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.