The Great Kentucky Louisville Mission

Some might think that after so many Transfers and so many new missionaries coming in, that we would be tired of it, or at least not all that excited. WRONG! Our hearts were fluttering with anticipation as we waited for our newest batch to arrive.

Transition of the Assistants to the President
Newly-called Elder Thomas, President Woodbury, Elder J. Anderson,
and Elder Quick who was finishing his mission and going home
two days later.

Finally we spotted them, all smiles and excitement on their faces.

This was the first of what we used to experience as a normal incoming group, ten this time, as opposed to the 28 to 32 we've been having since March of this year. Four fine English Elders, two English Sisters, and four Spanish Hermanas made up the happy ensemble.
After collecting luggage we proceeded over to the Mission Home about ten minutes away from the airport, got settled in and had a snack. President Woodbury began his Welcome Interviews and Sister Woodbury began Orientation.

Elder Huff

Elder White

Hermana Wilbur

Elder Wallace

Hermana Graham

Hermana Bailey

Hermana Wilkinson

Elder Butler

Sister Brown

Sister Briggs

About 7:15 the two couples from the Mission Office, Elder and Sister Moulton and Elder and Sister Halverson, arrived to greet and sit down with everyone for dinner.

Mingling before dinner

Time to eat!

After the meal we gathered downstairs for Testimony Meeting, but not before the Assistants to the President did a skit about a missionary's first day in the Great Kentucky Louisville Mission.

Before the alarm rings
Elder Thomas and Elder Anderson

Companionship study

Teaching the man (portrayed by Elder Quick) who had been
praying for help at the same time the Elders had been
praying to be led to someone who would listen to their message

Nightly planning, when the exhausted new missionary fells asleep and
the Trainer covers him with his own jacket, saying,
"Welcome to best two years, Elder..."

The Testimony Meeting was a spiritual feast with each missionary, the Assistants to the President, and President and Sister Woodbury each talking about their feelings about the Gospel and the Savior. The Elders and Sisters were beyond tired after getting up at 2:00 am for those coming from Provo and 1:00 am for those coming from the Mexico MTC, so it didn't take much encouragement to get everyone to go to sleep.
After everyone had a good night's rest, Sister Woodbury served them a hot breakfast and they once more met in the basement for addition training and instruction.
More pictures were taken,

Hermana Wilbur with President and Sister Woodbury

Sister Brown with President and Sister Woodbury

Sister Briggs with President and Sister Woodbury

Hermana Graham with President and Sister Woodbury

Elder Butler with President and Sister Woodbury

Elder White with President and Sister Woodbury

Hermana Bailey with President and Sister Woodbury

Elder Huff with President and Sister Woodbury

Elder Wallace with President and Sister Woodbury

Hermana Wilkinson with President and Sister Woodbury

Top: President Woodbury, Hermana Graham, Elder White
Middle: Sister Woodbury, Hermana Bailey, Hermana Wilkinson, Elder Wallace, Elder Huff
Front: Sister Brown, Sister Briggs, Hermana Wilbur, Elder Butler

then all loaded their bags and were transported over to the church next to the Mission Office, another ten minutes away.
During Transfer Meeting the departing missionaries had their chance to give their Words of Wisdom, "Called to Serve" - GKLM-style was sung, then the new missionaries were introduced to their Trainers who then sat with them for the rest of the proceedings. The rest of the Transfers were called out then everyone sang "God Be WIth You" to and with those missionaries returning home.
Lots of informal pictures were taken afterward then the new missionaries and their Trainers had a separate meeting about the 12-Week Training Program. Lunch followed for them along with the departing missionaries and those members who had given rides to missionaries before they returned to their areas.

Sister Baldwin, Sister Brown, Sister Williams, Sister Briggs

Hermana Bailey, Hermana Mason, Hermana Evans,
Hermana Graham, Hermana Kearsley, Hermana Wilkinson

Elder Allen, Elder Fletcher, Elder Gaither, Elder Chambers, Elder Butler

Sister Roberts, Sister Tripp, Sister Oliverson, Sister Hodges, Sister Atkin

Hermana Adams, HermanaDavis, Hermana Meek, Hermana Luke

Elder Tracy, Elder Vidaure, Elder St. Martin, Elder Rollins,
Elder Blauer, Elder Meisel, Elder Kaegi

Having served together as Sister Training Leaders
Sister Jensen and Sister Vikari

Sister Baldwin and Sister Brown

Elder Rollins and Elder Anderson

Sister Training Leaders
Sister Jensen and newly-called Sister Munk

The new companionships had their picture taken by the Mission sign in front of the Mission Office...

Sister Woodbury, Elder Chambers, Elder Butler, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Hermana Meek, Hermana Wilbur, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Sister Baldwin, Sister Brown, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Hermana Evans, Hermana Graham, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Davis, Elder White, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Rasmussen, Elder Wallace, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Hermana Kearsley, Hermana Wilkinson,
President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Hermana Mason, Hermana Bailey, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Sister Williams, Sister Briggs, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Tuttle, Elder Huff, President Woodbury

and the departing Elders and Hermana did likewise.

Sister Woodbury, Hermana Lawter, President Woodbury, Elder Quick, Elder Roskelley, Elder Colling

The Greenies went off with their Trainers to their first areas, and the departing missionaries went to the Temple for a special session just for them.

Top: Elder Quick, Elder Halverson, Elder Moulton, Elder Roskelley
Middle: President Woodbury, Sister Halverson, Sister Moulton, Elder Colling
Front: Sister Woodbury, Hermana Lawter