Transfer week is in the books!

Elders Packer and Hansen came into my office on Monday morning and asked to get a picture with me in case one or both of them were transferred.  Elder Hansen was one of the first missionaries I met when I came to the mission.

It has been a very busy week and I have loved every minute of it!  We had 10 missionaries complete their missions and 15 new missionaries arrive plus the domino effect of moving people around to fit the needs of the mission and the work.   I am not as involved as many.  The logistics of getting everyone where they need to be in a safe and timely manner is unreal.

We have a geographically large mission.  From Eugene, it is more than a 3 ½ hour drive to the southern boundary of the mission in California.  It is a 1 ½ hour drive approximately to the northern boundary.  East to west, I can only guesstimate but I would say 1 ½  to 2 ½ hours.  Our president, his assistants and the mission secretary all coordinate the effort. 

Missionaries have to be taken to the airport and picked up at the airport and the comings and goings are never at the same time.  Transfer day is actually Thursday.  The assistants to the president and a couple of zone leaders help with moving missionaries and their belongings from place to place.  The mission has a pickup truck and cargo trailer and a passenger van.  The luggage of course goes into the truck and trailer and the missionaries being moved go in the van. 
 

They leave the mission office early Tuesday morning headed south with designated meeting spots in the major towns where transferring missionaries and their belongings can be dropped off or picked up.  They go to Medford which is about 3 plus hours depending on traffic and with stops along the way, it is a time consuming drive so more than the 3 plus hours.

Then they head back to Eugene by a different route.  It usually turns out to be a 10-12 hour day.

Friday is the day the arriving (new) missionaries come and the departing missionaries leave.  I hope this jumbled explanation gives you a preview and slight understanding of the planning this all takes.  And for the willingness and patience of the mission leaders.  Everyone working together makes it happen.

I am at some of the planning sessions but I really just get to sit back and enjoy being around these amazing young people.  

The mission president and his wife prepared a dinner on Thursday evening at the Mission Home for the departing missionaries.  I and the Crumps and Klaass, who are the senior office missionaries, helped with the dinner.

On Friday the new (incoming) missionaries are given lunch at the Stake Center, also provided by President and Sister Cornelius, when they arrive.  Sister Klaass, Sister Crump, and I help set up the lunch tables and get the food set up so the missionaries can eat as a group as soon as they arrive from the airport.   Sister Klaass does most of the lunch table preparations with set up, center pieces, etc.

Tables set up and ready for missionaries

Sisters waiting for their new companions to arrive

Lunch is served

After lunch they are interviewed by the President and I also interview each one to get a health update as to allergies, medications they take, diets, etc.  Elder Klaass helps get the drivers to fill out the paper work so that they can drive mission cars.  

I do believe that there are a lot of prayers offered and maybe even some lost sleep getting everything organized but all is orderly and well managed.  I am always impressed by the way the Lord’s work progresses.

It has been a beautiful week but I’ll admit it is a little hotter than my preferred temperature.  I try to be out the door no later than 5:30 for my morning walks.

Tuesday morning sunrise

First turtle I’ve seen on my walks

Love the flowers.

Saturday morning I walked with Elder and Sister Crump along the Wild Iris Ridgeline Trail.  No wild iris blooming now but still gorgeous.

After my hike, I went with my friend Diana to a few garage sales and then to lunch at Jung’s Mongolian Grill.  YUM!!

Saturday afternoon I went grocery shopping.  My car had been sitting all day in the sun.  It was 105 degrees when I first started it but by the time I had turned on my air and got my phone, it dropped to 103.   I ran another errand around 6:00.  Even after being out and about with the air on, it was 100.  So I believe that was the true temp.  WAY TOO HOT!!!!!

Missing my family and friends and not enjoying the heat but I am happy to be here.

Here are some miscellaneous pics from the week.

Sister Cummings and I matched / color coordinated out outfits one day.  I love it.

Because I often sit in on organizational meetings, the missionaries think I might know who and where people will be transferred.  No one knows that info except for the president and the assistants to the president until Wednesday evening just before transfers.  Sister Crouch came to my office and tried to bribe me with 2 quarters to tell her if she was being transferred.  LOL

Because we didn’t know when we would get to eat together again due to transfers (Sister West was transferred south but did not leave until Friday because she was assigned to a new incoming missionary), we went to lunch on Thursday.  Sisters Crouch, Sutherland, Tripp, and West

The office was a buzz of activity on Thursday with missionaries waiting for companions to arrive from the south, north, east, and west….

Serving the Lord and being a missionary is such an honor and joy.  

I love my Savior.

I love you my family and friends.

4th of July Celebration went off with a BANG!

I walked with Sister Crump Tuesday morning and then we went back to her apartment and ate breakfast that Elder Crump had prepared for us. 
 

That evening, I went with Sister and Elder Klaass to a 4th of July festival in Springfield which is a neighboring town across the river.  We walked along looking at the vendors, petting zoo, music groups, and food trucks.  The Klaass’s had a Hawaiian teriyaki chicken bowl.  I opted for a pulled pork sandwich.

We watched the Abba Cadabra concert.  This musical group is the “Ultimate ABBA Tribute” 

The park was jam-packed with people.  We scooted into a small spot to watch the fireworks which was a little behind some trees over the river but never-the-less was loud and colorful.   Make me feel like a kid again.

It has been a pretty normal week after the festivities of Tuesday.  Had a few medical problems to help with but nothing too major other than a fractured wrist with a bike accident.  All is well and will heal with time.  

Wednesday morning I changed up my walk a bit and walked the hills of my neighborhood.  The moon was still big and bright.

I have told the sister missionaries a story about my NYC Mission and how my apartment was a stop-over for many things (I encouraged these stop overs) but often to use the toilet.  I began joking with the sisters when they would ask if they could use my bathroom that I only charged a quarter and they could leave it on the sink.   One day I went in there and found 4-5 quarters lying on the sink.  It gave me a giggle!

It had been a while since I had shared that story but Wednesday, Sister Crouch came into my office and gave me a big hug.  We chatted for a minute and as she walked out, she tossed a quarter on my desk.  It made me laugh but also made me near tears because it touched my heart to know that she had liked my story and let me know it in this way.  To top it off, as she left the main office for the day a couple of hours later, she again tossed another quarter onto my desk.  It absolutely made my day!!!

Thursday was Sister West’s birthday so her companion brought cake to the office to share with the social media missionaries and seniors working in the office.  Of course I got a slice of cake too.  Always a blast to be with the missionaries.

I was served my very own piece of cake by Sister Sutherland

Great group of missionaries

Sister Sutherland and I, as I’ve mentioned before, either often appear in the office in polka dots or similar colors.  Thursday it was green day.  I had to tease her a bit with my grouchy face when she asked if we could get a picture.  I am soon going to have to make this a Petersen/Sutherland blog.  LOL

Friday  evening I had a dinner date with four sisters.  We ate a Mucho Gusto which is a Mexican food restaurant similar to Café Rio.  Fun evening.

Sisters Sutherland, Eastman, Palmer, and Cummings

Saturday morning I walked with Sister and Elder Crump along Amazon Creek through the wetland area.    I did a load of laundry and then Sister Cornelius called to invite me to go for a ride with them to visit the senior missionaries who oversee Camp Alpine which is a Church camp for young women, scouts, wards, stakes or even individual family outings.  It is about an hour drive from Eugene.  

President and Sister Cornelius are new here so they are trying to get to know the missionaries in the mission.  It was a pleasant outing for me and gave me the opportunity to get better acquainted with them.

Elder and Sister Talanoa, President and Sister Cornelius, Sister and Elder Asay

Saturday evening I went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse with three sisters.  Always a delight to be with the missionaries and to get to know them and share in their experiences.

Sisters Stohl, Jeffords, Hadfield 

As I reflected today on the week, I thought of a message that one of our missionaries, Elder Canyon Zwemke, posted on our Mission Messenger Page.  It was touching to me so I asked him if I could share it here on my blog.   

“Not long ago my friend Milton D. Oilar gave an awesome speech for the 4th of July! 

The 4th is a super special day where we're reminded of the freedoms that we get to enjoy every single day as Americans! However, as I'm sure you've heard, freedom isn't free. More often than not, freedom requires a large sacrifice from someone or something to achieve.

Through the sacrifice of brave men and women willing to die for the freedom of themselves and family, America came to be. This is similar to another who wasn't afraid to die for a good cause.

Jesus Christ was willing to lay down His life to provide freedom for a cause even bigger than the colonist's independence. He suffered, died and rose again to provide everyone who will ever live freedom from the pains of sin and the bands of death.

John 15:13, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

As we remember those who sacrificed so much to give us all the freedoms we enjoy, let us remember our Savior, who won the greatest fight but never raised a weapon. I know because of Him, there's no trial or obstacle in life that we can't overcome through the greatest love that ever was!”

I love my Savior.

I love you my family and friends