WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH MISSION: TRANSFER MEETING JUY 9-09

Saturday, August 8, 2009

TRANSFER MEETING JUY 9-09

We left for the Fairfax Chapel for a 10:00 a.m. meeting. This was a incredible sight. Since Pres. and I were knew to the mission, all the missionaries were invited to this meeting. (Usually it is only for those involved in a transfer). The gym looked like the holding room at an airport. Luggage filled the whole thing. 50 companionships were affected and that is a lot of luggage. We started in the chapel and saw all 160 of our missionaries together for the first time. It was an overwhelming sight. And again they all stood when we entered as they were singing hymns. What an incredible sound, 160 young adults praising God in song. Missionaries love to sign hymns and it is always a treat to hear them. They began with prayer and spiritual thought and then had the luggage switch ( a little bit of organized chaos)

We gathered again in the chapel and I introduced the new missionaries. and then the 9 departing missionaries gave short testimonies and a piece of advice. This was a touching meeting as these missionaries who have come to the end of their service bid farewell to the rest of the mission. There testimonies were strong and vibrant and it was apparent how much they loved their missions and wanted to stay. These departing missionaries included: Sisters Brinkerhof, Winborn, Battseteg, Munkhnaran, and Elders Burton, Hansen, Swalberg, Leiser, Mackay, and VanWagoner.

President and I each spoke for 15 minutes and the Assistants introduced our theme DCTC (DC training center--Back to the Basics, (finding, teaching, and Baptizing).

The new Missionaries left safe in the hands of their trainers.

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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.