Most of my frustrations come from non-functioning technology or lack of communication at all. My patriarchal blessing tells me not to waste any energy on frustration. That word is mentioned three times in the blessing. Did Someone know me or what ? I have grown to dislike intensely any mention of patience or frustration. I suffer from the lack one....which leads to an over abundance of the other. A few cases at point this week:
My maps on the referral system were down four whole days this week. I calmly called the Referral Hotline on day 2 to see if I was the problem or if the system was yet again having issues. ( this is a common theme, I know, since last week my whole system was frozen) I was assured I was not the only one having problems and in 2 days they would have a meeting with the software programmers . So rather than being " frustrated" , I went home and spent the afternoon working on slacks that needed mending (3 pairs) and started a few Christmas projects for missionaries. (40 this year who never get a letter or box) May I just say how nice it is to mend dark pants with dark thread in sunlight where I can actually see what I am doing? I was also able to fix dinner early for the Sisters we had over that evening. I did referrals all week with Google Earth maps but it takes twice the time and it is harder to pinpoint areas where a ward has 10 missionaries in one ward.
2) I got a referral last week for a couple from Romania who speak Romanian but requested Spanish speaking missionaries because they thought they could understand them. So I assigned Spanish speaking sisters. Three days later I get a phone call from these sisters--"sister Taggart, we couldn't understand them and they couldn't understand us. It was a disaster."
" so what do we do now?"
"Well, they have requested English speaking missionaries because they (the Romanians) speak Greek and they think they can understand English speaking better."
Don't even ask. I copied that conversation word for word.
3) I broke all records waiting on the line for the Church Distribution Center this week. 1 hour 47 min. Of music and the spoken word....." All of our representatives are assisting other callers at this time. Your call is very important to us. Please stay on the line and your call will be handled in the order it was received." FRUSTRATION to the max. Do I hand up and maybe lose my place? I addressed 30 letters while waiting. My neck starts to hurt. I clean out a drawer. My neck may be permanently tilted. I used my cell phone to call the Global Hotline....all while I was on hold. My cell phone answered first " why is the distribution center not answering their phone today?" I asked in the nicest voice I could muster with my kinked neck and patience worn to a frazzle.
" why did you phone them? Their email is working."
"I'm not just ordering. I have a question about new pass-along cards."
"Well maybe I can help you."
" I need 100 extra Ensign magazines, October 2014 for the most recent General Conference."
"OK--October 2014 conference Ensigns. Those will come the first 10 days of November."
" Is there a packet of pictures of the Savior to be given out with these new pass-along cards in Spanish?"
" Oh yes. They come with six pictures of the Savior and they are $3 per packet. That program was so successful in South America they decided to make it available here."
I'm still choking on the price....."OK, I'll order 50 packets please." We'll see how it goes before I order more. We are a Spanish speaking mission after all.
Then I asked her about the other phone call where the music is still playing and the voice is still telling me how very important my call is.
"What number did you call?"
I tell her.
" oh, that number was disconnected weeks ago. Here is the new number."
Frustration? I could have been on hold for eternity. Why not put a message on it " this number is no longer in service. Our new number is....." They could even play a little music to go with the message........it gets even better. I click onto my computer to find my order confirmation. She had ordered 100 of the November Ensign to be delivered in December. So I guess half my missionaries will get their Ensign in November and the other half will get it in December. I give up.
So you can see life goes on in the Big City. We went to see MEET THE MORMONS and we were mostly pleased with the reactions of our missionaries. What a good cross section of the world and people of our faith.
I sent my first large bag to Salvation Army this week. Watching other senior couples leave and try to " keep it all" was a wake up call for me. Crooks leave Nov 15 and are in the process of training the Abbotts. The Abbotts have not had enough to keep them really busy daily and this will fill in their time. She is the mission nurse and that job comes in waves. At first we thought we would be picking up all of their assignments in addition to ours so we are happy they have stepped up, even though they don't want to be in the office.
The Farmers Almanac says we are in for a frigid winter. Can hardly wait!!
Try to be patient this week. Try not to feel any frustration. Take a deep breath and realize in the big picture, your digestive system will thank you. Have a good week.
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