Transfer Week

Transfer week brings with it a host of emotions from excitement to frustration and from uncertainty to sadness.  We are pretty sure we experienced them all this time around.  Of course there is always the excitement that fills the air as new assignments are received and new companions are met.  We had 9 new missionaries who arrived this past week from the MTC and 1 missionary who returned to us after going home for surgery and a 6 month rehab for a torn ACL.  In all there were 4 sisters and 6 elders.  Lots of training and orientation going on and Sister Webb being the mother that she is got these new missionaries through the particulars with flying colors – I think she has already adopted all of them.  Our mission family just keeps growing.  We do have to deal with the frustrations that come with sending them home when the time comes tho’ and we sent 2 sisters and 3 elders home this transfer, including one of the sisters who lived with Sister Webb for the week last Nov when I made that quick trip to Utah.  It is always hard to say goodbye but the excitement of receiving new missionaries sort of overshadows all the frustrations that come with saying goodbyes.  Let’s not forget all the movement that takes place on transfer week as well, when missionaries move around and “change up” companions and assignments.  We sent our first two transferring missionaries to Kazakhstan, 1 to Almaty and 1 to Astana.  Now this should be very exciting but one of the missionaries going to KZ is our own Elder Harrison who has worked with us side by side in the office since last November.  We knew the time would come when he would need to leave -  already he has been in the office about twice the normal amount of time.  He is an amazing young man and we will miss him terribly.  He is the most organized young adult we have ever meet so he has been invaluable in dealing with all the travel arrangements we have to make and making sure everyone is where they need to be at the appropriate time.  On top of that he is unbelievable in his ability to anticipate a person’s needs and then quick to act on that need without being asked.  He is one of the most thoughtful young men we have ever seen.  Thank you, Brother and Sister Harrison, for raising such a wonderful son.  We know he will bless the lives of everyone he touches in KZ.  If that wasn’t hard enough for us we also lost Elder Probst as he was transferred to Krasnoyarsk to be the District Leader there.  Elder Probst has been with us only 1 transfer less that Elder Harrison and he has rounded out the office team perfectly, complementing all of Elder Harrison’s strengths and making life in the office absolutely grand.  He has the analytical mind and the techno skills that have kept the office viable.  Tuesday evening these two took Sister Webb and I to dinner.  We could hardly believe they would want to take a couple of old fogey’s out in public, but they did and we had a great evening with them eating and visiting.  We are so sad to be losing these two remarkable missionaries but certainly know their skills, testimonies, and strengths are needed elsewhere.  The elders baptized two more people in our Branch this week and I had a visit from the church audit department.  Just doing his annual “thing” he said but I didn’t see any evidence that he was here last year.  Anyway, everything went perfectly well so now its back to business as usual.   We leave on our visa trip Tuesday at 5am and will head to the Frankfurt Temple.  Sister Webb’s sister and her husband are driving in from Wales and will pick us up after we finish at the temple and we will get to spend a couple of days with them.  We are looking forward that and will tell you all about it next time.  For now – everyone have a great week, our prayers for all of you are that you will recognize the blessings that come into your lives daily from a loving Heavenly Father.  We are so thankful to have this opportunity to serve and thank each of you for your thoughts and prayers.  We love you all – you are the best friends and family anyone could have.                                                                                                                                     

New missionaries arriving



Luggage lining the halls
Typical with arriving, departing, and transfering Missionaries

Baptism (1 of 2)

Baptism (2 of 2)

President with our Dynamic Office Duo
Now transfered