Whatever their previous circumstance, they have all been trained on how to better share the gospel of Jesus Christ. They arrive excited to finally be doing what they were called to do - to invite others to come unto Christ. But after a red-eye flight, they walk off of the plane a little hungry, fairly tired, and somewhat apprehensive. No matter how much training they have received or advice they've heard, they still are unsure of what to expect.
To lessen the anxiety, the first thing we do is go directly to the Washington DC Temple and depending upon the weather, allow the missionaries a few minutes to walk around the temple grounds. Then it's time to take pictures so we can send tangible proof to their parents that they are safely on the ground and in our care.
August 3, 2010
This is the first group, and like our first child, we learned on them. Of course we took individual pictures, but didn't think to take a group picture. We were happy to see several familiar faces: Elder Kinne was in the MTC with us while we were at the New Mission Presidents' Seminar and Elder Schaap and his family visited us in Salt Lake because their home was not far from ours.
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| Elder Kinne, Paulden, Arizona |
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| Elder Pierucci, Stockton, California |
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| Elder Greiner, Horseshoe Bend, Idaho |
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| Elder Hurd, Tremonton, Utah |
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| Elder Kennedy, Boise, Idaho |
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| Elder Schaap, Holladay, Utah |
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| Elder Fowles, Portland, Oregon |
By the second transfer we figured out to not only take individual pictures, but to take a group picture as well. The members in the group become close friends throughout the mission.
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| From left to right: Elder Christensen, Farmington, UT; Elder Rodriguez, Quebec, Canada; Elder Vakalahi, Tonga/ Seattle, WA; President Matsumori; Elder Pound, Kennewick, WA; Sister Matsumori; Elder Hatch, Greenwood, CO; Elder Lambert, Quebec, Canada; Elder Webb, Blanding, UT; Sister VanTassel, Lincoln, NE; Elder Anderson, New Zealand; Sister Humbert, Germany; Elder J. Lee, Reno, Nevada October 25, 2010 Not all missionaries arrive on the same day. Occasionally a missionary will be sick and won't be able to travel with the group or at other times a missionary's language schedule has him arrive "off-transfer". That's what happened to Elder Kerby who was learning Chinese in the MTC.  Left to right: Sister Withers, Rigby, ID; Elder M. Johnson, Portland, OR; Sister Hazen, Layton, UT; Elder Searle, American Fork, UT; President and Sister Matsumori, Elder Brookes, England; Elder Benke,Joshua Tree, CA; Elder Kerby, Mesa, AZ. December 7, 2010 It's especially challenging for sisters to come to the mission in December. The Visitor's Center hosts several concerts each night through the month of December, so the sisters' schedules are very different than the rest of the year. But Sisters Gordon, Liddiard and DeAgostini managed to adjust very well to the fast paced, non-stop schedule.  Left to right: Elder Valdetano, Mexico; Elder Terierrere, Bora Bora; Elder Tomlinson, Australia; Elder Goodman,Tucson, AZ; Elder Mataele, Maricopa, AZ; President and Sister Matsumori, Sister DeAgostini, Sandy, UT; Sister Liddiard,Elk Ridge, UT; Sister Gordon, Mendon, UT. |
These great sisters and elders may be all smiles when then come off of the plane, but we can hear their stomachs letting us know that they are hungry. They leave the MTC the previous night just after dinner and by the time we finish at the temple, it is nearly noon. Pretzels and soft drinks only go so far. So we take the group to eat breakfast.
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| Left to right: Elder Brown, St, George, UT; Elder Garcia, Colombia, Elder Miles, Elder Dillon, Middleton, ID; President Matsumori, Elder Williams, Sister Matsumori, Elder Wang, China; Elder Nisson, St. George, UT; Sister Perez, Mexico. |
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| Left to right: Elder Faundez, AP; Elder Miles; Elder Waite, AP; Elder Brown; Elder Wang; Elder Dillon. |
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| Left to right: Elder Nisson; Elder Miles; Elder Vea, AP; Sister Perez; Sister Matsumori |
March 1, 2011
Every once in a while we receive just one missionary on a transfer. But we love having them come however many come at a time.
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| Elder Croft, Salt Lake City UT. |
April 12, 2011
The missionaries come prepared to teach in one of the five language teaching areas in our mission: English, Spanish, Chinese, French and ASL.
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| Left to right: Elder Bott, North Glen, CO; Elder Standing, Taylorsville, UT; Elder Furugen, Japan; President and Sister Matsumori; Sister Lawrence, Chandler, AZ; Sister Cadenhead, West Jordan, UT; Sister Marcy, Oro Valley, AZ; Elder Gillespie, St. George, UT; Elder Watson, Colorado Springs, CO; Elder Bigelow, Gilbert, AZ. |
May 24, 2011
Spring is beautiful in Washington DC and is the perfect weather to allow the missionaries an opportunity to walk around the temple.
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| Left to right: President Matsumori; Elder Mullins, St. George, UT; Sister Matsumori; Elder Sanchez, Colorado Springs, CO; Sister Ertelt, Germany; Sister Jones, Parkland, FL; Elder Martinez, Argentina; Sister Allen, Mesa, AZ; Elder Wells, Blanding, UT; Elder Pon, Hong Kong, China. |
July 5, 2011
Having transfers close to holidays makes no difference. We might throw red, white and blue sprinkles on top of their pancakes just to show we are aware that life goes on around us.
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| Left to right: Elder Roomataaroa, French Polynesia, Elder White, South Jordan, UT; Sister Moore, Niceville, FL; Sister Welch, Henderson, NV; Elder Rocza, Meridian, ID; President and Sister Matsumori; Elder Larson, Glendale, AZ; Sister Chan, St. Cloud, FL; Elder Pawlenchuk, Alberta, CA; Sister Lewis; Elk Grove, CA; Elder Hsiung, Rancho Pales Verdes, CA; Elder Vanaa, Tahiti. |
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| Entire table of missionaries - ready for breakfast. |
August 16, 2011
It's wonderful to see how the elders and sisters from various programs and MTC districts form friendships during the time they wait in airports and travel on the plane. They really watch out for one another and help each other when they need it.
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| Left to right: Elder Clapier, Salt Lake City, UT; Elder Lowry, Kaysville, UT; Elder Gleed, Eagle Mountain, UT; Elder Hansen, Boise, ID; President Matsumori; Elder Kuddes, West Jordan, UT; Sister Matsumori; Sister Miller, Bountiful, UT; Sister Avelar, Santa Ana, CA; Sister Bleazard, Pasco, WA; Sister Joost, Sahuarita, AZ; Sister Wong, Hong Kong, China. |
September 27, 2011
Here is an example of a missionary, Elder McClane, who finished his Chinese training several weeks before the rest of the group - which was just two sisters.
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| Elder McClane, Coto de Caza, CA |
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| Left to right: Sister Matsumori; Sister Shannon, Alpine, UT; Sister Finlay, Pocatello, ID; President Matsumori |
