Here and Home

We have a red-tailed hawk that keeps watch

over the mission home.  She is often present

when we have out-going and incoming missionaries.

The morning of July 13, 2015 she arrived right on schedule. 

The missionaries are ready to celebrate as they arrive

at the mission home.  We celebrate that they have 

successfully completed their missions.  While 

parents can hardly wait for their missionary's return, 

we find it hard to celebrate the fact that they 

are leaving.  Every departure leaves a hole.  

There were eleven outgoing missionaries and 

the two assistants.  The lower table was set for 

twelve.  Elder Epley moved himself down and 

set a place at the head of the table 

(who could blame him?).  

He was so far away in the photo (above)  

that he got his own close-up.  

Sister Palmer was the only sister going home on this 

transfer.  As my dad would say, 

"A rose among the thorns."   

Just before testimony meeting.  

The California Riverside Mission Presidency

and wives. 

President Plocher, President Mullen, and President Crippen. 

It's such a joy to serve with these good people.  

Everyone gathered to turn in their miracle stories, mark Pres. Mullen's 

scriptures and look at the binders of missionaries already at home.

President Mullen gathered with the outgoing elders and sister 

for one more discussion from the scriptures.  

Tuesday morning dawned.

Elders Child, Epley and Lavender waiting to head to the airport.

One last photo together. 

A group hug. 

A last smile ...

... and they were gone, leaving behind a pair of black socks, 

hearts changed, and the memory of all the service they gave.  

June Mission Leadership Council

We have shrunk in numbers (temporarily) so our mission leadership

has also decreased in number.  This leadership council we focused 

on implementing the challenges given to us by 

Elder Nielsen when he visited.  We are grateful for 

the leadership of these missionaries in helping to 

achieve those goals.  

Celebrating the 4th of July!

Begin with a flag raising.  Add a pancake breakfast with stacks of hotcakes and sausage.  Mix in patriotic music performed by talented musicians.  For fun add an antique car show.  Stir in lots of members, investigators and neighbors to celebrate.  Later in the day add more good food with members and top with zone activities to end the day.  It was a delicious July 4th here in the California Riverside Mission.

Sister Garlitz and Sister Palmer ready to enjoy breakfast.

Elders Anderson and Fisher sit with a part member
family they have been teaching.  Pres. Mullen joins them.

Elder Giguiere and Elder Felix celebrating with lots of
members of the Jarupa Stake.  

A band of brothers:  Pres. Mullen, Elder Bangerter, Elder Luedke, 

Elder Blackburn, Elder Rampton, and Elder Felix.

Check out those patriotic ties!  

Elder Giguiere, Elder Dayley, Elder Wilkes, 

Elder Bushman, Elder Fisher and Elder Anderson.  

Elder Zeng is from China.  Elders Merriman, Dyer and Murray

made sure his first 4th of July was great!  

The Jarupa Stake fielded a great band.  They played the marches
of each of the branches of the military and invited those
who had served in those branches to stand while their song
was played.  Most who stood were elderly and rose with difficulty
but still stood with great pride.  We had a chance to thank them.

This was a talented group made up of musicians of all ages.  They really
contributed to the celebratory mood of the morning with their music.

Many people who attended the breakfast were investigators.
The stake had also handed out 700 fliers to neighbors
of the stake center.  Sister Madrid and Sister Rasmussen
with an investigator friend they invited.  

Sister Sterner and Sister Cuzzins visit with stake members.

The antique car show brought many members of the community

to show off their autos.  They had great stories to tell

about their cars.  This car was a 1957 Ford with a pristine

white interior with yellow piping.  The gold scarf hung from

the rearview mirror was once worn by Elvis.  

Hermana Vorkink and Hermana Carlson 

dressed in the colors of the day.

Elders Murray and Dyer with two of their investigators.

Neighborhood guests and Elder Catchatoorian, Elder Perez 

and Brother Alec Brown (who was serving a mini mission). 

Of course we all tried to pretend the kids were having the 

most fun.  They loved the old cars.  For the senior 

missionaries most of the cars didn't seem that old.  

We remember when they were the latest models!  

None of us remembered riding around in one like this though! 

Hey guys... will you be missionaries one day?

Mission Tour: Elder and Sister Nielsen June 8 & 9, 2015

We had a wonderful opportunity to be taught by Elder Brent H. Nielsen 

of the Seventy and his wife, Sister Marcia Nielsen.  They held meetings

with half the mission on Monday and half on Tuesday.   

Elder Nielsen began each day by meeting with the Zone Leaders

and Sister Training Leaders. 

Sister Nielsen spoke to the sisters each morning before the general 

session of the conference began.  

The morning meetings included talks and discussions lead by Sister and President Mullen, and then Sister and Elder Nielsen.  Sister Nielsen introduced us to her family and talked about being "Nielsens".  She then talked about the challenges and blessings of blending new members into the family as their children began to marry people who had grown up in other families and brought 

other interests with them.  She compared this to companions who come from different backgrounds and have different interests.  She encouraged the elders and sisters to learn to value and love

their companions.  

Elder Nielsen had asked the missionaries to read two articles prior to coming to the meeting.  These were two talks by Elder David A. Bednar focusing on the atonement.  Elder Nielsen lead the missionaries through a discussion of the justifying and sanctifying powers of the atonement, how they may use that power in their own lives, and how they may, using the fundamentals of missionary teaching bring the power of understanding those principles into the lives of those they teach.  

Following the morning meetings, a wonderful group of 

Stake Relief Society sisters served the lunch they had prepared 

for the missionaries.  It was a great time to visit and 

share thoughts about what we had learned during the morning.

Elder and Sister Nielsen enjoyed visiting with the elders and 

sisters during lunch.  

In the afternoon Elder Nielsen talked with the missionaries about the strength and protection that comes from obedience.  He then invited the elders and sisters to ask questions which he answered from the scriptures, sometimes also inviting Sister Nielsen and President Mullen to share their thoughts.  This was a wonderful experience for all of us, one to be remembered.  

Because you can never get enough pictures of missionaries, 

here are a few more shots taken during lunch.  

Mission Leadership Council

May 2015 Mission Leadership Council.

This post should have appeared before the last group of outgoing missionaries.  

Quite a few of the members of the Mission Leadership Council returned home days

after this meeting.  It was a time of mixed emotions as fellow 

missionaries bid each other goodbye.

This was the last MLC for half of the Sister Training Leaders.

Elder McConkie finished his service as an 

Assistant to the President with Elder Anderson.

One last shot.  

Elder McConkie takes a group "selfie".  

Missionaries Returning with Honor

Seventeen elders and sisters completed their missionary service and returned home to their families.
Some of those trips took a long time to complete.  Sister Asiata returned to American Samoa, Sister Sontoyo to Mexico and Elder Blomfield to Canada.  Sister Vaigneur and Elder McConkie flew cross country to the east coast.  Each missionary's journey was unique just as their missions were.  Each left with the respect of their fellow missionaries.  Each touched the lives of those they taught.  Each left with a strong testimony of the Savior, the gospel and the work to which they had given their all.  Our prayers go with them.

Turning in their favorite mission stories and marking their favorite 

verses in Pres. Mullen's scriptures.    

Enjoying each other's company at dinner.  

Ready for testimony meeting.  We never come to this time in the evening 

without wishing that parents could be with us to hear these last testimonies 

born in the mission field.  The elders and sisters have given much, but they

have also received much in faith and experience.  Listening to them share

what they have come to know is a humbling and sacred experience. 

Enjoying dessert together.  

Tuesday morning.  Time for breakfast, one last prayer together, 

and then off to the airport, their families and their futures.