Lots more first! Incoming! Outgoing! Interviews! Sister Training and District Training Meeting!

Incoming! Outgoing! Interviews! Sister Training and District Training Meeting! All in one week! We love the firsts of everything.

Outgoing!

The following missionaries left for home this week: Elders Brinkerhoff, Drebot, Jackson, Jones (A), Jones (C), Murphy, and Wood; Sisters Godoy, Keith, and Rodriguez. They arrived at the mission home around 4:00 p.m., and we began eating around 5:00 p.m. Olga and her mother had made street tacos and a refreshing drink from orange juice and cucumbers. 

Olga and her mother. They prepared street tacos! Excelente!

Everything was delicious! Our testimony meeting with all of these elders and sisters was incredibly spiritual and enlightening. These missionaries spoke of miracles and tender mercies while serving here and growing and progressing spiritually. After the testimony and a little dessert, 

Dessert: Tres Leches. It was divine. Sister Hammon did an incredible job.
We think this might be the start of a tradition for outgoing!

Sisters McCracken, Rodriguez (outgoing), Thorne, and Davis

Elders Thorne, Davis, and McCracken

the outgoing missionaries and I had “companionship study.” We studied light and how to keep that light within us, particularly after mission.

Last hurrah at the Mission Home: Dinner, testimony meeting,
and dessert with incredible missionaries!

Tuesday morning dawned early, like at 5:00 a.m. because we needed to have breakfast ready to go early so the missionaries could catch their flights. We began eating at 6:40 a.m. We cooked French toast, eggs, and sausage, coupled with fruit and juice. They ate heartily. Soon, though, it was time to go.

We loaded the truck and the vans and headed to the airport, arriving in plenty of time for them to check in. 

Truck loaded and ready to go!

Once they were checked in, we took even more pictures at the airport with them, mostly with their cameras. Then, we gave them all big missionary hugs and off they went, up the stairs and escalators and through security, and then they were gone. Tears came to ours eyes. We have known these missionaries just one transfer, but our hearts have known them much longer. What a challenge it was to let them go—but what happiness we had, knowing they would be seeing their parents and their families in such a short time. Could there be a happier time when their families saw them for the first time after two years or 18 months? Lo dudamos mucho. We doubt very much!

             

Final group pictures before heading off: Elder Jones, President and Sister Hammon,
Hermana Godoy, Elder Drebot, Elders Brinkerhoff, Jones Jackson, Murphy, and Wood

Incoming!

We didn’t have to wait very long before the incoming missionaries arrived. The first came flying down the stairs, and we didn’t recognize him from the pictures we have had. In fact, his name tag was in Chinese. We greeted him like we would any others and discovered he actually was going to the California Arcadia Mission. No one was there to pick him up. :(  Soon, though, ours began to trickle down the stairs and the escalator. 

Elder Molony and Elder Staley

Sister Carson, Sister Hammon, and Sister Gray

Before too long, they were all there. What a joy to see them all, ready and eager. We then hustled them out to the vans and cars, loaded them their luggage up, and away we went.

Incoming missionaries! Excited to be here! Finally1

In about 45 minutes, we arrived back to the Mission Office where we had some goodies for them. After they had had some nourishment, knowing they had been up since 3:30 this morning. Once nourished somewhat we began with Mission Basics, other important details about their new lives here in the mission, and interviews. After all that, we had a delicious dinner. Once we finished, the Assistants and we met in my office to finalize my thoughts about who should be with whom. Once we finished eating, we walked to the Relief Society Room where I revealed who their new companions were going to be. What a choice experience that was. Then came testimony meeting.

We were extremely impressed with the testimonies of the new missionaries—

Sister Carson 

Sister Gray

Elder Beatty 

Elder Beddes

Elder Carlisle

Elder Kocherhans

Elder Loveridge

Elder Molony

Elder Saxton

Elder Shurtliff 

Elder Simpson

Elder Staley

Elder Stark

It was definitely a great spiritual feast for all of us.

The last event of the evening was picture taking, dessert, and off with their new companions. Sister Hammon and I had a picture taken with them, then they had one by themselves, and then one with their companions. What joy it was to see them take a picture with their companions. I can already see the love that they all share. Hurrah for Zion! As they go out to work.

Sister Training and District Training Meeting!

What a wonderful group of current and new sister training and district leaders! We met in the cultural hall and participated in discussions about leadership in the Book of Mormon, following the patterns of Book of Mormon leaders; exchanges; district planning, using the Organize, Review, Analyze, and Revise (ORAR) method of planning; and sister training leader exchanges. We appreciate the spirit and the vigor you all bring to the Mission leadership. We look forward to seeing how your districts progress and grow. 

Current and new district and sister training leaders

Sister Goodwine, trying to learn by osmosis;
Elder Avei in background wondering when it is his turn!

We have enjoyed this week thoroughly! We love doing what we are doing! May the Lord continue to bless all of you.