WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH MISSION: BUSY, BUSY, BUSY

Friday, October 9, 2009

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY

The new missionaries have arrived. Three really prepared and excited Elders. We are so happy to have them.

Elder Rex (6'9") with the Albrights

Elder Barraza with Pres. and Sis. Albright

Elder Tovar with Pres. and I.

Preparing breakfast on Thurs. after a good night's rest.(Elders Gannaway, Withers, Gifford, Robbins and Hill.) Such super helpers. I just love this breakfast each transfer when they show up at 6:00 a.m. all ready to fix breakfast for the new missionaries. What an act of kindness.

Elder Rex

Elder Barraza

Elder Tovar

Elder Hill (office elder) and President.

Downstairs for training. Elders Barraza and Tovar.

Elder Gannaway (assistant) and Elder Robbins (office elder and Pianist extrodinaire)

Elders Rex, Rusk, Withers and Gannaway.

Our two wonderful Presidency couples: the Wards and the Burtons.

It has been a whirl wind week. We have had many wonderful days and activities and I will try to get this blog caught up. I actually took a tumble and did a "face plant" on the black top as my kids call it. The missionaries thought I should include pictures on the blog but I have elected not to. I was out of commission for a couple of days, but I'm all better now. It really was quite funny!

On the Wed. following the departing interviews the new missionaries arrive. We had 3 new Elders arrive: Elders Tovar, Barraza, and Rex. All three are going to be fabulous. They are all Spanish speaking missionaries and we are excited about that since we are losing 5 Spanish. In Nov. we lose 2 Spanish and gain 3. By Dec. we catch up on Spanish. Elder Rusk also returned to the mission on Wed. We are so happy to have him back. He worked extremely hard to get his ankle back in shape. He had to be able to walk 5 miles before allowed to return. (He is the Elder who broke his ankle the day after we arrived in the field.

We had a wonderful mission home dinner with our 4 new elders and with the Presidency, their wives, and all the office staff. 18 in all. Another fun banquet.

After dinner we have a training meeting for the new elders. I think they are a bit overwhelmed with everything explained to them in one evening. But we have them bear their testimonies and it is a wonderful to hear how strong their testimonies are when they arrive and how excited they are to be in the field. We put them to bed early because starting at 5;00 a.m. the next day they will be in a constant state of "tired".

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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.