Every month on the first Tuesday we have MLC. It is usually held in Eugene, but every once in a while we have it somewhere else. This month it was in Medford.

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The assistants asked all of the zone leaders and STLs to break up into seven groups and discuss the 7 bullet points in Chapter One of Preach My Gospel. 

I'm not quite sure what's happening in group One, but Elder Etherington is being 'picked on' by Elder Poston while the rest of the group looks on with interest.

 A very lively discussion is going on in group Two. Elder West is instructing. Sister Fausett and Sister Viiga seem amused.

Elder Thibault (pronounced T-Bow) is having a laugh with Elder Flake to the left. Elder Adams, to the right, just about to break out in a smile.

 Elder Thompson seems to be reading the assignment to Sister Allen (left), Sister Figueroa, Sister Doxey, Sister Dobbs, and Sister Peterson, who are all listening intently.

Elder Fowers (in the middle) is really into the discussion, he has a strong opinion! Sister Persson seems to be enjoying it, however, Elder Hill (front left) seems to be pondering still.

Group Six are the most relaxed of the bunch. Sister Alldredge (far right) is taking notes, Sister Steele and Sister Hart to her left, just smile. Sister Holiday and Sister Sidhu are also listening to  Elder Bushman who is doing the talking.

Apparently Group Seven went somewhere else and I didn't get a picture (can they do that???)

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After more training by President Russell, President Lowary, President Cropper, and myself we had lunch!

President Cropper looks on his laptop and President Lowary is showing me that he has water! Great job, President Lowary!

I always ask them to smile, but  sometimes lunch is much more important than a photo op. Elder Watson needs to eat that potato chip!

 This group seems a little more subdued, however  they are still enjoying this awesome meal!

Elder Blake really does like to smile, and he is happy,  I must have caught him off guard. Elder Thompson eats his potato chips, those chips must be phenomenal!

 Yep, it's the chips! Sister Hart holds up the package. Look at all those smiles, these Sisters are all beautiful!

Our next group of lovely Sisters is prepared for a great picture! Look not one potato chip in sight!

We'll call these Elders the picnickers, they can eat lunch without a table!

 Elder Hill sits next to President Cropper, while President Russell talks on the phone (not an uncommon sight).

 Sister Asregadoo and Sister VanLeuven enjoy lunch, it was really good!!

Check out all the smiles! Sister Poulsen and Sister Allen (left) are the best of friends and sadly will be leaving us at the next transfer

Elder Holman, one of the president's Assistants gives the thumbs-up sign (it probably has something to do with the potato chips). Elder Finlinson, the president's other Assistant is pretty content.

Do you think Elder Fowers loves his grapes??!! More thumbs-up from the Elders, what a lunch!!!

 One final shot of lunch with Sisters Alldredge, Peterson, and Dobbs.

 These wonderful sisters fixed this fantastic lunch for us! We are extremely grateful for their time and sacrifice for us!











Sister MaryAnn Cropper is the Relief Society president, she is the fearless leader!! 

And here is a shot seen ever so often; President Russell talking to a missionary, or to a stake president, or parents, or a General Authority. He loves the work! We both love all of these missionaries, they are like our own children.

We welcome a new missionary to the greatest mission on earth, the OEM! 

Elder Benson Horne

He will be trained by 

Elder Falatea and they will be serving the Eugene zone. 

We know we will be seeing great things from this awesome companionship!

Last month we had a special zone conferences with Daniel L. Johnson and his sweet wife LeAnn. We also had Elder Richard Hansen, our area Seventy with us.  It took a while to get the pictures sent to us, and here they are!

 This is the southern zones; Klamath Falls, Grants Pass, Medford, Central Point, and part of Coos Bay

This is the northern zones; Corvallis, Eugene, Springfield, Santa Clara, Roseburg, and the other half of Coos Bay.

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It was great to have Elder and Sister Johnson here with us! They are wonderful!
We appreciate Elder Hansen as well, we are blessed to see him more often. 

Drum roll!!! We welcome to the OEM, the greatest missionaries, to the greatest mission in the world!!!

On Wednesday, July 7th we welcomed 18 new missionaries!!

Whenever we take a picture instead of saying 'cheese' we say 'baptize', well we were almost through the work baptize. 

Left front: Elder Ho, Sister Rhoton, Sister Wilson, Sister Pfau, President and Sister Russell, Sister Harrison, Sister Sorensen, and Sister Datwyler. Back row: Elder Pierce, Elder Terry, Elder Kellerstrass, Elder Lynn, Elder Baker, Elder Stohl (is in front of Elder Baker), Elder Gittins, Elder Call, Elder Wikans, Elder  Baxter, and Elder Chiu. We love getting these incredible missionaries!!!

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We drove to the mission home and our wonderful office missionaries had lunch ready for us. Because the day was fantastic, we ate on the patio.

 I walked out on the very soggy lawn to get these shots, but it was worth it! (I didn't have them say 'baptize' as it wouldn't be as much fun with a mouth full of food.)

 Check out those smiles!! They could light up a dark room.

 Not sure what Sister Sorensen is doing, but it looks cute.

 Elder Holman, one of the president's assistants, gives a thumbs-up.

 This was a great picture, but I could only see the back of Sister Pfau's head, I'm sure her mother would recognize her, but I took another picture to get a pic of the other side of her head.

 Much better, right?

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After lunch we went into the mission home and they received some training from the assistants, me, and president Russell.

 President Russell interviewed each missionary before he spoke. Elder Finlinson (the president's other assistant) listens from the foyer.

After training, we had dinner and then the missionaries went out with the seasoned missionaries in the area to their appointments and had their first taste of real missionary work. Afterward they came back and all of them had a story to tell where they had taught, tracted, handed out a pass-along card or a Book of Mormon. They were extremely excited,  and very tired. We had the Sisters stay in the rooms upstairs and the two Chinese Elders stay in the lower level. The other Elders stayed with the assistants. They live in a duplex with lots of bunk beds. All the missionaries crashed, it had been a very long day.

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After a great night's sleep we had breakfast and went to the church. There we had a beautiful program and then took them into the cultural hall and they were introduced to their trainers. Then we got everyone together for a picture before they were trained by the wonderful office missionaries about finances, vehicles, health, referrals, and many more things.

In addition to these new missionaries, we have a new senior couple working in the office; Elder and Sister Bullock (on the front row, right side). Elder Bullock handles finances and Sister Bullock takes care of referrals, along with several other things.
You can see the greatness of these phenomenal missionaries!!

                                               And add to that. the outstanding trainers!

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                                        Now, we introduce our new                                    missionaries with their trainers!

Elder Miller will be training Elder Kellerstrauss

Elder Borden will be training Elder Baxter 

Elder Wagstaff will be training Elder Lynn

Elder Nelson will be training Elder Baker

Elder Terrell will be training Elder Wikans

Elder Kroll will be training Elder Call

Elder Lambson will be training Elder Terry

Elder Mafi will be training Elder Stohl

Elder Hsiung will be training Elder Chiu

Elder Kung will be training Elder Ho

Elder Anderson will be training Elder Pierce

Elder Garrard will be training Elder Gittins

Sister Pfau will be trained by Sister Johnson

Sister Harrison will be trained by Sister Nowell

Sister Sorensen will be trained by Sister Rasmussen

Sister Wilson will be trained by Sister Mills

Sister Rhoton will be trained by Sister Hepworth

Sister Datwyler will be trained by Sister Hokanson

After they were trained, we gave them a sack lunch and told them goodbye and be safe as they travel to their new areas!

Sister Johnson and Sister Pfau wave before they put all of those suitcases in that little trunk (and they all fit!!)

Elder Pierce and Elder Anderson wave just before they get into their car (they not only got all the suitcases into the car, but also Elder Pierce's bike!)

Sister Wilson and Sister Mills wave goodbye, have you ever seen such huge smiles??

Our Chinese Elders are going to put all of that into that truck! Elder Chiu, is getting packed into the truck as well!! It all fit (except Elder Chiu)!

Sister Rasmussen, Sister Nowell, Sister Harrison, and Sister Sorensen. Look at those parade waves, is that royalty I see there??  Yep!!

Elder Garrard and Elder Gittins are packin'...lunches!!

Elder Call and Elder Kroll are with Elder Blake and Elder Thompson, who are the zone                                            leaders in Springfield. They are giving them a ride.

                         All packed up and ready to go; Sister Datwyler and Sister Hokanson. 
                              You can already see the wonderful companionship forming.

Elder Nelson and Elder Baker stop for a picture before taking off. Check out the cute Sisters posing,                                               making the background look beautiful!

Sister Hepworth and Sister Rhoton have their hands full, talk about being ready for anything!!!

President Russell told Elder Stohl that he had nothing to worry about, Elder Mafi will be his companion/body guard.

Elder Lambson and Elder Terry are all set to find,  teach repentance and baptize converts!

Check out those smiles on Elder Wikans and Elder Terrell! Are they ready or what???

Here we have Elder Hollywood Miller with Elder Kellerstrauss; doors open and ready to make a quick get-away (well, how fast can you get away with a TIWI?)

I almost missed Elder Wagstaff and Elder Lynn, I thought I would have to chase them down the street (not a pretty sight)!

Elder and Sister Mabey. They do so much work for the mission, they make me tired!