Our 1st Group of Departing Missionaries

As we finished sending off our 26 new missionaries with their trainers to their new areas, other missionaries were transferring to their new areas and six more were arriving at the Mission Home in preparation for their departure home. What great missionaries they've been. We had dinner at the Mission Home, last interviews were conducted by President Stevenson, and there was a departing fireside, lots of shared memories and then off to bed in preparation for a trip to the Denver Colorado Temple the next Day.

Our First trip to the Denver Colorado Temple

Our Departing Missionaries

The Assistants

There is a small waiting room to the left of the temple.

We had wonderful time at the temple. We did endowments and Sealings. It was wonderful to be there with them and look forward to the blessings that lie ahead of them as they return home to be with their families and to pursue their College educations, and become leaders in their families, the gospel and their communities.

We performed ordinances for my family members. When we were finished, Elder Hagman looking at the submission name on the card asked, "Sr. Stevenson, is your maiden name Karg?" I affirmed that it is.. "I have been watching for a Sister Karg to enter our mission.  My Grandmother lives in your parents ward and told me their granddaughter would be serving in our mission..." Another Elder's Grandmother lives in the same ward with my parents in Gridley California. So many unexpected connections. I don't have any brothers making my mom the last and only Sister Karg from our family. We messaged photos to my parents

When we arrived at the Mission home, there was another delicious meal waiting for us, the table was all set and ready. She prepared so many wonderful meals for us this week. Dinner for the arriving missionaries, breakfast for us all the next morning, lunch for 87, dinner that night at the Mission Home for the departing missioinaries, ... she calls herself our Goldie Locks but she does quiet the opposite. Instead of tasting and eating all of the bear's porridge, she sets out a beautiful table and an abundance of delicious food. Allowing me to have a "Mary" experience with our missionaries instead of a "Martha". Thank you Linda for all of your planning and hard work. I appreciate all that you do and the love you show our missionaries.

Our wonderful Missionaries. Check President out in the mirror.

After the sharing of favorite mission stories and a testimony meeting, the Elders and Sisters headed off to prepare for bed. We had to be up at 4:30 a.m. to get every one through the showers, fed and to the airport on time. I noticed all of their well worn shoes. What a story they tell, many miles walked, hours of service given, miracles seen. If they could speak, imagine the tales they could tell. 

They have defiantly been worn out in service.

"Well done my good and faithful servants"  They served their hardest right up to the very end.

"That we should ...wear out our lives [and our shoes] in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven-- (D&C 123:13)

Loading the Mission Van...

...completely stuffed!

I don't know if you can tell but it started to drizzle a little...do you think Colorado is weeping at their departure and grateful for the way they served this beautiful state?

Loading up...

arriving at the airport...

Heading to the ticket kiosks

... picking up tags for their luggage...

Sister Gielisch actually had family living in her mission...

They came to the airport to send her off  home to her family, with a sign that said, "Fly Home, Fly Free!"

Elders Hagman, LaRose, Lloyd, Tallman, and Sisters Anderson and Gielisch

After sending off the other missionaries, we headed back to the Mission Office with the assistants and Elder LaRose to await the arrival of his family. They are going to vacation in Colorado and visit the places and people he served.

Screams of joy and running to see their missionary.

... hugs from mom

...and the whole family...

...and for those he served with... God be with you 'til we meet again...

No rest yet for the weary!  After sending them all off, President Stevenson did a training call for all the newly-called district leaders this week.  (While Sister Stevenson napped!)  

They Have Arrived!

"Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come" (D&C 31:3)

Monday afternoon, we arrived at the Colorado Springs Airport with 4 drivers, a van, a 12 passenger van, a truck with a trailer, and our car to pick up our 26 new missionaries: 10 Sisters and 16 Elders. We anxiously waited for them. Other passengers walked out and assured us they had seen them and they were coming...

Finally, we saw the first two...

..and then a few more..

until we were surrounded by all 16 Elders...

... and 10 sweet Sisters. What an impressive group. They are all so excited.

Just as we were ready to walk out of the Mission Office to head to the airport, we got a call from the airline letting us know there there was too much luggage for the plane so 18 bags would be arriving on the next flight at 10:00p.m. I loved the Assistants reactions. The news was met by fist pumps and a huge "Yea!" I love how they faced a challenging situation with a positive attitude and enthusiasm.  (Which meant the Assistants had to return to the airport with the trailer at 10:00PM and retrieve the late luggage and deliver it to where the missionaries were staying. They had a great attitude about it.  President gave them a hall pass for being out late!)  Soo we picked up the luggage that had arrived. The Assistants escorted those who had their suitcases outside, and retrieved the tailer and began loading the bags. While President Stevenson and Elder Beier helped make the claims for the the missing items.

They're all smiles even with the luggage snafu. There was one other small problem: what we thought was a 15 passenger van...turned out to be a 12 passenger van but luckily the mission car has a pull up 3rd row. It was squishy but we all made it to the Church for dinner and the Assistants began their great game of shuffle getting all of the bags to the right homes. (the 10 Sisters stayed at the Mission home and the Elders stayed with various families in the area.) 

We had dinner with the office Missionaries. Elder an Sister Stoker are at this table.

Aren't they an amazing group...The Assistants are standing in the background.

Sister Beier is visiting with this group...

Our new Elders and our Elders who help with housing...

Elder Beier chatted with this group...

and President Stevenson and I got to know these Missionaries a little better. What a fun evening.

Then they were taught by President Stevenson. We discussed missionary principles found in D&C Sections 30-35.  He had previously written them in the MTC and asked them to ponder those sections and come prepared to share their thoughts.  They had some great insights and it was an edifying meeting to get them started off right! Thereafter they were shuttled off to their homes with the luggage that made it here. The Assistants went back to the airport with a few other Elders and then got the missing luggage all to the correct locations... While President Stevenson interviewed the Sisters at the Mission Home and made final decisions about companionships...All I can say is what an awesome group of Missionaries. 

Tuesday was filled with Meals, Medical interviews with our Mission Medical Staff for any special concerns, prescriptions, etc. Health instructions on how to deal with the change of altitude (FYI...lots of water, vitamins with iron-, and B complex Vitamins) and advice about wearing sunscreen...you burn easier at high altitudes. 

The Stokers taught about Car and Bike safety, and instructions about Tiwi, which monitors their driving habits: speed, aggressive driving, seat belts, etc...

Elder Beier talked to them about their apartments, and finances. All the while President Stevenson and the Assistants met with the new trainers to "train the trainers" And interviewed all the Elders in the course of the mornings activities...Fast and furious morning...We were so ready for lunch.

And then new missionaries and trainers met in the Chapel...a little more instruction and training...and the big reveal! Finally meeting their trainers...

this Elder and his former companion were so excited to be trainers that they bought balloons for their new sons...

Thank you Dollar Tree for such cute birth announcement balloons.

These two are such a cute match, the smiliest Sisters in the mission.

and these ones are pretty excited with huge smiles as well.

 

There were Cheers, and excitement all around when the companionships were announced...one of our elders had a hilarious reaction. He gave a huge shout and jump of joy...He had been in the Mission office a few weeks before when the photos of the new missionaries were out on the secretary's desk...when he saw one particular elder...he had the thought that he would love to be a trainer and he would like to train that particular elder (all unbeknownst to the president at the time)... On Saturday night he found out that he was indeed going to be a trainer...and then when companionships were announced he was assigned that particular elder...thus his exuberance. Amazing that the spirit worked on both the elder and the President to put them together. We'll keep our eye on them to see for what special purpose they were brought together.

How did we get so blessed? Such a great group.