We welcomed another great senior couple to the OEM! Elder and Sister Mabey! They are not only terrific missionaries, this being their second mission, but they are also wonderful friends from our stake.

Welcome to the greatest mission on earth!!!

 We picked up the missionaries at the airport and we got our first picture together outside in the parking lot.

 The pictures at the airport was not the best, as there were many cars in the parking lot, so we took another picture in front of the mission home.

After the missionaries got to the mission home we fed them lunch and the Assistances and I did a little training as the president interviewed each new missionary. After the training and interviews we had dinner. then we sent the missionaries out with other missionaries to go to their appointments. 

Then, they returned and each told of their experience. Finally, at about 9:15 we send them to bed. The Sisters stayed at the mission home and the Elders went with the Assistances to their apartment.

 The next morning we fed them breakfast and took them to the stake center. After a short program we move to the cultural hall where the senior office couples train them.  Then, they are introduced to their trainers! This is always fun because the trainer and trainee are so excited to meet each other.

Introducing the newest missionaries to the OEM:

Sister Roach is being trained by Sister Viiga.

 Elder Davis is with his trainer, Elder Kroll 

 Elder Lambson is with his trainer Elder Fowers

 Elder Call is with his trainer Elder Wagstaff

Sister Simmons is with her trainer 
Sister Brownlee

Sister Dobbins is being trained by Sister Allen

Sister Morgan is with Sister Figeroa, her trainer

Sister Lunt is with Sister Alldredge, her trainer

Sister Rhees is with her trainer Sister Newsome

 Sister Leavitt is with her trainer Sister Gregory

 Sister Peterson is with Sister Sowter, her trainer

Sister Payne is with her trainer Sister Schrecongost

The newest missionaries!

                                     And they join the best trainers in the OEM!

After that, they leave for their new areas.

Elder Sutterfield has just removed the bike rack from Sister Alldredge and Sister Lunt's car. 
All of our Sisters are in cars. 

President Russell is helping Sister Peterson with her luggage

Check out the happiness with Sister Payne and Sister Schrecengost!

Sister Figeroa is making sure all is ready for her and Sister Morgan

Sister Brownlee gives the 'thumbs up' with Sister Simmons

 Sister Viiga is so excited to be with Sister Roach

Elder  Davis gives us one last pose as he gets ready to leave with Elder Kroll.

Sister Peterson and Sister Sowter almost forgot their snacks that the office Sisters make for each missionary. 

Oh yeah, Elder Fowers is ready to take on the world with Elder Lambson!

One last parting shot with Sisters Dobbins, Gregory, Leavitt, and Sister Allen.

Each companionship will call the president tonight and tell him that the 'greatest companionship in the world' is ready to go!

Again, I apologize for the delay in posting on the blog. One phrase President Russell has repeated many times is "Any excuse for non-performance, no matter how valid, only weakens the character." So, rather than weakening my character any further, I will start with the departing temple trip to the Medford temple with three of the best missionaries ever; Elder Perrine, Sister Stucki, and Sister Vance.

Later that week President Russell and I went to Coos Bay for zone conference. The zone leaders had challenged the zone to get 50 new investigators in one week. If they did the zone leaders would have a pie throwing contest, well, everyone could throw pies at them! Needless to say, they ended up with 63 new investigators!! President Russell bought the pies!

The first pie was thrown at Elder Roller. Elder Cho kind of chuckled...for a second.

 Maybe Elder Cho is still smiling, can't tell.

We had a total of 17 pies!

Some really threw their pie hard! And then we had some slap the pies on their heads.

Elder Jarrard looks satisfied with his direct hit, while Elder Carter is in the wings.

 The zone was having entirely too much fun!

Another top of the head shot.

Sister Poulsen got a little crazy while Sister Rasmussen hurries to get out of the line of fire.

After about 10 pies, the Elders and Sisters decided that maybe it would be better to actually save the pies and eat them instead of wasting them. 

The zone is happy, the floor is a mess, and Elder Roller and Elder Cho are thinking that they probably won't do that again.

And immediately Elder Carter springs into action and gets the mop from the custodial closet and begins to clean up. He's awesome!! 

And everything looks the way it did before we can in.

***********

We welcomed a new senior couple to the OEM! Elder and Sister Jacobson 

come to us from

 Dubois, Idaho. We are excited to have them here! 

They will be serving in Yreka, CA.

 We love them!!!

It's time for transfers again. We say good-bye to Sister Stucki, Sister Vance, and Elder Perrine. They all served valiantly.