It's Beginning to Feel a Lot Like Christmas

We've had a very warm fall.  The first part of this past week was

in the 90's!  So it was nice to think about Christmas as we 

prepared for the beginning of the new Christmas initiative.

We held three meetings in different parts of the mission.  On 

Wednesday half the mission was together at the Grand building

where the mission office is located. 

It is seldom that we have so many missionaries together at one time. 

 Since we're not sure what we can and can't say about 

this initiative just yet, may we invite all of you to 

visit mormon.org on November 25 and then join

your missionary in participating in the activities 

outlined there. 

As part of the World Wide Day of Service, all the missionaries

will be participating in two hours of service.  

If you've seen the video on the service day at lds.org, you know 

that this year's initiative theme is Light the World.  Our wonderful 

elders and sisters do that every day all year round.  

Just look at their faces!  

Not So New as They Used to Be

About three weeks after a new group of missionaries arrives

they get together for Trainer/Trainee meeting.  It's a 

time to work with both new missionaries and their companions to

see that all is going well.  But before the meeting 

starts, there's an opportunity for the  missionaries who

 arrived together but have now been all over the mission

to compare notes and catch up.  Time for fruit and juice, yogurt

and the favorite, Sister Schubert's rolls with butter and honey.  

Even after only three weeks it's amazing how much has happened

and how much these new missionaries and new trainers have learned.  

President Mullen greets Elder Willis with an abrazo.

After visiting, everyone comes together to study their

scriptures for a bit, a chance to get centered and 

draw upon the Spirit before the meeting starts.  

Once the meeting started we didn't take pictures, but we thought

the families of the new missionaries might like to see them

in their new element.  

October MLC

Here are the mission leaders for the October/November transfer.  

For the record.  

For the moms.  

 (These were taken at the end of a very long day of meetings.)

Now Arriving in Riverside!

A tender mercy of mission life:  the same plane that takes missionaries

from the mission to their homes also drops off a new group of missionaries.  

The outgoing and the new missionaries literally cross paths in the airport.  

Here are the new elders and sisters!

After getting everything back to the mission office 

and a first meeting with President Mullen, 

it's time for lunch and getting acquainted.

Sisters first.  

Elders ready to enjoy lunch.

After lunch, it's time for orientation.  With only a very few

hours of sleep the night before, it's hard to stay awake!

Sister Pendleton and Sister Crippen, mission nurses,

help missionaries learn about how health care will be handled.

After another three and a half hours of orientation and 

interviews, guess what?  It's time to eat again.  

Elders huddle up while they're waiting for their turn.

Following dinner, the trainers and new missionaries gather

for a final meeting.  New companionships are announced at this

time, and new missionaries share their first testimonies in

the mission field.  It is a privilege to hear these 

testimonies.  This is indeed a remarkable generation, prepared 

to service at this time in the world's history.  

Sister Jensen plays the prelude.  We're always grateful for

the willingness of the gifted musicians in the mission.  

Here are the new companionships.  

Elder Shurtleff (L) from Washington

with his companion, Elder Zeng. 

Sister Brererton (R) from

and her companion, Sister Willis. 

Elder Briggs (L) from Idaho

with his companion, Elder Jewkes.

Elder Call (L) from Utah

with his companion, Elder Medearis.

Elder Call is waiting for his visa to India.  

Sister Coffeen (L) from California

with her companion, Sister Burris. 

Sister Garcia (R) from Texas

with her companion, Sister Madrid.  

Elder Guymon (R) from Utah

with his companion, Elder Porter.

Sister Harris from Idaho

with her companion, Sister Keith. 

Sister Mackley (R) from Utah

with her companion, Sister Rodriguez.

Sister Reagan (R) from Colorado

with her companion, Sister Lineback.

Elder Gregory (R) from Utah

with his companion, Elder Carrillo. 

Elder Frazier (L) from Utah

with his companion, Elder Mercado.

Elder Rivas (R) from Mexico

with his companion, Elder Sy.

Sister Shreeve (L) from Arizona

with her companion, Sister Ford. 

Sister Shreeve is waiting for her visa to Mongolia.

Sister Schooff (R) from Nebraska

with her companion, Sister Jensen.

I'm Glad They Called Me on a Mission

Six missionaries left the mission at the end of October. 

It doesn't matter if there are twenty-five or six leaving; 

it's never easy to see them go.

 

 Though we fit at one table (with a small table added

on the end) it took several pictures to get everyones' faces.

Elder Manson and Elder Biegel next to 

Preisdent Crippen.   

As the only sister returning home, Sister Fabian 

brought color to the white-shirt-world of elders. 

Elder Warren is on her left and Elder Knight on her right.  

Elder Gibson visits with the Assistants to the President, 

Elder Jones and Elder Young.

Left to right:  President and Sister Grant

and Sister and President Crippen.

 Pork tenderloin, potatoes and gravy, homemade hot rolls, dressing, 

green beans with bacon and pecans, green salad with pumpkin vinaigrette...

and a surprise dessert:  

homemade pumpkin pie by Elder Knight!

He brought two pies he had managed 

to make himself in addition to packing up for home.  Wow!

Ready for testimony meeting.  

 This was Elder Jones first testimony meeting for outgoing

missionaries since he was called as an assistant.  

No one is ever very hungry for breakfast 

on the morning of departure.  

There was plenty of French toast left over.

Sharing stories.

The bags are loaded, last prayer together offered.

Time for one last photo in front of the mission home.

We seldom get to see the reunion of missionary and mom, 

but Elder Manson's mom came to pick him up.   

There was a whole red and black theme going on, 

(Elder Manson's favorite colors)

including a red a black gift bag with a scrapbook of his mission.

Everyone was loaded in the cars.  One last glimpse of 

the assistants on their way to drive to the airport.  

Inside the mission home, everything was silent.  

 Already the departing elders and sister seemed like a dream.

No evidence in this room; beds had been made

(even though they would be stripped for washing --

it's the thought that counts.)

 A couple of slept in beds in another -- maybe they

really had been here.  

A set of shoelaces left over when the other pair was 

put into polished shoes so the wearer would look 

his best on arrival.  

Of course, what remains are the memories and the converts 

forever changed by the message of those who were called to serve.