The Todds in Geneva

July 2 to 8, 2011

Ever since last Fall when we saw all of the fields of dried sunflowers, we have been anxiously waiting for the time when the sunflowers would be in bloom. Finally it is here and the fields are even more beautiful than we imagined. Everywhere we drive there are fields of sunflowers. We have eagerly waited for them to bloom and voila the time has come.

We love looking at them and watching them grow. We even learned from a botany teacher that just as the story goes the blossoms really do turn and follow the sun during the day but as they get older they become set and face East. Doesn't the Son of God come from the East in the last days. Maybe they are firmly planted awaiting the dawning of the sun when they are older.

We celebrated the 4^th of July on Saturday the 2^nd with a BBQ with most of the Senior Couples at the Mission Home. Betty, the mission housekeeper, loves to have parties at the mission home and loves to decorate for them. It's amazing what she can pull out of nowhere to add a fun touch.

It is always fun to get together and share our experiences and it was great to have a real barbequed hamburger! the couples from right to left are: the Graffs, Yeverdon; the Thomas', Lyon; the Chatterleys, Geneva and of course Doug and I (Doug is taking the picture)This was also a farewell dinner for the Asays who will be released on July 13^th. They are a great couple. At this table from right to left: Sister Murdock and President Murdock is standing; Sister Burgi, Swiss Archives; the Asays, Swiss Archives; Brother Burgi; and the Dooleys, Lyon

He has been our Sr. Couples French Class teacher, which was right up his alley because he taught Jr. High French for years. Sometimes I think we are just as difficult to keep on task as those Jr. High students.

Sister Chatterley went on a steep hike this morning and on her way down her feet slipped and the pole she was using to steady herself hit her face really hard. Her sunglasses saved her eye but the force of the impact broke her nose and bruised her face. We're so grateful it wasn't worse.

It has been a busy week but also a week of waiting – waiting for the intranet program Imos to complete the consolidation process so that we can have access to the information that we need. The majority of the work done in the Mission Office revolves around Imos. It plays a vital part in all that we do whether it is paying bills, tracking legality work, tracking incoming and outgoing missionaries and providing contact information. We had been told that we would have access on July 1^st but it actually took more than a week. We all had lots to do but could do nothing without Imos access. Also while we waited we had the Toulouse Office Elders and then the Toulouse AP’s to help us integrate processes – it was very hectic with so much to do, so many people in a small office, learning new processes and WAITING for Imos. At last Imos became available, the extra people returned to their assignments and we began the process of consolidating two missions into one.

On Friday, July 8 the Asays arranged for us, the Chatterleys and Sister Murdock to come to the Archives where they have served for the past 18 months. It is a beautiful facility. The workers, volunteers and the head of the archives held a party to celebrate the Asays service. They spoke of the important work that the Asays have done. It has been very tedious for them but they have been very good at what they have done. The Burgi’s joined them in February and that has made it nice for them to have friends to work with. The Swiss government invited the church to come and photograph their records in order to preserve them. But first all of the books of records needed to be numbered according to a very exacting system.

These are some of the books that have been numbered. They date back to the late 1500s. They also have maps and charts from that period.

After the books are numbered they are photographed using this special computerized camera, being careful to protect the fragile books.

The rooms where the records are stored are under ground with temperature and humidity controls. Doug was especially interested because of his work on the Church History Museum.

This is how the Asays and the Burgis spend their days. Quietly numbering pages and checking and then rechecking to make sure they haven't missed a page or written the wrong number - very tedious but very important.

It was great to be with the Asays and the Burgis to celebrate all that they have done and fascinating to see these old records. These records once digitized will be available to church members to help with Family History research and hopefully taken to the temple to receive their temple blessings.