Taking the GKLM by Storm: The August Transfers

Following the theme of the last post, while Hurricane Isaac was wreaking havoc in the Gulf States, Kentucky had its own storm brewing, coming in from the West, the MTC in Provo to be exact. We got wind of the onslaught a few months ago and have been preparing and fortifying ourselves in anticipation. (Again, see previous post.) Finally the time arrived and so did the storm, not one of high winds and rain, dread and destruction, but instead one containing twenty of the best and brightest new missionaries to set foot in the Kentucky Louisville Airport in a long time (or at least six weeks!)

The opposite of the saying “an ill wind blows no good,” the wind that preceded our first sighting was sweet, as if predicting how wonderful our tempest would be for the GKLM. Coming around the bend past the security gates, we got a glimpse of our new Elders and Sisters, and soon they were being hugged and welcomed into the best mission in the world.

The storm is sighted

and approaches...
with Elder Denton, ELder Stohel, Elder Stoddard and Elder Souza in the lead

The storm makes landfall.
Elder Schroeder, Elder Stohel, Elder Souza, Elder Stoddard, Elder Johnson

It strengthens...
Elder Soua, Elder Torgersen, ELder Shaffer's back, Elder Woehl, Elder Denton

and grows...
President Woodbury, Elder Shcroeder, Elder Stohel, Elder Bradford, Elder Day-Nuah, Elder Souza, Elder Stoddard

gaining power...
Elder Denton, Elder Hildebrandt, Elder Woehl

and energy!
Hermana Meek, Hermana Navaroo, Hermana Davis
Elder Dopp, Elder Behling, Elder Sizelove, and Elder Greenup in the background

It moves...
Elder Magleby, Elder Stohel, Elder Denton, ELder Stoddard?, Elder Beale?, President Woodbury, Elder Hildebrandt

and churns...
Elder Behling in foreground,
Elder Woehl, Elder Sizelove, Elder Warner, Elder Hildebrandt, Elder Sidwell, Elder Schroeder,
Elder Stoddard, Elder Dopp, Elder Stohel, Elder Beale

and makes a stand...
Elder Bradford, Elder Day-Nuah, Elder Shaffer, Elder Johnson, Elder Woehl, Elder Sizelove, Elder Souza,
Elder Greenup, Elder Hildebrandt, Elder Sidwell, Hermana Navarro, Elder Torgersen, Elder Magleby,
Hermana Meek, Elder Dopp, Elder Warner Hermana Davis ELdr Behling, (President Woodbury)

before moving inland.

Suitcases were collected and the GKLM trailer loaded, and in no time the journey made to the Mission Home. As everyone got settled in and had a snack, President Woodbury began Interviews while I, Sister Woodbury, started Orientation and the Assistants to the President, Elder Bradford and Elder Shaffer, snapped individual pictures to be used on the two picture boards at the Mission Home and the Mission Office.

The storm settles in
Filling out forms and surveys

Elder Sidwell

Hermana Meek

Elder Johnson

Elder Behling

Elder Torgersen

Hermana Navarro

Elder Hildebrandt

Elder Magleby

Hermana Davis

Elder Schroeder

Elder Sizelove

Elder Dopp

Elder Greenup

Elder Stoddard

Elder Stohel

Elder Day-Nuah

Elder Woehl

Elder Denton

Elder Souza

Elder Beale

Checking out the map of the Mission;
Elder Behling, Elder Stohel, Elder Magleby Elder Denton, Elder Souz
(Sorry, I don't them from the back yet)

President Woodbury Elder Stoddard?... Elder Magleby, Elder Stohel, Elder Denton

Elder and Sister Warner and Elder and Sister Lewis from the Mission Office arrived for dinner about 7:30. The big table “only” seats sixteen so two additional tables were set to accommodate everyone.

After dinner we moved to the basement Training Room for the “Welcome to the Best Two Years” skit and Testimony Meeting. Several Interviews followed but the rest of the group got ready for bed and a much deserved sleep.

Supposedly in the eye of a hurricane there is often an eyewall where all is calm and quiet in the center, and that is what the night felt like.

Then in the morning, our storm surged to life, hungry for breakfast and eager to get going on their first real day of missionary work.

Breakfast

Missionaries somehow don't need to encouraged to eat.

Elder Beale (caught off guard), Elder Stohel, Elder Souza,
Elder Stoddard, Elder Denton, Elder Magleby

After Companionship Study directed by the Assistants to the President, Elder Bradford and Elder Shaffer, a financial orientation by Elder Warner, and more pictures taken,

Sister Woodbury, Elder Hildebrandt, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Torgersen, President Woodbury

President Woodbury, Elder Souza, Sister Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Hermana Meek, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Greenup, President Woodbury

President Woodbury, Elder Sizelove, Sister Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Dopp, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Hermana Davis, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Sidwell, President Woodbury

President Woodbury, Elder Woehl, Sister Woodbury

President Woodbury, Elder Denton, Sister Woodbury

President Woodbury, Elder Stoddard, Sister Woodbury

President Woodbury, Elder Beale, Sister Woodbury

President Woodbury, Elder Day-Nuah, Sister Woodbury

President Woodbury, Elder Stohel, Sister Woodbury

President Woodbury, Elder Behling, Sister Woodbury

President Woodbury, Elder Johnson, Sister Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Magleby, President Woodbury

President Woodbury, Hermana Navarro, and Sister Woodbury

President Woodbury, Elder Sizelove, Sister Woodbury

Back row: Elder Greenup, Elder Woehl, Elder Hildebrandt, Elder Dopp, Elder Behlin, ELder Sidwell, Elder Stohel, Elder Johnson, Elder Beale, Elder Souza
Middle: Elder Sizelove, Elder Schroeder, Elder Torgersen Elder Magleby, Elder Stoddard, Elder Denton
Front: President Woodbury, Sister Woodbury Elder Day-Nuah, Hermana Davis, Hermana Navarro, Hermana Meeks

the tempest shifted location as the new arrivals stormed the church on Eastern Parkway next to the Mission Office.

At Transfer Meeting, the departing missionaries gave their “Words of Wisdom” then the novice missionaries got to meet their Trainers amid a whirlwind of energy, enthusiasm and missionary bear hugs. The tornado continued as “Called to Serve” was sung GKLM-style, and the rest of the Transfers were called out.

Elder Bradford, Elder Jolley, a member, and Elder Day

Elder B. Johnson, Elder Stoddard, Elder Musgrave, Elder Stohel

Hermana Guerra, Hermana Okey, Hermana Lawter,
Hermana Meek, and Hermana Arreola

Elder Biddle, (Elder Gill), Elder K. Wood, Elder Beagley,
Elder Murphy, Elder Woehl, Elder Taylor, and Elder Souza

(Elder Murphy) Elder Biddle, Elder K. Wood

Elder Murphy and Elder Crichton
Elder Beukers, Elder Behling and Elder Rasmussen in backgroun

Elder Clawson, Elder Denton, Elder Morrhouse, Elder Fry,
Elder Dye, Elder Souza, Elder Lutz

New Zone Leader companions:
Elder Jolley and Elder Broomhead

New companions:
Elder Evans and Elder Ham

Checking out the Transfer list before realizing their picture was being taken
Elder Barlow, Elder Allen, Elder Bosen, and Elder Wharton

Knowingly posing at the Transfer list
Elder Draney, Elder Allen, Elder Barlow, Elder Wharton and Elder Bosen

Elder Beagley, Elder Edwards, Elder Beukers

A missionary grabbed the camera and took a shot of
Sister Woodbury, of naturally, Elder Beagley got in the action

Elder Leake, Elder Johnson and Elder Johnson's bike and helmet

Elder K. Wood and Elder Magleby

A Training Meeting for the new missionaries and Trainers was held in the Relief Society room after which lunch was served to eighty, the aforementioned plus the departing missionaries and the wonderful members who had provided rides. Moving over to the Mission Office, more pictures were taken and mail, bikes, and packages were picked up.

Sister Woodbury, Hermana Cross, Hermana Davis, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Musgrave, Elder Stohel, and President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Rasmussen, Elder Behling, and President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder K. Wood, Elder Magleby, and President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Ahern, Elder Day-Nuah, and President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Dye, Elder Souza, and President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder J. Tolman, Elder Schroeder, and President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Quick, Elder Dopp, and President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Hermana Guerra, Hermana Navarro, and President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Moorhouse, Elder Denton, and President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Berube, Elder Beale, and President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Hermana Arreola, Hermana Meek, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Raney, Elder Hildebrandt, and President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Wilson, Elder Sizelove, and President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Leake, Elder Johnson, and President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Nielson, Elder Sidwell, and President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Clarke, Elder Greenup, and President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder B. Johnson, Elder Stoddard, and President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Price, Elder Torgersen, and President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Taylor, Elder Woehl, and President Woodbury

Taking a break before heading out:
Elder Day-Nuah, Elder Quick, Elder Dopp, and Elder Ahern

Then the new missionaries went off to their first areas, ready and eager to take the GKLM by storm!

Driving over to the Mission Home from the Mission Office, we got

a glimpse of this new companionship already at work:

Elder Day-Nuah and his Trainer, Elder Ahern

Meanwhile, the Sisters and Elders who were completing their eighteen-months or two years, had their picture taken.

Looking forward to the future?
Elder Morrison and Elder Beukers

The Departing Storm
President Woodbury, Elder Morrison, Elder Day, Elder Christopherson, Elder Lutz, Elder Clark, Elder Wight,
Elder Biddle, Elder Beukers, Hermana Gardner, Sister Woodbury, Hermana Estrada

Following this they set off, stopping for an hour break at the Mission Home, then traveling to the Louisville Temple for a special session just for them, the President and Sister Woodbury, and the Warners and Lewises.

After our special session at the Temple:
Top: Elder Warner, Elder Clark, Elder Morrison, Sister Warner, Elder Warner, Elder Day
Middle: Sister Lewis, Elder Lutz, Hermana Gardner, President Woodbury, Elder Beukers
Front Elder Biddle, Elder Wight, Elder Christopherson, Hermana Estrada, Sister Woodbury

Exchanging contact information and saying good-bye
to the Warners and Lewises

Back at the Mission later that evening, we enjoyed dinner together and a farewell testimony meeting as well as Exit Interviews with the President, and the musical stylings of Elder Clark at the piano.

Elder Clark doing his magic on the piano

Elder Beukers

Elder Christopherson

Elder Wight

Elder Lutz

Elder Morrison

Elder Biddle

Elder Clark

Hermana Gardner

Hermana Estrada

Elder Day

Elder Smith, who left a few weeks earlier

A few interviews took place in the morning after breakfast, then it was time to say good-bye. Ouch – it hurts to have these great and wonderful men and women of God depart and go on to their next Transfer, but we wish them well and trust we will see them again.