The November Transfers

When we first spot our new missionaries at the airport, its love at first sight.  These wonderful Elders and Sisters, with their boundless enthusiasm and desire to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, go straight to our hearts. As I've said before, probably the hardest thing is not to be able to hug them (that's me, Sister Woodbury talking about the Elders, and President Woodbury feels the same way about the Sisters who start to feel like they are his daughters.)

In the airport parking lot

Getting close to the van and trailer

Loading up Wilbur

 It doesn't take long to get everyone's bags identified and loaded onto Gus, the van, which is pulled by WIlbur, the trailer (or is it the other way around?). A short ten minute drive and we're at the Mission Home, unloading and getting settled in for the night. President Woodbury starts Interviews right off, taking 20-30 minutes with each new missionary. While this is going on, I conduct an orientation session which includes filling out various forms and surveys, and the Assistants to the President take pictures to be used on the Transfer Boards at  both the Mission Office and Mission Home President's offices. (Right before Transfers these are kept out of sight to keep the suspense going.)

Elder Baker, Elder SIngleton, Elder Colling, and Elder Roskelley filling out forms

Sister Woodbury, Elder Baker, Elder Singleton, and Elder Littledike

Hermana Holt

Elder Quick

Elder Singleton

Elder Littledike

Elder Colling

Elder Roskelley

Elder Rose

Elder Aagard

Elder Baker

After the office couples, the Warners and Lewises arrive, we sit down to a home-cooked meal. This time I chose spasagna, (yes, its a real dish) garlic bread, Italian salad, fruit salad, and pumpkin squares for dessert. It may not be authentic Kentuckian but nobody complains. 

Sister Holt on the left
Elder Quick, Elder Aagard, Elder Rose, Elder and Sister Warner, and Elder Baker on the right

On the left: Elder Johnson, Elder Lewis, Sister Holt, Elder Winn, Elder Littledike, Elder and Sister Lewis, Elder Colling
Elder SIngleton in foreground with Elder Baker next to him on the right

     The couples slip out to go home while the rest of us go downstairs to the Training Room, aka family room. 

     The Assistants do a great skit about the first day in the GKLM, being exhausted, facing rejection, but ultimately finding an elect family. We had three Assistants this time, Elder Lewis, who left to go home a day and half later, Elder Johnson, and newly-called Elder Winn. Then is the time we as Mission President and wife love the most, Testimonies. To hear the strength and faith of these wonderful sons and daughter of God is a remarkable experience. Then it is time to go off to bed with, of course, chocolates on their pillows to encourage sweet dreams.

Skit - "It's 6:30 am, Elder!"

Getting in their exercise, doing the "Baptism squat thrust!"

Elders Winn and Johnson in the skit about the first day of a missionary in the GKLM

The skit: teaching the man at the door, played by Elder Lewis

     Following the mission schedule, bright and early the next morning its time for a hot breakfast, this time scrambled eggs with cheese and ham,  creme brulee french toast and fresh fruit. Companion Study, directed by the Assistants follows, back in the Training Room, with input from Elder Lewis who talks to everyone about vehicles and housing. Individual pictures with President and Sister Woodbury are taken in the front entry and a group shot on the front porch, then its time to load back into Gus, and move on over to the church next to the Mission Office less than ten minutes away.

President and Sister Woodbury with Elder Baker

President and Sister Woodbury with Elder Singleton

President and Sister Woodbury with Sister Holt

Elder Colling with President and Sister Woodbury

President and Sister Woodbury with Elder Quick

Elder Littledike with President and Sister Woodbury

Elder Rose with President Woodbury and Sister Woodbury

Elder Roskelley and President and Sister Woodbury

President and Sister Woodbury with Elder Aagard

Elder Roskelley, Elder Singleton, Elder Baker, Elder Aagard, Elder Littledike,
Elder Quick, Elder Rose, and Elder Colling
President Woodbury, Sister Woodbury, and Sister Holt

      The new missionaries are a bit nervous but also excited to meet their first companions, and they don't have to wait long. At the beginning of the Transfer Meeting, attended by all moving around with the Transfer this time, the departing missionaries give their parting Words of Wisdom. After that, the new missionaries' names are called along with their Trainer's name and the area in which they will be serving together. There are lots of big hugs, high-fives and other exclamations and the new companionships then go sit together in another special section up front and center. After being introduced to "Called to Serve" with a GKLM twist, they sit back down to observe the other transfers called out. All of this, by the way, is overseen by the Sorting Hat, perched to the side of the podium. President Woodbury doesn't put it on to see what the hat would choose as the new companionships and locations, but it still lends a bit of fun to the occasion.

The Sorting Hat

     Following Transfer Meeting, the new missionaries and their Trainers meet in another room to be oriented on the 12-week Training Program which entails an extra hour of companionship study each day and detailed assignments and study to be done together. Its proving to be a great start to the mission experience.

     Lunch is served for all the incoming and outgoing missionaries, the Trainers, and the members who have giving the missionaries rides. 

Elder Rose, Elder Bratter, Elder Dewey, Elder Singleton, Elder SImms, Elder Lytle, Elder Scheleske, Elder Baker, Sister Holt, Sister Cross, and Elder Adams (Elder Aagard is hidden behind Elder Baker)

Then after companionship pictures are taken in front of the Mission Office sign, its off to work and start begin real missionaries. Sometimes it feels like we are holding back the harnesses, trying to keep the horses, or rather missionaries, from breaking through the starting gate before its time!

Sister Woodbury, Elder Baker, Elder Schleske, and President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Singleton, Elder Simms, and President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Roskelley, Elder Smith, and President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Sister Cross, Sister Holt, and President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Colling, Elder Beagley, and President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Aagard, Elder Lytle, and President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Bratter, Elder Rose, and President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Littledike, Elder Garrity, and President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Quick, Elder Shaffer, and President Woodbury

After the new missionaries take off with their Trainers, the outgoing missionaries gather for a picture likewise by the sign.

Elder Magallanes, Elder Lewis, and Elder Gill - all three about to go home.

I couldn't tell whether they were crying, praying, conspiring, 

or just putting their heads together. one last time.

Elder Rosales, Elder Ith, Elder Mathews, Elder Durrant, Elder Magallanes, Elder Lewis, Elder Gill, President Woodbury, Sister Hillyard, Sister Blevins, Sister Chantry, and Sister Woodbury

Sisters Hillyard, Blevins, Woodbury, and Chantry

(Elder Gill peaking behind)

The remainder of the afternoon is spent in various ways, some going to the Mission Home to write in their journals, play a few games, watch approved DVDs , or just visit with each other. Some go out for one last time tracting, and others visit members or people they have taught in the area The President does final interviews, we have dinner together, and then all bear their testimonies in a special meeting for one last time in the Training Room downstairs. Many tears are shed as these seasoned and tried servants of the Lord express their faith and their deep love for the Savior and His church. No one ever says it wasn't all worth it, and most wish they didn't have to go.

Elder Durrant

Elder Ith

Elder Gill

Elder Magallanes

Elder Mathews

Sister Blevins

Sister Hillyard

Sister Chantry

Elder Rosales

Elder Lewis

  The next morning, breakfast is served and eaten at 5:30 to facilitate the early departure times. 

President Woodbury, Elders Magallanes, Gill, Durrant Lewis, Mathews, Ith, and Rosales
Sisters Woodbury, Chantry, Hillyard, and Blevins

Saying good bye is getting harder and harder for us as we have more time with each of these amazing people. And our hearts will always hold a special place for each one.