First thing on Wednesday morning, we take the new missionaries to meet their trainers. I must tell you that the bananas are from a member in White Plains who drives the missionaries to transfers. He brings either apples or bananas to give to each missionary.
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Front row left to right: Sister Blasco, Sister Word, Elder Raasveld and Elder Gilbert.
Back row left to right: Elder Morris, Elder Watson and Elder Fisher. |
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Front row left to right: Elder Gilbert, Elder Boronow, Elder Chapman.
Back row left to right: Elder Morris, Elder Watson, Elder Fisher, Elder Watts and Elder Bodily. |
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Front row left to right: Elder Radford and Elder Brown.
Back row left to right: Elder Seely, Elder Bodily, Sister Finlay and Sister Avelar.
At the very back, Sister and Elder Olsen. |
This is an exciting time - to start to guess who might be your first companion. Some missionaries tell me that the trainers are every bit as nervous as the new missionaries. They realize the great responsibility that rests with them in helping the new missionary learn about missionary work.
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| Left to right: Elder Croft, Sister Blasco, Sister Word, Elder Brown, Elder Radford, Elder Ruston, Elder Chapman, Elder Boronow, Elder Gilbert and Elder Raasveld. |
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| Trainers - left to right: Elder Pierucci (standing in for Elder Rozsa), Elder Morris, Elder Watson, Elder Watts, Elder Fisher, Elder Seely, Elder Bodily, Sister Finlay, Sister Avelar and Elder Brown. |
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| Sister Finlay and Sister Blasco meet for the first time. |
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| The elders try to guess who their new companion might be. Left to right: Elder Rozsa (now arrived), Elder Morris, Elder Watson, Elder Watts, Elder Fisher, Elder Seely and Elder Bodily. |
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| The remaining new elders are all from the English program. Left to right: Elder Radford, Elder Rushton, Elder Chapman, Elder Boronow, Elder Gilbert and Elder Raasveld. |
After a quick training meeting, the new missionaries arrive in the main area where they meet some of the other missionaries and also where they take pictures together.
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| Elder Watts will be training Elder Gilbert. |
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| Posterity photo op - Elder Rushton is the "son"; Elder Watson is the "father" and Elder Lambert is the "grandfather". |
