Introducing five new fantastic missionaries to the Oregon Eugene Mission!!!

They had already had a long day. Their flight from Salt Lake was delayed for two hours (to get a new plane), but their arrived happy 

and, I think a little relieved. 

They were welcomed by the Oregon rain, but they also saw the beauty here.

 Behind us to the left is Sister McDonald, Sister Cockrell, Sister Clark, 

Elder Spendlove and Elder Alexander.

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After some training and a wonderful dinner the missionaries went out with seasoned missionaries to their appointments.

When they returned we had them report on their evening. It was exciting to hear them and watch the expressions on their faces! 

All of them stayed at the mission home, Sisters on the upper level and the Elders on the lower level.

 After a continental breakfast President Russell trained  a little more before we headed to the church.

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The missionaries in the area (about 60) come and sing a very special song to them. We have a short program where the trainers all have a part; they each take a minute to recite the Missionary Purpose, The First Vision, The Standard of Truth, and Doctrine and Covenants section four. I then take a minute and all the missionaries on the stand are excused except the trainers and they go and sit behind the new missionaries for a few minutes while the President shows some videos and talks for a few minutes.
Then comes the best time! We go into another room and these great new missionaries are introduced to their trainers and told where they will be serving.

 The new missionaries are filling out the postcard that will go to the parents.

After some training by the senior office missionaries we take their picture with their new companion!

Sister Zanotti will be training Sister Clark and they will be serving in Eagle Point in the Central Point zone.

Elder Mazyck will be training Spendlove and they will be serving in Santa Clara.

Sister Orr will be training Sister McDonald and they will be serving in Cottage Grove, near Eugene.

Sister Brown will be training Sister Cockrell and they will be serving in Coos Bay

Elder Alexander will be trained by Elder Larsen and they will be serving in Coos Bay

 Elder Spendlove, Sister McDonald, Sister Clark, Sister Cockrell, and Elder Alexander.

Missionaries learn right off that they are to be careful with their association with the Sisters. These two Elder are doing an amazing job of staying away from the Sisters!

 The newest missionaries with their trainers! Watch out Oregon, here they come!!!!!

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They are on their way!!!

Yesterday the four missionaries going home came to the mission home. We had a great afternoon, a wonderful dinner, and an incredible testimony meeting. Then we took our last picture together.

President and Sister Russell
Back left: Elder Andersen, Sister Figueroa, Sister Persson, and Sister Hernaez
They are all on a plane right now heading for home. We will miss them!

Yesterday Formerly Elder and Sister Talbot, now Brother and Sister Talbot came back to visit us. Their real reason for the visit to Oregon was to see a wonderful young couple they had taught while serving in Klamath Falls zone receive their Endowment 

in the Medford Temple.

They drove up to Eugene and Sister Mabey and I were so blessed to go to lunch with them! It was a wonderful afternoon.

Yes, I broke an etiquette rule for having my phone on the table, I know better! In fact I teach etiquette! I'm so ashamed.

The friendships we make here are eternal. I so love these Sisters!

It's transfer time again! 

(Doesn't it seem like last transfers were yesterday??)

Elder Ellis is just leaving his car and I turned around, here comes the smile and the thumbs-up (I'm pretty sure it's a reflex with some of the Elders).

Elder Wheldon is always smiling! And Elder Norris can't help but smile while standing by him, no, Elder Norris is constantly happy as well.

It's a little chilly out here so Elder Mazyck, Elder Eckman, and Elder Gneiting group together for warmth (well maybe they just got together and I'm the only one that is cold).

Don't Sister Francis and Sister Tofilau  have the cutest smiles! They are so fun to be around.

I simply said their names and they turn and Sister Vance puts her arm around Sister Cortez 

Okay, so I think it's cold out here, but I'm beginning to think I'm a minority. Sister Morgan, Sister Broadhead and Sister Nowell are enjoying the 'almost' sunshine. 

While waiting for the transfer van I am able to get some more great pictures! Sister Herbst, Sister Peck, and Sister Orr. 

I caught these Elders by surprise, you know this because there are no hand signals, also the surprised look on Elder Henley's face (far right). Elder Zilles and Elder Merkley always have an easy smile.

So, this is my favorite picture. These Elders are just sitting in the van staring straight ahead, calm, composed, relaxed. Then, all of the sudden they see me! Whoa!!! Elder Murphy, Elder Thurgood, Elder Fowers and Elder Etherington, in the front seat, become animated! They came alive!!! It was a little scary at first. A camera does more than a large dose of caffeine or even an electric shock! 

Elder Wirthlin is one of our Spanish Elders, hence, the Sombrero. Coincidentally Sister Duenas (one of our Spanish Sisters) is right behind him. Sister Stimpson to her left is not Spanish though.    

Elder Larsen and Elder Steinberg give me big grins. 

Elder Bowers stands alone. This is the first time I've seen Elder Bowers without at least five other Elders around him! 

Sister Vance and Sister Cortez join Sister Aguilar and Sister Rhees in front of the Church doors.

Elder Mabey takes a deep sigh as he climbs into the van with at least  ten Elders and Sisters. It will be a long day of transfers for  him, but he's a trooper!

Group shot!!! Sister Stimpson, Sister Duenas, Sister Jones next to Elder Moser, Elder Christianson, and I gave Elder Barclay too much time to make his hand sign.

Elder Briceno is just happy to be here.

Maybe I've got this all wrong. Maybe they are so used to using their thumbs with technology that it's automatic! Elder Burgi, Elder McCleary (who seems to be comfortable) and Elder Ellis.

It's selfie time!!!! Sister Orr and Sister Tofilau. 

Okay, so I get in on the action.

Every six weeks we have missionaries going home. President Russell and I enjoy so much taking them to the temple. Today we went to the Meford Temple. The sky cleared just for the picture! Then back to rain, but hey, this is Oregon!!

Elder Andersen, President and Sister Russell, Sister Persson, Sister Hernaez, and
Sister Figueroa. We will miss them!!!

Our March MLC was wonderful!!!

 (Our wonderful Sister Senior missionaries in the office feed us so well!) 

 Sister Figueroa and Sister Morgan are so cute! Sister Figueroa will be leaving next Tuesday to go home. We will miss her!!

Elder Baker, Elder Finlinson on the left, and Elder Holman on the right. Just smiles, that's all! I love it!

More beautiful Sisters: Sister Nowell and Sister Harrison.

Elder Hatch and Elder Hoskins, on the left. Front right: Elder Lambson, Elder Fowers (not quite sure what he's trying to express), and Elder Poston.

All of our Sisters are amazing!! Sister Johnson, Sister Hart, (right front) Sister Jones, and Sister Stimpson, who is deep in thought.

These fine Elders are: (front left) Elder Opper, Elder Knell, (front right) Elder Bordon, Elder Thibault with Sister Jones giving the thumbs-up behind them.

Elder Bunker has got to be loving this (or extremely uncomfortable) being by all Sisters! Next to him is Sister Mills, Sister Hepworth. Right front: Sister Payne and Sister Vance.

Now, for the other side of the table: Elder Willitts, Elder Miller, and again Sister Hepworth and Sister Mills, we really can't have too many pictures with them!

Sister Viiga and Sister Hansen with Sister Mills across the table. (In the background is Elder Danley making sure everyone is hydrated.)

Aren't these the most beautiful smiles?! Sister Leavitt, Sister Gregory, Sister Alldredge, Sister Udall, and Sister Peterson.

 Such happiness over a chicken salad sandwich! Elder Hill and Elder Cronin!

Elder Gage is either smiling as big as he can without actually showing teeth, or he's about to blow up. Elder Deppe, and Elder Kroll are there just in case he does (although I'm not sure if Elder Kroll is crazy about the idea of Elder Gage blowing up).

 It's difficult to find president Russell sitting and relaxing (don't worry, it didn't last).

At the other end of the table is Elder Dopp, President Cropper and President Lowary.

 And finally; our fantastic Senior Sisters who put this all together and it went off without a hitch! 
Sister Mabey, Sister Danley, Sister Merrill, and Sister Bullock. (They are all amazing at cooking as well!)

Our newest Senior couple; the Merrills come to help with MLC. We are so thrilled to have all of them in the OEM!

 The Mission Leadership Council