TRANSFERS!

This week was transfer week. Because of the merge of the two missions, the President wanted to fully integrate the two areas so that there is less tendency for Ours and Theirs thinking. Thus we made the largest transfer ever in this mission, 62 missionaries were transferred. We have a great mix now. Of course, with such a huge transfer we have to update all the files of where the missionaries are, who has which car, addresses, records, files, reports, so we have been pretty busy. Elder Hoyt at the office calls the Earls the FISH, First In–Still Here. It is quite a trip.

On Wednesday 11 new missionaries arrived. They all went to the temple with the president and his wife, then at the mission home we all had supper and did a bunch of training. We took turns presenting and April did fabulous! The next morning we met at the stake building next to the temple. More training. Then the trainers arrived and met their new companions and there was more training. Then we went into the chapel for the transfer meeting.

The transfer meeting is difficult to describe. All missionaries being transferred are brought from all corners of the mission to Columbus to the stake building next to the temple. They are brought by members in their area so as not to use up the miles on the mission cars. They bring their bicycles on trunk mounts, so it is quite a sight in the parking lot. In the chapel all the missionaries who are going home sit on the stand, the ones being transferred are all on one side of the chapel, and those who will receive a new companion are on the other side. There are a few talks and a musical number , the outgoing missionaries bear a short testimony, and the missionaries sing the Columbus Mission Song (a real rousing event for sure!) and then the assistants read who is going where. Each new companionship comes quickly to the front, hugs, and goes to the middle section. It is quite emotional and exciting. The overflow is full of us old folks and members and a few missionaries who are not transferring.

That afternoon the missionaries going home all go to the temple with the president and his wife, and then to the mission home for supper, interviews, and some sleep, and Friday morning they flew home.

The graphs below show a bit of the training President Jensen showed the new missionaries. I have seen the graph before, drawn by one of the members of the 12.

The first graph shows that when our attitude and our effort are both high, we have success.

The second graph shows that when we put even greater effort and attitude into the equation, that’s when we see the miracles. Lately my effort has been phenomenal. Now I need to move my attitude from good to great.

We sure love you and we need and feel your support. THANKS!

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