On Tuesday we welcomed a new senior couple to the OEM; Elder and Sister Peterson. They will be serving in Grants Pass.

 

 And on Wednesday we welcomed 15 new missionaries! After hugging (I hugged the Sisters and president Russell hugged the Elders) we headed for the baggage carousel.

The luggage comes off extremely slowly.

But, it is coming!

When everyone has their suitcases we head for the car, van, or truck in the parking lot.

Elder Pace is ready to go!

 Oh yeah, we're pickin' up speed now.

Could those smiles get any bigger???

"Okay, I have two hands and one more bag to get..."

No fear, we'll all pitch in.

We we leave the airport is about empty.

The Assistants make sure no one or no suitcase is left behind.

 Once outside we take a picture of most of the our new missionaries. Two of them are not here yet. Elder Burgi will be here in about two hours and Sister Zanotti will be here tomorrow.

 The newest missionaries to the greatest mission on earth:

Left front: Sister Chen, Sister Cortez, Sister Wood, Sister and President Russell, Sister Orr, Sister Fjerstad, and Sister McClellan. Back left: Elder Steinburg, Elder Anderl, Elder Pace, Elder Wall, Elder Atiknson, Elder Eldredge, and Elder Madsen.

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We went back to the mission home and had lunch, training, dinner, and these great missionaries went out with seasoned missionaries to their appointments. We talked about it when then got back and then it was time to go to bed.

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Bright and early this morning we took these missionaries to the Church where we had a wonderful program and introduced them to their companions and told them where they would be serving.

Elder Poston will be training Elder Pace in Central Point

 Elder Madsen will be trained by Elder Horne in Central Point

Elder Ross will be training Elder Wall in Medford

                 Sister McClellan will be trained by Sister Faucett in Central Point

Sister Hart will be training Sister Cortez in Corvallis













Elder Atkinson is being trained by Elder Etherington in Corvallis

Elder Anderl is being trained by Elder Bunker in Springfield

                    Elder Eldredge is being trained by Elder Ellis in  Springfield

Sister Wood is being trained by Sister Persson in Coos Bay

Elder Burgi is being trained by Elder Wirthlin in 
Klamath Falls

Sister Hernaez will be training training Sister Fjerstad in Grants Pass

Sister Orr is being trained by Sister Steele in Roseburg

Sister Chen is being trained by Sister Viiga in Eugene YSA

Elder Steinburg will be trained by Elder Deppe in Coos Bay 

Sister Zanotti is being trained by Sister Duenas

Our newest missionaries!!!

Our newest missionaries with their trainers (Sister Zanotti had not flown in yet).

Three of our Spanish missionaries; Sister Zanotti, Sister Duenas, Sister Cortez, with Sister Hart who is training Sister Cortez...

...with president and Sister Russell

AND THEY'RE OFF!!!! 

Everyone loads up suitcases, bedding, bikes, and packages.

You can tell this is a new bike box because it isn't being held together with duct tape, and it doesn't have holes all over it.

Some last minute instructions from Elder Phipps and it's a mass exodus!

Everyone is happy to be getting on the road.

As you can see, it's a sunny, beautiful day.

It's like a beehive, everyone is buzzing around.

Boy, talk about focusing!

"...So, this bike box is going to fit in that trunk?"

Sister Chen is excited to begin her adventure with Sister Viiga. Elder Mabey is helping them.

Can you say "photo op"???

Oh yeah, the shades are a hit, Sister Fjerstad!

Our wonderful office couples/missionaries fix a snack for them to take on the road.