16 Jan 2014

Even though the missionaries did not come in on Tuesday, the President carried on with the transfers and the other meetings that he had planned.  On Thursday he held an MLC (Mission Leadership Council) in the office.  I had to order lunch for everyone.  This time we ordered Chinese and everyone loved it.  Here is our Elders and Sisters who are the Zone Leaders, APs, Sister Training Leaders and the President and Sister Edgren.

Some of the Zone Leaders traveled 8 hours on a train to get here.  So they arrived on Wednesday and stayed at the Mission Home overnight.

We were really anxious to get our new missionaries in and make sure they were okay.  The President was in constant contact with the Mission President in Denver.  These missionaries didn't have any other clothing than what they had on their back, so it was not too fun for them.  And we worried about their luggage and where it was.  Anyway, on Saturday morning, Wayne and the office elders went to rent a transporter (huge van) so that we could transport all the luggage and some missionaries back to the office. They were very glad to be here and all of them got their luggage except for one missionary.  So here's a couple of them.  They were so tired.

This is Elders Taylor and Wride.  Elder Wride is from Spanish Fork.  They were waiting their turn to be interviewed by the President. 

Here are the APs trying to help them stay awake.

Elders Garcia and Weggersen are sitting down.  And our APs Elder Wilson and Vernon are asking how many of them left girlfriends back home.

They went to have dinner at the mission home after this and we were told the next day that all of them were in bed by 7:00 pm.

President had all of the new missionaries, the APs, Office Elders, and the companions of the new missionaries meet at the chapel that we go to.  No one knew who they were going to be with yet until after Sacrament meeting.  Here are some of them out in the foyer.  It was crazy!

I think there was a total of 27 missionaries at church that day.  We met in the Priesthood room after Sacrament meeting and the President match up the "greenies" with their trainers.  Here is Sister Pearson with her trainee Sister Stratton.  They are staying in Warsaw.

After the meeting, Wayne, the APs and Mission President took everyone to the train station for their rides back to their new homes for the next 14 weeks.  

We only had 4 people at FHE on Monday, but we had a very good lesson and I made French Toast for them afterwards.  They all enjoyed the meal.  

Yesterday was Wayne's birthday.  But we had so much to do in the office and English class to prepare for, that we didn't get to do anything for him.  So this Saturday, we will go and do something fun.  It also started snowing.  It is a very wet snow and most of the roads were just slush.

By the way, James and Jill sent us a puzzle at Christmas time.  We put the last piece in Tuesday night.  Here is a picture of our BYU puzzle.

I think that's all for this week.  We did learn that our home ward got a new bishopric on Sunday.  We are excited for our new Bishop and his counselors and pray that the Lord will be with them as they lead the members of the Salem 7th Ward.

We love you all and miss you.