ARRIVING MISSIONARIES MAY 2012

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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!

DEPARTING MISSIONARIES MAY 2012

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If I thought this was going to get any easier I was wrong.


We love all our missionaries, but it gets harder and harder to let them go!

We sent home 11 incredible friends on Tuesday morning.
They came back to the Mission Home with the same "Deer In The Headlights" look that they came with.  Only this time it was because they just did not know how to go home.

But they will figure it out very quickly and do it very well!!!

Here is who we have:
Front: Elders Mouritsen, Blackhurst, Hubbard
Middle/Back: Catlett, Smith, Choules, Evans, Mendenhall, Ward, Cecil and Halligan.


We took them to the Phoenix temple site to see how construction was coming along.  For some of them, this was their first visit to the site.

Elder & Sister Winchell, our temple missionaries, had collected some "nubs" from the huge bolts that they use to secure the steel structure of the temple.  He called them "witness nubs" because they witness that the structure is secure and strong.  They only pop off when the bolt is placed correctly.

It was a beautiful testimony.  These elders have spent the past two years witnessing of the truth of the secure foundation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  They have been building their own foundation in living the Doctrine of Christ.

 After a wonderful dinner and testimony meeting with the Mission Presidency, we gathered for FHE including a game...

...and a song..."Once There Was A Snowman."  Although he may not have been in our mission.

At the very end, they gathered for a group hug.

What a special group of young men!  We love them for who they are becoming and for the great potential they have to continue in serving the Lord throughout their lives!


WE LOVE YOU AND PRAY FOR YOU ALWAYS!!

TEMPLE TRIP MAY 2012

Prior to every transfer we take our Assistants over to the Mesa temple to present ourselves before the Lord in His House with thoughts of all the transfers that have been planned under inspiration.




We love these visits!  They are full of revelation personally and for the Mission in general!

 When we came out of the temple today we were met by a fantastic rainstorm!  WE WERE SO THRILLED!  In Arizona, these are so few and far between that it is a treat.


We just went right out and got really wet!
These are our current assistants, Elders Barrett and Bird.  We love them so much for who they are and what they do for this mission.  They know their purpose and live it!

 President and I  in the pouring rain...wet and not caring that we were wet.

We stopped for our favorite "Bahama Bucks" shave ice on the way home...and Elder Bird about got blown away with his tiny umbrella!!!  Lucky Elder Barrett was there to hold him down.


We are so grateful to have a temple nearby that we can visit to not only continue to serve those who have passed on, but to take our concerns to the Lord in His House!

Pie Day

 We joined the S. Phoenix zone for a little bit while we delivered 2 beautiful APPLE PIES.  Along with Peoria/Peoria N. they set a zone record for baptisms last month!

Elder Bruening accompanied us on piano while we were there.

 President and his brother Mitch jumped on into the volleyball game which made their day!

Hopefully I got pictures of all the zone...I tried, but action shots are not really great with a small camera.


GOOD JOB S. PHOENIX AND PEORIA/PEORIA N. ZONES ON YOUR BAPTISM RECORDS!!!

May Baptisms and Visits

Got pictures from Sisters Alvarez and Folsom today from a recent baptism...aren't they beautiful!  Welcome Cain to the Church!


We were able to go see Elders Peterson and Cava perform baptisms for the Uwera family...they were so beautiful and so happy!

Elders Weston and Bangerter did a beautiful job with the Missionary Presentation while the family changed into dry clothing as well!

We had a couple of visits this weekend from friends and family.

Catie Swallow stopped by on Sunday and it was SO GOOD to see her again!  It is just like having a daughter stop in!  We look forward to having her come with her folks sometime in the future.

Later on Sunday Scott's brother Mitch came for a day.  What fun to have him in the Mission Home!  He joined us for a day of seeing what it is like in the great APM!

On Mother's Day, we were so happy to have Daniel Farnsworth and his parents come to see us!     He is still the happy and so funny Daniel we love so much!  We love meeting the parents of our missionaries and love when they come back to see the place that will always be special to their children.
THANK YOU FOR THE VISIT!!!

Trainer/Trainee Meeting May 2012

 I made it to a meeting I usually do not get to attend...I had to think for a while why I had not been to all of it before and then remembered that in the past we held this meeting the Friday before transfers...when I am out shopping all morning for transfers while Pres is in the meeting so I have the car!

 So it was really fun to be there with all our new missionaries from the past two transfers along with their trainers.  I hung out with the newer missionaries to listen to their comments and to participate in that discussion...when I was not in the hall on medical calls (the story of my life:)

The amazing thing is the change in countenance of the missionaries.  They have confidence in themselves and what they are doing and IT SHOWS!

 It was such a productive discussion!  So positive and helpful for both groups of missionaries!  It is not easy to be a new missionary and it is not easy to be a trainer...it is not easy to be a missionary Period!

But we truly have THE BEST!  They have great attitudes and are trying so hard to be obedient.  As such, they are really happy in their work.

We also appreciate our Assistants who lead the discussions in each group.  They have the Spirit as their guide.  Elder Barrett was an old pro at it on his first time being in charge!

 This picture is all of our Corvallis, Oregon missionaries...Elder Shute, Elder Freeman, myself (born there) and Sister Folsom.  Pretty cool to have 4 of us from one place outside of Idaho or Utah in a mission!!!

We thought these elders had a pretty sweet ride home from the meeting...and yes, they all fit in that sporty car!  We appreciate our members who help out with rides!

Great Meeting to prepare for transfers next week!

ZONE LEADER COUNCIL May 2012

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Our favorite thing at the start of each month is ZONE LEADER COUNCIL.
All the Zone Leaders and the Assistants come to our home for the day to report, to learn, practice and plan for the upcoming month.  It is a chance for them to share ideas, to receive instruction to help them in their stewardships and to socialize with other leaders.

 One of the highlights is to have a meal together in the Mission Home.  They get pretty excited about food in general, but love a home-cooked meal and always appreciate whatever I attempt to make.

Today we had 2 types of Oriental salads, rice, eggrolls, fruit and an ice cream sundae bar for dessert.

 The weather was nice enough to sit outside and not get too hot...probably the last time for the summer they will want to be outside...I am guessing.

 They enjoyed the Fortune Cookies and we had to smile at some of the fortunes...Some were uncannily TRUE!

 Elders Barrett and Bird demonstrate a teaching method before we had the elders practice.  They plan and prepare with us for these meetings and bring the Spirit into whatever they are in charge of teaching!
We have two zone leaders who will be leaving the mission next transfer: Elders Catlett and Blackhurst.  Both will be sorely missed.  They have been dedicated leaders and friends to the mission.  They will be successful in whatever they attempt next in life!

Front:  Elders Brame, J. Nelson, M. Young, A. Johnson, Barrett, Bird, Sis. & Pres. Taylor.
Middle/Back: Elders Hampton, Fluckiger, Blackhurst, Brown, Griessman, Freeman, Stephens, D. Wood, Bush, Alvis, Jeffs, McBride, Pollmeier, Condie, Catlett, McCauley and Martin.