WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH MISSION: Dinner and Departing Fireside March 2010

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Dinner and Departing Fireside March 2010

Departing dinner and fireside with departing missionaries.

After we leave the temple, we head for the mission home for a last supper of their favorite.

RIBS & the works.

From the dinner we head to the Ox road chapel for the departing fireside.

this is a tradition in this mission where all the people that love the missionaries come to say good bye.

there are investigators, new members, and members. It is a really special meeting where the departing missionaries bear a powerful testimony before they head home.

Dining room 1: Elders Cortez, Henrie, and Sill, Elder Egan with his parents, Sisters Knutson and Reid, and Brother and Sister Downey with their daughter, Sister Reid.

Table two: Elder Strong, Pres. Albright, Elder Bell, Elder Cordner, Bro and Sis. Mechling with their son, Elder Mechling, and his sister, Elders Bird and Johnson and Sister Cordner.

Elder Hill with the Cordners at the Fireside

It was a real treat to have Elder Lieppman and his mom and sister come back and visit. Lauren and Burke are twins. They are pictured here with Donna who was baptized by Elder Lieppman.

He came to the transfer meeting this morning and to the fireside this evening. What a special young man. We miss him here in DC

Bro Mike Coleman (our faithful driver, and piano player) with Elder Cortez.

Sister Knutson and Skipper

Sister Downey with her fan club. She served in the Little River Ward for about 10 months. They love her, consider her one of their own and will miss her terribly.

Elder Johnson with one of his converts

Elder Mechling. He baptized this sister and she can't talk enough about him.

Sis. Reid and Ferry with Henrie, their recent convert

Sister Reid with Bro. Bernui

Elder Egan

Elder Bird

More Elder Bird

Pres. with Elder Henrie

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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.