The April Transfers

        Sometimes the flights are delayed, and other times they are early, but this time around, the flight from Atlanta was right on time. The seven Elders and two Sisters had left the Provo or Mexico City Missionary Training Centers early that morning, having had just a few hours of sleep before their journey to Kentucky had begun. In fact one of the Elders had never gotten to sleep at all, being so nervous and excited to begin. Still, they came around the corner of the terminal with smiling faces and joy in their hearts. President Woodbury and I were there to greet them, along with the three current Assistants to the President, Elder Z. Evans, Elder Whitehead, and Elder Dopp, and the Woodbury's daughter, Heather, and her five children, visiting from Salt Lake City.

Our first glimpse of the GKLMs newest missionaries

Here they are!

At the Louisville Airport
Elder SPring, Elder Birky, Elder Whitehead, Elder Clayson, President Woodbury, Elder Lowry, Elder Z. Evans, Elder Dopp, Elder Watson, Elder S. Martin, Hermana Barajas, Sister Parker, Sister Woodbury, Elder D. Jensen

        After retrieving their luggage and loading it into the mission trailer, pulled by the mission van, everyone traveled the short distance to the Mission Home, where President Woodbury and I live while here in the GKLM. After settling in, the Elders in the twelve bed bunk room on the left side and the Sisters into one of the two four bed bunk rooms on the right, all gathered back in the living room for a fruit and cheese snack and the beginning of orientation by Yours Truly and individual interviews with President Woodbury.

Elder D. Jensen

Elder Lowry

Elder S. Martin

Elder Clayson

Sister Parker

Elder Watson

Hermana Barajas

Elder Spring

Elder Birky

         At dinner, we were joined by the two couples who serve at the Mission Office, Elder and Sister Moulton and Elder and Sister Halvorsen. Moving to the Training Room downstairs afterward, we were treated to the traditional skit about a missionary's first day in the mission by the Assistants to the President, followed by the bearing of testimonies of the new missionaries, Assistants, and PResident Woodbury and myself. Since the group is small, the President had been able to conduct all the interviews before the  dinner, so the exhausted Elders and Sisters were able, gratefully, to get right to bed. 

The skit begins with the alarm going off in the morning

Elder Whitehead was the Trainer and Elder Dopp was the newly-
arrived missionary 

The new missionary overwhelming a passer-by with his enthusiasm
(two of the Woodbury grandsons enjoying the skit)

The two Elders praying for help to be able to find someone
who will listen to the message of the Restored Gospel

At the same time the Elders were praying, a man was also praying
for help from God 

The man welcomes them in and is receptive to their message
The new missionary is so excited he now wants to knock on every door!

In the skit the night before, the experienced missionary had
introduced practicing "baptism squats" as a way to exercise.
While waiting for breakfast they all gave it a try.

        A hot breakfast started the next morning off, followed by Companionship Study with the Assistants and instruction by Elder Moulton regarding finances, and pictures with President and Sister Woodbury and as a group.

Sister Woodbury, Elder Lowry, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Spring, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder S. Martin, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Birky, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Sister Parker, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Hermana Barajas, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder D. Jensen, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Watson, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Clayson, President Woodbury

The Transition of the Assistants to the President
Elder Z. Evans, finishing his time as an Assistant, Elder Whitehead, President Woodbury,
and Elder Dopp, newly-called

Elder Whitehead and future missionary, Cole,
one of the Woodbury's grandsons

Top: Elder Jensen, Elder Clayson, Elder Watson Elder Lowry
Middle: Sister Parker, Elder Spring, Elder Birky, Elder S. Martin, President Woodbury
Front: Hermana Barajas, Sister Woodbury

        At 10:00 am, the Transfer Meeting began over at the church adjacent to the Mission Office, a ten minute drive from the Mission Home. To begin, the departing missionaries had their chance to give Words of Wisdom. It being April Fool's Day, the new missionaries then were introduced and assigned to their first companion/Trainer, courtesy, just this once, by the Sorting Hat, voiced off-stage by the two oldest Woodbury grandsons. After singing "Called-to Serve" the rest of the Transfers were announced, new companions acknowledging each other across the room with a wave or thumbs-up. The meeting ended with "God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again" in honor of those valiant missionaries going home the next day. 
        Hugs and photos ensued, as well as a Training Meeting for the new arrivals and their Trainers, and lunch for those needing to stay after. 

Elder Sainsbury, Elder Jonas

Hermana Lawrence, Hermana Porter, Hermana Wilbur,
Hermana Wilkinson, Sister M. Peterson 

Elder Burns, Elder J. Arnold 

Elder Ch. Johnson, Elder Z. Evans, Elder Dopp, Elder Torgersen 

Elder Eastin, Elder D. Jensen, Elder Ch. Johnson,
Elder Z. Evans, Elder Hansen

Sister Egbert, Sister Brian

Elder J. Johnson, Elder Spring, Elder Bauer, Elder Beale

Elder Gallagher, Elder LeFevre

Sister Anderson, Sister Williams

Elder Clayson, Elder Naylor, Elder Geary

Elder Watson, Elder ban Beekum, Elder Jonas, Elder S. Martin,
Elder Hansen, Elder Morrow, Elder J. Johnson, Elder Skousen

Sister Singleton and Sister Heywood

Sister Short and Sister Kankamp

       The Trainers and Trainees had their pictures taken with President and Sister Woodbury before taking off to their first area together.

Sister Woodbury, Elder Newbold, Elder Lowry, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Torrico, Elder Birky, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Van Beekum, Elder Watson, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Naylor, Elder Clayson, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Eastin, Elder D. Jensen, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Sister Bauer, Sister Parker, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Blauer, Elder Spring, President Woodbury

Sister Woodbury, Elder Hansen, Elder S. Martin, President Woodbury 

Sister Woodbury, Hermana Hansen, Hermana Barajas, President Woodbury 

Outside the Mission Office
Elder Stohel, Elder Ch Johnson, Elder Z. Evans, Elder Champion 

Hermana Barajas and Hermana Hansen showing that this
is Hermana Barajas' first day as a real missionary

        Then those going home got their time in the spotlight.

Our Departing Missionaries
(Sister and President Woodbury), Sister C. Goodrich, Sister Egbert, Elder Gonzalez, Elder Ham,
Elder Robison, Elder Knudsen

        Thanks to the kindness of the Temple President and his wife, we had a special session at the Louisville held just for us. Elder and Sister Halvorsen and Elder Moulton were also with us. 

At the Louisville Temple
Top: Elder Ham, Elder Halvorsen, Elder Moulton, Elder Gonzalez
Middle: Elder Knudsen, Sister Moulton, Sister Moulton, President Woodbury
Sister C. Goodrich, Sister Egbert, Sister Woodbury, Elder Robison

        Back at the Mission Home the evening's agenda included dinner, a tender Testimony Meeting, and Exit Interviews with the President, as well as weighing and as needed, repacking bags, and a few group games before bed.  

Elder Gonzalez

Elder Ham

Elder Knudsen

Sister C. Goodrich

Sister Egbert

Elder Robison

        There were a few glitches in the flight plans of four of the missionaries but nevertheless, everyone eventually got off on their journey home. We miss them, but know the Lord is pleased with their missionary service and that it will bless their lives forever.