Another great transfer week!

As always we had another great transfer week!  We sent 5 wonderful elders home to their families, and welcomed 13 missionaries from 8 different countries-Finland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Italy, Spain, Cook Islands, Japan, and the United States!  It was our most diverse group yet and so fun to have them here!
 We had a wonderful temple session with our 5 departing elders on Tuesday evening as well as a special testimony meeting.  I always love hearing their final testimonies as missionaries in the field.  It is so powerful.  It is quite remarkable to see their growth over the two years they have been here--nothing short of a miracle, really.  We always pray that their faith will continue to remain strong as they go home and start their new era of life!
We went to the airport a total of 4 times on Wednesday getting missionaries to and from the airport!  Well, Steve went 4, and I went 2!  He took two elders out that had to go really early--he got up at 3:30 for that.  And we picked up our last little sister at about 11:30 Wednesday evening--so by the time we got home, it was 12:30 a.m.  We climbed into bed about 1:00 a.m. and were up again at 6:00 to be ready for our training meeting with our new missionaries.  It is always so fun to get these new missionaries straight from the MTC!  I love their enthusiasm and excitement and faith.
Thursday they all met their new trainers and went to their areas, and the rest of our missionaries being transferred all met their new companions and went to their new areas.  Transfers are such a great thing--it's a new beginning every 6 weeks!  A time to recommit, re-evaluate, and rededicate themselves to the work.  Sometimes there is some anxiety that comes with transfers and I always share this quote with our missionaries:  'Stop being afraid of what can go wrong, and start getting excited about what can go right!'  I always tell them that this might be their best companionship yet, their best area yet, and the best part of their mission--so be optimistic and hopeful and happy!
The past 3 Sundays we have actually been able to be in a sacrament meeting!  I have truly come to love being able to partake of the sacrament, because there are times when we will go 4 weeks without being able to.  I look forward to being able to renew my covenants.  Our next 4 weeks will all be stake conferences, so the next time I am able to partake of the sacrament is when I am home--that is a weird thought!  But, I have come to love this gift the Savior instituted to help us always remember Him.  I love Him.

At the temple with our 5 departing elders!
Elders MacJanet, Zolman, Reed, Pugmire & Paletua

We piled 5 elders and some big pieces of luggage into our car to get them to the hotel!

Elders Grinwis, Chapman & Grider-enjoying Chick-fil-A while waiting for new missionaries to arrive!

Elder Grider (our new assistant), Elder Grinwis (our assistant who is going back into the field)

Our brand new missionaries from the MTC!

Sister Ichimi who arrived late Wednesday night.