This past week we said goodbye to one of our missionaries and hello to a new arrival. One of the traditions here is to have the departing missionary share something from his mission that made an impact on him. He said that the people here have made the most impact on him because of their friendliness and humility. He told of one convert on his mission that  was a wonderful young man who accepted the gospel without reservation. He is currently serving as a ward clerk and preparing to serve a mission. This was a highlight on his mission. We had a wonderful meal prepared by the Mission President's wife. We are working on getting new apartments for incoming missionary couples and moving missionaries into new apartments. There are always things to keep us busy here in the office. This morning we heard a sad story from Frede who is the secretary assistant here in our office. His cousin had been saving for a long time to build a new home. He took the money out of the bank and was going to pay for the materials he needed to build his home. They don't use checks or credit cards here much, mostly a cash society. At 1:30 this morning some robbers came into his home, shot him in the stomach and cut his thigh with a knife, and stole all of his money. When he went to the Military hospital to be fixed they stitched him up without using anything to deaden the wound. He said it was very painful. We wouldn't want to be in his shoes.
We are in the planning stages for an office Christmas party and a farewell dinner for the Humanitarian couple who will go back to England Dec. 13. They will be missed here because they are such wonderful people, always doing something for someone. They have helped to bring water to many villages in the 18 months they have been here. They have helped to put needy people into wheelchairs, and have started a food initiative program to teach people how to have better yields from their crops. They also do dental hygiene. All of these wonderful projects were funded through Humanitarian donations from our Church.
We would like to close with this thought by President Monson about teachers, "The teacher not only shapes the expectations and ambitions of pupils; the teacher also influences their attitudes toward their future and themselves. If the teacher loves the students and has high expectations of them, their self-confidence will grow, their capabilities will develop, and their future will be assured. A citation to such a teacher could well read: “She created in her room an atmosphere where warmth and acceptance weave their magic spell; where growth and learning, the soaring of the imagination, and the spirit of the young are assured.”
We send our love to each of you. Elder & Sister Cornelius

                     Frede, who helps us with everything here. We couldn't do our jobs without him.

                  The lake with a moument of a former king or President. We pass by this often.