New missionaries: boxes and more boxes, bikes, training, and new area assignments!

During the week of December 2, we received twenty-four new missionaries, ready and eager to be missionaries. Add that to Sister Taramon who came the week before from Kiribati, and we had a full house of smiling faces. New missionaries always bring a fire of excitement to the mission and helps us all remember why we are here and who we are here to serve.

Picture of all the new missionaries after the training!

They all met at the Mission Home for a delicious chicken taco meal with all the trimmings. Plus, they were able to tell us a little about themselves.

Incoming Missionaries

Before they met their new trainers, the missionaries spent the morning in training, learning about the Mission Plan, finances, cars, bikes, health (they each have a nurse to help them), mail, housing, expectations and rules, Mission Training Plan, and how to contact and invite, and a host of other things. While they received probably more information than they could assimilate all at once, they were in good spirits. Their trainers will be going over everything they learned.

Once the training was over, they had a delicious lunch!

Each new missionary took a picture with President and Sister Hammon and then with their new companions:

Sister Taramon (new) and Sister Bowlden

Sister Arnold (new) and Sister Taylor

Hermana Jolley (new) and Sister Jacobs

Hermana Hernandez and Hermana Mecham (new)

Elder Hall (new) and Elder Robinson

Elder Jones and Elder Rice (new)

Sister Maxey (new) and Sister Ellsworth

Elder Lawlor and Elder Eskelsen (new)

Elder Christensen (new) and Elder Rodriguez

Elder Howard and Elder Hanson (new)

Hermana Anderson and Hermana Eldredge (new)

Elder Jackson and  Elder Spendlove (new)

Elder Phillips and Elder McCammon (new)

Elder Jacobs and Elder Syme (new)

Elder Tye and Elder Steadman (new)

Elder Josie (new) and Elder Reeves

Sister Samowitz (new) and Sister Anderson

Hermana Giles (new) and Sister Smyer

Sister Moody and Sister Copling

Elder Webb and Elder Panter (new)

Sister Gunnell (new) and Sister Sickkels

Sister Gugelman (new) and Sister Goss

Sister Reed-Caswell (new) and Sister Freeman

Hermana Gamez and Hermana Westerby (new)

Hermana Linton will be finishing the training of  Hermana Salmon

Hermana Maxwell and Hermana Opager (New)

One of the traditions we began a few transfers ago was to have the new missionaries place their pictures in the area where they are going. Here are a few of those who did:

Hermaana Mecham

Elder Josie

Hermana Jolley

Elder Christensen

Hermana Eldredge

Sister Opager

Sister Gunnell

Sister Maxey

And then they were off to their new areas! It had been raining all day, so it was a challenge to take all of their stuff to the cars. But they were excited to get on the road to begin their new assignments. We thank Sister Shirley, one of our senior missionaries, for taking these pictures:

Lots of stuff to load, including bikes! (Sister Shirley photo)

Elder Jones and Elder Rice, bikes and boxes galore!  (Sister Shirley photo)

Sister Anderson and Sister Samowitz with bikes and more boxes.
Parents love to send things.... (Sister Shirley photo)

Yes, it was raining when they needed to go to their areas!  (Sister Shirley photo)

The sisters gathered for one last picture together!  (Sister Shirley photo)

Sister Ellsworth and Sister Maxey hauling boxes and suit cases in the rain!  (Sister Shirley photo)

Sisters wondering whether they can cram in all that stuff into one Toyota Corolla.
They were successful!  (Sister Shirley photo)

We are, indeed, blessed to have these new missionaries come to our mission. They come from all over the United States and Kiribati. They will do well because they want to do well, and they choose to do well. They have wonderful companions who will help guide them along the way. They will become disciples of Christ and help Heavenly Father bring His children home.

We love them and look forward to serving with them!

President and Sister Hammon

Incredible missionaries honorably complete their missions! Hurrah for missions!

We are so blessed to have been able to serve with these wonderful sisters and elders for the past couple of years. We have watched them grow into true disciples of Christ. Now, they will return and serve in their wards and stakes to help gather Israel all over the world. They have returned with honor!

Outgoing Missionaries

Elders Liddell, Evans, Randall, Victorino, Sisters Preator, Schmutz, Christensen, Lindstrom,
Grant, Brown, Rane, Johnson and Weston. Front- Elders Jensen, Royce and Sato, President and Sister Hammon

Smiles all around! Incredible sisters!

These are incredible young men who will be leaders wherever they go!

Carne asada tacos, rice, and beans for dinner

Study time with President Hammon. We studied "light."

Last Christmas Sister Preator painted us this mural, but we did not get a photo.
This year she will return home and celebrate Christmas with her family.
We will always treasure her gift.

Tres Leches cake brings a smile to everyone's face.

Elder Abraham adding the last touch to the Tres Leches cake. His mother would be proud of his
new found prowess to decorate Tres Leches cake.

Ah, the beauty to watch these young missionaries grow and progress and become what they decided they would become! We have watched them, cried with them, laughed with them, listened to their challenges, celebrated their achievements, prayed for them, and rejoice with them as they experienced miracles! Isn't that what missions do for missionaries? Missions change people!

They return home, knowing who they are, trusting in the Lord in every whit, understanding their role and place in the Plan of Salvation, and realizing--finally--that they can do challenging things!

We love each and every one of them! We wish them well. May the Lord bless them always!

President and Sister Hammon