Transfer week is a roller coaster of emotions. Everyone feels sad to have these great, experienced missionaries preparing to leave. The exception maybe the parents who are anxiously awaiting their son or daughter's return. Yet there is an excitement in the air because of the changes that will come with additional missionaries arriving. Here is a recap of some of the transfer week's activities:
Wednesday before transfers: Temple trip
The missionaries who will be returning home attend the temple and meet with a member of the temple presidency. The presidency's message is one of encouragement for the missionaries to establish a pattern of temple attendance once they get home. Just as personal study has become a pattern for inspiration, so can temple attendance help missionaries receive answers to their questions.
 |
| This photo is taken looking away from the temple toward the parking lots. The trees provide beautiful autumn color in Washington DC. |
After the session, the missionaries gather for pictures in front of the temple.
 |
| These elders spell CTR. |
 |
| Elder Fawcett and Elder Furugen |
 |
| The elders gather to say good-bye to the missionaries who will leave. |
 |
| Elder Teriirere and Elder Mataele |
 |
| Elder Kerby waves while Elder McClane looks on. |
 |
| Elder Grant and Elder Kerby |
 |
| Elder Wang and Elder Tolman |
 |
| Elders gather after the temple session. |
The missionaries who travel from the farthest regions of Lexington Park and Patuxent are usually driven by Brother Weitzner, ward mission leader and great missionary supporter.
 |
| The missionaries gather around Brother Weitzner's car. |
 |
| Brother Weitzner distributes homemade goodies to the missionaries who have served in his ward. The other missionaries gather hoping he will have extra. He always does. For Halloween each year he puts together goody bags for every missionary in the mission. |
Thursday before transfers: departing interviews and breakfast
Missionaries come to the mission home to meet with the president for their final interview before leaving. While they wait for their turn to talk to the president, they get to participate in a "make your own pancake breakfast". There have been a myriad of creative pancake creations using any combination of chocolate chips, coconut, nuts, bananas, blueberries, apples, caramel, marshmallows, Nutella, or craisins. There have also been attempts at world record size pancakes - which I allow with the understanding that whoever tries to flip the pancake and fails is responsible for cleaning the batter up off of the counter, floor, grill or wherever else it lands.
 |
| Elder Janmohamed demonstrates how you cook pancakes with style. |
 |
| Elder Aru prepares to flip his pancake. |
 |
| A few transfers ago: Sister Staley watches as Sister Clark prepares to blow out a candle. She was in the mission home on her birthday so we made a special pancake for her. |
This is also a time to get group pictures of missionaries who have known each other since the MTC.
 |
| A few transfers ago - left to right: Sister Sorensen, Sister Staley, Sister Chan, Sister Matsumori, Sister Gonzalez, Sister Clark |
 |
| A few transfers ago left to right: Sister Sanchez, Sister Gomez, Sister Pinales, Sister Luthi, Sister Ortega |
 |
| This transfer: Sister Chan was the only sister leaving this time, so her companion, Sister Joost, accompanied her. |
 |
| This transfer - left to right: Elder Kunzler, Elder Tolman, Elder Danklefsen, Elder Stewart were in the same district in the MTC. |
