New leader training/leadership training: February 15, 2013

New leader training and leadership training are held following transfers at the Chevy Chase building.

First the new leaders gather for instruction.

Front row left to right: Elder Miyasaki, Elder Larson and Elder Watts.
Back row left to right: Elder Jelitto, Elder Seely, Elder Galuvao, Elder Morris and Elder Ah Puck.

New zone leaders left to right: Elder Larson, Elder Watts, Elder Pawlenchuk, Elder Seely, Elder Clapier (an assistant) and Elder Mullins.

Front row left to right: Elder Mullins, Elder Martinez, Elder Epperson and Elder Pawlenchuk.
Back row left to right: Elder Kuddes, Elder Moore, Elder Jellitto and Elder Seely (hidden).

All of the leadership for the mission gathers for training.

Front row left to right: Elder Mullins, Elder Wells, Elder Lowry and Elder Seely.
2nd row left to right: Elder Epperson, Elder Bodily, Elder Larson and Elder Rozsa.
3rd row left to right: Elder Lott, Elder Meserole, Elder Jelitto, Elder McLane and  Elder Salanoa.
Back row left to right: Elder Galuvao (just posing for the camera), Elder Julander, Elder Vanaa and Elder Bott.

Front row left to right: Elder Sterr, Elder White and Elder Branning.
2nd row left to right: Elder Watts, Elder Olsen, Elder Fisher, Elder Nielson, Elder Pawlenhuk and Elder Pon.
3rd row left to right: Elder Moore, Elder Ah Puck, Elder Kuddes and Elder Morris.

We decided it would be great to teach and review how to lead a song for the leaders. You'll notice not everyone's hand is in the same position  - but we're getting closer.  At least they are usually smiling and looking at the people they are leading.

Left to right: Elder Julander, Elder Epperson, Elder Meserole, Elder Miyasaki, Elder Lott, Elder Clapier (hidden), Elder Vanaa, Elder Bodily and Elder Galuvao.

Left to right: Elder Seely, Elder Larson, Elder Rozsa, Elder Mullins, Elder Wells, Elder Lowry, Elder Hansen, Elder Julander, and Elder Epperson.

Left to right: Elder Clapier, Elder Meserole, Elder Vanaa, Elder Lott, Elder Bodily, Elder Galuvao, Elder McLane, Elder Sanchez, Elder Bott, Elder Salanoa and Elder Jelitto.

Left to right:Elder Kuddes, Elder Morris, Elder Fisher, Elder Nielson, Elder Olsen, Elder Pawlenchuk, Elder Long and Elder Olson.

Left to right: Elder Long, Elder Olson, Elder Branning, Elder Martinez, Sister Wankier, Sister Bechaver, Sister Quintanilla, Sister Miller and Elder Pon.

Left to right: Elder Moore, Elder Ah Puck, Elder Sterr, Elder White, Elder Kuddes, Elder Morris, and Elder Fisher.

President taught his workshop about the value of seeing examples and having good communication in giving direction. The missionaries were asked to close their eyes and fold the object by simply listening to the instructions.

Sister Quintanilla, Sister Wankier, Sister Miller and Sister Bechaver concentrate on folding their paper in half.

The missionaries display their finished product.

President holds up what he intended for them to fold. 

Transfer week - Transfer day and Departures: February 13, 2013

The air is filled with excitement as the missionaries gather in anticipation of where their new areas will be and who will be their companion. This transfer was especially exciting as there were many changes made as the first 18 year old missionaries arrived to our mission.

The sisters had a Pre-meeting to discuss their new schedule.  Eight companionships will stay in the Visitors Center full-time. That means they are there every day, alternating between the morning and afternoon shifts.  Five companionships will be full proselyting areas and they will come to the Visitors Center every Friday morning for training and also as called upon to help usher special events.  The five full proselyting areas are: Gathersburg Spanish, Laurel, Carrolton, Quince Orchard West and Bowie. All of the sisters can be transferred in and out of both areas.  The Olney area is now an elder's area.

The sisters gather to hear about the changes. 

The elders gather in the hallway to visit before entering the chapel.

I'll make no attempt at identifying all of these elders who are gathered in the hall.  You're on your own to find your favorite. 

Front and center: Elder Appiah
Left to right: Elder Dickerson, Elder Rozsa, Elder Miyasaki, Elder Brown, Elder Johnson and Elder Centeno.

Left to right: Elder Munoz, Elder Sterr, Elder Lott, Elder Bodily, Elder Branning, Elder Vanaa, Elder Gurerro and Elder Martinez.
In the back: Elder Black and Elder Chapman.

Left to right: Elder McLane, Elder Horowitz and Elder Radford head for the chapel to hear about the new assignments.

Following the transfer meeting is the time for the departing missionaries to gather.

Those who will be departing this transfer include Elder and Sister Dougall who have been in the office for 26 months.
Left to right: Elder and Sister Dougall, Elder Watson, President and Sister Matsumori, Elder Bigelow and Elder Gillespie.

Elder Bigelow's entire family has traditionally gone to pick up each missionary as they return.  Elder Bigelow set the stipulation that they could only come and pick him up if they placed a Book of Mormon first.  Each one of them did.

Departing missionaries - left to right:
Elder Watson, Elder Bigelow and Elder Gillespie.

Transfer week- Arrivals: February 12 - 13, 2013

The new missionaries were greeted by a beautiful day and happy assistants.

Front row left to right: Elder Sanchez, Elder Bigelow, Elder Clapier, Elder Farley and Elder Hansen.
Back row left to right: Elder Gardner, Elder Peterson, Elder Standing, Sister Graff, Elder Horowitz, Elder Guerrero, Elder Owens, Elder Malugin, Elder Johnson, Elder Tavana and Elder Ealy.

We love clear days as it makes loading luggage into the vans and trailer so much easier.

This is the view from the last person in line - me.

Everyone tries to locate luggage and make sure it all gets loaded.

With lots of elders, packing up vans and cars is easier - they can lift any pieces of luggage that has come.

Elder Johnson and Elder Farley take one final companionship picture...they were companions in the MTC.

Our next stop is the temple.

Front row left to right: Elder Horowitz - Muncie, IN; Elder Guerrero- Newark, CA; Sister Graff - Temecula, CA; Sister Matsumori; President Matsumori; Elder Johnson - Millville, UT; Elder Farley - Farmington, NM; Elder Owens - Pocatello, ID.
Back row left to right: Elder Peterson - Mesa, AZ; Elder Hansen - Kaysville, UT; Elder Gardner - Kaysville, UT; Elder Ealy - South Weber, UT; Elder Tavana - Provo, UT.
Missing: Elder Malugin - Salt Lake City, UT. (Not my fault - photo deleting happy developer deleted the wrong group picture.  I'm sorry mom Malugin.  Hopefully there are enough other photos of him to assure you he is here safe and sound.) 

Assistants left to right: Elder Clapier, Elder Bigelow, Elder Sanchez and Elder Standing.

President talks to the elders for a moment before allowing them to walk the temple grounds for a minute.

Then of course we go to IHOP - where everyone is happy.

Around the table starting at the left: Elder Horowitz, Elder Clapier, President Matsumori, Sister Graff, Elder Farley, Elder Johnson, Elder Bigelow and Elder Guerrero.

Same table from the other side - beginning at the left: Sister Graff, Elder Farley, Elder Johnson, Elder Bigelow,  Elder Guerrero, Elder Horowitz and Elder Clapier.

Around the table from the left:  Elder Owens, Elder Standing, Elder Hansen, Elder Gardner, Elder Peterson and Elder Sanchez.

Another view of this table: Elder Peterson, Elder Sanchez, Elder Tavana, Elder Ealy, Elder Malugin, Elder Owens, Elder Standing and Elder Hansen.

Part of the training includes time to practice extending baptismal commitments.

Elder Farley teaches Elder Hansen. Elder Malugin the the background.

Others teach and listen.

Left to right: Elder Owens, Elder Horowitz, Elder Standing and Elder Malugin.

Then it's time to relax and have dinner.

Left to right: Elder Guerrero, Elder Peterson, Elder Farley and Elder Owens.

Around the table from the left:  Elder Ealy, Sister Graff, Elder Clapier, Elder Owens, Elder Gardner, Elder Standing and Elder Horowitz.

Another view - left to right: Elder Gardner, Elder Standing, Elder Horowitz, Elder Ealy, Sister Graff, Elder Clapier and Elder Johnson.

Left to right: Elder Tavana, Elder Hansen and Elder Malugin.

Time for ping pong and although you can't see her, Sister Graff did well.

We took this photo after Elder Standing's shot ricocheted off my forehead. I was ok - but I thought he needed to feel even worse than he did. 

On Wednesday, February 13, the new missionaries got to meet their trainers.

Left to right: Elder Centeno, Elder Radford, Elder Synelnikov and Elder Branning.

Left to right: Sister Lawrence (no surprise as to who her new missionary will be...) Elder Sterr, Elder Peterson and Elder Raasveld.

Left to right: Elder Anderson, Elder Jellitto, Elder Bates and Elder Gremillion.

The new missionaries line up on one side - the trainers on the other.

Left to right: Elder Ealy, Elder Owens, Elder Johnson, Elder Farley, Elder Tavana, Elder Hansen and Elder Horowitz.

Left to right: Elder Clapier (not a new missionary but there to demonstrate greeting), Elder Gardner, Elder Peterson, Elder Malugin, Elder Guerrero, and Sister Graff.

President makes the announcement and the missionaries greet one another.  I take photos of each companionship - but they are usually meeting at such a fast speed, the camera can't catch it.  Here are two that are somewhat recognizable.

Elder Guerrero and Elder Branning.

Sister Graff and Sister Lawrence.

Elder Sanchez and Elder Bigelow watch as Elder  Clapier and Elder Standing demonstrate a possible way of greeting.

The next post of transfer day has a few shots of the new  missionaries as well.