Week 30: Transfers & Testimonies

Parking Lot after Transfer Meeting

Transfer Week -- always a "rush" -- full of energy and emotion. We had just four missionaries arrive this week and eight went home. It's so fun to meet the new missionaries at the airport and watch them experience their first day in the mission.  The weather was absolutely gorgeous for transfer day. We always take them to see "The Sound" and it was especially beautiful this day. Even got to see a bald eagle perched on a tree limb right near where we parked.

Sister Jenkins in the middle!

At the same time, it is kind of sad to send home our seasoned, spiritually mature missionaries who have completed their service. Most of them don't really want to leave because they love being missionaries so much. Here are some "one lingers" from some of them as they bore their testimonies: "My life changed drastically after I realized that God loves me and that the Book of Mormon is true." "The price we pay to become acquainted with God is a privilege. Serving a mission is a huge price, but it is all worth it.""The thing that changed my mission is understanding why we should be obedient. We have to have rules because that is one thing God gave us to give us power."

Senior Missionaries gather for dinner after Transfer Meeting

We also said goodbye to four Senior Couples. We were especially sad to lose our neighbors, Elder & Sister Quillon. They served so faithfully for 18 months as MLS missionaries. They're headed back to Virginia now. We will miss them. It's kind of a "lonely" feeling not having them right next door anymore.

Sister & Elder Quillon

On a brighter note, we welcomed Elder & Sister Martin to our mission. They are from Vernal! They will be serving 23 months as Record Preservation Missionaries at the State Archives in Olympia. Also had a couple come who will be Military Relations missionaries in Bremerton for six months. (Still need more senior missionaries though.)

On Saturday afternoon we traveled to Bremerton to be with one of our young sisters who is in the hospital there. She had appendicitis and had to have surgery. She'll be OK, but she's had a rough go of it. I must say though, the view from her hospital room was incredible! I would have taken a picture but it was raining very hard. (And in the Lobby was a jigsaw puzzle - I nearly finished it.)

Ten lovely Sisters riding in the van (driven by Van)

Sunday afternoon we helped take missionaries to another missionary musical fireside. Wish you all could be there to hear these missionaries bear testimony and sing Called to Serve, The As Sisters in Zion/We'll Bring the World His Truth Medley, and Amazing Grace, among others.

A recently baptized member also bore his testimony. I'd like to share some of his story: Mike is in the Navy and is a man of integrity. He is loyal and true and desires to do what is right. Mike wanted to get baptized, but was not sure which church. He would tell the sisters, “you believe so firmly in your faith, but my mother feels the same way about her faith.” He was very confused.

Typical "post fireside" photo

He met with the missionaries weekly and was searching to know if this was true. His journey took several months (and several missionaries). Through this time, Mike grew to know our Savior and that our Savior cared for him. He received answers to his questions, but they led to many more questions. But, he kept searching and didn’t give up; neither did the missionaries. One of the sisters told him, "Mike, when you "get it," you are really going to "get it." He "got it." One night the sisters met with Mike at a member's home. At the end of the lesson, one of the members said, “Sometimes I pray, asking God the same question, expecting Him to change His answer.” This struck a chord with Mike. He thought to himself, “Did he give me an answer already?” The Spirit filled his heart. He received a witness that the Lord had answered him.

Mike was baptized in January of this year. He is now on fire, full of the Spirit, and serving the Lord. He just recently received his Patriarchal Blessing and is looking forward to the day when he can go to the temple. Last night he said, "I know this gospel is true, how can you not. I was sitting on the couch earlier and thinking, 'I feel right. Everything feels right.' "

This is just one of the many stories we hear on a weekly basis. I will start sharing more of the missionary miracles that happen daily. Though we are not on the "front lines" witnessing these miracles for ourselves, our testimonies are certainly being strengthened as missionaries share them with us. God does love all His children and is so very aware of us. He wants us to come back to Him. Jesus really is the way (the only way), the truth and the life. He is the light of the world. His gospel and priesthood authority were restored through Joseph Smith. We are led today by a prophet and apostles. How blessed we feel.