New Arrivals 6/20/16

We're missing two...

Hermana Puertas

Sister Perry

Elder Carter

Elder Deason

Elder Pickett

Elder Palmer

Elder Alder

They arrived at the airport around 1:30 but since they had a two hour lay over in San Francisco we felt they might eat at the airport so we just provided a snack of danishes, grapes, mangos, and water.  We never know, but this time they were hungry.  We also didn't want to cater a lunch in case the plane was late (which coming from San Francisco, it 

typically is).  

We drove to Father Serra Cross so they could experience having both feet in.  

After the cross we met missionaries at the mission home so these new missionaries could go out proselyting.  They returned to receive a short orientation from the assistants and then dinner. We showed a slide presentation about us so that the missionaries can get to know us better.

We were very grateful to the Iversons for driving to the airport and picking up two more missionaries who came on different flights.  We went a head and had dinner but saved some for the Iversons and the two.

Hermana Anstee

Elder Matthews

This was so appreciated that these elders cleaned up some of the dishes.
Everyone was so tired.  President was able to interview half of them before members picked up the elders to stay the night in their homes.

The missionaries all met back at the mission home for breakfast.  It consisted of waffles, bacon, and juice.

We had a lay back morning.  President Felix finished the interviews, they filled out a short quesionnaire and then we played Jeopardy - CVM style.

Sister Iverson came to the mission home to help transport the missionaries to the mission office.  We had lunch at noon with the trainers.  Afterwards President Felix did some training with the trainers and the office staff did an orientation for the new missionaries.  After an hour or so we combined and the missionaries found out who their companions were.

Elders Atkinson, Matthews, Bradley

Elders Palmer and Ruby

Elders Jo and Alder

Elders Pickett and Gemar

Elders Bronson and Carter

Hermanas Anstee and Peterson

Hermanas Eames and Puertas

Sisters Perry and VanDerWatt

Elders VanSchlocteren and Deason

These missionaries came from Utah, Idaho and one from Canada.

We are excited to get to see them all again next week as we will be having zone conferences.

President's email

President Felix will often times send out an email on Monday morning for the missionaries to read before they start their emails.  This was sent this morning:

Dear Missionaries,

Well, it's hard to believe that it is the last week of this transfer.  It's the middle of June and school is out.  Sometime the tendency at the end of a transfer cycle is to finish things up and get ready to go on.  I encourage all of you to take the mentality of "running through 1st base" as we enter week 6.  In baseball or softball, successful players always run through 1st base on any hit that they get even if it looks like a sure out.  Sometimes, the ball is mishandled in the field and you would then be safe and sometimes you will even beat the throw.  Either way, run through the base and have a wonderful week.  The work in your area will continue after this transfer whether you are there or not, and since it's the Lord's work, we need to find and teach with all of our efforts so that we can baptize monthly. 

Be wise and alert to the Spirit.  Remember to talk with people and get to a brief restoration message with your testimony. 

Love and support,

President Dell C Felix

Follow up Training

Seven of the missionaries who arrived this last transfer came to the mission office for some follow up training.  After the training we had cinnamon roll cake and fruit with a vanilla yogurt dip.  

So why does President Felix have a football?  He likes to use it when talking about our purpose.  He  demonstrates what it means to receive.   We help others to RECEIVE the restored Gospel.  He passed through on his way to do a temple recommend interview.

Elders Hamelin, Huston, Rodriguez, Peart, Slaugh, Jones

Hermanas Flores, Kneip

Hermanas Ames, Gomez, Sisters Coleman, Israelsen, Elders Dorius, Hoff

MLC

MLC began at the mission home this morning.  We had scones, fruit, yogurt, granola, bacon, orange juice or chocolate milk.

One of the sisters told me she had never had scones before and she liked them.

We've been having "June gloom" which made it cooler this morning so we ate inside.

Cleanup was really easy today as we used paper and plastic.  We finished up and drove to the mission office for our meeting.

The get to know you question was What did you like about the Family History activity and how are you going to apply Family History to your work?

After the accountability and stewardship report the assistants did a presentation on clarifying the key indicators. 

President Felix led a discussion on effective and not so effective use of time. 

Front row:  Elders Rosenlof, DuPlessis, Peterson, Weiss, Stewart, Summers

Middle:  Elders Gibb, King, Parkinson, Campbell, Hermanas Hemingway, Johnson

Back:  Elders Boyce, Kuepper

Front:  Elders Snyder, Harvey, Swenson, Powell

Back:  Sisters King, Ulassin, Orme, Houseman, Hermanas Frias, Eames

Sister Iverson, Elder & Sister Floyd, Sister & Elder Hardy

We very much appreciate their efforts and time in preparing and serving us lunch.

Elder Boyce and Elder Kuepper took about an hour talking about companion study.  They discussed the why, what, and how for companion study.  

It was decided by the council that personal study would end before 9:00 so that companionship study would start at 9:00.  We hope the missionaries will realize how important that study time is.  It prepares them for the day.

President Felix discussed "Finding." Nothing happens unless you find.  Some of the highlights were: 

 Faith in Jesus Christ is essential in finding people to teach

Develop faith to find

Talk with everyone

Teach when you find and find when you teach

Finding is an act of faith

We have amazing missionaries.  Before President Felix's closing remarks all took the opportunity to share what they had felt.

Santa Maria/San Luis Obispo Zone Activity

Turn in love to all your children 

Generations yet to be.

May your deeds of gospel giving, 

Temple service, righteous living,

bless them all eternally.

The hymn Turn Your Hearts, page 291 has become a favorite hymn.  It's not very well known but the words really tell us how it is OR how it should be.

I don't believe I've seen this many mustaches in one place.

Last zone activity and this group did a fantastic job of seeking out and meeting others.  

As in family history, we need to seek out and find.

Everyone is blindfolded and trying to make a square without talking.

These two groups struggled.

Everyone was able to see and talk which made it easier to perform the task.

In doing family search, it is helpful to receive guidance from others by listening and even working together.

These missionaries are in their districts.

Elders Parkinson, Campbell, Elliott, Sisters Ulassin, King, Elders Wayment, Herrera Jr., Castro

Sisters Barnum, Scott, Capener, Mendoza

Elders Plummer, Chesley, Petersen, Bronson, Allison, Pierce, Garcia, Turley

They reminded me that long ago when photographs were taken, people did not smile.

Elders Lemus, Mata

Sister & Elder Aston, Elders Hamlin, Huston, Sweson, Powell, Sisters Campbell, Dye

Through working on family history Sister Campbell and Sister Dye discovered that they were related as their grandparents are siblings. It was way excitiing for them!

Elders Levis, Gardner, Avalos, Suarez, Crook, Gemar

Hermanas Pirir, Torrico, Sisters Cardon, VanDerWatt

We were reminded throughout the activities that the hispanic countries do not have records so it was difficult for the missionaries to find any information on line.  It took corresponding with parents and grandparents to find stories.

The missionaries were asked to bring their lunch and we would provide a drink and dessert.  For the most part the drumsticks were consumed but we have several missionaries that are lactose intollerent and gluten free in their diets; the fruit bars were a nice alternative.

Telestrations was a fun break between hearing stories.

The game is a visual version of the classic "telephone" game where one draws what they see and then passes that drawing to the next person who guesses what they saw and continues this until everyone gets their notepad back. Notepads were prepared with a word that referred to something related to family history.  (Of course they were not told the words had something in common.) 

The analogy of doing this game compared to family history was the importance of accuracy.  Taking time now to write down their own life history.  

A lot of laughing occured so we were able to point out that family history is fun.

 We have very much enjoyed hearing about the ancesstors of our missionaries.  Today's stories were about:

Parents - 3

Grandparents - 8

Great Grandparents - 8

Great Great Grandparents - 4

Great Great Great Grandparents - 7

Great Great Great Great Grandparents - 6

Great Great Great Great Great Grandparents - 3

Uncle - 1
We are no longer going to be working on family history in the mission for ourselves.  Hearts have been turned and we will be able to bear testimony to investigators and converts of the importance of family history.  The goal is to get new converts to the temple within three weeks of their baptism to do baptisms and so much better if they take names of their ancestors.

It was time to update the Orientation Book and everyone received a new book at each of the zone activities.
Elder Ruby designed the cover.