Footsteps. . .Departures August 12-13, 2014

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step."

This ancient saying surely fits for every young Latter-Day Saint who chooses to serve a mission for the Lord.  From the first thought of becoming a missionary,  to the day they walk off the plane that has returned them from the field, a mission is filled with many steps and many miles. 

These Elders and Sisters are closing on the end of their full-time missionary journey.  There are just a few more steps to go.

Our August 12-13th Departing missionaries are:
Sisters Acoba, Stabenow, and Watson
Elders Benosa, Berends, Carascal, Datario, Defacto, Findlay, Kaloni, Opalda, Pareja, Pingol, and Wightman



Elder Findlay's parents came
to pick him up from his mission
and see the places he had been
serving for the past 2 years.

Sister Watson returned a
week earlier than the rest
of the group to start
college classes.

Departure Day
Tuesday August 12

"Trunky" meeting with
President and Sister Rahlf

The Departure Fireside

Some last moments
with dear friends

Dinner at the Mission Home and
The Tie and Handkerchief Ceremony:

Before

Back:  Elder Pareja, Elder Wightman, Elder Kaloni, Elder Berends, Elder Benosa, Elder Pingol
Front:  Elder Datario, Elder DeFacto, Elder Carascal, Elder Opalda, Sister Acoba, Sister Stabenow

During

After

WednesdayAugust 13th
Final morning 
at the Mission Home

Back: Elder Carascal, Elder Benosa, Elder Pareja, Elder Wightman, Elder Kaloni, Elder Berends
Front: Sister Stabenow, Sister Acoba, Elder Pingol, Elder DeFacto, Elder Opalda, Elder Datario

Leaving advice for the
incoming missionaries

Final Call for Departures

God be with you 'til we meet again...

"Come follow me, the Savior said,

Then let us in His footsteps tread…"

28 Day Missionaries

On the 30th of July, exactly 28 days in the mission field, we brought our newest missionaries and their trainer/companions in to the mission home for a day of instruction, friendship, sharing, and most appreciatively, lunch!  There is so much happening on Arrival day, that we find it's very helpful to meet again 3-4 weeks later to review, refresh, and learn some more.  And it's really great to see batch-mates and catch up on the experiences of being in the field.  The Trainers also have some time to compare notes and gain insights from each other about training.  It is a very enjoyable day and President Rahlf and I look forward to being with our missionaries.  We are all rejuvenated by these few hours together.

Gathering in the Mission Home

We begin the day with a 

scripture study led by 

President Rahlf

There are sessions for both the new missionaries and the trainers.  One is taught by the Assisitants, and the other by President and Sister Rahlf.  We switch so we have time with both groups.


And then lunchtime--
provided by the wonderful
Sister Uy.

After lunch we have addition counsel and instruction by our senior couples: 
Elder and Sister Campbell, Elder and Sister Shorter, and Elder and Sister Honeycutt.


Then it's time for talking
and pictures.

28 Days in the Field

Companionships

Elder Tribe and Elder Saguire

Sister Flores and Sister Howlett

Sister Kirchhoefer and Sister Culis

Elder Waldron and Elder Acosta

Sister Spencer and Sister Manosig

Sister Dasalla and Sister Pita

Sister Nonu and Sister Atienza

Sister Hurst and Sister Romano

Elder Petersen and Elder Treyes

Sister Howard and Sister Ragasa

Sister Razonable and Sister DeGuzman

Batch July 2, 2014

and their Trainers

"It's a great day to be a missionary!"

"Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work 

together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the 

covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another."

Doctrine and Covenants 90:24