Like the Stars

These new missionaries arrived just before Christmas bringing 

their light with them.  They came to share the good news of 

the gospel with the people of Riverside.  

Here they are, just arriving at the airport.

You can see the light in their faces.   

The first few moments of taking in this new place.

Lunch time so jackets are off.  The elders let the sisters go through

line first, so here they are waiting patiently.  

Generally, the morning at the MTC starts at 3:00 a.m.

There's no formal breakfast served at that time, so lunch

is a welcome sight!

After an afternoon of orientation and training, the new missionaries

and the elders and sisters who who will be training all gather.  

This is the time when everyone is introduced, hears about the 

mission and meets their new companion.  

This meeting is also the time when missionaries share their 

first testimony in the field.  It is a great time for those who 

have the privilege of hearing the witness of those 

who are newly arrived. 

It takes a huge amount of work to make all the arrangements

for an incoming group.  Housing needs to be arranged, welcome

packets sent out, MSF cards funded so the new missionaries

can buy groceries, driving licenses have to be reviewed and

bicycles assembled, the notebooks need to be prepared for 

orientation.  On the day of the arrival there are meals and 

interviews and orientations and trainers trained... the list

goes on and on.  These are the people who make it all happen.

It would never happen without them, but with them it all

goes forward seamlessly.  These are some of the angels round 

about to bear up these new missionaries to say nothing of their

mission president and his companion.  

Meet our new missionaries and their companions:  

 Elder Baum (R) 

and his companion, Elder White

Sister DiPietro (R)

and her companion, Sister Ogden

Sister Hernandez (L)

and her companion Sister Stone

Sister Harris (R)

and her companion, Sister Pielstick

Elder Kligge

and his companion, Elder Langley

Elder Sanchez 

and his companion, Elder Paxton

Elder Shurtleff (R) 

and his companion, Elder Carillo

Elder Williams (L) 

and his companion, Elder Porter

Welcome All!  

We're looking forward to serving with you.

I'll Be Home for Christmas

Leaving the mission at Christmas is a mixed blessing.  

It's wonderful to contemplate being home with family 

for that special time.  It's hard to think about leaving the 

mission field behind during that wonderful time of year. 

For these missionaries it was bittersweet.  

We elders in Israel

Sisters in Zion

Gathering up to go.

Onward and upward...

to a new time and phase of life.

December 2016 Mission Leadership Council

Christmas was only three weeks away when members of the 

Mission Leadership Council met preparing to train 

other missionariesduring Zone Development meetings.

Tuned in.

Hard at work.  

December members of MLC.

During break and after lunch.

  

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.)