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.