WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH MISSION: CHRISTMAS EVE TRANSFER MEETING

Saturday, January 16, 2010

CHRISTMAS EVE TRANSFER MEETING

CHRISTMAS EVE we got the new group bright and early, had some more training and headed to the Ox Road chapel (lots of mission meetings are held here). This is a special meeting held each time new missionaries arrive. Since we had 21 coming and going this transfer it effected most of the missionaries. So we invited everyone to come to the meeting and have a nice Christmas Eve message. The luggage switch is quite a sight. 145 missionaries all switching luggage to their new companions car. The new ones get introduced to their trainer (lst companion who trains them) and they take care of them from that moment on. I get to introduce all the new missionaries to the whole group. Today I got to introduce our special friends, the Millers, who were visiting from Las Vegas. Larry and Rhonda are 2 of our very best friends and came to see their children who live in our mission, Ryan and Crystal. It was really a treat to have them here with Ryan and their daughter Molly.

Then the departing missionaries bear their testimonies. Since our transfer was backwards this time with the departures a week early, we only had 5 left that would be departing sometime in the next fews weeks. They included: Sis Gaspar ( a mini-missionary who served for a month from the Stafford branch), Elder DeNoronha, Allen, Shattuck and Gifford (all leaving to catch the semester of school). We had a beautiful musical number by Sisters Baster, Murry, Bennett, Banks, and Ferry.

It was then my turn to speak and I based mine on Christ's Gift of the Atonement. We had training from Sister Reid, Elder Shattuck, Gifford and Ross and Bell. (the missionaries are always wonderful and present exceptional ideas and teachings). This transfer included changes in the Assistants and office elders. Elder Gifford was put with Elder Shattuck as new Exchange Assistants to spend the next two weeks going on exchanges with missionaries and training them. Elder Averett went back in the field (we will miss him) and Elder Johnson became our new office Elder. (We are excited to have him). Our new Assistant is Elder Taylor Bell. He and Elder Ross are now companions. The meeting concluded with President Albright's Christmas message.

Elder Amarabt Tamir

Elder Caleb Hansen

Elder Anthony Shupe

Elder James Stewart

Elder Brandon Peterson

Elder Taufoou

Elder Sheridan Ford

Elder Kelley

Elder Trevor Morrill

Elder Zachary Walls

Elder Keefer

Elder Steven Gray

Elder Alex Franzwa

Elder Justin Knowles

Elder Ryan Stoker

Elder Jared Allen

Elder Joseph Espinoza

Elder Tyler Coleman

Elder Andreas Bolos

Elder Bridger Barrett

Sister Stephanie Malmberg

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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.