WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH MISSION

Friday, October 9, 2009

TRANSFER DINNER AND DEPARTING FIRESIDE 10-1-09

The transfer Fireside is fabulous. There were about 250 people there. These departing missionaries are very loved by their converts, investigators and the members of the ward they served in. They are able to tell so many people goodbye at these fireside and from the pictures you can see that after the fireside alot of people stay to visit and say farewell to them. Before the fireside we have a banquet at the house. The wonderful office couples come to the house while we are at the temple and get it on the tables so when we arrive its already. We had 22 for dinner. One really special surprise was Hermana Capps brother, Samuel goes to school at Annapolis here and he came to dinner and the fireside. It was beautiful.

Sister Capps, A very beloved Hermana

Sisters Capps, Ferry, Thompson, and Knutsen.

Sis. Thompson also very loved with a convert

Sister Bunker and converts who dearly love her.

Sis. Albright with the Fullers who everyone will miss more than words can tell. Every missionary adores this couple.

Sis. Thompson

Elders DeHoyos and Porter

Elder Lieppman and Donna (one of his converts)

The crowd in the gym after the fireside.

Elder Brunstad and Chelsea (new convert)

Elder Miller and DeHoyos converts

Elder Knechtel says hi

Dinner at the mission home. Sister Capps and her brother Samuel. What a treat!

Sisters Bunker, and Capps, Elders Benson and DeHoyos

Elders Porter and Swensen, The Fullers, Sisters Bunker, Thompson, and Capps

Elder Nelson, Sis. Homgren, Sis. Cordner, Elder Cordner, Holmgren, Gifford, Averett(our new office elder at his first office event), Elder Gannaway, Hill, and Withers.

TRANSFER MEETING OCT 1, 2009

On Thursday morning, we get up early, feed the new missionaries who all slept at the mission home and go to transfer meeting. This is one of the best meetings of the 6 weeks. About 100 missionaries were there because they were getting new companions. This meeting is very special because the outgoing missionaries bear their testimonies to their peers and it is very touching. They each give a piece of advice to the other missionaries of what they learned on their mission .

Then I get to introduce the theme of our next 6 weeks. This time we choose "Building Zions Missionaries" . The Assistants followed with presentations on "Blueprints of Zion". (We have added a 3rd assistant to help with training Zone leaders for the next 4 weeks. One of our departing Elders Withers is an exceptional trainer and very loved and respected by the missionaries. And so he extended his mission by 30 days to stay and help us train. ) So each of the three of them gave a part of their presentation. Elder Gifford: Principles Behind Blueprints(Zion Planning), Elder Withers: Building Zion Teaching Pools (Finding), and Elder Gannaway: Why we do it (Baptism). They never cease to amaze me. All 3 are master teachers. We had a wonderful musical number by our three departing Hermans: Thompson, Bunker, and Capps. There were lots of tears from the other sisters in the audience. These 3 will be very missed. President Albright then spoke on Building a Zion Area. He is always great.

It was after this meeting, in the parking lot, that I took a tumble. We were just leaving for the temple with our departing missionaries. I held ice on my cheek all the way there and it didn't look too bad. I did get some funny looks in the temple though. Looked like someone hit me in the eye. After the temple it was back to the mission home for the big departing dinner.

These 11 wonderful missionaries are leaving us and we will miss them.

Elder and Sister Fuller with Pres. and Sis. Albright

Elder Benson with the Albrights

Elder Swensen and the Albrights

Elder DeHoyos with the Albrights

Elder Porter with the Albrights

Elder Nelson and the Albrights

Elder Withers with the Albrights

Hermana Capps with the Albrights

Hermana Bunker and the Albrights

Hermans Thompson and the Albrights
This is outside of the chapel after transfer meeting as we are leaving for the temple.

TRANSFER OF ELDER ROBBINS, LAST DAY IN OFFICE

Elder Robbins has been with us in the office since our arrival and we have grown to love him. He is being transferred today back into the field. This is the morning of transfer meetings,we all took a picture together before he heads to his new area. Thanks Elder, you were great.

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".

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.