Transfer Day - Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Since we went shopping with the car last night, we parked it behind bars in our lot and drove to the office today. We had made plans with the elders to come a little before 9:00 so we could take some parting shots with Elder Coria.

Elder Coria has been made a District Leader in a new area that is being opened up. He is also a trainer so will receive one of the new elders that come today as his companion. So there are a lot of firsts for him in his new transfer. He is such a great person and has been an asset to the mission office. We love this guy and will really miss him.

One last picture of the office crew - Elders Hales, Kroff, Coria, and Peterson, with Sister Kroff sandwiched in between.

The combi drops off the new group of arriving elders at the mission home. Three from the states are tired from the long overnight flight, but the nine from the MTC have just had a good nights sleep. Lucky them!

At 9:00, Elder Hales and Elder Kroff had to load the van with the pillows and blankets to take to the mission home to distribute to the new missionaries. Then, they were to go directly to the mission home to meet the combi bringing the elders, the President, and Assistants from the airport where they picked up the North Americans, and from the MTC where they picked up the Latinos - total of twelve. Sister Argyle had gone to the airport too, but drove home in the van.

Back at the office, we prepared the cultural hall in the church with some tables and chairs for the trainers meeting. We set out the fixins for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chips, and fruit which the twelve trainers would eat prior to a meeting where they receive information and instruction relating to their responsibilities with a brand new missionary. They receive training from the Assistants, Elder Kroff and Elder Hales.

The missionaries changing companions today meet out in front of the church. They hug, talk, and reminisce with those they haven't seen for some time before getting into a remise and heading back to their areas. I walked out once and it didn't seem like as many as in times past. Not much movement this transfer, I guess. But, Elder Peinado grabbed us for a photo. He is 27 years old and is from Colombia. A super nice missionary!!!

We followed Elder Coria out for a final picture as he left with the other trainers going to the mission home to find out who their new companion would be. We were touched with Elder Coria's emotion in telling us all goodbye. We each gave him a parting hug and wished him well, then with a tear in his eye, he put his arms around Elder Kroff and I and drew us near for another hug. It was tender. He wasn't embarrassed to wipe the corner of his eye. I just hate saying goodbye to all these wonderful elders we are so privileged to work with in the office. But, it tugs at our heart more to leave our Latin friends because in a few months when we go home, we may not see them again. In the states, we can look up and go visit our American friends. And, we will!!

In the afternoon, Rich went with Elder Hales to do an apartment contract that was urgent and Elder Peterson took a brand new elder to a teaching appointment they had. This elder is staying with them tonight before going to the South tomorrow. I came home to iron some shirts, and work on this journal entry. Rich and Elder Hales returned just in time for Elder Kroff's English class, then they walked to our apartment while waiting for the threesome to meet up. I fixed them some Campbell's tomato soup and a toasted cheese sandwich. Elder Hales was delighted, and impressed that we could get that particular name brand here - from WalMart, of course.