Transfer no. 1

Transfers are amazing. We were told to expect it to be hard work but I did not realise how amazing it would be. Elder Saunders had a lot of running around with the mini bus and trailer to do. On Wednesday he first had to take the new missionaries to the Mission Presidents house then later he had to take them from there to the hotel. On Thursday morning he picked them up from the hotel with their luggage and took them to the Presidents house and dropped their luggage at the church. A few hours later he collected them again and took them to the church. Phew, in between that he collected some items the missionaries needed, such as saucepans, hoovers, ironing boards, iron. I should explain transfers are when missionaries companionships are changed, it happens every six weeks, but they are not all changed at every transfer. Also at transfers we have new missionaries starting their missions. I was involved in the paperwork and also getting missionary letters, parcels and missionary supplies boxed and taken to the chapel. I also have to write letters to the missionaries who have been given leadership responsibilities. Then after transfers I have to update all missionaries’ new addresses and writing letters to the missionaries parents about their son or daughters new responsibilities.

So why was it so amazing? When the missionaries first arrived at the mission office we greeted them and then gave them a short presentation on our responsibilities. Elder Saunders talked about housing using a power point presentation. The funniest thing was looking at the faces of the new missionaries when he talked about what might bug them!!!! He literally showed pictures of dust mites, fleas, bed bugs and cockroaches. But he also showed them how to get rid of them. The three office senior couples then met with the new missionaries, the Assistants to the president, and the mission president and his wife (President and Sister Rudd). We had a most delicious meal, although I must add we office people were nearly an hour late because of all the preparations we had to do!!! We then had a testimony meeting and finished by singing the mission song. I must record it sometime and post it on the blog, it’s fun.

Today, Thursday we had an early start, I’ve explained what Elder Saunders did, but I went to the office about 7.30 and did some more paperwork before the assistants helped me load my car up with stuff which I took to the chapel. Then it was all ready for each Zone (that’s what they call each area the missionaries live in) Leaders to collect and give out to their missionaries.

When the new missionaries arrived at the chapel we were all waiting to start our meeting. I was sitting at the back feeling all relaxed when President Rudd asked me to come to the stand. WHAT! My face certainly was a picture but when I saw some of the missionaries turn around and laugh I put on a serious face, well sort off. Thankfully he quickly followed by asking Elder Saunders to come to the stand as well as another missionary couple who are going home in just over a week. We were asked to give a short talk to introduce ourselves. I must share with you some of what I said. I told them how long we had been members of the Church and that “we have 5 children and 18 grandchildren. All of whom we love and miss so very much. But I also now have almost 250 adoptive children whom I am growing to know and love more each day.” Wow!   Next it was the meeting where each new missionary was introduced to everybody with their companion who would train them. Sister and President Rudd spoke and it was so special. From the stand I looked out at all the missionaries who filled the chapel about 160 of them, my heart just raced as I thought of each of them leaving their loved ones behind, like us, to share the most important message of our lives, that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us and has a plan for each of us to return back home to him.

We then had lunch and chatted until all the missionaries left to go home. So special to meet and greet so many wonderful dedicated young men and women and being instrumental in helping them to stay physically, emotionally and spiritually healthy and happy.