New Missionaries Have Arrived!

The phrase—Change is good. Change is good. Change is good—has become our mantra for our mission. This transfer, we had 14 conclude their missions and go home, and we received 23 new missionaries, including three visa waiters.

All of the missionaries after the training. They are ready to go!

After arriving from the airport to the Mission Home, we had a delicious meal of nachos with all of the trimmings. Plus, we Sister Hammon had made an extra tres leches cake, which was divine--as usual. They enjoyed that along with Rice Krispy treats. How can you even think of not having Tres Leches and Rice Krispy treats for a meal? We visited with them a bit, and then I began interviewing the sisters while the elders were taken to a member's home where they were going to spend the night.

Sisters eating tacos and smiling!

Hermana Linton

Sister Linton (new) and Sister Allan

Sister Goss

Sister Miles and Sister Goss (new)

Sister Lifferth

Sister Lifferth (new) and Sister Moore

Sister Jarman

Sisters Briggs and Jarman (new)

Sister Bassett

Sisters Andersen and Bassett (new)

Hermana Parker

Hermanas Gamez and  Parker (new)

Hermana Coronel

Hermanas Coronel (new) and Grant 

Sister Glancy

Sisters Griffith and Glancy (new)

Sister Bowlden

Sisters Bowlden (new) and Anderson

Elder Hartsfield

Elders Royce and Hartsfield (new)

Elder Bunn

Elders Bunn  (new) and Lai

Elder Sexton

Elders Griffiths and Sexton (new)

Elder Bryce

Elders Lea and Bryce (new)

Elder Jensen

Elder Jensen (new) and Tellez

Elders Vance and Hallsted

Elders Hallsted (new), Larsen, and Vance (new)

Elder Peterson

Elders Peterson (new) and Stewart

Sister Taylor

Sisters Hindman and Taylor (new)

Hermana Aries

Hermanas Brown and Aries (new)

Elder Killpack

Elders Amago and Killpack (new)

Elder Jones

Elders Seegmiller and Jones (new)

Elder Murri

Elders Chapman and Murri (new)

Elder Walpole

Elder Larsen and Elder Walpole (new)

President and Sister Hammon and Elder Olson

Elder Stratov (new) and Elder Barnes

Bikes, boxes, and bunch of stuff for every single incoming missionary--It's almost like Christmas when the new missionaries arrive. Amazon must love mothers and fathers who love their children and send them lots of stuff to their missionaries.

We did have an incredible time reviewing the names of the potential trainers and the new missionaries after I interviewed all of them and then counseling with Heavenly Father as to who should be their trainer. I am always amazed how this all works. In the end, it seems they are evenly matched and even anticipated the companion they will be receiving. Heavenly Father really knows them and knows who would help them the most. Granted, they are different, possess different views, come from differing backgrounds; yet, they just link and are ready to work toward making an equally-yoked companionship.

We love seeing new missionaries enter the mission field. They are full of missionary fire and vigor! ?We know they will do fine because the Lord really will bless and protect them.

President and Sister Hammon

Light and Truth and Missionaries Going Home!

We are not understanding how six weeks can come and go so rapidly, and missionaries are ready to go home or go off to their original country of assignment.

Last Thursday, we went to the Redlands Temple with all of the outgoing missionaries and the three visa waiters. What a glorious and revelatory event! Few things are more sacred and heart-warming than to greet our missionaries as they enter the Celestial Room, knowing they were worthy to be there and knowing they had diligently persisted in their missionaries. And here they were all in the Celestial Room simultaneously, basking in the spiritual glow of the most sacred places on the face of the planet, quiet, serene, and full of light and truth.

Redlands Temple

Everyone at the Redlands Temple. F: Elders Dalmas, Castro, Komers;
President and Sister Hammon; Elder Parata; Hermanas Maxfield and Noble (going to Portugal). Elders Steiner and Lowry.
B: Elders Mohlman, Whiting (going to Portugal), Fairbanks (going to Portugal,
Wall, Wilson, Jensen, Hunt, Santos, and Haslam

 On Monday morning, we rose early and took three of our missionaries who had been originally assigned to Portugal to the airport. With their visas in hand, they boarded a plane for a long flight to Portugal. They were excited to go although they had grown very accustomed to southern California. They learned. They taught. They even baptized! Why wouldn't you want to stay? But, alas, their visas arrived, and we needed to let them go. It was challenging to watch them go. They will always be a part of the California Riverside Mission.

Sister Noble, President Hammon; Elders Fairbanks and Whiting

On Monday evening, they began to filter in, one by one until they were all here. I visited with several of them about their "MyPlan," their strategic planning for going home. They had developed a robust plan about continuing discipleship; going to college and/or obtaining a job; and beginning to date and seek their "new" companion, this time their choice with the blessing of the Lord.

F: Elders Castro, Dalmas, Komers, Parata, Steiner, and Lowry; Hermana Maxfield
B: Elders Wall, Wilson, Mohlman, Santos, Hunt, Haslam, Jensen, and President and Sister Hammon

I had each of them complete a three-column document entitled "My Eternal Companion." The three columns including these three elements: 1) Essential qualities my spouse must possess. 2) Qualities that I hope my spouse possesses but not totally essential! And 3) Qualities my spouse possesses that definitely would be bonuses but not necessarily essential! The irony is that I completed the same type of document on blue paper in my seminary classes. Brother Lee had us do one and then place it in a self-addressed envelope with a stamp. When I arrived home from my mission, it was there. And, yes, Sister Hammon aligned perfectly!  Both my daughters did one, too. Thus, I thought it would be fine for the missionaries to complete one, also. They all have high standards for their spouse, but they know they need to exude those same standards to capture someone of that quality.

We had a delicious dinner of chile verde with rice, beans, salad, and chips. After our testimony meeting, we then were treated once again with Sister Hammon's famous tres leches cake. It was so divine. Every bite is like biting into heaven. Seriously! It has become one of those traditions the outgoing missionaries have.

L-R: Sister Hammon, Elder Castro, Hermana Maxfield; Elders Heilbut (Assistant),
Santos, Komers, Parata, Mohlman, Steiner, Dalmas, and Wilson.

L-R: Elders McLaughlin, Lowry, Hunt, Haslam, Wall, and Jensen

As always, we spent some time talking about "light" and how to keep injecting light into our lives every single day.

Studying together in companionship study. (Thanks, Sister Shirley for the photo!)

Yes, some of them had to sleep on the floor on really nice blow-up beds:
F-B: Elders Haslam, Hunt, Komers, Dalmas, Steiner, and Mohlman

This morning, we loaded the trailer (Thanks, Brother Cooper and Elder Davis!), and headed to the Ontario Airport. We arrived, check everyone in, took some pictures, said sad goodbyes coupled with tears, and then watched them go up the escalator until they disappeared into the snaking security lines. 

Loading luggage

Unloading luggage

Yes, Even Elder Steiner now knows how to vacuum! 

Yes, there were smiles and laughter. Yes, there were hugs. Yes, there were tears. There is just no other way to say goodbye to incredible missionaries who have labored so diligently, become part of our family, and knit their lives with ours. We saw them all come, young, a bit skittish about the whole missionary thing, wondering sometimes why they were there and then watched them grow and develop into some of the most incredible young people we know or ever will. They have truly become men and women of God, part of the royal army and doing what their Heavenly Father wants them to do.

And off they go!

And then....poof! off they go--to home, to college, to families, to continue their glorious and changed lives. Truly, we have witnessed miracles with these young people. May the Lord continue to bless them and their families and their future families.

From the Mission Home front door!

And thus it is....

We love them!

President and Sister Hammon

August 2019 Multi-zone--Loving, Lifting, Leading, Inspiring, and Inviting

Six weeks always seem to fly by for us. Here we are at another week of multi-zone conferences. Multi-zone conferences are always so uplifting and inspiring. The zone leaders, sister training leaders, and Assistants to the President, do such a great job of training. We wish we could post pictures of them at work. But, alas, we do all of the training in the chapel, and we do not take pictures in the chapel; so zone pictures and lunch photos are the best we can do. Just know that we are all edified when we participate and learn from each other.

Our focus this time was on Chapter 3, Lesson 3, "The Gospel of Jesus Christ" from Preach My Gospel. These principles are basics doctrine we teach, and our desire was that each missionary understand his or her role in teaching these principles. We did many role-plays and practices.
                                         

Murrieta Zone

During his outgoing testimony, Elder Mohlman testified: "I know this is the truth and something that has brought me much joy. The Gospel has changed my life."

Temecula Zone

President Hansen, a member of the Mission Presidency, came and spoke about being children of a loving Heavenly Father. One of the things he said was "I love to listen to the Restoration presentation because it validates that I truly have a Heavenly Father. The power of this simple phrase: 'You are a child of God' resonates with the world." Then, he asked a powerful question: How does knowing that God is the Father of your Spirit affect how you feel about yourself and the choices you make?"

Corona Zone

Elder Steiner testified: "I learned a lot abut the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and it heals my soul--to believe in Christ, love as He loved, and act as He acts."

Jurupa Zone

Elder Lowry said, "I am always trying to be better. Trials are times to learn. The Lord has blessed and protected me."

Ontario Zone

Sister Foster, one of the sister training leaders, taught that "Once people know Jesus Christ and understand who He is and what He has done and will do for us through His Atonement, they will change and become someone different."

Riverside Zone

Hermana Maxfield said, "Through all the changes, I have had one constant companion: the Holy Ghost."

Moreno Valley Zone

Elder Santos had the opportunity to bear his testimony four times because, as an assistant, he was able to attend all sessions. He said, "I have had the most incredible, amazing time here.

Menifee Zone

Hemet Zone

Lake Elsinore Zone

The Golden Plunger award is the honor missionaries receive who have the "cleanest" apartments. The housing inspector couples are the ones to go the apartments and do the inspections. Good job to those who clean their apartments. Parents, you would be proud of missionaries who have learned to clean their apartments.

Sisters  Welker and Sickles (Temecula Zone) and Elder Powell

Sisters Kartchner and Morgan (Murrieta Zone) and Elder Powell, Housing Coordinator

Elders Fairbanks, Christensen, Hull, and Steiner (Corona Zone); Sister and Elder Hunt, housing coordinators

President Norman taught the missionaries that they need to "know, feel, and understand, so we can finally realize that Heavenly Father is our Father-in-Heaven."

 Elder and Sister Dickinson-housing inspectors; Elders Treviño and Atanasio (Moreno Valley Zone)

Elder and Sister Troxel, Housing Inspectors; Hermanas Grant and Cardiel (Riverside Zone) 

Hermanas Anderson and Thompson (Lake Elsinore Zone); Elder and Sister Mascio and Elder Mascio

Elders Jacobs and Lea (Menifee Zone); Elder Powell

Elder Powell, Elders Campbell and Greathouse (Hemet Zone) 

                                  Happy Birthday wishes to all of these wonderful missionaries.

Sisters Moore, Longshore and Ellsworth; Elders Potter, Talataina, Lance, Sato, Komers, and Nelson

Elders Larsen, Tellez, and Carter

Elders Chapman, Hull, and Santos

The Stake Relief Societies always provide us with wonderful lunch. Thank you, Sisters!

Ontario Stake

Murrieta Stake

Moreno Valley Stake

Lake Elsinore Stake

Some say the lunch is the best part of multi-zone conferences. Eating, always eating. Yummy!

Of course, we need to feed both the Spirit and the body!

The multi-zone conferences were highly successful! They proved to be a time of spiritual inspiration and personal revelation! We loved the incoming and outgoing testimonies.

Thank you, Elders and Sisters, for being who you are and becoming who you need to be.

President and Sister Hammon