The 2012/2013 Transfer

        It could be said that this most recent Transfer took a very long time since it began in 2012 and ended in 2013. But in reality it took the usual three days, beginning with the arrival of our newest missionaries on New Years Eve.

Elder Fackrell, Elder Jolley, Sister Woodbury, President Woodbury, Elder Webb, Elder Murphy, Elder Caldwell, Elder Chambers, Elder Godfrey, Elder Giather, Elder Gardner, Elder Holt, Elder Kibler, Elder Barker

        Nine terrific Elders were welcomed into the GKLM in the late afternoon, transported to the Mission Home, interviewed by the President, oriented by Sister Woodbury, 

Elder Caldwell and Elder Fackrell filling out forms

Elder Godfrey, Elder Barker likewise filling out forms

Elder Holt, Elder Caldwell, Elder Godfrey, Elder Fackrell

photographed by the Assistants to the President, and fed a dinner of chicken alfredo, salad, buttery bread, fruit salad, and Buster pie.

Elder Fackrell

Elder Webb

Elder Gaither

Elder Holt

Elder Kibler

Elder Chambers

Elder Godfrey

Elder Barker

Elder Caldwell

Then, going downstairs to the Training Room, aka family room, they were treated to a "Welcome to the Best Two Years" skit by the Assistants, showing a first day in the mission field with both humorous and spiritually meaningful experiences they may experience.

Before the alarm rings

Morning prayers
Elder Murphy as the new missionary and
Elder Jolley as his companion

Elder Murphy

Elder Jolley

Elder Chambers, Elder Barker, Elder Holt, Elder Fackrell, Elder Gaither, Elder Caldwell, Elder Gardner, Elder Godfrey watching the skit

Elder Kibler 

Elder Murphy and Elder Jolley behind him
teaching the golden contact, played by Elder Gardner

and bore their testimonies in a special meeting with President and Sister Woodbury. Then the exhausted missionaries went to bed for the night.

Standing: Elder Gaither, Eldeer Barker, Elder Chambers, Elder Holt, Elder Caldwell, Elder fackrell, Elder Webb
Sitting: Elder Godfrey, Sister Woodbury, President Woodbury, Elder Kibler

        The next morning it was a new day and a new year, and the nine terrific Elders ate a hot breakfast of Belgian waffles and egg and ham casserole, did Companionship Study with the Assistants, received instruction on finances by Elder Bolliger from the Mission Office, had more pictures taken,

Sister Woodbury, Elder Gaither, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Holt, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Godfrey, President Woodbury 

Sister Woodbury, Elder Fackrell, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Caldwell, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Barker, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Chambers, President Woodbury 

Sister Woodbury, Elder Webb, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Kibler, President Woodbury

Transition of the Assistants to the President
Elder Jolley, President Woodbury, Elder Gardner who was returning home,
and newly-called Elder Murphy

then loaded up and traveled over the church adjacent to the Mission Office. During the Transfer Meeting the nine terrific Elders heard the Words of Wisdom from the ten departing missionaries: six amazing Elders and four amazing Sisters/Hermanas, met their new companions/Trainers, sang "Called to Serve" GKLM-style, witnessed the announcing of the other Transfers in the mission, and heard heard "Tune-Ups" from President Woodbury.

Elder Kidd, Elder Howell, Elder Thomas

Elder Day-Nuah and Elder Crook

Elder Rowley, Elder Roskelley, Elder S. Cox, Elder Webb

Elder Broomhead, Elder Wessells, Elder Duran, Elder Clarke

Elder Musgrave, Elder Wood, Elder Warner, Elder Murphy,
Elder Taylor, Elder Fackrell, Elder Wharton
Kneeling: Elder Duran

Elder Holt, Elder Kidd, Elder Evans, Elder Thomas, Elder Blake

Elder Ipson, Elder Beagley, Elder Blake
Elder Day-Nuah

Hermana Lawter and Hermana Cross

Elder Day-Nuah and Elder Bowman

Elder Rost and Elder Simms

Elder Simms and Elder Murphy

Elder Mason, Elder Gardner, Elder Simms

Feigning surprise at the Transfer list:
Elder Kibler, Elder Carson, Elder Leake

The GKLM Hermanas
Hermana Dunlop, Hermana Velasquez, Hermana Messerly, Hermana Arreola,
Hermana Cross, HErmana Lawter, Hermana Okay

Elder Kibler and Elder Carson

Following the Transfer Meeting the nine terrific Elders attended the Training Meeting for them and their Trainers, had lunch, posed for more pictures, then took off with their nine terrific Trainers to their nine terrific areas.

Sister Woodbury, Elder Cox, Elder Webb, President Woodburuy

Sister Woodbury, Elder Musgrave, Elder Gaither, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Wharton, Elder Fackrell, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Carson, Elder Kibler, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Evans, Elder Holt, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Seegmiller, Elder Godfrey, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder B. Johnson, Elder Caldwell, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Leake, Elder Barker, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Hawes, Elder Chambers, President Woodbury

A Mission Pedigree
Elder Gardner on the right trained Elder Seegmiller
who is now training Elder Godfrey,
which makes Elder Gardner Elder Seegmiller's "dad"
and Elder Godfrey's "grandfather!"

The aforementioned ten amazing Elders and Sisters/Hermanas then took the stage as they had their picture taken in front of the Mission sign and moved on over to the Mission Home. 

Hermana Cross, Hermana Dunlop, Sister Woodbury, President Woodbury, Elder Miner, Elder Gardner, Elder Mason, Elder Bowman, Elder Ipson, Elder Simms, Sister Ash, and Sister Noakes

The same people as above showing how cold they were without their coats

   Since the Temple was closed they were not able to attend as has become customary for the outgoing missionaries, so instead kept occupied weighing and rearranging their luggage, writing in their journals, visiting with each other, playing games, and of course, having their Exit Interviews with President Woodbury.

        After dinner the amazing Elders and Sisters, like the terrific ones the night before, had a special Testimony Meeting, one of the most spiritual ever. Who knows what time the wonderful departing Elders and Sisters went to bed, but then on the last night in the mission field, it didn't really matter. 

Elder Simms

Hermana Dunlop

Elder Miner

Sister Noakes

Elder Bowman

Elder Ipson

Hermana Cross

Elder Gardner

Sister Ash

Elder Mason

            After breakfast it was time to say goodbye, which was hard, but nevertheless done with heartfelt love and appreciation. Hermana Cross' dad picked her up and visited with Sister Woodbury while President Woodbury helped check in the rest of the wonderful Elders and Sisters/Hermanas at the airport for their flights home.
           Welcoming joy and bittersweet goodbyes - they're both part of the missionary experience. We love it all and love them all...