13 New Missionareis are joining us!

We are thrilled to welcome 13 new missionaries!  We are always filled with anticipation as we wait by the large doors that slide open and shut as arriving passengers walk through into the crowd.  We crane our necks to spy our new missionaries, looking for those sharp Elders wearing their new suits, and beautifully dressed sisters heading toward us.  We never tire of this day.  I cannot explain the immediate love and warmth we feel as we shake their hands and look into their eyes for the first time. We will go through many, many things together during the next 18 months or two years.  It is a such an awakening for them, in many ways, unfolding  the grand and glorious work that is before them.  I can see in their faith filled eyes, that they are ready to begin.  We have much to do to train them in the next few days, with things they must understand and be prepared for, as they are sent out to areas throughout our mission.
Welcome, welcome!   ' Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission has come...'

Here we are outside the doors of the 

Guadalajara airport, ready to take

a airport van to the church by the Temple.

A welcome by President Clayton and I,

and a quick bite to eat.

And they are companion-ed with these terrific

missionaries for the day!

Here they are, holding their most powerful

message - The Book of Mormon - in the

Four Finger Power Hold!

...and, they are ready to begin their first day in the mission!

One more quick picture on the steps of the Temple!

Day 2

All day training!

We spent the morning here at the mission home having 

breakfast, beginning our training, and

having their initial interview with President Clayton.

We then moved to the chapel by the Temple

to finish training, have them meet their 

trainers and to find out where they will be serving. 

A quick bite of lunch while getting to 

know one another. 

..and they are ready to meet their new companions.

They are ready to head out.

Elder Bender with trainer Elder Jones

Elder Martindale with trainer Elder Taylor

Trainer Elder Vaifanua with Elder Manuirirangi

Trainer Elder Rojas with Elder Meraz

Elder Gutierrez with trainer Elder Castro

Trainer Elder Coronado with Elder Mickelson

Elder Custodio with trainer Elder Dehesa

Trainer Elder Schank with Elder Drumright

Trainer Elder Holmes with Elder Crismon

Trainer Elder Ramirez with Elder Castillo

Trainer Hermana Ruiz with Hermana Arizmendi

Elder Anderson with trainer Elder Hyde

Hermana Herman with Hermana Hooper

Let's just take one more look at this marvelous group!