A new beginning: The arrival of 21 new missionaries to the California Riverside Mission!

July 29-30, 2019 Incoming missionaries.

We received 21 wonderful new missionaries from all parts of the United States this past week: Sisters Weston, Maxwell, Stevens, Jacobs, Searle, Anderson, Morgan, Copling, Andrewsen, and Noble; Elders Howard, Crichfield, Rodriguez, Phillips, Kam, Dobson, Whiting, Fairbanks, Price, Potter, and Aamodt. We are excited to be serving with them. Four arrived Monday night from the Mexico Missionary Training Center (MTC), and the rest along with four VISA waiters arrived Tuesday evening from the Provo Missionary Training Center. It is always so much fun to have these new missionaries arrive. They come with a fire for the work and a strong love for the Lord. Welcome to the California Riverside Mission!

Elder and Sister Miskin, assisted by Elders Jackson and McIntire, went to the airport Monday night to pick up these fantastic new missionaries arriving from the Mexico Mission Training Center  (Centro de Capacitación Misional--CCM). They stopped for some dinner, and then were taken to stay the night with other missionaries to spend Tuesday doing mission things until the rest of their incoming arrived Tuesday evening.

Hermanas Maxwell, Jacobs, and Anderson

Elders Jackson (Office Elder) Crichfield, Rodriguez, and McIntire (Office Elder)

Missionaries getting to know each other while they wait their turn to fill their dinner plates.

Sisters Stevens, Weston, Morgan, Searle, Copling, Jacobs, Anderson, Maxwell, Andrewsen, and Noble

Breakfast Wednesday morning before orientation at the Mission Office.

Packages and bikes all accounted for. Our Office Elders, Elders Jackson and McIntire, put together several bikes today.

The following are pictures of the new missionaries with their new companions:

Elders Price (new) Elder Clifford

Elder Howard (new) and Elder Komers

Elder Moon and Elder Crichfield (new)

Elder Parata and Elder Potter (new)

Elder Ballard and Elder Aamodt (new)

Sister Briggs and Sister Noble (new visa waiter)

Elder Reeves and Elder Whiting (new visa waiter)

Sister Copling (New) Sister Sands

Hermana Anderson (new) and Hermana Thompson

Elder Kam (new) and Elder Barnes

Elder Methvin and Elder Phillips (new)

Sister Searle (new) and Sister White

Elder Tippetts and Elder Hobson (new)

Elder Hull and Elder Fairbanks (new visa waiter)

Sister Dorny and Sister Weston (new) 

Hermana Maxwell  (new) and Hermana Longshore

Sister Kartchner and Sister Morgan (New)

Sister Killian and Sister Andrewsen (new visa waiter)

Hermana Jacobs (new) and Hermana Lindstrom

Sister Tanner and Sister Stevens (new)

Elder Castro and Elder Rodriguez (new)

Elder Phillips adding his transfer board card to the transfer board.

After interviewing each of them, I quickly discovered what incredible and prepared missionaries they are. With our 24 incredible missionaries who left the morning before the new missionaries arrived, Heavenly Father knows we needed equally incredible missionaries to be a part of our mission. And we are blessed to received these 21. Their testimonies during the incoming testimony meeting demonstrated they are ready and willing to serve with all their heart, might, mind, and heart.

We are excited to serve with each one of them.

President and Sister Hammon

July 2019: A month to remember in the California Riverside Mission!

July 20, 2019: We are thrilled to received a new senior couple to help us out in member leadership support and act as housing coordinators for the northern half of the mission. They will be working in the Ontario Stake, a new stake to us. Welcome, Elder and Sister Hunt!

Elder and Sister Hunt, Sister and President Hammon

Burying our weapons of rebellion (See Alma 24:11-19)
As part of our multi-zone conferences, Elders Heilbut and Santos, our two assistants, invited all missionaries to write a "weapon of rebellion" they wanted to get rid of on a paper weapon that they and some of the sisters developed. They put them in a box. Then, as one of the activities of the outgoing missionaries, they buried the mission's weapons of rebellion at the Mission Home.

Transfers: July 30, 2019

Because of the resent combination of portions of three missions into one, we had 24 incredible missionaries return home this transfer: Sisters Olsen, Dalley, Bradford, Vernon, Chase, Stettler, Neerings, Bascom, and Esplin; Elders Dundon, Carlisle, Loveridge, Svenson, Staley, Taylor, Beddes, Gunn, Moloney, Van Dyke, Shields, Brimhall, Bates, Saxton, and Stark. They are wonderful examples of how missionaries lift, love, lead, and invite! We will miss their leadership and diligence  in the work of the Lord. They all returned with honor; yet, they leave legacies that will continue for years in our mission. We wish them all well.

July outgoing missionaries at the Mission Home

Chicken street tacos, rice, beans, and salad for the outgoing meal. Elder Brimhall on the right broke the record eating 17. 

Tres Leches for dessert.

We also have a delicious meal of street tacos and all of the stuff you place in, on, or with them!

Breakfast Tuesday morning.: sticky buns, eggs, and fruit. 

Luggage--It's all about the number of bags they are going to take with them. Who knows how much stuff they have already sent, given away, or even thrown away.

72 pieces of luggage filled the garage Monday evening.

Loading all the luggage into a trailer to take to the airport Tuesday morning.

Hermanas Stettler, Chase, Esplin, and Sisters Bascom and Neerings

The Ontario Airport is the place where smiles, pictures, hugs, and tears emerge! It is both a joyful and sad experience. We love them all!

Assistants, present and past: Elders Heilbut, Santos, Moloney, and Loveridge.

At the airport, ready to head up to security. May Heavenly Father bless you all!

One final good bye...This is where the tears flowed!

We also hated to see Elder and Sister Davis complete their mission as our housing coordinators. They are two of the most diligent people we know and have served above and beyond the calling for over two years, helping make sure that our missionaries have a safe, clean, and comfortable apartment. They will be missed so very much.

President and Sister Hammon, Sister and Elder Davis  

Twelve beautiful sisters

This outgoing group literally left a huge hole in the mission. We wish you all the very best as you return home to begin your next transfer. May the Lord bless you in your spiritual, academic, and social endeavors and pursuits. We will miss you immensely! We love you!