Week 29...I think

I'm beginning to lose count of how many weeks I've been on my mission. Let's just go with 6 months and some change. I hadn't meant to go this long without writing on my blog, but I've been sick, and writing takes more brain power than reading. My tension headaches have come back, and my immune system has taken a hit, but I'm beginning to do better and I got to Salt Lake twice this week.

I did pick up a writing assignment for a writer that quit, and I managed to get that done before I got too sick. You can read it by following this link here: Choosing Mindfulness

I'm also teaching the CTR 5 class now. I miss my sweet eight-year-olds, but I'm sure this new class will be fun too. I'm still learning how to teach them, but I'm sure it will get easier as I get to know them better.

Lately, my missionary assignments have included:

• Creating instructions (with screenshots) to teach directors how to add items to the agenda in a meeting software called DecisionPoint. 
• Create a powerpoint template for managers and directors to fill out when they want a new employee. In case you're wondering, they use your tithing very well. Managers have to give a lot of proof that there is absolutely no other way to accomplish the work without another employee.
• I submitted lots and lots of educational reimbursements. My teenage self used to complain that I would never use the math I used in class. I was right. I add up the tuition and times by 75%. And I get a calculator. Take that, math tests!
• Fixed reporting lines
• Tried to explain to Church Security that we did not want to create HR accounts for over 500 volunteer interpreters... 
• Arranged for desk space and a phone for a visiting employee from Europe.
• Writing short articles.

I did learn the names of some interesting languages while discussing interpreter badges. I had to look up where some (read "most") of them were from. The world is so much bigger than I ever could have imagined. It makes me realize how much there is to learn and see in this life. The list included interpreters for:

Amheric (spoken in Ethiopia), Apache, Arabic, ASL, Armenian, Bulgarian, Burmese, Cambodian, Cantonese, Cebuano, Chuukese (from the Chuuk islands in Micronesia), Croatian, Efik (southeastern Nigerian ethnic group), Farsi, Fijian, French, German, Hatian, Hiligaynon (central Philippines), Hindi, Hmong (So. China, Northern SE Asia), Igbo (Nigerian ethnic group), Ilokano (Filipino language), Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Kosraean (Kosrae Island in Micronesia), Laotian, Lingala (Bantu language in Congo and DCR), Malay, Mandarin, Marshallese (Marshall Islands in Micronesia), Mongolian, Navajo, Palauan (Micronesian language in Guam, Mariana Islands, and Palau), Papiamento (One of my old Spanish teachers is a translator for them. Used in the So. Caribbean, it's a mix of Spanish, Dutch, and Portuguese), Pohnpeian (Caroline Islands in Micronesia), Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Samoan, Serbian, Sinhala (people from No. India and Sri Lanka), Slovak, Spanish, Swahili, Tahitian, Tamil (a people in So. India and Sri Lanka), Telugu (India), Thai, Tongan, Turkish, Twi (Akan language in Ghana and Ivory Coast), Urdu (variation of Hindi) Vietnamese, Yapese (Yap Island in Micronesia), Yoruba (an ethnic group living in Nigeria and nearby countries). 

It's a crazy, beautiful world out there.