There are so many beautiful sights and beautiful people in this wonderful country...
and we look forward to sharing them with you.
And especially, we have the best missionaries!
I apologize for taking so long to get our blog up and running. So, I'm going to work a little backwards here and begin with the events of July 30 and 31st--Departures and Arrivals.
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| Elder Abitona, Elder Villania, Elder Cruz, Sister Amis, Sister Forcada, Sister Phillip, Elder Nay, Elder Needs, Elder Lasay, Elder Landeen, Elder Ziegler, Elder Lundy, Elder Lisaca |
On Tuesday, July 30th, we celebrated our thirteen missionaries returning with honor from the field.
After a wonderful Departure Fireside, we enjoyed a delicious meal together in the mission home.
And then we began a new tradition. We cut off the ties of the Elders and a piece of material from the Sisters, like a blouse or a handkerchief. We will take the pieces and make them into squares to create a Missionary Memory quilt wall hanging.
At 8:30 AM July 31st, we said good-bye to these faithful missionaries!
Sister DeLuna, Elder Lisaca, Sister Amis, Sister Phillip, Elder Abitona, Elder Lundy, Elder Lasay, Elder Needs, Elder Landeen, Elder Ziegler, Sister Forcada, Elder Nay, Elder Cruz, Elder Villania
(Sister DeLuna is returning home to recover from a back injury. We will see her again!)
The plane coming to take our returning missionaries away was also bringing our new missionaries to the field! It is truly a passing of the torch . . .
So we joyfully welcome
Back row: Elder Johnstun, Elder Tribe, Elder Poulter, Elder Baker, Sister Perkins, Elder Ranada,
President Rahlf, Elder Frank, Sister Howlett, Sister Clyde, Sister Pace
Front row: Elder Corcuera, Elder Thayn, Elder Hall, Sister Bates, Sister Miller, Sister Camansa,
Sister Lange, Sister Manukailea, Sister Calisaan, Sister Rahlf, Sister Meizner, Sister Grande, Sister Nosler,
Sister Cabada, Sister Hafen, Sister Carr, Sister Maddock, Sister Paetau
and all their luggage!
Then it's to the Mission Home for pictures, delicious Filipino lunch, training with the Assistants, interviews with President Rahlf, maybe a quick 10 minute doze, and off to Transfer Meeting and their first companion in the field!
And a long-awaited, exciting, exhausting day comes to a close.We are so glad you're here!
