Staying Safe and Healthy

Most things in the mission are repeated on a regular schedule:  

incoming missionaries, district development meetings, MLC, etc.

In September we had two days of unique meetings.  The Church,

in an effort to keep missionaries safe, installed TIWIs in every

missionary car.  TIWIs provide a voice in cars that talks  to drivers,

reminding them to put on seat belts, obey speed limits, etc. 

While their cars were getting worked on in the 

parking lot, elders and sisters gathered for missionary training and

to learn about these new devices in their cars.

Brother Russ Fountain, the vehicle coordinator for the Missionary Department, 

trains elders and sisters in safe driving.  

After Thursday's meetings

In addition to safe driving instruction, missionaries who had requested them

received flu shots paid for by Missionary Medical and provided by a 

local pharmacy.  Here's to healthy, safe days ahead.  

An Abundance of Blessings!

The end of August brought an abundance of blessings.  

First Elder and Sister Just arrived from Maryland to

assume assignments and mission secretary and referral secretary.

We are so grateful to welcome them as part of the mission.

The Duvalls stayed an extra couple of weeks so they could

help to train the Justs, which was also a blessing.  The Justs'

training started off with a bang because they arrived only days

before a new group of young elders and sisters.  

In addition to the Justs, nineteen new missionaries arrived in the California Riverside Mission in August.  Here are our new elders and sisters and the companions who will help them train.  

Sister Jensen (R) from Burlington, Wyoming 

and her companion, Sister Spencer

 Elder Phipps (R) from Hyrum, Utah

and his companion, Elder Gill

 Elder Parry (R) from Morgan, Utah 

and his companion, Elder Turner

Sister Pitman (R) from Pocatello, Idaho

and her companion, Sister Carlson

 Elder Macki (L) from Colby, Kansas

and his companion, Elder Reeve

Elder Denning (L) from Elk Ridge, Utah

and his companion, Elder Frost.

Elder Wood (L) from Fort Gibson, Oklahoma

and his companion, Elder Glathar 

Elder Dunn (L) from McCammon, Idaho 

and his companion Elder Catchatoorian

Elder Jones (L) from Ozark, Alabama

and his companion Elder Battaglia

Elder Murphy (L) from Meridian, Idaho

and his companion Elder Giguiere

Elder Jones (L) from Otto, Wyoming

and his companion Elder Anderson

Sister Petersen (L) from Mapleton, Utah 

and her companion, Sister Buhler

 Elder Jackson (L) from Winnemucca, Nevada 

and his companion Elder Andrus

Elder Brinkerhoff (L) from Emmett, Idaho 

and his companion, Elder Foster 

Elder Truman (L) from Nolensville, Tennessee

and his companion, Elder Dall

Sister McGuire (L) from Chino Valley, Arizona

and her companion, Sister Simpson

Sister Turner (R) from El Paso, Texas

and her companion, Sister Cozzens

Elder Drebot (R) from West Valley City, Utah

and his companion, Elder Hoyt

Elder Paxton (L) from Springville, Utah

and his companion, Elder Taylor

The incoming elders and sisters arrived on Tuesday afternoon.  

They came first to the mission home for dinner.

So many missionaries made for a long table in the living room!

Gathered for instruction.  We think Sister Jensen blinked in 

this picture, but if she were asleep no one could blame her.  

Using California time, the sisters who arrived from the Mexico MTC 

had been up since 11:00 p.m. the night before!

After a night's sleep things look brighter at

 lunch on Wednesday.  Everyone was anxious to know

who their new companions would be.

Waiting for the last meeting where new missionaries will share

their first testimonies in the field and receive their companions.  

With the meeting over it was time to grab bags and bikes

and head out to begin the work.  Welcome to Riverside!

 

August MLC and Pizza Casserole

Every Mission Leader Council meeting is pretty much the same.  

There is instruction from President Mullen

Training by Assistants.

A group photo. 

 (Yes, this post should have come before the last one.  Sister 

Duvall helped us with lunches many times, but she did 

not return from Wyoming to help with this one!  Still fun 

to see her though!)

The adventure for the day came after everything was ready for 

lunch, but the huge flying saucer pizzas we usually have 

had not arrived.  They were late at the restaurant!  

Hurrying to get back with very hot pizza

one of our pizza delivery elders tripped and two of the four 

flying saucer pizzas went flying!  Instant pizza casserole...

We had a choice... eat two whole pizzas or two whole and 

two scrambled pizzas.  What do you think we did?!!

Leaving the Riverside

August.  School may have started, but here in Riverside summer is a long way from saying goodbye; September is usually the hottest month of the year.  Nine missionaries said goodbye though and left the California Riverside Mission this month...

In addition to the young elders and sisters we bid goodbye to 

Elder and Sister Duvall.  Most elders and sisters have one mission and many companions.

The Duvalls have had the same companions (each other!) and many missions, 

four to be exact. 

  

Elder and Sister Duvall

Laramie Wyoming

Before the elders and sisters slipped away we had a chance to share that wonderful 

"last night" in the mission.  

Gathering to share memories, mark Pres. Mullen's scriptures and 

share their miracle stories.

President Mullen put on his short sleeved shirt to man the grill

and cook the flank steak for dinner then joined Sister Mullen in 

the kitchen to help serve the food.  (Yes.  That is his very own

Relief Society apron.)

Together in the living room just before testimony meeting.

 After testimony meeting  it was, of course, time for dessert.

Sisters Cultura, Olsen, Sterner and Miller.  Beautiful!

Time for selfies...

and a good laugh!

Connoisseurs? or They'll eat anything!

 Elder and Sister Just, our new senior missionaries, 

at Outgoing Dinner for the first time.

With all the stories shared it seemed there was always 

just one more great moment to remember.

Checking out the photos on Elder Puskas' iPad.  It's 

amazing it hasn't exploded from overuse or overloading.
  

Always brothers:  Elders Tui'one, Glausi, and Petersen along
with assistants to the president, Elders Dyer and Fisher.

The new second counselor in the mission presidency, 

President Grant and Sister Grant.  Also, Sister Pendleton, 

our mission nurse, and Sister Duvall.

One last time together visiting with President Mullen.

After a "good night's sleep" (which no one ever gets on 

the night before they go home) it's time for breakfast.

 Missing sister formation... Sister Cultura had to leave

extra early for the LA airport and her flight to the Philippines.

Elders Peterson, Glausi, Larimer and Tui'one

Sisters Miller, Sterner and Olsen just before leaving

for the airport.

A final farewell to the California Riverside Mission: 

(Video of "Down By the Riverside" is coming as 

soon as I can get the office elders to help me load it!)