Another Good Q&A

1. How did things end up with Simi Squad? Did you feel like you accomplished what you needed to before changes? Was the project left in capable hands?

It looks like Pdte is going to take away the Simi Squad Assistants at the end of this change because both of them go home and they aren't training anyone to replace them. I feel good about it though :) Now Elder D is automating it all (He didn't go to high school and worked for Amazon. They say he was high up there, even giving presentations to the CEO!! ¡¡Imagínate!!). I was told to keep a foot in the door at all times though, so I call 'em up once a week and see how they're doing.

2. I was surprised by the many responsibilities of your new calling! It was a lot more than I expected. Do you and your comp work together on the same stuff, or do you have different assignments?

Basically he gives me a couple things to do and I do them in a matter of 2-3 hours. We just had to put in rent, and there was a whole meeting out of it and made me think it would take 3-4 hours to do, but the meeting was 30 seconds and I got everything set up and ready within 30 minutes. Basically I think I'm going to get my work done in the morning (except when I have to wait in bank lines...ew!) and wait for my comp to get done. Normally there's only one Finance Secretary and he's companions with someone else, but things are a bit abnormal in the office this change, so I have no idea who'll be my comp next change when B leaves.

3. What do you do on Pday now that you can roam a little bit more?

Funny story that just happened today :) There are two SUPER AWESOME pics that you need to see before you read the rest of this answer......so go look them up!!!!! (see below)

Today we went to Johnny Rocket's (that's a butterfinger shake!!!! My first taste of butterfinger that hasn't come in a package!) AND I DROVE US THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There's this idlservices.com or something like that where if you have a valid US DL then you can get one sent to you to be able to drive in the majority of the countries. Mine came in this week and today was my first day driving in a year and a half! By the way, if you can drive with Chileans you can drive anywhere! The good thing is we had the van (automatic), not the truck (stick) although I could still drive the truck thanks to Tricia and Grandpa :D

4. Have you been able to do any evening appointments? Are you teaching anyone?

Because all our work gets done in time, we always leave between 6-6:30 like Pdte wants us to. Right now we're just trying to visit all the less-actives we can and invite them to church. Very rarely do we pass by the same person twice in a week.

Sis. Lewis is being replaced by Sis. Bertagna who is even more of a grandma than Sis. Lewis, so I'm sure you'll still be getting updates :)

Wow! That was a lot :P Love you all and talk to you next week :)

- Elder Daylon Crider

New Calling, New PDay

Now I email on Saturdays :) Haha, hopefully everyone remembers to write me on Friday night now :P

(in red are Mom's questions to Daylon)

1. Do you think you'll get to go to the temple now?

Nope. We only go to the Temple when we a) are going to train a new missionary, or b) are going home.

2. You can only eat with members on Sunday, but you get extra money for food? Try to be at least a little healthy!

We get 50,000 pesos more each month for food (that's about 100 USD) but based on this week (I was looking at my expenses this morning) it'll be interesting trying to keep a good budget. We sometimes pick up breakfast on the way, then go out for lunch, then maybe some snacks later if we have to stay late. Definitely going to work on my bag lunch making skills haha :)

3. Do you live in a part of the mission home, in an apt, or with a member? What is your new place like?

The Mission Home is way far out of our mission, so only the President lives there. We live about 5 blocks from the office in an apartment. Missionaries down here are no longer allowed to live in members' homes. I'll try to send pics or a video of the apt when I have time :)

4. What kinds of financial things do you keep track of? Do you buy supplies for the mission?

I make sure the missionaries have their monthly allotment, negotiate with real estate agents when we need to buy or sell a house, manage the light, gas, and water bills for all the apts (about 200) and approve all purchase made with the mission's two credit cards as well as President's card purchases. I also deal with reimbursements when missionaries make mission-approved purchases.

5. Do you work closely with the mission pres? What's he like, you've never said much about him.

Not really. I need his signature twice a week and maybe two more times in the month. I can't really tell you what he's like because I don't know him all that well. Not even the APs are always with him.

6. How's your push-up program coming along? We laugh all the time about our Mother's Day call when you said, "I had to rest between push-ups # 3 and 4"   

I decline to respond to this question on basis of the 5th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.

7. Is it major World Cup fever down there? 

Let's just say that when Chile plays, the missionaries have to be in their houses when the game starts and for the rest of the day. And when President walks into the office he always asks us to check Google to see what the score is. It's almost like March Madness :) Almost...

8. What is your schedule like? Do you get any time teaching or proselyting?

We're supposed to be in the office between 9-9:30 and out by 6. With my job that's usually always possible, but I had a companion (my 4th trio...) who went home last night (as in back to his country) and so this week was a bit complicated. I think we'll be able to get out quite often this change though :)

That was a lot easier than trying to think of things to say :P Why didn't we start this before?

Anyway, a perk of being in the office is that I get mail as soon as it comes in. However I haven't gotten anything yet in case you were wondering.

The Ever Shorter Emails :)

DUUUUUUDDDDEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!! THAT´S the kind of stuff I want to see when you´re taking the Toros to a State Championship this winter!!! THAT´S my brother!!!  (Daylon's response to a video we sent him, see below)

Mom and Anna - Good luck at girls camp!

Everyone else - I hope the cereal and milk can last you 3 days ;) Hahaha

(From Mom: I told Daylon I wished he were here to help me sort through all the different TV options there are now. He said:) About the TV options. I still have to run this by Jenny, but here´s what I´m planning on doing: Having a TV and DVD player and then connecting my laptop to the TV when we want to watch something and just getting it off the internet. iTunes can be expensive, but it might be a cheaper route than buying a specialized TV. And if you don´t want to keep plugging in the laptop, upgrade the Wii and you´ve already got an internet connection with Neflix and Hulu apps and all that good stuff. Granted, I don´t know much about what´s happening in the tech world, but based on how things were 18 months ago and from what I can see here, those are my thoughts :)

So, we have changes in two weeks and still have about 10 books to make, so I´m afraid I´ll have to cut it off at that, sorry.

Lots of love,

- Elder Daylon Crider