Crazy Couple of Weeks!!!

The week of preparing for transfers, conducting exit interviews, and finalizing the mission interviews is pretty full.  Follow that with the week of actual departures, new missionaries, orienting new missionaries and trying to get caught up and you end up with little time for blogs and extra notes.

That said, what a great few weeks.  First we finished the normal interviews and activities that happen every six weeks. In reviewing these pictures it almost appears President Turner is pushing the elders away from Sister Turner.... Not intentional!

We had a nice lunch and district council with this group and in closing they had one missionaries "dying" as he goes home the next week so they had a mock wake for him.

 everyone should have the opportunity to grab a drink from Burger King before attending a wake!

 And the camera had a mind of its own a few times....

We then visited with the office elders, the Assistants and the office couple.  We had a great lunch with them as well, but we forgot to take pictures. :( Sister Burr takes excellent care of us!)

We said goodbye to 13 wonderful elders, young men with great leadership, teaching, and ministering skills.  How we will miss them.  We had no sisters leave this time, quite unusual.

 Home to Idaho

 Home to Utah

 Home to the Philippines

 Home to Utah

 Home to Utah

 Home to the Philippines

 Home to Utah

 Home to Utah

 Home to Gwangju, South Korea

 Home to the Philippines

 Home to Georgia ( just in time for a hurricane)

 Home to Utah

 Family moved to Island of Mauritius just a few days prior.  He'll have a nice break!

So many amazing personalities, skills, talents, gifts, etc.  We say goodbye with tears and sadness and then drive to the airport in joy and excitement to meet the next group!  We had two Assistants and two sisters accompany us to the airport to pick up two elders and two sisters.  They are amazing!  Each group seems to come with a little better language skill.  They are all so eager to help in the work.  All of the new missionaries came from different locations in Utah.

Here they are with their trainers and the Assistants (on the far left):

We had enough changes that we have six of our districts with new leaders.  We were able to do some training with them.  Wow, what a fun group this will be.  We have a great mix of nationalities, length of service, prior experience, and personalities.

Our purpose is to bring others to Christ by helping them make sacred covenants such as baptism.  We continue to see rich blessings in the work.

As for other fun things happening in the mission, we continue to see interesting things:
If your kids wonder where  Pikachu ran off to...

 This is a true bull dog!  No doubt where this animal  hospital is!

 Looks like Stitch crossed the wrong motorcycle delivery guy!

Another interesting event to finish the weekend.  We were counseled to make sure we took a true preparation day, not preparation hours which is more like what we do given our schedule.  Trying to enjoy that this week and do some Christmas shopping we had an interesting event.  A young naval cadet in a hurry racing along swerved to miss a truck and found us instead!

 If you wonder what the true reason for back ups on the free are from, it is usually from something like this.  We were not injured in any way, but they sent two fire emergency vehicles and an ambulance along with two police vehicles.  The six lanes of traffic went to just two for a good hour.

 Here's what it looks like just after we got out of the car...

If you wonder how our weeks end, Terri captured a good picture during personal study....

That wraps up the past two weeks.  We thank you for your prayers on our behalf and for our wonderful missionaries.  We know we are not in heaven, but we have to be pretty close given the good people we are with every day!  Until we get another break!

What Have They Learned

We have posted many pictures on this blog and find that to be very enjoyable to so many of you, but we haven't listed enough for you of what these young people say they learn during their 18 or 24 month experience.  Having the opportunity to interview them before they leave is a truly amazing experience.  We see them when they come and then when they leave.  They  have learned a lot!
This group of 17 that left last week are way amazing.

Here are some of the things they have learned and now know:

I can push beyond the mental limits, I can do hard things
I have learned what it means to be led by the Spirit, being  a spirit-led missionary.
I know what it means to love others
I know who Christ is and have learned some of his attributes
I have greater self-worth and confidence
I can accept others as they are, I don't have to change them.
I better understand the revelation process in my life
God keeps his promises
Scriptures do matter
Obedience is important
I better understand what humility is and why it is needed
I should always be looking for things to do, use my time wisely and effectively.

Others have similar worries and concerns as me

The Book of Mormon is true and I understand the Restoration

I know the person of Christ

I understand why revelation is important and how to seek and receive

I understand how important my parents and family are in my life

Missionary spirit comes from helping others come to Christ

More comfortable saying what I believe

Love and interest in others has grown

I am a better teacher

I understand how to use real intent when serving others - sincere heart

I can get along with others

I better understand the Lord's will

I rely more on God

I don't have to do things alone, I want to get along better with others

I understand how to set and reach for goals

I learned how important a companion can be for my success

I recognize more the touch of the Holy Ghost in my life

I better understand the impact of gossip on people's lives and in an organization

More sensitive to other's feelings

More patient, don't argue as much with others

More comfortable talking with God in prayer

I have learned of the Savior's love for me

I have a new Motto: Do what the Lord asks - trust him!

Each experience was for me

I see how the gospel helps families

The light of Christ in me has grown; I have greater desire to do righteous works

God knows each of us personally!

Our mistakes are not who we are

I have overcome so much from my previous life!

Power and breadth of the Priesthood!

I have build a foundation here for eternity

Charity is a gift given to us to bless others, not ourselves

My roots are deeper in the right foundation

I have learned to love more quickly, deeply and consistently

My pre-mission life was not good, I am a better man

I can cook, I have more practical life skills

I am more determined and more courageous to act

I can live on my own, budge, wash, work hard

I can resolve relationship issues

I understand the importance of sacrifice, the meaning of maturity

Life in the gospel is happier than outside

Certainty of the truthfulness of the gospel and the Book of Mormon

Better understand other's needs and put them above my own

My perspective of the world has broadened

I don't need google to find all the answers!

I understand priorities and how to focus on those

I have identified the attributes I want for a wife

Living gospel so it is a pattern in my life

Obedience brings power of gospel into my life

I see others the way the Lord sees them

Hard work and it's blessings

Social media is not important, I don't need to live someone else's life!

Love others first, see past the first judgments

I feel comfortable putting myself in uncomfortable situations

I better understand the power of choice and agency.  I choose to be happy!

How to communicate with Heavenly Father

Flexibility and patience - understanding others

I was a kid when I got here - I've learned so much

I can communicate with others

Appreciate more what parents did for me

Value of time and setting goals

I can see the results of the apostasy and why we need the restoration

I need to invest to have friends

Trust and share tasks with others

I can better plan to achieve good things

I can give service more naturally

Eternal perspective of things

Basics of the gospel and why they're important

Impact of personal choices

Better English skills

How to serve and help others

How to apply gospel principles in my daily life

A few families came to pick up their missionaries.  It is always fun for us to meet the families who prepared these young people so well.

We wish we could meet the families of all, we have to learn how to share them with their biological parents!  It's a tough task.

We didn't get to welcome as many as left, but the six that came are pretty amazing!  We had a good day with them before sending them off with their trainers.

We like the background sign on this one, they are infant missionaries with so much potential!

 Everyone of them proved they can eat spicy food!

We had a wonderful evening with recent converts and people missionaries are teaching. Missionaries were able to share their talents, both speaking and musically.  What a great weekend.

While visiting a home of the missionaries, this sign was setting on a table!  Now you can better understand the love in the mission. It's a word hard to define for non-native English speakers...

Another fun and happy week passed.  This one is shaping up the same.  Hope you enjoy this week's pictures and messages.  Thanks for your love and support.  We're happy to work with your loved ones!