WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH MISSION: DEPARTING FIRESIDE

Saturday, January 16, 2010

DEPARTING FIRESIDE

These departing firesides are always an amazing show of love by the members, investigators, and new members. They come out in great numbers to say goodbye to the missionaries they have grown to love. All these pictures attest to that. It was filled to the back of the gym. I try to get as many pictures as I can and still visit with them and so I don't make around to them all.

Elder Pomeroy

Elder Jones

Elder Strong with Carlin and his two friends. ( He was baptised a few weeks later)

Elder DeNoranha

Elder Dimick

Elder Perriton with the Cordners

Elder Allen and Forsberg

Sis. Carpenter and Sis. B. in the background

Sis. Bertucci, Kim, and Bagley

Sister Baxter and Teresa

Sis. Larsen

Sis. Glauser

Elder Stimpson

Elder Stimpson again

A room full.

Elder Forsberg

Bro & Sis. Bullock with Elder Hardy

Elder Lassen

Elder Williams and Loppe

Elders Esplin and Tamir with the Davis's
Elder Egan

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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.