More missionaries leave after serving their missions!

April 6-7, 2020

We are a bit late posting this blog--who knows what reason! We had 10 missionaries return home after serving for 24, 21, and 18 months. All total, we had 35 missionaries leave our mission over the last several weeks. It truly has been a teary time for all of us. All of these missionaries will now be in self-isolation when they return home. (They are probably all done with isolation by now!)

All of us masked up ready to head to the airport.

Monday night dinner is Chili Verde burritos, green salad and taco chips. This may be the last time missionaries come to the Mission Home prior to leaving for some time. We shall see what happens in California by May 19, our next transfer, or even June 23, our last transfer.

Sister Hammon, Hermana Longshore, Elders Chapman, Larsen, Tran, Sisters Durham and Corder, Elder Herrick 

All done and totally satisfied with the incredible food!

Elders Mills, Chase, McConahay, and Griffiths

This may be the last time that Sister Hammon will make Tres Leches for the outgoing missionaries since we probably will not meeting together before they leave.

Tres Leches 

Great group of missionaries after our testimony meeting. Elder and Sister Shriley joined us by WebEx.

Elder Tran, Sisters Durham, Longshore and Corder- Back row Sister and President Hammon,
Elders McConahay, Chapman, Mills, Herrick, and Griffiths

Elder McConahay is excited for the tres leches.

Elder McConahay

Loading the trailer 

Elders Chase and Larsen loading the trailer

Elder Aird and his trailer are blessings to the mission.

Van ride to the Ontario, CA airport. Little did we know that all of their flights were cancelled, but they all were re-routed via another airline or much later that day or the next day. Travel out of Ontario is a bit challenging these days. The only positive is we now get to park in a close parking lot.

Change in plans. Sisters Corder and Longshore were rerouted Alaska Air because their Delta flights were cancelled. Until we meet again, sweet sisters. We love you both!

Sister Corder and Hermana Longshore

All of these missionaries had cancellations with their flights. We are so thankful to Elder and Sister Hunt for all of their help shuttling elders back and forth to the airport.

We love these missionaries! We have had some contact with them since they have gone home. Yes, it is a challenging time, trying to acclimate to a new life, one they left, but one that has changed. We wish them well with all of their new endeavors.

Please follow My Plan!

Love you all!

President and Sister Hammon

Missionaries return home in the United States and their countries of origin!

March 2020

When missionaries return home after they have finished their 24 or 18 months, it is both a joyous and extremely sad occasion. When missionaries return home because they are high-risk for the coronavirus (COVID-19) or their countries call them home to keep them safe, it is an even more sad occasion. They do not really want to go home. They want to stay and finished their missions. Many of them begged me not to send them home. Unfortunately, the Missionary Department said, "Send them home." We cried! They cried! We all cried.

These missionaries are all heading back to Utah, where they will spent 14 days in self-isolation. They will keep some semblance of the missionary schedule, reading lots, catching up their journals, ministering via the telephone and video conferencing, working on My Plan, writing letters and emails, pining for their missions and the people they taught, and learning patience.

Hermanas Smyer, and Jolley, Sister Martin, President and Sister Hammon,
Sisters Dyer, Kron, Morgan and Samowitz, and Elder Hanson

Elder Campbell returns to North Carolina, Elder Heaven returns to Canada, and Sister Hindman returns to Mississippi. Elder Heaven was given a candy lei for the trip home. He was fairly happy about the snacks he had received. It's because of how "sweet" he is.

Elder Campbell, Sister and President Hammon, Elder Heaven and Sister Hindman

Hermana Cardiel returns to Idaho.

Hermana Cardiel 

Elder O'Connell returns to Colorado.

Elder O'Connell 

Elder Lai completed his two-year mission and returns back to Taiwan albeit a weekly earlier than he had anticipated it. He caught the last plane home to Taiwan from Ontario, California, until June.

Elder Lai, President and Sister Hammon in the Mission Home

Thank you, Sister and Elder Hunt for meeting us at the airport to bid Elder Lai farewell.

Elders Edwards and Christensen were blessed to have their parents come and pick them up. They return to Utah. They leave a big hole in Ontario.

Elders Edwards and Christensen, President and Sister Hammon

Elder Tellez is from Costa Rica and will be serving in his home country once his 14-day isolation is over. I had a chance to visit with his mother and him once he returned home. They are doing well!

With Elder Telllez on another trip to the airport to see him off to Costa Rica.

Elder Jackson returns to Utah.

Elder Jackson's parents picked him up.

Sister Henderson returns to Tennessee.

Sister Henderson at the airport with Sister and President Hammon

Elder and Sister Hunt took Elder Bailey to the airport for his trip to Australia! Then, he had to spend two weeks in a hotel in Sidney for his isolation tour before he will fly to Perth, his temporary home. His family had been living in China and went to their homeland to be safe from the coronavirus.

Elder and Sister Hunt with Elder Bailey

Elder Thomas rode home with family to Utah.

Hermana Jackson returned home to Idaho.

Hermana Jackson home to Idaho

Welcome home, Hermana Jackson!

And off they go! This where the tears started to flow as they turned together and waved goodbye. Yes there are smiles on their faces.

Up, up and away! Until we meet again.

Sister Reed-Caswell returned to the great state of Texas.

Sister Reed-Caswell was our first to leave.

Sister Sands returns to Wyoming and the wind.

Sister Sands saying good bye to Sister Magante

We love and appreciate all of the work these returning missionaries have given to the people in the California Riverside Mission. Return with Honor! They will be missed in more ways than one. They have served well!

Thank you all.

President and Sister Hammon