The newest group of missionaries arrived on a beautiful day. It is difficult to believe that it is near the end of December when we have 50+ degree days and sunshine. However, the missionaries coming from warmer climates (like Hawaii and Guam) still feel cold.
It took four vehicles to transport all of the missionaries and their luggage.
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| Even from the back it is easy to identify our tallest and shortest arriving missionaries: Elder Gremillion and Sister Fehlman. |
The first stop is the Washington DC temple. Everyone looks relatively awake even after being awake all night.
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Front row left to right: Sister Fehlman, Mesa, AZ; President Matsumori, Sister Matsumori, Sister Lawrence, Guam.
Back row left to right: Elder Morris, Ramah, NM; Elder Ah Puck, Hauula, Hawaii; Elder Julander, Mesa, AZ; Elder Epperson, West Valley, UT; Elder Schow, Riverton, UT; Elder Gremillion, Roy, UT; Elder Sterr, Providence, UT; Elder Meserole, Washington, IA; Elder Lott, Pleasant View, UT; Elder Storr, Wayan, ID; Elder Galuvao, Anaheim, CA. |
Next stop: IHOP for breakfast.
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| Clockwise around the table from the left: Elder Epperson, Elder Schow, Elder Julander, Elder Sterr. |
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| With tasty breakfast left to right: Elder Meserole and Elder Morris. |
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| The four on this table left to right: Elder Ah Puck, Elder Gremillion, Elder Lott, Elder Wright. |
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| Clockwise around two table: Sister Fehlman, Elder Storr, Elder Galuvao, Elder Hatch, Elder Teuscher and Sister Lawrence. |
We gather in the mission home for several trainings through the rest of the day and evening. This is prior to one of the meetings.
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| Left to right: Elder Galuvao, Elder Ah Puck, Elder Gremillion, Elder Meserole, Elder Epperson and Elder Hatch. |
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| Left to right: Elder Lott, Elder Morris, Elder Storr, Elder Schow and Elder Galuvao (again). |
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| Left to right: Elder Sterr, Elder Bleak (senior missionary in charge of the vehicles) and Elder Julander. |
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| Left to right: Elder Julander with Sister Lawrence and Sister Fehlman. |
Please believe me - we do feed the missionaries healthy food, but I can never remember to take photos then. So here we are at the end of the evening eating pie.
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| Left to right: Elder Lott, Elder Morris, Elder Julander, Elder Sterr, and Elder Meserole. |
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| Elder and Sister Bleak help get the pie ready to serve. Sister Lawrence joins them. |
And we take time for ping pong. Those seated are out of the game momentarily. I have discovered it's easier to get their photos while they are still than while they are running around the ping pong table.
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| Elder Julander and Elder Ah Puck. |
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| Elder Galuvao and Elder Hatch |
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| Left to right: Elder Meserole, Sister Lawrence, Elder Epperson, Elder Morris and Elder Storr. |
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| Left to right: Elder Hatch, Elder Teuscher, Elder Morris, Elder Sterr, Sister Fehlman and Elder Ah Puck |
The following day the newly arrived missionaries get to meet their new companions. One group lines up on one side of the room, the other group lines up on the other side of the room and then President Matsumori announces who the new companionships are. They come to the middle to greet one another. You can often tell by looking at the faces in the photo whether it's a new arrival or a trainer.
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| Left to right: Elder Hatch (assistant preparing to demonstrate how to properly greet your new companion), Elder Gremillion, Elder Epperson, Elder Schow, Elder Ah Puck, Elder Meserole, Elder Morris, Elder Galuvao, Sister Fehlman, Sister Lawrence, Elder Julander, Elder Lott, Elder Storr, Elder Sterr. |
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| Left to right: Elder Fawcett, Elder Croft, Elder Shinost, Sister Ertelt, Sister Lewis, Elder Shigeta, Elder Tomlinson, Elder Dillon, Elder Koyle, Elder Kennedy, Elder Nowlin, Elder Wells, Elder Pound and Elder Wright (assistant also preparing how to greet his new companion). |
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| Elder Wright and Elder Hatch demonstrate a handshake and a hug as a possible way to greet one another. |
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| Sister Lewis and Sister Lawrence go straight for the hug. |
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| Some of the companions have been announced. Others still await their fate. |
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| Elder Shigeta meets Elder Meserole. |
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| Elder Nowlin and Elder Lott try the handshake. |
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| Trainers still wait to find out who their new companion will be: Elder Fawcett, Elder Dillon, Elder Koyle, Elder Kennedy and Elder Wells. |
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| All of the missionaries are now with their new companions and ready to be trained and then go to the temple together. |
