Second Time's the Charm

 

The evening after transfers, missionaries who have completed their service come to the mission home for dinner, testimony meeting, a last interview with President McDonough

and one last night in the MJM.

Next morning after a restless night's sleep, they're up early, ready and excited to go to the airport.

I'm getting accustomed to having them so happy about going home.

I'm happy for their families who have missed them for two years.

They have served well, learned a lot, strengthened testimony and character.

They're ready for the world!

 

 

Here are our three assistants with our excellent elders who are ready to climb on the plane. 

We just called a new assistant to start training because, you guessed it,

another assistant will soon go home too.

After giving our two departing missionaries each a squeeze and watching as they go through security, turn and wave, and a few tears on the way out to the car, we left the airport for the mission office.

The president received a call.

We went back to the airport and picked up our two elders.

(Hooray!)

They have one more day in the MJM because

bad weather in Atlanta will make them miss their connecting flight. 

They would rather stay in Mississippi with us than in the Atlanta airport over night.

I'm flattered, I think.

Their moms handled their calls home about their situation really well.

 

We have several errands for them to run while they were with us one more day.

They were gracious and kind and glad to be kept busy.

Serving to the end.  Thank you!

The rest was a repeat of the morning before, but this time the plane took off with them in it.

 

 

Go Forth to Serve and Do Your Best

One of our visa waiting sisters got her visa!

Off she goes.  Brazil will be blessed.

Jackson, Mississippi where she served with her two companions was very blessed.

 

 

Almost immediately here come our newest missionaries to the MJM.

 

Our newest group of visa waiting sisters came on a different flight not long after the first group.

 

Add these four and our total is 22.

 

We have the sisters stay at the mission home and the elders stay with members their first night here.

One last picture of the group on the front porch the next morning 

and then we're away to the transfer point.

 

 

Some of the new missionaries get to meet their companions.

Others will meet them when they're delivered to their new areas.

a

Missionaries always love to see other missionaries they haven't seen for awhile.

Transfer Points are fun.  They play volleyball, basketball, and email while they

wait for the transfer vehicles to arrive.

 

 

Remember the sister who broke and sprained her foot?

Nearly all healed, out of her big boot, and walking.

 

 The transfer vehicles have arrived.  The rental truck is packed.

We circle up for prayer.  Then each driver comes to the center and each missionary's name is read so they know who they will travel with.  This helps the new missionaries a lot.

Then out the door they go!  They're off!

The MJM is being flooded with wonderful, powerful, knowledgeable, humble missionaries.

 

We've outgrown the original twelve passenger van, trailer and truck.

We now carry all the missionaries' belongings in this rental truck.

It has worked out well.

Planning for New Arrivals

.....and beyond!

We have a big week coming up.  The Assistants and the Sister Leader Trainers & a couple of their companions came to the Mission Home to finalize plans for this upcoming week. 

The Assistants left to start set up for the new arrivals. 

They've already spent this past week working on Transfers with President McDonough.

We get 22 new missionaries Monday.  We are very excited!

One of our Brazil-bound sister's visa came through.  She leaves Monday.

I can't believe how hard it is to have her go after just six weeks here.

Transfers are Tuesday.

Two wonderful missionaries return home on Wednesday.

Mission Leader Training will be Thursday evening and Friday.

I think we're ready for it!



After DDM

Sometimes after DDM we go to lunch with the missionaries.

This place was very fun.  Looked like something from Disneyland

on the inside as well as being pretty fancy on the outside.

Good food, exceptional company!

Cooks In The Kitchen

From time to time missionaries volunteer to come cook for us and other missionaries.  It is a lot of fun!  This is a well supplied kitchen as far as tools and implements go.  Add good food and good cooks and what a delightful evening we had!

Thanks, Good-Lookin's!  Such Good Cookin'!



Alligators

On Saturday evening and Sunday, President McDonough and I had the opportunity to attend Gulfport Stake Conference.  It was a great Stake Conference!  We enjoyed the messages and Spirit that we felt very much.  We each had the chance to speak for a few minutes.

After, we traveled to Ocean Springs to see the missionaries there and to attend the Mission Presidents' Seminar Broadcast which was exciting and powerful.  We are on the brink of big things!

We saw this blow up park across from the Gulf.

Don't you think little children would be afraid of this slide?

(Maybe big kids too!)

Slidell Zone Work Project

Did I say that many hands make light work?

So true!

These wonderful missionaries cleaned, scrubbed, scoured, swept, mopped, and shined this cute house after many years of being occupied by missionaries.

We are so grateful for the generosity and kindness of the owners to our missionaries!

They enjoyed the accomodations and friendship (and food and treats)

for many years.

 Many thanks to this senior couple who organized the cleaning
and worked along side the missionaries.

  



It was hot.  They worked hard.

 Job complete.

Let the fun begin!

 Jumping, jumping, jumping for joy!