August and September Highlights

 

One of the very special things President Lovell is able to do is set apart missionaries in Branches of the Districts.  It was a special opportunity for him to set this missionary apart from the Branch of 25 de Mayo.

He has the support of the entire branch!  This picture was taken after his setting apart.

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Part of being here on the mission is doing pension inspections.  It is not my favorite thing to do but missionaries like these  make it fun! 

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I was able to spend the day with these two amazing Sister Missionaries. It was fun to experience what they do in a normal day.

We ended the day at a member's home.

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Later in the month we went to Caleta Olivia for District Conference. It is in the very far south of the mission.  On Saturday we went with President Castro (the District President) to see the buildings that two of the branches are renting for their meetings.

These branches have between 60 to 100 people attend each week and they have outgrown their buildings.  This is the building where the branch of Las Heras meets and depending on the Sunday there is just not room for everyone.  They are working hard to qualify for a new building.

This is where the Pico Truncado branch meets. 

They are very excited because they have qualified for a chapel that will begin construction in 2013. 

On our way home from visiting the rented buildings President Castro took us to visit this wonderful family. They have recently joined the church.

The conference was on the next day.   The members in the district were so kind to us. We look forward to getting to know them better over the next few years.   President and I spoke at both the adult meeting and the District Conference meeting.  I was so grateful for my wonderful interpreters!

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Every month we have Zone Council with our wonderful zone leaders. 

We have our Zone Leader Council Training at the church nearest to the Mission Home but then they come to the Mission Home for lunch.

 It was fun to recognize one of our Assistants on his birthday.

There is usually a few minutes for some to share their talents with us.

We are so grateful for our Zone Leaders!

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Can you tell that Elder Ehmke is a little frustrated that they accidently ordered too many pamphlets for the missionaries?

We will NEVER run out of THESE pamphlets!

  Our missionaries were willing to help us carry them to the attic.  

Even the sister were willing to help!

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Here is President busy in his office.

 

2012-09 Transfer Week

It is so fun when all the "Fieles" come to the office for their final interview with the President.  I honestly think there are more unknowns for those going home than for those just arriving in the mission.  They have so many decisions to make.  There is schooling, work,  family relationships and sometimes some very special friends to greet!

Everyone signs up on the Mission Facebook Group so we can keep in touch with everyone.  Since they haven't done Facebook for one and a half or two years it is difficult for some to remember their passwords!

Each of them writes their thoughts, their feelings, their goals and their testimonies which will be sent to them in one year from now.  It will be a good reminder of the commitments they made to themselves as they were returning home.

Their flight was canceled and there was some concern about getting another flight until our wonderful Secretaries were able to find another flight.  We knew we had to get these missionaries home to their families.

We were all at one table for our final meal.  We then met together, took care of business and had a testimony meeting.  There was a wonderful feeling here tonight.

The next morning we got up very early to get to the airport before the lines were long.  Those working at the airport appreciate us being there early so they don't have huge lines later.

After lots of farewells it was time to board the plane.  They are ready for this next phase of life! 

Now it is time for us to return to the Mission Home to prepare for the "refuerzos " that will arrive that night.

Later that night when we get to the airport it is so exciting when the airplane finally arrives.  There is some frosted glass between the waiting area and baggage claim.  Here we are peeking through the clear stripe to see if we can spot our missionaries.

They all seemed happy to be here in  Neuquén!

Everyone is prepared and ready to go to the Mission Home.

That first night we had a brief orientation and time to get to know each other along with some good food.

The next morning we all met for their first interviews with the President. When they weren't in their interview they filled out papers, wrote in their journals and wrote their feelings goals and testimonies so we can send them to them after they have been in the mission for a year. Everyone comes wanting to be a good missionary and they are excited to have this reminder sent to them after their first year

                            

There is also time to get to know each other .

At lunch time the trainers come and meet the new missionaries. Of course the Hermanas do something very special to meet the new Hermanas!

  

Food is very important in this mission!

In the afternoon there is lots of training.  There is so much to learn!

Then there is the announcement as to who will train which missionary.

 

They are ready to go!

 

 

 

 

 

We had four missionaries get their Visa's after Transfer Week.  We were VERY happy to receive them in the middle of the transfer cycle.

 

This is a very special group of missionaries!