Saying goodbye to Sister Neider

It has been a month since I posted something on our blog.  I think this last transfer period…the last 6 weeks…. were busier than normal.  We started with transfers on October 5^th…sending home a group of missionaries and receiving a large group of “greenies.”  The week after the new missionaries arrive is always busy until about Friday when things seem to settle down. 

 That next week was Elder Pingree’s visit, which kept us hopping.  Over the next few weeks, we had several cars in the shop due to fender benders and Liz was busy gathering missionaries’ travel plans, visas, and other official documents the missionaries need to have with them when they travel to another country…and each country’s requirements are different!  I had to program all our Equinox vehicles with “Teen Driver” which limits how fast the missionaries can drive and how loud they can play their missionary approved church music.  I also had 49 cars that required a Sim card replacement in their TIWI devices (The TIWI records how fast the car is traveling, where it is, if the seatbelts are fastened, if the missionary is driving aggressively, etc.)  All these extra activities have kept both of us busy during this last transfer period, which ended this Tuesday when we dropped off the departing missionaries at the airport and picked up 26 new missionaries.  Busy, but fun!

Goodbye, Elder Latimer!

One of the fun things we get to do as Senior couples is to have “My Plan” discussions with the departing missionaries.  My Plan is a program the church has for missionaries who are returning home, that asks searching questions about what they have learned while on their mission, and what their future plans are for staying actively engaged in the gospel.  The program calls for a member of the stake presidency or high counselor to work with the missionary after he or she return home, but often that doesn’t work as the missionary is only home for a short period of time and then leaves home again for work or school.  For that reason, our mission president asks the seniors to help.  The missionaries are each assigned to senior couple, and we meet with them for 30 minutes each week for the last 6 weeks of their mission. 

Our goal is to listen to their thoughts about each topic and to answer any questions they may have.   We also have a chance to share some of our life experiences that may give them insights or perspective. The missionaries are invited to write their answers and plans in the missionary portal, and then at the conclusion they can opt to share it with the mission president and their stake president.

 Topic number 5 is the one that elicits some nervous laughter.  It’s about dating and marriage. Some missionaries are very nervous about dating and finding a spouse.  Other’s take it more in stride.  They all seem to realize it’s something they need to think about and plan for.  Some missionaries have a special someone at home, but they are nervous about that relationship because 2 years is a long time, and each of them has changed during that time. 

Elders Josie & McCammon heading home

We talk about education, learning a trade, finances, finding a job, selecting a major, insurance, saving money and a host of related questions.  They seem to appreciate the exercise.

 The hard part about spending so much time with these returning missionaries is that we really get to know them, then just when we feel we really know and love them, they go home!  We try to keep in touch after they return home, but it’s different, and hard to keep up.

Another thing we try to do is watch them give their “homecoming” talks.  We watched two of them today.  Both were outstanding missionaries, and their talks were motivating and inspiring.  My only complaint is that they are not given enough time to speak!  The sister who spoke today was only able to speak for about 5 minutes.  She talked about miracles she had seen on her mission and spoke of some people she taught and how they came to join the church.  It was an excellent talk for the youth who are thinking of serving a mission.  Members need to know that while they may see very little missionary activity in their local ward, that there is considerable success occurring in the missions of the church.

 The elder who spoke today also spoke of miracles.  He shared some meaningful scriptures, coupled with a few missionary experiences, and concluded with his testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith.  He quoted from Joseph Smith’s history of the first vision. Then after saying, “hear Him” he paused for about 15 seconds just to let it sink in.  Powerful and amazing.

                                                            

Outside of Union Station - LA

Last weekend, the senior missionaries took the train into Los Angles. We ended up at Union Station, then walked several blocks to a Mexican market area where you could purchase merchandise from Mexico, and then walked 2 streets over to Chinatown.  Quite a contrast. 

         

Art Deco, Streamline Modern style architecture inside Union Station       

Sisters Brown and McAllister in Chinatown - LA

We really enjoyed the train ride (and the fact that none of us had to drive!)  Union Station in LA is beautiful, clean and actually feels familiar in places, as I’m sure we have seen it in some movies.

Our next transfer will be a little different.  Our outgoing missionaries will go home on December 18^th, and the incoming missionary won’t arrive until December 28^th.  All our usual plans and schedules are based around the outgoing and incoming on the same day.  Not sure if this will make our Christmas quieter or crazier.  It will be an adventure either way.                                                                                   

We also came to the realization that after the December transfer, we have only 2 transfers left!  Crazy!  The time has literally flown by.  We have a couple coming in late February who will likely be our replacements, so we will have plenty of time to train them.

                                     

Gas prices outside of Union Station - LA