Webmaster

Today I a had a little time to check out a fairly new concept called LDS Teams, that allows different departments within the church to create their own web pages within the Church's Intranet. It's a little like creating a blog, except that other individuals can contribute to the blog, such as posting an agenda for a meeting and letting certain individuals add items to that agenda, or posting a calendar that everyone can read and that some people can edit. Another use would be to post forms that are needed to transact business that anyone can print right off the site. If prepared properly, a person could actually fill out a form online and print it off. There are many other features that I have yet to explore. Those of you in business are probably interacting in this manner routinely. Now it is my job to create the web presence for the Europe East Area. I think it will be a lot of fun and certainly a learning experience. And who knows, it might even improve our productivity!!

Just as I was getting excited about LDS teams, we had 5 apartment showings cancel. We continue to get closer on the one just across the street, but there is still a sticking point about registration. In Russia, foreigners are registered based on their place of residence with the local authorities, generally by their landlords. Our landlord refuses to get involved in this kind of activity. If we visit another city for more than three days, we have to register in that city. In the case of a short trip, like to St. Petersburg, for example, this would be done by the hotel. However, when we go in and out of the country to renew our visas we must re-register in Moscow. This will happen several times over the 18-month period. At the present time, the church can register us, but these laws are subject to frequent change. The government's preference is to give this responsibility to the landlord. If the landlord refuses to register us, we have to look for another apartment. That we would rather avoid. We are exploring the possibility of getting a power of attorney, so that we can assign someone in the office to register us, in his name, so he would not have to be inconvenienced. We will persevere!!

Mom stayed home today. She has her annual bronchitis. She sounds like a little seal. She is taking medicine, has a humidifier and wants to go in tomorrow. Tomorrow is our last day with Elder and sister Gish. The office is having a luncheon in their honor tomorrow and later that night at President Paul's home they are having a dinner in their honor. They actually said it was for both of us, one coming and one going, but I think it is for them.

If you haven't checked out Sarah's and Nick's blog lately, there are some great pics to catch up on.

On a sadder note, Andy Gibbons, one of Elder Gibbons' brothers passed away today. He had been very ill for some time. I know that you will join Chris and me in expressing our sympathies to the Gibbons.