On the Road Again

We are inspecting missionary apartments.  We have quite a few to do, and while we are trying to spread them out over the quarter each time, schedules are such that we are beginning to feel crunched. Today, we inspected only two, but it took an hour to get to the first one, and then a half hour to the second.  So travel time and inspection time and it ends up taking up a good chunk of the day.

But as dull as it may sound, it is absolutely delightful to meet with these young people and get to know them just a little bit.  As my father used to say, "It makes you glad to be alive."  We have a lengthy checklist of things to inspect....everything from "Any faulty wiring?" to "Do you know where your fire extinguisher is and does it work?"

We look at their freezer to see if it needs defrosting, and their oven to see if it is being kept clean.  We ask if their vacuum works, if they know how to change the bags....and if they DO change the bags.  We check to see if their appliances are all working.

We inquire if they are keeping apartment regulations, if they are being good stewards with utilities and water, if they wash their shower curtain regularly.  We look at the shower and the toilet and if necessary instruct about products that will help keep them clean.  You get the idea.

We have seen a lot of apartments and we have met quite a few young individuals...every one unique...and every one with a story to tell about his life and what brought him on a mission to Denmark.  These are good young people.  And they are trying to do what is right, and most often they are experiencing real joy along the way....punctuated with discouragement and disappointment.

We had a grand time.  We will see a more apartments an hour from here tomorrow morning and next Monday and Tuesday.  Then we will begin again in June, and in July and August.  It probably doesn't sound like much, but it does add to the busy-ness of our weeks, which seem to be getting fuller.

After returning home, I walked to the central train station where I took the train out to Amager. I visit taught a marvelous young woman from New Zealand.  She is so interesting and so cute.  She is one of our YSAs - at least for 2 more months when she finishes up her studies here.

We talked at length about her time here in Europe and her future.  I love the courage of these young people.  I don't remember what I was like at her age, but I am positive that I wasn't so wise nor so brave.

Still working on that book.  It has got to go to the printer by tomorrow.....so I am just going to have to send it as is.....I am still missing entries from 2 out of the 33 couples who have served with him.  That isn't too bad, but I wish I could have had 100%.  I do have a very secret advantage....don't tell a soul....but I have an editor who is at this very moment working her magic on what I have put together.
Isn't it lovely to have someone come after you and make your work look good?

There is a gospel talk there.