Transfer Day

The newly arrived missionaries had a morning of training and administrative tasks, such as completing their driving certifications and initiating their iPads.  (They don't get to actually use the iPads for several weeks until they have completed their training.)  During one of the training sessions the newly arriving missionaries were asked to share one concern they had.  They are as follows:  talking to strangers, getting along with companion, gospel knowledge, English (from an Elder from Mexico), 24/7 gospel, slacker companion/trainer, narrowing my focus, teaching with the spirit, looking professional, explaining gospel principles simply so they understand it.  Renee sat in on the health intake interviews with Elder Young, our resident mission nurse.  She had been asked by President Cusick to do this last transfer and this one as a possible replacement for Elder Young when his assignment is up in August.  Following lunch, President Cusick met with the new missionaries and those who have been assigned to be trainers.

At the transfer meeting, he asked a few missionaries to share a brief testimony.  These young missionaries have strong testimonies of our Savior.  He then announced the new companionships.  Some are excited to be with their new companion and others have not met their companion previously.  I passed out the letters that the new missionaries had written to their trainers as each training companionship was announced.  I will ask the trainers if these letters had any impact on how they trained their new missionary.

It was raining at the end of the meeting, so there wasn't as much socializing in the parking lot following the meeting.  There was still the usual bedlam of moving suitcases and bicycles around to different cars as they return to their areas.

We were told an interesting story about one sister's transfer.  She had a feeling that she was going to be transferred and who her new companion would be.  However, when the email was send out announcing who would be transferred, her name was not included.  She was surprised that she wasn't being transferred because of the feelings that she had had.  On Tuesday, President Cusick felt that he needed to make a change, and she was called and told that she would be transferred today.  This was not a surprise for her.  And when the new companionships were announced, she was assigned to the "right" sister.  We know both of these sisters, and it will be a good companionship.  (Renee speaking - President Cusick's comment during transfers was:  "When I get it wrong, I get corrected.  It may not be what you wanted, but it is what God wanted."  I love the way these things work out!)

Because of the rain, the traffic on the southbound interstate was reported to be very slow, so we waited at the mission office.  We picked up some keys for apartment inspections and visited with the Healeys who are both suffering from back pain.

We finally left around 5:30 hoping the traffic would have cleared a bit.  If it did, it wasn't very noticeable.  It rained until we got halfway back to Sarasota.