The August Transfers

The New Elders:

Far back left to right: Elder Daynes, Elder Leake, Elder Garrity, Elder Moorhouse, Elder Johnson, 

Elder Gill, Elder Rost, Elder Starks, and Elder Beagley

Nearer back: Elder Adams, Elder Blackwell, (Pres. and Sister Woodbury), Elder Rowley, 

Elder Dye, and Elder Ahern

Middle: Elder Warner, Elder Rigby, Elder Elmer, and Elder Howell

The new Sisters: 

Sister Clemons, Sister Dunlop, and Sister Hunt

           Our second group of new missionaries, consisting of eighteen Elders and three Sisters, arrived on August 15th.  This was the largest group sent in over a year, so we had to use not only the large mission van, but also my (Sister Woodbury) car and the Assistants' mini-van to transport everyone from the airport to the Mission Home.   
          The situation had been intense at the Mission Home that day over the weekend, after a freak storm downed large trees all over Louisville causing power outtages for thousands of homes. The mission home was one of them, as two huge trees across the street pulled down electrical lines and poles, not only taking out the power but also blocking the main thoroughfare on one side and our side street on the other.

The power lines and transformers across the street diagonally

The scene across the street. viewed from the Mission Home

The tree with the trunk six feet in diameter

        We had put together plans for cooking the food at the nearby ward building and  Office, had set up a generator capable of keeping one refrigerator running and one water heater, and had bought numerous flashlights and lanterns, but it was going to an adventure much like camping for the missionaries, including dealing with the Lousiville heat and humidity without AC.  Knowing our circumstances, we had even received  calls from from members in other areas that did had power, willing to house the missionaries overnight if needs be. Happily and gratefully, temporary power came back right as we were leaving for the airport and with only two or three drops of an hour or two, we were able to keep things going during the three-day Transfer. 

        Taking a circuitous route to avoid all the road closures, we finally arrived at the Mission Home. The Sisters and Elders were fascinated by the trees in front,  twenty -five or so trucks, cranes, and other heavy equipment, as well as several television crews on site, and many took pictures. 

        Once inside, everyone managed to settle in, the Elders taking occupying not only the Elders' bunk room, but also the Sisters' bunk room and bedrooms in the basement because of the numbers, and the Sisters utilizing the extra bedroom in the private area on the main floor. Not able to waste any time, again because of the size of the group, President Woodbury started interviews in his home office while I held the orientation meeting which included going over the Welcome Packet and filling out forms and other paperwork. The Assistants also took individual pictures to be used for the MIssion Office and MIssion Home Assignment and Transfer boards.

Sister Clemons

Elder Gill

Elder Rowley

Elder Beagley

Elder Adams

Elder Ahern

Elder Garrity

Elder Warner

Elder Starks

Elder Dye

Elder Howell

Elder Moorhouse

Elder Daynes

Sister Hunt

Sister Dunlop

Elder Rigby

Elder Johnson

Elder Elmer

Elder Leake

Elder Rost

Elder Blackwell

          Dinner was a little late as a result of the earlier power issues, but in the end it all worked out and everyone, including the Office couples, sat down to a dinner of Sister Woodbury's lasagna, cheesy bread, Italian salad, fruit salad, and chocolate raspberry swirl dessert.     

            Testimony Meeting was held in the Training Room downstairs with newly arrived Elder Beagley playing the piano for the songs at the opening and closing.  The Assistants, Elder Norton, Elder Thompson and newly-called Elder Lewis, did the traditional Welcome skit, illustrating a day in the life of a first-time Elder and companion.  It was hilarious to see the unique twists this new combination of APs created, yet how wonderfully it still resolved in the miracle of finding someone at the last door at the last house and the end of the day.  

          

           Then came the actual testimonies. The missionaries were on fire, it would seem, bearing such strong witness of Jesus Christ and commitment to serve Him and share the Gospel, that it made us choke-up and get teary.  What a fine assemblage of God's noble sons and daughters were and are in this group. We are excited to see what the Lord will do with and through them as they serve here in the GLKM, the Great Kentucky Louisville Mission.          

           After a long day, beginning in the wee hours of the morning at the MTC, the Sisters and Elders dove into bed, with chocolates on their pillow for sweet dreams.

          A breakfast of Sister Woodbury's hot cinnamon rolls, breakfast egg and ham casserole, and fresh fruit began the next day, followed by Companion Study and an orientation on driving and finances, conducted by the Assistants and Elder Sickenberger from the MIssion Office, and pictures with President and Sister Woodbury. 

Elder Moorhouse

Sister Hunt

Sister Dunlop

Sister Clemons

Elder Leake

Elder Gill

Elder Rowley

Elder Daynes

Elder Rost

Elder Johnson

Elder Starks

Elder Blackwell

Elder Warner

Elder Adams

Elder Beagley

Elder Rigby

Elder Dye

Elder Elmer

Elder Garrity

Elder Ahern               

              The suitcases got packed up again and loaded into the GKLM trailer for the short ride to Transfer Meeting at the church building next to the Mission Office.  The meeting began with the new missionaries sitting together on the side of the chapel, as they listed to the Words of Wisdom from the Departing missionaries after the Opening Song and Prayer.  It was then their turn for the spotlight. 

            It had been commented that the suspense and anticipation of the announcement of companions felt a little like the the Sorting Hat ceremony at Hogwart's, so in that vein and just for fun, President Woodbury pulled out a Sorting Hat that Sister Woodbury had procured, and plopped it on the side of the podium. The Elders and Sisters loved it!                  

             The new missionary and Trainer announcements were made, with the newly arrived Elder or SIster standing as their name was called and likewise their Trainer at he or she was mentioned. The Trainer, without exception,  exclaimed, cheered, or whatever they felt and hurriedly moved to greet their new companion, giving them a big hug, slap on the back, or in one case, picked them up and carried them(!) over to the area where the new companionships were sitting. 

            Next, everyone in the room stood and sang "Called to Serve", GKLM style, with the initiates falling right in with "Goooooooo forward!" and "Go baptize!" After this the rest of the Transfers and new assignments were called out, followed by "Tune-Ups: from the President and the closing song and prayer. 

            After the Transfer Meeting, the new missionaries and Trainers met to be introduced to the 12-week Training program they would be doing together, then they, the outgoing missionaries, and various members who were providing rides, had a deli-sandwich lunch there at the church.

Sister Nelson, Sister Clemons, Sister Hunt, Sister Dunlop, Sister Hillyard,

a member, Sister Graham, and Sister Wooden

Lunch at the church

           Pictures of the new arrivals and their Trainers were taken with President and Sister Woodbury outside by the Mission Office sign,  then everyone took off to begin being "real missionaries."   

Sister Dunlop, Sister Hillyard, Sister  and President Woodbury

Sister and President Woodbury,

Elder Howell, and Elder Hubbell

Sister and President Woodbury, Elder Warmer, and Elder Granados

President and Sister Woodbury, Sister Clemons, and Sister Nelson

Sister and President Woodbury, Elder Leake, and Elder Foutz

Sister and President Woodbury, Elder Johnson, and Elder Christopherson

Sister and President Woodbury, Elder Daynes, and Elder Norton

Sister and President Woodbury, Elder Rigby, and Elder Richins

Sister and President Woodbury,  Elder Dye, and Elder Kastendieck

Sister and President Woodbury, Elder Garrity, and Elder Smith

Sister and President Woodbury, Elder Beagley, and Elder Everett

Sister and President Woodbury, Elder Adams, and Elder Casteneda

Sister and President Woodbury, Elder Rost, and Elder Tuimoala

Sister and President Woodbury, Elder Gill, and Elder Migliori

Sister and President Woodbury, Elder Moorhouse, and Elder Tolman

Sister and President Woodbury, Elder Starks, and Elder Gardner

President and Sister Woodbury, Sister Hunt, and Sister Wooden

Sister and President Woodbury, Elder Anderson, and Elder Ahern

Sister and President Woodbury, Elder Rowley, and Elder Humes

Sister and President Woodbury, Elder Elmer, and Elder Fry

           The outgoing missionaries met for a final group shot, and then moved on over to the Mission Home. 

Back: Elder Todd, Elder Cope, Elder Bischoff, Elder Smith, Elder Cockburn, Elder Maxfield, Elder Jarvis,  Elder Platt, Elder Pedersen, Sister Graham
Front: Elder Teuscher, Elder Pratt, Elder Fielding, Elder Leano, Elder Naylor, Elder Walton

      The President  got right to the Departure Interviews and continued through the afternoon and evening. A few missionaries went the Temple and the rest wrote in their journals, played the piano, played various group and parlor games, visited with people who dropped by to say goodbye, and socialized with each other. After a dinner of roast beef, gourmet mashed potatoes and gravy, Lion House salad, hot rolls, broccoli, glazed carrots, and Buster pie, everyone moved downstairs for Testimony Meeting.  This was a time to be remembered and cherished as those fine, dedicated men and women of God, bore witness to the Work in which they had been engaged, and gratitude for the things they had learned and how they have grown as well as the people they have taught and seen baptized. We feel they are some of the Great Ones, who will now go and do great things with their lives. It was a tender and moving experience for everyone concerned. 

Elder Platt

Elder Todd

Elder Pratt

Elder Walton

Elder Naylor

Elder Cope

Elder Cockburn

Elder Bischoff

Elder Teuscher

Elder Maxfield

Elder Pederson

Elder Fielding

Sister Graham

Elder Leano

Elder Frandsen

Elder Smith

Elder Jarvis

          The next morning it was time for fond farewells and wishes for happiness, another trip to the airport, and another ache in our hearts to see them go... next morning it was time for fond farewells and wishes for happiness in their future lives, another trip to the airport, and another ache in our hearts to see them go...