Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Departing 9/24/2014

 After having dinner at the mission home the missionaries shared memorable experiences from their service in the mission. We enjoyed chocolate fondue afterwards.  The sisters stayed at the mission home and the elders stayed with the assistants. 
 Hermana Fitzpatrick, Sister Randall, Hermana Corniea, Hermana Hernandez, Hermana Rubow,
and Sister Howell (she ended her mission in English). 
Elder Sandholtz and Elder Robison
We miss all of these missionaries. They are on a new adventure. 

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

New Arrivals 9/22/2014

Five visa waiters assigned to our mission until their visas are available.  Three will be goiing to Argentina and two to Taiwan.  They arrived around 10:45 a.m.  President Felix was able to interview each one prior to the next group arriving.

Ten more missionaries arrived around 11:55 a.m.


Elder Boyd 
Elder Ward 
Elder Tatton
Elder Osborne
Hermana Swan
Elder King
Elder Dorius
Elder Gibb
Elder Parkinson
Elder Ruby
Elder Pace
Elder Harper
Hermana Hurley
Hermana Carbajal
Hermana Zarate
Elder Manesse's flight was around 2:00 p.m.  He returned to the mission after a medical release. 
Sister Etherington was met by Sis. Ruse at the airport around 3:30 p.m.  She is assigned to our mission from the Nauvoo mission.  That mission does not need as many missionaries during the winter; therefore,
reassignments are made.  
Elder and Sister McIntosh were at the picnic area waiting for our arrival as they had picked up lunch for us.



We give the missionaries an experience to remember upon arriving in the mission.  President Felix is talking about committment and having "both feet in."  

Each missionary commits and jumps off the step
(both feet in).


Before going to the mission home for dinner we met Sister Training Leaders and Zone Leaders at the Ventura Stake Center.  The president took ice cream drumsticks to the church at 6:00 a.m. and put them in the freezer in the kitchen.  The treat was to be eaten prior to learning and declaring.  Unfortunately the freezer had been turned off during the morning and our treat was quite messy.  Half of the missionaries stayed there and were instructed in the 12 week program while the other half went proselyting.  After an hour they switched.



The Assistants take a few minutes to go through the Orientation Booklet.  
President Felix is saying opening remarks.

The missionaries are so tired.  They got up very early (actually during the night) to get to the airport.
The sisters stayed the night at the mission home and the elders stayed with members.  
We had breakfast at the mission home at 6:45 a.m. before going to the Ventura Stake Center for more orientation and then transfer meeting.
Transfer meeting is great and a wonderful spirit is felt.  We are able to see the new missionaries meet their trainers, zone and sister training leaders are announced, hear from the president and the departing missionaries.








Notice the spices.  Elder Reynolds cooks!

Who do you think are companions?  I see some companionship unity.