Leaving, Arriving, Conferencing, Speaking, and Training: The Fun Continues

Sun peeking through the pine trees overlooking the Mission Home

On Monday, October 16, one of our visa waiters, Elder Gassant left for Ghana after receiving his visa. Once we arrived at the airport and check him in, we took a few pictures, gave Elder Gassant a big hug, and sent him up the escalator. Even though he has been here just three weeks, a lump came to our throats. It’s like our children leaving. We wish Elder Gassant well. We did receive a note from him that he had arrived safely

President and Sister Hammon, Elder Gassant

Around 5:00 p.m. that same Monday, we headed back to the airport to pick up Elder Castro from the Mexico MTC. We arrived and drove into the parking lot. There were zero spaces for us to park. Consequently, Sister Hammon stayed with the van, and I walked in and waited. I didn’t have to wait very long before he came down the stairs. We grabbed his bag and then headed outside to the van. We loaded up and headed to grab a bite to eat. Then, we drove home where Elder Castro and I had our personal interview. He is a good young man with a good heart who wants to serve well, which I know he will.

Elder Castro and President Hammon at the Mission Home

One of the special times we have with the missionaries is in multi-zone conferences. We have divided the ten zones into four different groups. So, we began on October 17 with Corona and Lake Elsinore;

Lake Elsinore zone

Corona Zone

October 19 with La Sierra, Riverside, and Mt. Rubidoux zones; 

La Sierra Zone with President Norman and Elder and Sister Fuller

Riverside Zone

Mt. Rubidoux

October 20 with Jurupa, Moreno Valley, and Menifee zones; 

Jurupa Zone 

Moreno Zone

Menifee Zone

and finished on October 24 with the Hemet and San Jacinto zones. 

Hemet Zone

San Jacinto Zone

It was delightful! Our topics included everything from “Emergency Preparedness” to “Companionship Study” to “Short-and Long-Term Planning” to “Asking Inspired Questions” to “Obedience and Recommitting to the standards found in the Missionary Handbook” to “Finding Joy in Our Trials” to “Mission Elevated.” We also had inspired music throughout the meeting with each zone providing one musical number. What talented missionaries we have in the mission! 

Moreno Valley, Menifee, and Jurupa zones

One of the highlights of each session was the testimony meeting of the incoming and the outgoing missionaries. We are happy to see those coming into the Mission and both sad/happy for those who are leaving, sad because they are leaving and happy because they are going to be embarking on a new adventure. Plus, we ate delicious food from Hawaiian to Mexican to BBQ.

Hemet Relief Society Luncheon

Hermanas, Bartschi, Flores, Hernandez, Coffeen, and Schooff

And the stars of the multi-zones are the Relief Society who always put on an incredible luncheon for the missionaries. 

Hemet Relief Society sisters

Jurupa Relief Society

Also, we sang happy birthday to several missionaries:

Happy birthday to Sister Loranger; Elders Hofer, Andrews, Gulbranson, and Baum

Happy Birthday to Elders Gregory, Sanchez, and Mounts; Hermanas Troncoso y Buitrago

Happy birthday to Elder Dundon; Sister Bartschi; Elders Tobiasson, Briggs, and Kocherhans

Happy birthday to Elders Bailey, Clark, and Darling

Sister Hammon and I attended both sessions of the Riverside Stake Conference. We had the privilege of speaking during the Saturday evening session. We had a great time speaking together. Our topic was “The Role of Temple and Family History in Convert Retention,” based on the Mission’s Missionary-Member Relations goal of “Enriching relationships with bishops, ward mission leaders, temple and family history consultants, and members We also attended the Sunday Conference Session although we did not speak. Elder Paul G. Watkins, Area Authority Seventy, spoke on a variety of topics. One stood out. He said that the Sacrament is a sacred event each Sunday, a memorial service where we contemplate what Jesus Christ did for us and honor Him who paid our debts. Another topic was the importance of patriarchs, both those who give Patriarchal Blessings and those patriarchs in the homes, the fathers. We sat by Patriarch Merrill and his wife, and we felt blessed.

The missionaries singing to the Relief Society sisters in Lake Elsinore.

We had a large group of trainers and trainees come to the Trainer-Trainee Training. As you know, we had 28 new missionaries last transfer. After four weeks, they come to the Mission Office where we do additional training. What a delight to see the progress of the new missionaries. Many of their trainers said, “They came ready to work and learn.” We loved that about them. Five companionships discussed how the 12-week training was going and how using the Book of Mormon has enhanced their training, and what they were going to do differently the next eight weeks. Almost 60 people attended the meeting in Grand Building. (We apologize! For some odd reason, we did not take a picture of this wonderful group.)

We continue having a great time. We have incoming and outgoing missionaries again on November 7. We love these missionaries!

Outside the front door of the Mission Home

Leadership, Lunch, Baptisms, Stake Conferences, and Interviews: The Life of Missionaries in the California Riverside Mission

From the Mission Home front yard

One of the best parts of last week was attending Mission Leadership Council (MLC), comprised of all zone leaders and sister training leaders. They are super leaders. My topic was “The Art of Holistic Leadership: Administering, Training, Planning, Being Good Examples, and Following the Mission Plan.” I also talked about “Companionship Study”; Joanne spoke on “Finding Joy in Our Trials.”

The Mission Leadership Council (MLC)

Sisters Harris and DiPietro sharing accountability

After a delicious lunch of pizza, salad, and brownies, Elder Anderson and Elder Dew presented both “Short-term and Long-term Planning” and “Working with Members.” I finished with “Principles in planning according to the Brother of Jared.” We also discussed Accountability: The Lord’s Way. I also introduced the new “Mission Elevated!” (Misión Elevada!) theme, which will be my topic for multi-zone conferences. Stay tuned. We are looking forward to multi-zones in a few short weeks.

Always sisters first in line

We try to convince them they need 1/2 plate salad and the rest pizza....

We had the privilege of speaking during the Saturday evening session of the Corona Stake Conference. We attended both the Saturday and Sunday sessions. The Conference theme was “Connecting with Heaven,” from Enoch’s walk with God. It was a wonderful theme. Bret, a recent convert from the Prado View Ward, bore a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and how it has changed his life and vision. His parents and two sisters attended to support him. 

Brett in the white shirt with his family!

Sister Hammon shared five ways of connecting with Heaven included praying; reading, studying, and pondering the scriptures; fasting with a purpose; partaking of the Sacrament; and serving our fellow beings, which includes our investigators, members, and our companions. For me, connecting with Heaven means that we connect with our Father in Heaven through prayer and acknowledging He is our Father; we connect with heaven by using sacred language in prayer (Thou, Thee, Thy, and Thine); we connect with Heaven by teaching our families and helping them grow and progress; and we connect with Heaven by inviting missionaries into to our homes and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Happiness with our family, friends, and those within our sphere of influence. We each had about ten minutes. I think we took up the entire twenty minutes, I more than Joanne. It was a delightful conference.

On Saturday morning, we drove to Moreno Valley where we witnessed the baptism of Destanie Federica, a young girl. Sisters Mackley, Ford, and Palmer taught her. It was a wonderful baptism with President Norman from the Mission Presidency and a member of her ward giving the baptismal talk and Bishop Danielson giving the Holy Ghost talk. Elders Rivas and Staley gave the restoration discussion while Destanie and Brother Jackson were getting ready after the baptism. 

On Sunday after Stake Conference, we trundled down to Hemet where we attended the baptism for Zack, a young 10-year-old. Elders Phister and Holyoak taught Zack. What a wonderful baptism this was. Both his Grandfather and Grandmother spoke, and Elders Hite and Tippetts gave the restoration presentation.

Elders Holyoak and Phister and Zack

We started interviews for this transfer. I am interviewing 116 elders and 50 sisters and three senior couples in ten zones who work in seven stakes. They are incredible missionaries who work hard and spend a great deal of time studying, teaching, seeking with faith, working with members, and doing services. I hope they enjoy our conversations as much as I do. Their insights, goals, and what they are doing encompass great learning opportunities for me. I am encouraged by all their goals and willingness to plow forward. Yes, missionary work is hard, but I know they will all do just fine. Note: These are just a FEW of the photos we have taken during interviews.

Elders Gibbons, Osberg, Larsen, Bailey, Aland; Sisters Bryant, Gray, DiPietro, and Wilson

Elder and Sister Powell

Elders Clark, Mohlman, Shurtliff, Williams, and Darling

Elders Marrow, Balls, Sanchez, Staley, Cox, Frisby, and Broadhead;  Hermanas Grover and Moran

Some of the bike missionaries: Elders Peterson, Gregory, Hunt, and Beddes

Sisters Fountain, Butler, Chandler, Ford, Price, and Harris

back, l-r to front: Elders Su'a, Revill, Andrew (sitting), Olsen, Avei, Escobar
Beatty, Brown, Simpson, and Royce.

Unfortunately, we did not post all of the photos (Sorry, Parents!). We have lots more!

A few more in collage: Many mini pictures of our missionaries who came to interviews

We are having an incredible time. Come join us!

President and Sister Hammon

The San Juan Puerto Rico Missionaries Arrive Safely to the California Riverside Mission

On Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at 6:02 p.m., we welcomed the new missionaries from the San Juan Puerto Rico Mission at the Ontario Airport. They walked stoically down the stairs and escalator to a new land, a new mission, and a new mission president and his wife. It was a delight to see them and to greet them for the very first time!

President and Sister Norman, Elders Revill, Bailey, Gibbons, President and Sister Hammon,
Elders Lawes, Jensen, Wilder, and Marrow

One of the amazing things was we shared their arrival at the airport with two other missions: the California Arcadia Mission and the California Redlands Mission. Several missionaries came, and one of the senior couples from California Redlands Mission directed traffic. Each of the mission presidents and their wives waited anxiously for their missionaries to be directed to them. We were also glad that President and Sister Norman, from the Mission Presidency, accompanied us. They helped transport the missionaries.

 

Missionaries arriving 

Sister Hammon and I and President and Sister Norman greeted each one, welcoming all them to the California Riverside Mission. Our hearts were full as we finally met Elders Gibbons, Wilder, Bailey, Jensen, Revill, Lawes, and Marrow. Most of them didn’t bring much with them. But they were here, safe, sound, and dry.

President Norman, Sister Hammon, Elders Revill and Gibbons waiting for the others

After taking pictures and gathering what luggage they had, we walked to the parking lot, and loaded everyone up. Then, President and Sister Norman led us to the Church Distribution Center for garments and a shirt. Staying way past closing time, these wonderful sisters at the Distribution Center were so kind as they helped each one of the missionaries. By the time we finished, the other two missions and their missionaries had arrived. We motored to the Habit, a hamburger place close by, for a delicious meal. 

Eating at the Habit

 We then drove to the Mission Home where we introduced them to their sleeping arrangements for the night.

Elder Lawes 

Elder Revill

The next morning, we fixed them a hearty California breakfast. Once we had eaten, we gathered their things and traveled to the Mission Office where they went through some training and had interviews with me. I was impressed with each one of them and their desire to serve. While they missed Puerto Rico immensely and expressed concerned for all of those living in Puerto Rico, they all voiced their desire to serve in our mission. My heart was overjoyed with them and their Ammon-like desire to preach the gospel to all the people the California Riverside Mission.

Elder Wilder

Elder Marrow

Elder Jensen

At noon, we had a pizza lunch for them, and then they went shopping with Sister Hammon and Sister McCracken and Sister Thorne, two of our senior missionaries. After a bit of shopping for a few things they would be needing, some of them met their new companions at the Mission Office; Elder and Sister Thorne, one of our senior couples, drove those who didn’t meet their companions at the Mission Office around the Mission to meet their companions.  

Elder Gibbons

Elder Bailey

These missionaries are incredible young men who have experienced probably more than they should have at this early stage of their mission—or life, for that matter. They are humble and extremely eager to get to work. They love speaking Spanish.

Sister Hammon and I are overjoyed they are a part of our Mission. Their spirits and testimonies will have a profound effect on all of us. We love them, appreciate them, and know the Lord assigned these young men to the California Riverside Mission for a designed purpose.

Adelante!

Mission Elevated!

Misión Elevada!

Sunrise outside the Mission Home