Ha'ae--Week 36

 July 8, 2023

Hola Todos! 
    What a week! We did all the hard work of transfers this week. I am now a contented sleep deprived Elder, eagerly taking any 20 minute car ride as naptime. 
    I'm gonna walk you through the last 3 days because they have been some of the craziest days of my life!
   Wednesday, we received transfers at 9:30PM, the next 2.5 hours were spent scheduling travel plans for the missionaries coming from the boonies of Paraguay. Hit the sack at 12:30AM.
    Thursday, we received the Greenies. We got a group of 7 Elderes from the Dominican Republic. The first group from the country in our mission's history! They got in at 10:50PM. We waited another hour for the Latinos who arrived at 11:50. We left the airport at 12:30AM. We went straight from the Airport to the Capilla (the church) where the Greenies had some dinner and called their parents. We took them to our house to stay the night and I was in bed at 2:30AM. After a short 3 hours of sleep we woke up at 5:30AM to accept the late group of Greenie Gringo whose flight had been delayed. 
    Friday, cambios (transfers), was hectic. With our 3 hours of sleep we got, Elder Smith and the AP's got the greenies ready for their trainers while me and Elder Torres juggled the million other things. The last 3 days me and Elder Torres have done the following: Found 2 new houses in 2 new areas; started new housing contracts with the 2 new areas; coordinated the delivery of 4 beds, 2 closets, 6 mattresses; Called off one of the new contracts because Presidente changed plans; Scheduled with 2 companerismo to move in together. 
    Those are just the big things! There have also been a million little problems to solve inbetween! Then we got our new companion (Elder Shapiro for Elder Smith to train. But he goes by Elder Sholer because Shapiro is really close to a really vulgar word in Guaraní). Sadly, I was so busy Friday I wasn't able to say goodbye to Elder Torres when he left for his area 8 hours away. So long amigo!
     Despite being insanely busy, and at some points overwhelmed, in all the busyness there was a lot of tender mercies. Being an office elder provides us the opportunity to see off the missionaries who have finished their two years (or 18 months). In the time we get to spend with them on their last day, we learn a ton. Their testimonies are strong and their resolve in the gospel is firm. They testify of how they have changed and then set their eyes on the future. Watching them leave is a surreal experience. In the end, all the busyness was drowned out by the experiences we were able to have with them. Plus it was nice to be reminded, in a year or so I can sleep later than 6:30...
    I hope you all are having a wonderful day. The grind never stops and I love you all! 
   A zombie gringo, 
   Elder James Tanner  
        
Emotional Fortitude O'Meter
Our sleep numbers do appear to be slumping this week - 8/10 Downward Trends
📉📉📉📉📉📉📉📉

1. Space van in the temple with the boys
2. Rip Elder Torres
3. Baby shopping cart
4. Airport gang
5. Sleep whenever you can... it dont come often
6. Orange mouth







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