New Leader Training and Zone Leader Council - June 2012

We hold leadership meeting immediately following transfers. At that time zones report how well they did in the transfer before as well as set goals for the upcoming transfers.

Early arriving missionaries left to right:  Elder Gleed, Elder Pon, Elder Anderson, Elder Pound, Elder Wang and Elder Williams.

OK, I had to take this picture.  Left to right Elder Furugen (Japan), Elder Pon (Hong Kong), Elder Wang (China), and Elder Croft (Utah).

There is special training for those who are newly called leaders.  Front row, left to right:  Elder Gillespie, Elder Nisson, Elder Pon, Elder Watts and Elder White.
Back row: Elder Bigelow (trust me, it's him), Elder Clapier, Elder Wang and Elder Goodman.

The new zone leaders break off into one room.  Left to right: Elder Goodman, Elder Wang, Elder Clapier and Elder Bigelow.
By the way, if you could see name tags, you'd see that Elder Bigelow's name tag says Elder Grande.  He is in the Spanish program and Grande means big.  Apparently, it is much easier for the Spanish members to say his name this way. Elder Wang's name tag now reads Elder Wong so people will pronounce it correctly.

The new district leaders take notes - left to right:  Elder Gillespie, Elder Nisson, Elder Pon, Elder Watts and Elder White.

Front row left to right: Elder Goodman, Elder Valdetano, Elder Dillon, Elder Hurd and Elder Mataele.
Second row left to right: Elder Christensen, Elder Webb, Elder Gillespie, Elder Gleed and Elder White.
Third row left to right:  Elder Wells, Elder Kerby, Elder Lowry, Elder Wang and Elder Pound.
Back row left to right: Elder Searle, Elder Watts, Elder Benke, Elder Tomlinson and Elder Nisson.

Front row left to right: Sister Marcy, Sister Allen and Sister Lewis.
Second row left to right:  Elder Clapier, Elder Rodriguez and Elder Sanchez.
Back row left to right: Elder Furugen, Elder Anderson, Elder Pon and Elder Standing.

Suitland Zone left to right: Elder Nisson, Elder Williams, Elder Furugen, Elder Anderson, Elder Goodman and Elder Pon.

Washington South Zone left to right: Elder Searle, Elder Benke, Elder Valdetano, Elder Brown and Elder Standing.

Washington South Zone left to right:  Elder Rodriguez, Elder Dillon, Elder Kerby, Elder Hurd, Elder Wells and Sister Allen.

Silver Spring North Zone left to right: Sister Lewis, Elder Wang, Elder Gleed, Elder Watts and Elder Pound.

The other two zones were already deep in discussion so I missed their pictures this time.

The zone leaders gathered the following week to council about how the mission can continue to improve. 

Left to right: Elder Dillon, Elder Hurd, Elder Lee and Elder Bigelow.

Elder Clapier, Elder Sanchez, Elder Wang and Elder Pound.

Elder Pierucci, Elder Croft, Elder Brown and Elder Standing.  (Elder Goodman and Elder Anderson are missing at this point because of an accident on the beltway.  It took them 2 1/2 hours to get here.  It's one disadvantage of having the zone leaders now based out of White Plains rather than Anacostia.)

Elder Pierucci and Elder Croft train.  You can see side views of Elder Goodman and Elder Anderson who made it. 

It's time to eat.  From front to back on the left: Elder Croft, Elder Sanchez, Elder Pound, Elder Dillon, Elder Pierucci Elder Anderson.
Front to back on the right of the table:  Elder Bigelow, Elder Lee, Elder Clapier, Elder Brown, Elder Hurd, Elder Standing an Elder Goodman.

Left side of the table front to back: Elder Goodman, Elder Standing, Elder Hurd, Elder Brown, Elder Lee.
Right side of the table front to back: Elder Anderson, Elder Pierucci, Elder Wang, Elder Dillon, Elder Pound, Elder Sanchez and Elder Croft. 

Nationals Baseball - June 7, 2012

Our annual baseball trip was wonderful.  Fortunately the weather was perfect - partly cloudy, a slight breeze and low humidity. Unfortunately, the Nats lost. Though, I'm not sure that many of the missionaries realized that. Certainly there was more socializing and picture taking than game watching.

Most of the missionaries were aware that one of the up and coming players for the Nationals is 19 year old Bryce Harper  - a fellow member of the church.  When he was at bat, you could hear some missionaries yell out encouragement, "Go, Brother Bryce".  Of course, once you see where our seats were located you'll also understand why it was difficult for him to hear us.  Also, for some unknown reason, our seats were spread apart.  Next year, we'll try for more unity.

Our missionaries make a great shot on the big screen.

So you can see how where the missionaries are.  We still don't know why they didn't keep us together.

And thus the reason it's hard to hear us from the field.

This is the first of  many group shots - because we are spread out all over this section. I can name everyone here (trust me). I'm just not sure how to indicate it so you can tell.  So have fun looking for your favorite missionary in the next photographs.

Some missionaries are very aware of the camera.  Others are not.

Elder Stallings on the front row was "released" the day before. He is there with his father (behind him) and his mother (behind me).

Front row: Elder Dillon
Next row left to right: Elder Rodriguez, Elder Branning, Elder Rozsa, Elder White.
Back row:  Sister Brown, Sister Miller and Elder Julander.
Hidden - Sister Chan.
On perimeter you'll see other missionaries.

Elder Mcdonald, on the left just arrived two days previously.  He sits with his trainer, Elder Salanoa.

So if your missionary says they're a little short of funds this month, check what they had at the ball game.  Missionaries left to right: Elder Teriirere, Elder Searle, Elder Roomataaroa, Elder Wery, Elder Gleed and Elder Larson.

Elder Gumbi has a Los Angeles hat on. What's with that?? Next to him:  Elder Anderson and  Elder Mataele.
In front,  Elder Livengood and Elder Goodman.

Here are some of the sisters grouped together with a few elders mixed in.

More missionaries, then seats of who knows who and then additional missionaries at the top.

The advantage to being at the top was that you were in the shade.  You'll notice many of our senior missionaries chose this location. 

Sister Harper thought it worth while to pick up a Bryce Harper jersey.

Elder Valdetano wore a New York hat. What's with that?  Of course he lived in New York, but hey - we were playing the Mets today. Next to him Elder Morris and Elder Centeno.  On the back row right to left: Elder Furugen, Elder Peterson and Elder Nisson.

Left to right: Elder Pearson (released the day before), Elder Brown and JS Armstrong.  JS is an amazing supporter of missionary work in this mission.

And Brother Bryce at the plate.

Some missionaries on the very back row - along with senior missionaries in front.

Yes, we know that Nationals colors are red and white, but hey - if you don't have it in your wardrobe, you don't have it!
Left to right: Sister Cardall, Sister Wong, Sister Wankier and Sister Matsumori

The sisters turn to say hi.  You'll notice how far down the field is.

I never think to take a picture of President and me together. Thank goodness Elder Anderson asked or else there would be no evidence that we were even at the game.

"Take me out to the Ballgame" June 7, 2012

A tradition at baseball games is to stand between the top half of the seventh inning and the bottom half of the seventh inning and sing. This is known as the 7th inning stretch.

So here are our missionaries joining in with the 32,000 in attendance at the game. Those you see standing but  not singing are probably from the South Pacific, Asia, South America or Europe where "Take me out to the Ballgame" has not hit the top recording charts.

Also, you'll see the missionaries cheer toward the end of the song. That's when they were put on the big screen again.  Enjoy.

Transfer week - June 6, 2012 Departures

You'd think that saying good-bye would somehow get easier, that I'd toughen up. But no.  It still tears at our heart to bid farewell to these great missionaries.  There were seven elders who left this transfer - and no sisters.  What's interesting is there were 19 who arrived in this group two years ago. Why the discrepancy in numbers? Well, the sisters go home six months earlier and those who are in the language programs leave earlier as well because of their extra time in the MTC learning a language.

Two sets of parents came out to pick up their missionaries.

Elder Pearson greets his mother as his dad waits his turn.

The Stallings with Elder Stalling.

The missionaries double check the weight of their luggage before they load them onto the vans.  If the luggage is even one pound over the allotted 50 pounds, the airlines charge extra.

Elder Koyle discovers he needs to lighten his load. Elder Lott and Elder Danner look on.

The missionaries get to see one another at the visitors center as they gather to say good-bye to the departing missionaries.

Left to right:  Elder Moore, Elder Goodman, Elder  Olsen and Elder Stoor.

Left to right: Elder Bodily, Elder Tomlinson, Elder Gremillion and Elder Rodriguez.

Elder Jelitto, Elder Standing and Elder Brown.

The arriving missionaries come out from their training meeting and are greeted by the experienced missionaries.

Left to right: Elder Larson, Elder Danner (being held aloft), Elder Salanoa and Elder McDonald.

A posterity line:  Elder Croft, Elder Gleed and Elder Anderson.

Those who got the memo to wear red and black:  Sister Ertelt, Sister Matsumori and Sister Brown.

Another posterity group from top to bottom:   Elder Lindsay with Elder Tomlinson and Elder Gillespie and then Elder Wery. 

The French group gather - front row left to right: Elder Pawlenchuk, Elder Tomlinson, Elder Anderson and Elder Searle.
Second row left to right:  Elder Roomataaroa, Elder Wery, Elder Gillespie, Elder Lindsay, Elder Teriirere and Elder Vanaa. 

Elder Lindsay shows what you look like when you leave the mission after having had many Pacific Islander companions. 

Our formal departure picture:

The missionaries left to right;  Elder Stallings, Elder Cottrell, Elder Koyle, Elder Lindsay, Elder Danner, Elder Pearson and Elder Carver. 

Two senior couples are also departing this transfer. Sister Bushman is on the left.  Her husband is recuperating in the hospital.  Sister Bleak is on the right.  Her husband is involved with transfers at the stake center. 

We gather for lunch before going separate ways.

Left to right:  Brother Stallings, Sister Stallings, Sister Bushman and Cindy (Elder and Sister Bushman's daughter).

Clockwise around the table from the left: Elder Croft, Elder Pierucci, Brother Pearson, Elder Pearson and Sister Pearson.

Clockwise from the left: Elder Koyle, Elder Cottrell, Elder Carver, Sister Bleak, Elder Danner and Elder Lindsay.

Sister Bleak, Elder Stallings and Elder Koyle.

Some of the group said their farewells at the airport.

The missionaries check in at the kiosks.

Elder Lindsay bids farewell as he is flying on a different carrier.