Week one in the six week series

This was week one of the six week series we continue on. First thing Monday transfers are announced.Tuesday we put missionaries on the plane home and pick missionaries up who are arriving in the field.  Then we train said missionaries. Then interviews start again. Monday is the day all the mission hold their breath for. For the few days before President Stubbs is the most intriguing man in the mission. Missionaries gather around him like magnets when he walks into a room in hopes that he will let something slip about their fate in the upcoming transfers.  It is almost funny to watch. We spoke in a Mission President devotional the night before transfers and the missionaries flocked around him before and after.  Then come Monday he is their best friend or they are wondering what they did wrong to incur his displeasure. Although this transfers there were few call or emails in distress. So they are either happy or resigned to the move.
Tuesday we arrived at the airport by 7:30am to start to get our missionaries homeward bound. All went smoothly. Then it is home again under our new scheduling from Salt Lake City. I put together everything we need to feed the new missionaries dinner and we load up the van and drive to a stake center and set it up in a kitchen and set up the next door room for a dinner.  Then it is off to the airport again.
First to arrive will be the ones from Mexico MTC.  There was only one this time.  They have to wait for us for a hour for the rest of the missionaries to arrive.  This time there was also an Elder arriving home from is mission in the Czech republic. His aunt is in our home ward here and he gave a beautiful testimony to our new missionaries to not waste a day,  the time will go fast and we have the most important message in the world. There couldn't have been a more stirring testimony.
Then we took them to the stake center in rush hour traffic (thus the need for a nearby stake center). We feed them. Give them one or two things to fill out,  short pep talk and match them up with their companions and send them off for the night.

 Some of our departing missionaries

New missionaries listening to the President and a picture of one of our new missionaries.  This was a small group. We sent home a few less than we had arrive. Changes next time   Next time we sent home 10 and have about 21 arrive.  So I enjoyed this smaller group.

Wednesday they come to the Mission Home by 8am to begin training.  I was at the airport again at 8m to see a sister from Temple Square off who was returning to Temple Square. Later at noon one of our senior couples picked up two new Temple Square Sisters who will be outbound with us for two months.

Here is the sister going back to Temple Square. She is a great missionary. She is originally from the Marshall Islands

Here are the two Temple Square missionaries who arrived. We love to get  these sisters. They are ready to work and seasoned missionaries.

Here is the new group all together.  I feed them lunch and about 2pm their companions pick them back up and their are off again.
On Thursday they meet at the Mormon Battalion Historic Site. The New missionaries take a tour while Mark trains the trainers. Then when they are back together they train on the use of electronic devices of which we have a few now in the mission. Smart phones and tablets.   I went to a meeting with my mission nurse instead of  the Battalion this time.  We were comparing notes and figuring out what we may have missed and making sure we are organized. She is a great help to me. We have just gotten through what I think is the worst of the flu epidemic which affected about 20 companionships and us.  It has been bad. I have some ideas to be prepared for the next time.
Saturday was the commemoration of the arrival of the Mormon Battalion in San Diego so they do a big celebration in Old Town. We dressed up in pioneer dress and joined in as well. Our Elders helped set up tents and then became the Battalion in the parade. Our sisters came down from the Battalion and joined in the parade as well. Mark was a judge later at the dutch  oven cook off.  Not a bad assignment.

Then we rested for a minute at the Battalion. That was our P-day and changed our clothes and headed to the airport yet again this time to meet three missionaries headed for the Philippines who have been waiting for their visas in our mission.

Later that evening we went out to Nathan and Nicoles home to see Sarah Giles who was done to see some of her old college friends.  Once again we were treated royally by Nathan and Nicole and had  Another beautiful evening. It is really nice to have family in the area.
We love you
Let me know this week if the blog is not a good place for me to post.  Not many people seem to view it. If you want I can just email you each week.  I know you are really busy so I just want to communicate the best way for you.
Well got to go work on my  talk for tonight
love ya