INCOMING MISSIONARIES JUNE 2012

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Tuesday we welcomed 10 new missionaries to the Arizona Phoenix Mission.

They had an early flight which meant a real hustle to get our departing missionaries fed and on the road to get to the airport and checked in before the 9:15 AM flight from Salt Lake!

But we did it!  And not only were we waiting for these new missionaries, but 7 of our departing missionaries got to welcome them as well!

 We took pictures of the incoming...and see the link at the top for the photo of us with both incoming and departing...pretty amazing sight.  This will be what our September arrival will look like when we get 21 missionaries at one time!!

 Here they are: Front- Elders King, Omori, H. Peterson, Strickland.  Back- Elders Gerritsen, Barlow, Clay, E. Jones, Denny and Buechter.

We took them over to the Phoenix Temple site to see the construction of the temple that will be completed while they serve here.  Pretty impressive!

 We fed them 4 times while they were with us...lots of food is consumed by missionaries in this house!

 As usual, we had nap time for all missionaries.  They come falling asleep from early morning packing and leaving for the airport and it is critical that they are awake for the trainings that we do that day and evening.

 When they wake up, we begin to do several activities...we sign the flag, make a temple quilt block, write a letter home, fill out contact information and finally, WE COOK TOGETHER.

We find that this is the time that the new ones open up and talk and get to know each other as they help in the kitchen.  Plus it is really helpful that we make breakfast casseroles to cook in the morning while we run/walk and I do not have as much to worry about.

 We have two of this group that are waiting for Visas...one to Jamaica and one to Mongolia.
In the evening when we have sort of an FHE, we skyped with our son and daughter in Provo.  When they asked our 17 year old, Braden, where he wanted to go on his mission, he told them he really did not know where he wanted to go, just where he does NOT want to go.  Where???  Well, MONGOLIA!  We laughed so hard.  He had no idea that Elder Omori was headed to that very place.

The next morning we really do get up at 6:30 and run or walk together.  It starts our day off obedient to the missionary guidelines as well as the benefit of really helping us wake up and focus on the work we need to do.
Lots of sunshine and seratonin here in AZ!

WELCOME TO ARIZONA PHOENIX MISSION...The #1 Mission in the World!!
This group will be one of the last that we send home as we complete our term of service here...it makes them even more special to us!!!