We met again this past week with the missionaries who will be leaving this transfer. This is always a bittersweet time. We are so grateful for their valiant service, but it is also just a little tender thinking that this will be the last time that we will see them as a group in the temple.
Wednesday, December 14 - at the temple
The weather in six weeks has changed, but is still quite mild for mid- December. You'll notice that while there are no longer beautiful autumn leaves, the missionaries are quite comfortable without coats over their suits.
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| Looking out from the temple entrance. |
Some of the missionaries gathered in an impromptu photo op of the departing missionaries. While there are ten in this photo, thirteen will be leaving.
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| Left to right: Elder Gibb, Elder Gorringe, Elder Thomas, Elder Stewart, Elder Teuscher, Elder Robinson, Elder Edwards, Sister VanTassell, Elder Bates, Elder Karlinsey. |
Many missionaries take time to visit before continuing to their preparation day activities.
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| Amidst the missionaries is Sister Emma Mays. She is from the College Park ward and loves the Elders. She tries to come to the departing temple day in order to bid farewell to those she's grown close to. |
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| This is a great time to visit with former companions as well as say thank you to those who will be leaving. |
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| Elder Williams and Elder Kennedy stop visiting for a moment to allow a photo. |
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| And President Matsumori has a chance to talk to the missionaries as well. |
Thursday, December 15 - breakfast at the mission home
While President Matsumori conducts interviews, the missionaries get to make their own pancakes.
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| Elder Robinson, Elder Thomas and Elder Teuscher finish their first pancake. |
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| Elder Teuscher, Elder Edwards, Elder Gorringe, Elder Janmohamed and Elder Stewart take turns making pancakes. |
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| Sister VanTassell and Elder Bates now have a turn. |
While the missionaries are at the mission home, I ask them to do a few other things.
They find their favorite scripture and mark it. The Book of Mormon and New Testament get a lot of attention - the Old Testament is rarely used, unless Elder Robinson is marking.
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| Elder Gibb, Sister VanTassell, Elder McGarry, Sister Humbert take turns with the scriptures. |
The missionaries check the contact information I have and make corrections as needed.
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| Elder Gorringe, Elder Stewart, Elder Janmohamed and Elder Teuscher. |
They also play ping pong. All of the trash talking that takes place during two years now has to be backed up.
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| Elder Thomas, Elder Stewart and Elder Robinson. I still don't know who won - every missionary told me that they did. |
We take one final picture together in front of the Christmas tree.
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| Left to right: Sister Humbert, Elder Bates, Sister VanTassell, Elder Thomas, Elder Robinson, Elder Janmohamed, Elder Edwards, Elder Teuscher, Elder Gorringe, Elder Gibb, Elder Stewart, Elder McGarry. (Ok, I don't know what Elder Teuscher or Elder Janmohamed were doing to get that kind of face out of Elder Edwards. You'll have to ask them.) |
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| Same group with Sister Matsumori and President Matsumori added. Elder Karlinsey is missing from the photo. He was attending a funeral for a member in White Plains. The family requested that he be allowed to come as he had established a good relationship with them. |
