Friday, January 31, 2014

Our First Day Solo

That means we were alone as the President and wife for the first day here and what happens but we are in rotation to receive 95 new missionaries.  How fun was that.  We experienced for the first time our staff in action, all doing their part to make these sweet, excited, anxious and somewhat terrified young men and women comfortable in their new home.  The unique experience of our CCM was that families say goodbye to their missionaries outside of our fenced in facilities.  Those from Guatemala come with extended families and they are all excited and yet somewhat tearful as they say goodbye to their missionaries.  Bob and I stepped out of the fenced area and spoke with many of the families assuring them of the special opportunities their son or daughter was going to have in the mission field.  It was a wonderful meeting with all of these great people of Guatemala.  I took a picture of a brother and sister who were both reporting at the same time.  We assured them of the double blessings their family would be receiving because of their unselfish service to the Lord.




Also that day we had a visit from Elder Cook & Elder Soares with their wives, the Area Presidency of Central America and their wives, 3 Mission Presidents and their wives.  We had earlier set up an area for lunch and Carlos our "Chef" prepared a delicious meal for all to enjoy.  Elder Cook and Elder Soares were conducting an tour of Central America and a devotion time with a member of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles was a welcome addition to our schedule for the new missionaries.  They also wanted to take a tour of our newly remodeled CCM.  I think all were delighted with the improvements......thanks again to President and Sister Nicolaysen for all their hard work and expertise in this matter.

Bob started the interview process of all the new missionaries on Wednesday and we also attended and spoke at a Bienvenido (welcome mtg) for everyone involved.  Needless to say we were exhausted after this first day was over.

1 comment:

Diane and Allan said...

What beautiful, faithful saints there. What a great experience it must have been to meet some of the families and ALL the new missionaries. They will love you two!!