ARRIVING MISSIONARIES MAY 2012

CLICK ON THIS LINE  TO SEE ALL PHOTOS OF THIS EVENT!!!

Tuesday morning we dropped off our departing missionaries, watched them go through security and waited anxiously for our new arrivals.

We love that some of our departing missionaries get to welcome the new ones and tell them they are truly in the RIGHT PLACE!!!

 We got 12 missionaries this time...a real blessing!
No Sisters this transfer, but some fantastic Elders!

We have 4 Speaking Spanish, 7 speaking Elglish and one speaking Mandarin Chinese...OK, he really is.  He is serving here while he waits for his VISA to go to New Zealand and we are SO HAPPY to have him here! (Elder Burdick)

Elders Burdick, Alles, Gorham, Laititi, Nield, Van Campen, Scott, Kellett, Arias, Mason, Cardoso and Perry with the Taylors.

 After we load our luggage, we take the transfer Van and our Highlander back to the Mission Office...President did the guided tour in his car and I rode in the transfer van and talked their ears off all the way there!  I had to keep them awake somehow!  In the office, they met our amazing office couples, learned what they do to help our missionaries, had a light breakfast and then we loaded back up and drove to the Mission Home.

 After instruction from our Assistants, we had lunch and then the traditional NAPS!  They are exhausted from getting up early to get packed and to the airport in Salt Lake.

 When they woke up, it was right to work, cooking our breakfast casseroles for the next morning.  This group was awesome in the kitchen...no Sisters to try to take all the cooking opportunities this time!  They all pitched right in and helped!

That afternoon, President interviewed each one, we went outside and they picked citrus fruits from our trees, and relaxed a bit before dinner.  Then we ate dinner and got ready for our Family Time.

 We had a special visit from some of the Beehives in our ward who brought over cookies and a decorated Book of Mormon for each new missionary to deliver to a new investigator!  What a wonderful service to help our new missionaries!

 The missionaries in turn, sang them a hymn to thank them.  This group are SINGERS!!!  They have beautiful voices and really belt it out!  LOVE IT!

 As part of our Family Time we also gave each elder the letter written to them by a departing elder.  It is a special welcome to the great ARIZONA PHOENIX MISSION, the #1 Mission in the world for each of us!

Early Wednesday morning, we got up and walked or ran...we are strictly obedient to the mission schedule.  It was a beautiful morning...not over 100 degrees!

We came home to our lovely breakfast casseroles and got ready for the big day!

From here we went to the transfer building.  You can read more about that in the next post.  Our new missionaries were introduced to their trainers...chosen through inspiration for them.  It was a blessing to watch and feel the Spirit testify that these companionships were designed by God.

After our training meeting, the new missionaries were led into the chapel as our missionaries being transferred sang "Called To Serve" to them as they entered.

WELCOME TO THE BEST MISSION IN THE WORLD!  We are the Arizona Phoenix Mission. We baptize and confirm.  We obediently love and serve.  We love and live the Book of Mormon.  We are a Preach My Gospel Mission.
We always follow the Spirit.
WE LOVE YOU NEW MISSIONARIES AND YOUR FAMILIES!