WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH MISSION: MEET AND GREET

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

MEET AND GREET

On Thurs. and Fri. , July 2nd and 3rd we had 4 "Meet and Greet" functions. These meetings each involved 2 zones or about 40 missionaries. These activities were so fun for Pres. Albright and I. This was an opportunity for us to meet each of the missionaries personally, shake their hands and feel the wonderful spirit that is always present around them. Our Assistants had prepared us for the meetings and told us the schedule. The missionaries all arrived before we did and were singing hymns with incredibly bold and beautiful voices and as we came into the room they all stood up while we walked to the front of the room. They all remained standing until we sat down. It was an uncomfortable feeling at first. But we are adjusting to it because they stand every time we walk in a room at any meeting. They show such devotion and respect to the office of Mission President. It is a culture they have developed here in Washington DC south. They call it the Land of Diplomats and try to act accordingly.
At each Meet and Greet they opened with hymns, then with prayer and a spiritual thought. They had 2 special musical numbers. We have been VERY impressed with the musical talents in the mission and I will tell about them later. The Assistants then introduced us in very playful dialogue. Next, I told about our family and the experience of being called, I showed a power point presentation of pictures of our family so they could see us in our home and surroundings. President Albright then spoke and bore his testimony. He is a great speaker and I know they began to feel his love and concern for them immediately. Then the missionaries lined up and we got to shake their hands. Pres. hugged the Elders and I hugged the Sisters. It was delightful and I felt a great love for them growing with each one I met. We did this same thing at 8:00 to 12:00 and 1:00 to 5:00 for two days. We have 8 zones named after the stakes in the mission. We met with 2 each time. Fredricksburg and Woodbridge, Annandale and Mt. Vernon, Ashburn and Centreville, and McLean and Oakton. At the end of two days I felt completely peaceful and excited about the mission knowing what incredible young people have been sent to serve in Washington DC South. Elders Ganaway, Gifford, Brunstadt, and Robbins were waiting on us hand and foot. What great young men who are training us how to run the mission.

At the end of a long and exhausting day Thurs. we headed to an emergency room in Ashburn where one of Elders had been taken by ambulance. He had dislocated his ankle (it was facing almost backwards) and broke it in 3 places. He is a brave young man and his greatest concern was that he didn't want to go home. He stayed with us at the mission home for about 5 days and then returned home to Seattle to have it operated on. We hope he will be returning when he has gotten better in about 10 weeks. Elder Rusk is a Hero. I'm sure he'll be back as soon as he can.

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Stephanie Smith Fireside

Last Sunday evening we were privileged to attend a fireside in the mission. It was held at a beautiful old chapel in McLean. One of the pictures shows the inside of the chapel and the wood beams on the very steep-pitched ceiling of the room. The gym is under the chapel in the basement. I have never seen a floorplan like this one. Very unique. This fireside hosted Sister Stephanie Smith. Her story was in the Ensign sometime in the last year. She has a remarkable conversion story. She has held very high government positions and at one time was 5th in command at the CIA. She said something at the first of her talk that I wrote down: she said, "I've been on some remarkable adventures. But no adventure in my lifetime has been as extraordinary and life-changing as my path to conversion and baptism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. She then told about her introduction to the church. She was at a time in her life with tremendous worldly success achieved after clawing her way to the top without any regard for others, and she felt her life was shattering into a million pieces. At this time she turned to a colleague she admired who was a member of the church. He told her two things. That her Heavenly Father knew her by name and loved her and that Heavenly Father had a plan for her success. The next day he sent her a map to the temple visitor center. She told how when the missionary sisters came to her door, she didn't think she could relate to these young women. The first thing they did was ask if they could sing to her. They sang,"I am a Child of God." That was the beginning of her conversion, a long a beautiful story. You can read it on the web at Meridian Magazine. Her testimony was a real inspiration to me. There were over 350 people there and she does a great missionary work speaking to investigators. What a blessing to have heard her and felt her spirit.

Chelsea Our recent Convert

We have met the sweetest young sister. Chelsea is amazing. She joined the church during the last year and has an incredible testimony also. She never misses any missionary function and we were able to take her with us to the Stephanie Smith Fireside. She also came to the mission home a few weeks ago and we had family night. She gave the lesson and is was unbelievable. She is hoping to go on a mission next year. What a great young woman. This is a picture of her with Elders Ganaway and Gifford.