Week 6: Sweet is the Work!

Focused on the Road

Tuesday was especially memorable.  It was Transfer Day and a day for new arrivals.  Van and I were asked to go to the airport (SeaTac) to help pick up 14 new missionaries.  We drove a ten-passenger van and pulled a trailer.  (That alone was an adventure).  The freeway (I5) between here and Seattle at 9 a.m. is not a fun place to be, let alone be traveling in a huge vehicle pulling a trailer.  But, Van's an excellent driver, and I'm a pretty good navigator; we made it.  It was fun to greet these new missionaries and then be with them when President & Sister Weave took them to a beautiful spot overlooking the Puget Sound.  

A van full of newbies

Blue Sky on the Sound

Then we took these young elders to the Tacoma Stake Center where we had lunch and began their orientation.  Later in the afternoon, all the Washington Tacoma Missionaries came in for Transfer Meeting.  The new missionaries met their new companions/trainers.  Other missionaries who were given transfers met up with their new companions.  Then they all gathered in the chapel; it was full of missionaries--about 220 of them.  Senior missionaries and visitors had to sit in the over flow.  The 11 missionaries who were to leave on Wednesday were given time to share their testimonies.  Some of them had me in tears.  Here are some things that were said that I hope to remember:  "Let the mission change you." "Be grateful for the time you get to wake up and put on that badge."  "Don't hurt yourself today by anticipating a bad tomorrow." "Don't die with music still left in you."  A wonderful meeting, a sweet day.

Elder & Sister Jones left for home on Wednesday.  That leaves just us and the Harwoods in the office now full-time. There are two local residents who serve as part-time service missionaries.  Elder Bingham takes care of finances & Elder Quiton is over bikes. It can get quiet in the office, but never boring. The "To Do List" grows. (Yes, I'm still keeping lists; it's a hard habit to break.)

Elder Hadlock has yet to have a dull moment either.  In the nearly four weeks we've been here, he's had to deal with four accidents involving mission cars.  Nothing serious, thank goodness.  Seems like they usually happen at night though.  Tuesday after transfer meeting, a car with Sisters was side swiped by a semi as they were traveling home (that made for a really long day!).  Last night as we left a Ward Party (Soup & Bread!), we got a call from Elders who had hit a deer.  No one was hurt, but their car is out of commission. Van will have to deal with that one tomorrow. He has about seven cars waiting to go "into the shop" and now two more!

There are some challenges, but we're loving it. P-Day was especially "sweet" this week.  We went with our neighbors, Elder & Sister Quillon, to the Almond Roca Factory whose headquarters are located right here in Tacoma.  We didn't get to tour the factory, but the Outlet Store was almost as fun! Free samples and bargains not to be passed up!


Nearby is the LeMay Car Museum.  Of course, we couldn't resist that either. Four floors of vintage, classic, and custom made cars.

Candy, Cars -- and missionaries, sweet is the work!